by Bri Martin

All who are on TikTok and have a passion for books, more than likely, have encountered this phenomenon called “booktok”. Yet, what exactly is it? Can I learn something from it? How are individuals coming up with a “booktok” book? What are the standards?

To answer your questions, I’ll share my own personal take on what booktok is, and how you can join this community of bibliophiles. So, to the first question, what is booktok? Booktok is a land of wonderful reads where fellow book lovers alike come on TikTok to discuss books. Popular, unpopular, “fashion-forward” controversial, you name it, booktok has it.

Now, why is this important, and what will it offer you? In my short—but experienced—life, a saying was very popular and still holds true; “do not judge a book by its cover.” Booktok will help the reader get an in-depth look at a book, writing style, author background, and potential awards the book is eligible for, all while dodging spoilers and presenting a well-rounded summary. It prevents readers like me from purchasing a book that may seem interesting, but turns out to be the exact opposite of what you may enjoy reading!

Now does booktook have standards? Truly, they vary, although what I do enjoy is the premise that these “reviews” are from normal day-to-day consumers like all of us. While you can certainly search for an academic reviewed book, booktok appeals to all individuals who simply love to crack open a book and get lost in the pages. To put it plainly, what you will learn from booktok is exactly what you want to know, what you need to know, and what will keep you engaged in a book for hours.

If you’d like to get involved, there’s no better way than by joining the Ames Public Library’s BookTok Book Talk book club. There, you will discuss the current “popular” titles that are covered via booktok, and have an in-depth discussion about the book. Our next meetup will be Monday, January 15, at 6pm in the Library’s Board Room. For more information, visit the library’s event calendar and search “booktok.”