TL;DR: BookTok is the massive book-loving community on TikTok that has single-handedly made reading "cool" again for Gen Z and Alpha. While it’s great that kids are putting down the controller and picking up a paperback, the trend is dominated by "Romantasy" (Romance + Fantasy) and "spicy" content that often blurs the line between Young Adult (YA) and Adult fiction. If your teen is asking for A Court of Thorns and Roses or Fourth Wing, you’re looking at content intended for 17-18+.
Quick Links to Viral BookTok Favorites:
- Ages 12-14: Heartstopper, The Summer I Turned Pretty, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
- Ages 15-17: Better Than the Movies, Divine Rivals, The Inheritance Games
- Ages 18+ (The "Spicy" Stuff): A Court of Thorns and Roses, Fourth Wing, It Ends With Us
If you haven’t fallen down the rabbit hole yet, BookTok is a subculture of TikTok where creators share reviews, "hauls," and aesthetic videos about what they’re reading. It’s less about literary criticism and more about vibes.
You’ll see teens crying over a sad ending, organizing their "TBR" (To Be Read) piles, or color-coding their bookshelves. It has turned authors into celebrities and transformed the publishing industry. According to recent industry data, BookTok was responsible for helping sell over 100 million printed books in a single year. For parents, this is a "good news, bad news" situation. The good news? They’re reading! The bad news? The algorithm doesn’t care if a book is age-appropriate for your 13-year-old; it only cares if the book is viral.
It’s not just about the stories; it’s about the community. BookTok has its own language. You’ll hear your kids talk about "tropes"—the recurring themes that make a book predictable but satisfying.
- "Enemies to Lovers": Two people who hate each other but eventually fall in love.
- "Found Family": A group of friends who become a family.
- "The Chosen One": A classic hero's journey.
- "Spice": A euphemism for sexual content.
For a teen, finding a "trope" they love is like finding a new favorite genre on Netflix. It’s a way to guarantee they’ll enjoy their next 400-page investment.
The biggest trend on BookTok right now is Romantasy. It’s exactly what it sounds like: a heavy dose of high-stakes fantasy (dragons, magic, kingdoms) mixed with intense romance.
The issue for parents is that Romantasy often falls into the "New Adult" (NA) category. This is a relatively new publishing bracket designed for 18-to-25-year-olds. It features protagonists in their early 20s, and the romantic scenes are often very graphic—what the community calls "spicy."
On BookTok, creators often rate books on a "chili pepper scale" (1 to 5 peppers). If your child is looking at a book that is "4 or 5 peppers," that is essentially erotica.
This is the "it" book of the last two years. It’s got dragons, a war college, and a very intense romance. While the fantasy elements are great for older teens, the sexual content is explicit. It’s generally recommended for ages 17+.
This series is the gateway drug for Romantasy. The first book starts off relatively mild (borderline YA), but as the series progresses, it becomes very graphic. If your middle schooler is asking for this because "everyone at school is reading it," you should know it’s essentially a romance novel with some faeries thrown in.
Ask our chatbot for a maturity breakdown of Sarah J. Maas books
If you want to support their reading habit without handing them a spicy romance novel, here are the viral hits that actually fit their age group.
Ages 12+ This graphic novel series is a BookTok staple. It’s a sweet, wholesome story about two boys falling in love at school. It deals with real issues like mental health and coming out, but it stays firmly in the "sweet" category rather than the "spicy" one.
Ages 13+ Think Knives Out but for teens. A girl inherits a massive fortune from a billionaire she’s never met, but she has to live in a mansion full of his slighted (and very handsome) grandsons to keep it. It’s a mystery-puzzle book that is fast-paced and totally appropriate for middle and high schoolers.
Ages 14+ This is the "clean" alternative to the heavy Romantasy titles. It’s a beautiful, lyrical story about two rival journalists writing to each other through magical typewriters during a war between gods. It has romance, but it’s handled with much more subtlety and is perfect for younger teens.
Ages 13+ For the kids who love rom-coms, this is a must-read. It’s a classic "fake dating" trope that is funny, charming, and stays PG-13.
One of the most frustrating things for parents right now is the "Cartoon Cover Trend." In the past, you could tell a book was for adults because it had a shirtless guy on the cover. Today, many adult romance novels—like those by Emily Henry or Ali Hazelwood—have bright, cute, illustrated covers that look exactly like a YA book.
Do not assume that because a book looks like a Pixar movie on the outside, it’s safe for a 12-year-old. Always check the "WISE Score" or use the Screenwise search to see the maturity rating before buying.
- The Algorithm is Blind: If your teen watches one video about The Hunger Games, TikTok will eventually serve them videos about much more adult titles. They aren't seeking out "spicy" content; it's just what's being served in the "BookTok" bucket.
- The "Sad Girl" Aesthetic: There is a trend of reading books that are intentionally devastating. Authors like Sally Rooney (Normal People) or Hanya Yanagihara (A Little Life) are huge on BookTok. These are high-level literary fiction but often deal with very heavy themes like self-harm, trauma, and toxic relationships.
- Annotating is the New Gaming: Teens are buying tabs, highlighters, and specialized pens to "annotate" their books. It’s a way of engaging with the text, but it’s also a status symbol. If they’re asking for a $20 set of "book tabs," they’re actually trying to study the book. It’s a win.
Instead of being the "book police," try engaging with the tropes. Ask them:
- "What are the 'tropes' in this one?"
- "Is this a YA book or a 'New Adult' book?"
- "On a scale of 1 to 5 peppers, how 'spicy' is the community saying this is?"
Most teens are actually pretty aware of what they’re reading. By using their language, you show that you’re not judging the medium, you’re just looking out for the content.
Check out our guide on talking to teens about social media trends
BookTok is a net positive. It’s getting a generation of kids to value physical books and deep focus in an era of 15-second YouTube Shorts. However, the line between "Teen" and "Adult" has never been blurrier.
If your teen is under 16, you’ll want to be the "filter" for the Romantasy genre. Stick to the verified YA hits, and if they’re dying to read something viral like A Court of Thorns and Roses, maybe read it with them or find a "clean" summary online first.
- Check the shelf: Take a look at your teen’s current "TBR" pile. If you see Sarah J. Maas or Colleen Hoover, it’s time for a conversation about maturity levels.
- Follow some "Clean BookTok" creators: There are plenty of creators who focus specifically on YA and middle-grade books.
- Use Screenwise: Before you head to Barnes & Noble, search the title here to get the real deal on the "spice" level.