TL;DR: BookTok is the sub-community on TikTok that has single-handedly revived the publishing industry. It’s why your teen suddenly wants to go to Barnes & Noble every Saturday. While it’s great that kids are reading again, the line between Young Adult (YA) and "New Adult" (18+) is incredibly blurry. Many viral books with cute, cartoonish covers—like The Love Hypothesis—contain explicit sexual content (often called "spice").
Quick links to viral BookTok titles to check out:
- A Court of Thorns and Roses (The "gateway drug" to Romantasy)
- Fourth Wing (Dragons, romance, and high "spice")
- It Ends With Us (Heavy themes of domestic abuse)
- The Cruel Prince (Actually age-appropriate for most teens)
- Better Than the Movies (Sweet, clean YA romance)
If you haven’t seen it, BookTok is a massive corner of TikTok where creators post aesthetic reviews, "shelfies," and emotional reaction videos to books. It’s not just about reviews; it’s about the vibe. You’ll see videos of people crying over a finale or organizing their books by color.
It has massive power. A book can be ten years old, go viral on BookTok, and suddenly hit the New York Times Bestseller list. For parents, the challenge is that the algorithm doesn't care about age ratings. A 13-year-old watching Minecraft videos can easily end up on a side of TikTok recommending "dark romance" novels intended for 25-year-olds.
To understand what your kid is reading, you have to speak the language. BookTok users don't usually talk about "plot summaries." They talk about tropes.
- Enemies to Lovers: Two characters who hate each other but eventually fall in love. (The most popular trope by far).
- Slow Burn: The romance takes forever to happen.
- The Chosen One: A standard fantasy trope where one teen has to save the world.
- Found Family: A group of friends who become a family unit.
- "Spice" or "Spicy": This is the BookTok code for explicit sexual content. If a creator says a book is "5 stars, 4 chilis," they are saying the story is great but it's basically erotica.
Learn more about how to decode BookTok slang
This is the biggest "no-BS" warning for parents. There is a massive trend in publishing right now to give books cute, illustrated, "bubbly" covers that look exactly like a PG-rated rom-com movie.
In the past, "adult" books looked like adult books (think Fabio on a horse or a dark, moody landscape). Now, a book like Icebreaker has a cute cover with a hockey player and a figure skater, but it is extremely explicit and intended for adults.
If you see a book on your kid's nightstand that looks like a Pixar movie poster, do not assume it’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Always check the "spice level" first.
Romantasy is exactly what it sounds like: Romance + Fantasy. It usually involves a high-stakes magical world, dragons or fae, and a very intense central romance.
- A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas: This is the series that started it all. While the first book is borderline YA, the sequels are definitely "New Adult" (18+). If your middle schooler is reading this, they are reading graphic sex scenes.
- Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros: Dragons and a "war college" setting. It’s incredibly popular with 14-18 year olds, but again, it’s written for adults and features explicit content.
- Powerless by Lauren Roberts: A great alternative for younger teens. It has the Romantasy vibe but stays firmly in the YA (Young Adult) category.
These are set in the real world and usually involve heavy emotions or "all the feels."
- It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover: You’ve seen this everywhere. It deals with domestic violence. It’s a heavy, important topic, but many parents find it too mature for younger teens.
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo: A fascinating look at Hollywood history and LGBTQ+ themes. Generally okay for older teens (16+).
- Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter: A total win for parents. It’s sweet, funny, and age-appropriate for anyone 12 and up.
If your kid wants the BookTok aesthetic without the 5-chili spice level, these are the gold standards.
- The Cruel Prince by Holly Black: Political intrigue, faeries, and a "slow burn" romance that stays PG-13.
- Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross: A beautiful, lyrical story about magical typewriters and war. Very popular on BookTok and safe for most 14+ readers.
The publishing industry uses these categories, but they are often ignored on social media:
- Middle Grade (Ages 8-12): Think Percy Jackson or Wings of Fire. No spice, simple themes.
- Young Adult (YA) (Ages 13-17): Focuses on the teen experience. May have some "steamy" moments, but usually fades to black. Examples: The Hunger Games or The Fault in Our Stars.
- New Adult (NA) (Ages 18-25): This is the danger zone. These books feature characters in college or their early 20s and include graphic content. This is what dominates BookTok.
The Screenwise Rule of Thumb: If the book is being marketed as "New Adult," treat it like an R-rated movie. If it's "YA," it’s likely a PG-13 experience.
Ask our chatbot for a specific book's age rating
The Sprayed Edges Obsession
You might notice your kid wants a specific version of a book with colored or patterned pages on the side. These are "sprayed edges." They are highly collectible and a huge part of the BookTok "aesthetic." They don't change the content, but they do make the books more expensive. It’s the book version of a "limited edition" skin in Fortnite.
Content Warnings
Most BookTok creators are actually pretty good about posting "Trigger Warnings" (TW) or "Content Warnings" (CW) in their captions. If you're worried about a book, search the title on TikTok or Instagram alongside the words "content warning."
The Community Aspect
Reading used to be a solitary hobby. BookTok has made it social. Kids are joining "buddy reads," participating in 24-hour read-a-thons, and discussing character arcs in the comments. This is a net positive for digital wellness—it's using a screen to facilitate a deep, offline activity.
Don't be the "book police." If you come in hot banning books, they'll just read them on the Kindle app where you can't see the cover.
Instead, try these conversation starters:
- "I saw that book on TikTok! What are the 'tropes' in this one?"
- "Is this a 'slow burn' or does the romance happen pretty fast?"
- "I heard some of these 'cartoon cover' books are actually for adults. Is this one written for teens or college students?"
- "Who is your favorite character, and why are they 'problematic'?" (BookTok loves a problematic anti-hero).
BookTok is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it has made reading "cool" again for a generation that is constantly fighting for its attention span against YouTube and Roblox. That is a massive win.
On the other hand, the "New Adult" genre has created a pipeline where 13-year-olds are consuming content meant for 25-year-olds.
Your next steps:
- Check the nightstand. Look for those cartoon covers.
- Use Common Sense Media or Screenwise to check the "spice level" of any book that seems questionable.
- Encourage the habit, but curate the content. If they love the vibe of a spicy book, help them find a YA version that gives them the same feeling without the graphic scenes.
Check out our full guide to age-appropriate BookTok alternatives