Booktok Books That Are Actually Worth The Hype
Photo courtesy of Unsplash / Freddie Marriage
It’s fall, so you know what that means...time to rewatch Gilmore Girls and rediscover our love for the dark academia vibe. As you may know, the essence of this aesthetic is a good book that will make everyone wonder what kind of mysterious person you are and how you came to have such great taste.
Enter Booktok: the side of social media that falls in love with every love story with a twist or just discovers books that have been popular for ages. It can be hard to make time for reading and even harder to figure out what books are actually worth our time, so here are some of the best Booktok books we’ve read so far. These are of course sorted by vibe that will make any onlooker recognize you as the main character.
When you want to feel smart and sophisticated…
The Secret History by Donna Tartt and All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr.
The Secret History follows a group of college students studying classics in an elitist college in Vermont, and is told from the perspective of Richard Papen, a California native that doesn’t know exactly what he’s getting himself into. The book starts off with the murder of one of the main characters and works itself backwards to discover how it got to that point, and let us tell you...it’s a wild ride involving morality and a more literal embodiment of the Greeks than was expected. But be warned: some of the phrases and descriptions randomly switch into other languages like Latin, but it is well worth having Google Translate open for.
All the Light We Cannot See has to be one of the best books ever written. EVER. Anthony Doerr is no laughing matter in this household. The story centers around World War II, specifically the perspective of a twelve-year-old blind French girl named Marie-Laure and a German boy with a knack for technology named Werner Pfennig. The chapters switch off from both perspectives until their paths cross and it is absolutely breathtaking. If it’s any reassurance of how good of a read it is, Anthony Doerr won the Pulitzer Prize for it. Pick it up ASAP.
When you want to get caught up in a fantastical world...
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
The Priory of the Orange Tree is the high fantasy adult book you’ve been waiting for that will fulfill any Game of Thrones withdrawals you may have been having. With badass queer characters, dragons, and a completely divided world, there’s something for everybody to love. Plus, the cover is absolutely stunning and would look incredible on any bookshelf. Don’t shy away from the fact that it’s thicky, embrace the fact that you’ll be entertained for days to come.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo follows a Marilyn Monroe type celebrity, Evelyn Hugo, as she gives away some of the major gowns she wore to charity after her career as a major actress in Hollywood. Known for her glamour and dramatic love life, Evelyn allows one journalist the opportunity to tell her story right. But (cue the Wizards of Waverly Place theme song) ~everything is not what it seems~ and the ending will absolutely leave you in tears and wondering how you’ve gone so long without reading it.
When you want to appreciate the beauty and complexities in life…
Be Here Now by Ram Dass and Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill.
Be Here Now is the personal narrative of a Harvard professor turned hippie after experimenting with psychedelics and becoming more in tune with spirituality. It features a combination of anecdotes and stunning drawings with sayings that will tug at your heartstrings. Our personal favorite is “We’re all just walking each other home.” Super easy to breeze through and will make you realize that it’s okay to take a step back from the everyday busyness.
Dept. of Speculation tells the story of a woman who recounts her marriage and how it ended up failing. Each chapter is written differently, and they read more as journal entries with some pages being filled with one thought written over and over again. It’s also a tale of motherhood as the main character documents the beautiful moments of what it’s like watching a small baby turn into a beautiful child. AND it’s under 200 pages, so don’t be shy and get to reading.
All of that being said, read what you want to read. If you haven’t picked up a book in a while, go easy on yourself and don’t let anyone else stop you from forming your own opinions on new books. You never know what a difference it can make. Happy reading!