Storytelling has been around for thousands of years and is practically synonymous with human existence. It began as finger paintings on cave walls and oral stories told around campfires, before evolving with the invention of the printing press, the typewriter, and eventually the computer. Throughout history, storytelling and the medium through which it is shared have consistently evolved to keep pace with the growth of societies. It is only natural, then, that it continues to do so. As humans continue to grow as a global society and evolve our social norms faster than ever before, so too does our literature and how it gets consumed. One such novel medium (get it? Novel.) has appeared as recently as within the last five years. BookTok. It is BookTok on the broader social media platform, TikTok. 

What is BookTok?

BookTok exists on the broader social media platform, TikTok. BookTok is best described as an online community of book lovers who bond over and communicate about the literature they’re reading. The platform took off during COVID and the lockdown era, when most people were looking to bond with one another virtually. Trendy music and short-form video content helped with the platform’s longevity and global success, while also serving as the foundation upon which BookTok stands. 

On BookTok, users consume and create videos discussing their favorite books and characters from those stories—a kind of discourse not dissimilar to the topics of discussions of literature in previous eras. Edits are a popular form of BookTok content in which creators use snippets of original material to create a cinematic video that exists in tandem to the content of the story. 

Aesthetic videos are another popular form of BookTok content creation. These videos are selling the “experience” or “vibes” of a book’s story rather than the specific content of the story itself. Images and music that evoke the same sense of wonder as the book, or allude to certain aspects of the book, are used in these videos. 

At its core, BookTok is a place for people across the world to come together and discuss what they’re reading together in one giant community. People post videos predicting future plot twists in their favorite series or convincing others to read this amazing new book they’d just discovered. 

BookTok does a lot of good for encouraging people to read more frequently in their everyday lives. However, as is the case with most things these days, there is always a catch when something seems too good to be true. The caveat is that most of the time users aren’t exactly using the platform to bond over literature. 

“Fast Fashion” Storytelling

The “fast fashion” storytelling trend has taken BookTok by storm these past few years. “Fast fashion” books are books that are pumped out specifically for consumption and success on the BookTok scene. These books are made especially for those who follow the edits and aesthetic videos of characters and stories, rather than those who look for deeper discussions about different genres of literature. 

Oftentimes, these books will use the inclusion of certain tropes as their selling points. Tropes are similar to cliches, in that they are often common scenes in books within a particular genre, and are highly anticipated. Common and popular tropes include the “one bed” trope, “shadow daddy who’s morally grey” trope, and the “enemies to lovers” trope. All of these are popular and well-received on BookTok, which in turn boosts the book’s ratings with its BookTok readers and encourages authors to pump out similar works.

This industry shift has become so extreme that it is not uncommon for books to sacrifice a strong plot in favor of fitting as many BookTok-approved tropes in as possible. Oftentimes, this makes for a disjointed reading experience, in which books begin to blend together and seem the same. 

How Can I Combat This Cultural Trend?

For some readers, these kinds of books are exactly what they want to read. They like the familiarity and comfort of knowing what to expect while also anticipating when the singular bed will finally show up.

For others, they can’t run away from this genre fast enough. If you’re one of those people who aren’t interested in consuming the new fast-fashion books, here are some signs to look out for when perusing titles. 

1. Pay attention to how the book markets itself. Is the back cover full of reviews from other accredited authors? Or does the cover list a bunch of the tropes that can be found inside the book? 

2. If the book is part of a series, pay attention to the publication dates. Some fast-fashion series publish multiple books in that series within the same year. 

3. Read the first few pages or the first chapter of the book. The book’s initial language and setup can clue you in. Are common BookTok phrases, like the phrase “unalive” in the content warning section? Does the protagonist describe themselves as small and weak yet surprisingly good with a sword? Clues like that might point to what kind of story is in store. 

4. Finally, when all else fails, look up the book on Fable, Goodreads, Amazon, or another bookish site. Reviews from fellow readers can be very telling about the book’s character and content. 

Overall, it’s important to trust your gut. There will be context clues all around that will tell you what the book has in store. Sometimes, the book will be the perfect beach read or something to slip in your purse on your morning commute. Other times, you might be looking for something with a little more substance, in which case that might not be the book for you. BookTok and fast-fashion storytelling are here to stay in today’s modern and digital age. It’s important to embrace its merits while still recognizing its shortcomings, and learn how to navigate the landscape so that you can have the best reading experience possible.