In defense of BookTok and the girls who romanticize reading
In BookTok, the young and vibrant book community on TikTok, reading is cool again.
Book content creators, mostly made up of young women, share their passion for books with weekly hauls, colorful annotations, divine bookshelves, and photo shoots in the library, all in the name of inspiring others to read.
And while it may sound nice that more people are embracing reading, not everyone views this trend with optimism. Former BookTuber Barry Pierce raises suspicions in his polemic, “In the Shallow World of BookTok,” asserting that the rising popularity of romanticizing books fosters a performative lifestyle that undermines genuine bibliophilia. The article prompted mixed reactions from the community.
The complex dance between individuality and conformity
Pierce’s valid observation of BookTok’s susceptibility to performativity is intertwined with the widespread influence of genre-specific aesthetics. It’s common to see literary genres being assigned their own “aesthetic” or microidentity; it is in this way that our literary choices substantially mold how we are perceived online.
These BookTok aesthetics come to life through visual curations of reading moods, elements and styles assembled by idealized slideshows, collages and edits. The phenomenon has drawn many to appreciate literature in personal and collective ways, leading to the formation of book subcultures where like-minded and passionate readers bond.
Consider the intellectual allure of the “dark academia” aesthetic that conjures images of classic and highbrow literature, old libraries, and philosophers clad in dark coats. Here, readers often seek out The Secret History and other Kafka-esque books. There’s also the trending “hot girl” book aesthetic incorporating contemporary themes of womanhood, the mundane, and female rage with notable titles like The Virgin Suicides and My Year of Rest and Relaxation.
Although nothing is wrong with identifying with an aesthetic we like, BookTuber According to Alina argued in a video essay that we may shy away from exploring other avenues in fear that it will compromise our standing in our book communities.
True enough, last year, I almost found myself on the verge of a book slump because I wanted to read other genres without forsaking the literary fiction niche I was known for. My initial algorithm on BookTok presented a prominent dichotomy of literary choices—classics and non-fiction as opposed to romance and fantasy. Like other readers, prioritizing the display of my interests constrained my reading experiences.
Reading has evolved away from the extreme ivory towers of the past. While BookTok isn't without its imperfections and challenges, it has successfully reignited wider interest in reading through inclusive and accessible approaches—something lacking in the literary world before.
The tendency to romanticize reading is a double-edged sword. It has simultaneously opened new doors of interest and subtly limited the authentic charm of books. These are not mutually exclusive, and I figured their coexistence is here to stay. Given that the majority of those who engage in this modern romanticization of books are young women, others have unfortunately labeled their love for literature as less than genuine. This may lead to instances where criticism about BookTok has latent undertones of misogyny and prejudice.
Whether it’s makeup, Taylor Swift or boy bands, history has consistently belittled women’s interests and communities. On the other hand, when women take part in stereotypically masculine hobbies, such as reading—which has gained a more colorful and empowering image today—they often face skepticism and are pressured to prove their authentic participation and knowledge in it. This thrusts them into a web of ridicule, scrutiny and competition.
Online expressions as the unexpected anti-hero
Reading has evolved away from the extreme ivory towers of the past. While BookTok isn't without its imperfections and challenges, it has successfully reignited wider interest in reading through inclusive and accessible approaches—something lacking in the literary world before.
And in these book communities, I am surrounded only by supportive and insightful circles of women. We collectively inspire and grow in each other’s literary journeys, and it’s an experience all readers deserve to have. “It's all right if they don't understand it,” says book content creator Mikha. Her thesis focused on friendship formation and Bookstagram, and she thinks the book community and K-pop are both susceptible to misjudgment from outsiders. “Our lives will carry on, and the book community will thrive as bookfluencers continue to encourage people to read.”
We won’t ever stop performing on the internet. Every so often we’re influenced into allowing performativity to supersede the act of reading. But let that not be a reason to declare that the romanticization of reading and women’s rising participation in it ultimately kills its authenticity. Like taking photos in a museum, when done in moderation, appreciating our reading experience in silly, pretty, or nerdy ways publicly or privately doesn’t take away its intrinsic art.
