I spend way too much time on TikTok. Even with a time management limit, I still feel like I’m scrolling through, collecting lists of way too many books I want to read. Thanks to BookTok, I discovered new favorites. However, those on BookTok know that often the same books are featured. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen a TikTok with Sarah J. Maas books. So I’m going to go through the most popular books on TikTok and decide if they’re worth reading.
“The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” by Taylor Jenkins Reid
“The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” follows journalist Monique Grant who was selected to write the biography of Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo. Hugo reveals a story of ambition, prohibitions and friendship. Taylor Jenkins Reid knows how to write the most complex and nuanced characters. Her ability to craft a character that readers will truly care about is amazing. One thing that I absolutely adore is that Reid has created diverse historical fiction. The old Hollywood setting immerses readers in a glittering world with LGBT romance at the heart of the plot. My heart is bursting with joy that this is so popular on TikTok. This is a top choice for anyone who wants to read a famous book from BookTok.
“These Violent Delights” by Chloe Gong
Run to your library, bookstore or e-book store now. Chloe Gong is my inspiration because she wrote this while still in college. His ability to manage classes and write my favorite book of 2021 is iconic. I believe every post about “These Violent Delights” on TikTok is well deserved. Gong’s beginnings follow Juliette Cai and Roma Montagov, two prominent gang heiresses in 1920s Shanghai. The death toll is rising in Shanghai and the two must work together to stop the chaos. This imaginative tale of “Romeo and Juliet” jumped off the page and kept me in the story until the last word. It’s a great young adult novel, and I’m so glad TikTok enjoys Gong’s work as much as I do.
“The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue” by V. E. Schwab
I’m a huge Victoria Schwab fan; any novel she publishes, I will buy it. When you look at reviews of the novel on Goodreads, you come across drastic differences in how people enjoyed this read; individuals either love it or hate it. I believe this is one of Schwab’s superior works of art. We follow Addie LaRue who makes a deal with the devil to live forever but will be forgotten by everyone she meets. The setting begins in France, in 1714, but we soon travel across continents through Addie’s dazzling perspective. After 300 years while Addie is visiting a bookstore, she comes across a man who remembers her name. As I write this, I can’t wait to run to my bookshelf and read Addie’s story again. If you’re looking for a spicy novel to read in one sitting, this isn’t for you. It’s a slow-burn romance about life and what it means to leave your mark on the world.
“From Blood and Ash” by Jennifer L. Armentrout
“From Blood and Ash” is often compared to Sarah J. Maas, and I don’t think that’s fair to Maas. Maas’s books always have a central plot outside of romance, whereas Armentrout’s are written solely for romance. If you want a spicy romance set in a fantasy world, then this is the book for you. It’s not, however, if you’re looking for anything more than a romantic plot. Poppy, a young girl who should never speak or touch anyone, is assigned a new guide, Hawke. Feared by mortals and forsaken by the gods, a fallen kingdom seeks to reclaim the land, and the entire fate of Poppy’s kingdom rests on its shoulders. Poppy being the hero of the kingdom is really a subplot compared to the romance. While that’s not a negative, I think people expect a more substantial fantasy plot than it is. While I say that, I know I’ll keep reading the show because I’m a girl who loves a spicy romance with a hint of fantasy. I think it’s a great read, especially after having to analyze text for one of your courses. This gives your brain a chance to consume content that isn’t necessarily deep or thought-provoking.
“The Song of Achilles” by Madeline Miller
I almost majored in classical studies, and that’s because of Miller’s work with “The Song of Achilles.” Miller stays true to the romance of Achilles and Patroclus, unlike other forms of media (yes, I call the 2004 film “Troy”). I think after reading the last few pages, I needed days off to mourn the fact that I can no longer read this book for the first time. “The Song of Achilles” follows the relationship and tragedy of Achilles and Patroclus throughout the drama of the mythical Trojan War. The hype around Miller’s book is accurate. It depicts the story of Achilles with all the splendor and pomp of the classical age while making it feel human and almost modern.
“A Touch of Darkness” by Scarlett St. Clair
At first, I chose this novel for the plot, and it was a stupid mistake. “A Touch of Darkness” is meant to be pure spice. In a modern-day Olympus, Persephone wants to start a career as a journalist and forget her life as a goddess, but when it ends in a bargain with Hades, she’s stuck in the world she was hoping to get rid of. Soon his hatred towards the god of hell lessens and turns into passion. The characters are interesting enough to make reading about their development worthwhile, but seriously, after the first chapter, I knew I was continuing this for smut. Nothing in this book is groundbreaking, but if you grew up addicted to Greek mythology then this is a great novel for you. There’s a pipeline from kids who adored “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” to adults who read the Hades romance novels. I know this because I am a perfect example. St. Clair’s writing got me addicted to tense, smoldering scenes. If you need a story to distract you from your dull life, this is a great choice.
