TikTok influencer Ayman Chaudhary speaks during an interview at her home in Naperville, Illinois, on April 27, 2024. She and others shared their top selections for summer in the first-ever US BookTok Summer Reading List.
AFP via Getty Images
Summer is about beaches, barbeques—and now, BookTok. Over the past five years, summer reads have come to be defined by the influencers who devote their time to posting about their favorite books, and many of them are the BookTokers who populate TikTok.
Light fare traditionally constitutes summer reading lists. But BookTok has also redefined what fits into your beach bag, leading TikTok to curate its first-ever US BookTok Summer Reading List, released Thursday morning.
It just goes to show how impactful the medium has become, says Elizabeth Pucci. She oversees ebooks and audiobooks at Hoopla Digital, the digital media platform used by public libraries across North America.
“When readers gather around a title online—whether it’s a romance, romantasy or an emerging genre like LitRPG—they create passionate fandoms that drive recommendations and ultimately what people choose to read next. We’re seeing readers move beyond traditional ‘summer beach reads’ and embrace whatever excites their communities, from fantasy worlds to thrillers and horror,” Pucci says.
Readers are looking for authenticity, and BookTok delivers. “I think BookTok is influencing what people read because readers trust other readers more than marketing,” says Tishayla J. Williams, a writer who founded The TW Collective, a workplace consultancy. “The books I keep seeing people talk about this summer are stories about women dealing with real-life issues like divorce, motherhood, family drama, grief, friendship, and figuring out who they are when life doesn't go according to plan.”
While book clubs run by celebrities still remain popular, BookTok connections tend to feel more personal and often more influential, notes Be a Better Brand founder Chrissy Bernal, who offers PR consulting for authors. “Models such as the Oprah/Jenna/Reese Book Club are great, but those are really about a single aspirational voice, whereas BookTok spans across millions of community-driven conversations,” she says. “Something powerfully different about BookTok is that it lowers gatekeeping and gives any book a legitimate pathway to discovery if the right community finds it.
But a BookTok hashtag only goes so far, argues historical fiction author E.L. Johnson, who regularly uses BookTok hashtags to promote her books. “It's not just the BookTok hashtag that drives sales and views; that's only one step. What I find is to make a book a popular read and to get more views, it's down to building a reader fan base for the book, including things like advance reader copies (ARCs), giveaways, book gift boxes and social media campaigns,” she says. “With more readers sharing their reads on TikTok and Instagram, that helps push what is popular and what's not. And we're seeing it on Amazon, with many books showing they are TikTok bestsellers.”
Here are the selections from this year’s US #BookTok Summer Reading List.
Posting under @aymansbooks, Chaudhary is a prolific reader who has curated more than 400 reviews on Goodreads and loves a good romance book. She also posts comedy videos, including a popular series on trying Pakistani snacks.
In this dystopian romance, a mercenary assassin is forced to marry the son of a corrupt president following a botched assassination attempt. Daggermouth by H.M. Wolfe is available from publisher Scarlett Press.
Chaudhary says: "My heart was racing every page."
In this romantic fantasy, a former alchemist who has lost her memory is held captive by necromancers amid a devastating war. Alchemised by SenLinYu is available from Del Ray.
Chaudhary says: "Reading Alchemised felt like the world was holding its breath and you’re the first one to exhale."
Posting under @baker.reads, Baker is a horror fan and Karin Slaughter devotee who has self-published his own books. His most popular videos discuss the books he’s found scariest or most disturbing—no surprise, Slaughter penned one of his recommendations.
In this twisty sci-fi novel, a secret organization must control the “anti-memes,” entities that can remove themselves from the human memory—and thus become difficult to find. There Is No Antimemetics Division by QNTM is available from publisher Ballantine Books.
Baker says: "This is a fever dream of a story that will have you questioning everything and that will break your brain."
In this thriller set in a small Georgia town, the second in the North Falls series, a sheriff investigating a small-town murder uncovers secrets so shocking, the community itself is endangered. The Secrets We Hide by Karin Slaughter is available from publisher HarperCollins.
Baker says: "Karin Slaughter is the best thriller writer working today, and this new series just shows she’s at the top of her game."
Posting under @hina, Sabatine reviews mostly speculative fiction, sci-fi, and diverse, character-driven reads. They publish popular gift guides, recaps of their monthly reads, and fun zodiac sign content. Their recommendations are the oldest on the list.
In this 1943 literary novel, the main character’s thoughts, emotions and evolving sense of identity are revealed using a then-revolutionary stream-of-consciousness style. Near to the Wild Heart by Clarice Lispector is available from publisher New Directions.
Sabatine says: "A perfect choice for those who cannot decide between poetry and philosophy for their next read."
In this 1972 sci-fi novella, humans colonize a forested planet in search of resources, clashing with its indigenous inhabitants who live in harmony with their environment—big symbolism and current themes here. The Word for World Is Forest by Ursula K. Le Guin is available from publisher Tor Publishing.
Sabatine says: "Gripping and sentimental, it makes us appreciate our planet's cosmic rarity while highlighting what might happen if we collectively realize that too late."
Posting under @ kierralewis75, Lewis is known for her devotion to Vampire Diaries and Lord of the Rings. In 2024, she went viral for her reaction to reading the Harry Potter series for the first time, and she shares two books to please readers of all tastes.
In this retelling of the Trojan War from Patroclus’s perspective, he tells the surprising story of his relationship with childhood friend (and later more) Achilles. Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller is available from publisher Ecco.
Lewis says: "A story that will stick with you even after you’ve put the book down!"
In this romance from a BookTok favorite, two cursed-at-love people who get together for “just a summer fling”—or is it? Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez is available from publisher Forever.
Lewis says: "The perfect beach read full of laughter and lots of cute swoon moments!"
Posting under vinopapi23, the BookToker known only as Smitty is a devoted fan of Brandon Sanderson and loves sci-fi. He reads a wide variety of books—one of his favorites in 2025 was S.A. Cosby’s exceptional Southern noir Razorblade Tears. No surprises here, with Sanderson taking one of his spots.
In this sci-fi story, a skilled assassin navigates a futuristic world shaped by shifting alliances and moral complexity. The Last Contract of Isako by Fonda Lee is available from publisher Orbit.
Smitty says: "Fonda Lee gave us one of the greatest fantasy trilogies ever with the Green Bone Saga, and now she’s coming in hot with a highly anticipated sci-fi story that feels absolutely perfect for summer reading."
In this fantasy set in a world ruled by a tyrant, Mistborn follows rebels who hope to use a metal-based magic system to rid themselves of the evil empire. Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson is available from publisher Tor Trade.
Smitty says: "With it being adapted for Apple TV+, there’s honestly no better time to jump into this iconic series before the hype explodes even more."
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