By Raphaelle Eckhardt ‘25 and Harriet Lee ‘25
BookTok is a content corner of the popular social media app TikTok where creators and readers alike share recommendations and reviews on books they either love or loathe. #BookTok has over 23 billion views on TikTok, reaching a wide range of audiences across the app. Many authors made their claim to fame through Booktok and now have a steady following of readers. You may have heard of many of the popular trending books, but are they worth the read? Let’s find out!
Note: We would recommend checking the trigger warnings for each of these books if you would like to read them.
All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
All the Bright Places is a young adult novel that tells the story of an unlikely bond between teenagers Finch and Violet. Their story begins at the rooftop of their high school. Both of them are contemplating whether to make the jump between life and death. However, after both seeing each other, they help each other down and continue in their separate worlds. That is, Violet does. However Finch becomes fascinated with her and signs up to complete a school project with Violet.
In this eye-opening story of love, loss, and grief, readers understand the struggle of being a teenager in modern society (especially dealing with mental health).
After reading All the Bring Places, we were moved to tears. The plotline surrounding Finch and Violet exploring the hidden treasures of their boring town seemed to point to the fact that beauty and joy can be found anywhere you look for it.
Reading this book, I was able to see multiple perspectives starkly different from my own. I was able to empathize with the characters' search for purpose in their life and relate to their frustrations with high school and growing up. When they were on the brink of losing themselves, connection helped them fully embrace life.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is an alluring novel about a teen boy named Charlie. The story is told through letters with an unknown recipient. It covers the highs and lows of Charlie’s freshman year of high school, such as coping in the wake of his best friend's suicide. Through his mental health journey, Charlie finds supportive friends who help guide him along the way.
Charlie’s trauma causes him to hide certain key details in the letters, leading to a devastating plot reveal at the end. This definitely comes as a shock for the reader, and after learning the truth, everything starts to come together to make sense for the reader.
Charlie’s resilience is something all readers should admire. However, this book also underscores the significance of asking for support with mental health when it's needed. Furthermore, the book highlights the value of having loyal and caring friends like Charlie’s. Getting to know Charlie, throughout the reading experience, was such a joy, as he is such a sincere, loving, character. This has easily become one of my favorite books, and it is definitely worth a read.
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
The Song of Achilles is a retelling of the ancient Greek story of Achilles. Achilles was a descendant of Greek gods, also said to be one of the greatest war heroes. In the novel, Achilles is bisexual and in a relationship with his best friend, Patroclus.
The story is focused on Patroclus and Achilles, how they meet, fall in love, and face challenges in their relationship. Since Achilles is considered a mighty and cruel warrior, the author’s romantic portrayal of the character is fascinating. Achilles and Patroclus forge an inseparable bond, despite risking their lives under the gods’ wrath.
When word gets out that Helen of Sparta is kidnapped, all heroes of Greece are called to save the day. Achilles, convinced with the promise of a fulfilling future, joins the cause. Patroclus, torn between love and fear for Achilles, follows. Their relationship is tested like never before, and they both must make sacrifices. By the end of the book, I was left feeling quite down. Read at your own risk!
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
We Were Liars is an elusive young adult novel about a group of teenagers who spend their summers on a private island owned by their wealthy family. One summer, the main character Cadence suffers from a head injury and is unable to remember anything from her vacation. Struggling to uncover more of her summer memories, Cadence reaches out to her cousins, who seemingly ignore her.
Two summers later (“Summer Seventeen”), she goes back to the island to find that much has changed. Her cousins re-emerge to help her recover the events of “Summer Fifteen.”
The author is able to capture us with beautiful imagery and chapters of wealthy teens living lavishly on the island. It sounds like a relatively simple plot; however, the more you read, the more confusing it gets. The plot twists throughout the book bring about a feeling of distrust and doubt in the characters.
The ending is the best part of the book, hands down. The timing of the story is off throughout most of the novel, leaving the reader unsure where they have landed in time. But once you make it through, the plot twist is astonishing. Many booktokers have reported that “it will emotionally destroy you.” We personally thought it was an excellent read.
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