I was nine when I started reading books. To me, it was like discovering a wardrobe similar to that in The Chronicles of Narnia — it transported me to a world of magic and thrilling adventures, allowing me to experience a mystical escape away from the austerities of the real world.

Starting from the timeless stories of fairy tale princesses in The Little Mermaid, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, and Cinderella, my interest shifted to riding along with Jim Hawkins as he looked for Captain Flint’s treasure chest in Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island, and to seeing the powers of Percy Jackson and his demigod peers as they battle evil creatures to keep the world safe.

Books have this kind of sorcery that keeps readers yearning for more fictional adventures every time they turn the crisp pages. It’s like traveling to different worlds and jumping from one universe to another with only a paperback and a neon-colored highlighter at hand. As they say, who needs plane tickets and visas when you have a book?

It is also natural for readers to always look for new books to enjoy. This is why for most of them, recommendations from friends are always welcome.

But with the help of technology, bookworms are now flocking to social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram to discover the communities’ hottest titles.

The emergence of book-reading communities like #Booktok and #Bookstagram has undeniably helped in promoting reading by encouraging more people to check out recommended titles, reviews, and the like.

Through these online communities, book lovers are given the opportunity to share their current reads, interact with fellow bibliophiles through discussions and debates, and share their unsolicited book reviews without being judged or tagged as a “nerd.”

Aside from being a large reading community, Booktok and Bookstagram have also become a safe space for many readers of all ages.

Through book hauls, reading overviews, to-be-read piles, and book collection content, they help keep people’s love for reading more alive than it ever was.

The power of Booktok and Bookstagram 

For the 22-year-old marketing manager Mikaela Vivas, social media has become a “great help” when it comes to finding her next big read. 

Through online book-reading communities, she gets updated about future releases like bestselling author Mitch Albom’s next book. 

“I don’t go out, not unless it’s work related, nor socialize as often as before (pre-pandemic), so social media recommendations are definitely a big help,” she told republicasia. “I was actually informed by Mitch Albom’s New book ‘The Little Liar’ through social media.”

READ: Mitch Albom’s new novel drops this November

High school science teacher Ronnel Isip shares the same sentiment.

He said often logs in to TikTok to read reviews before purchasing his personal copy of a book. This helps him to determine if the novel fits his taste and the genres he’s interested in.

“There are books kasi that are overhyped. I followed different TikTok accounts that have the same liking for the genres I am into,” he said.

Meanwhile, psychology student Lou Diamond Dee, who is a curious cat when it comes to other people’s current reads, uses Booktok and Bookstagram to look for interesting titles.

“Honestly, I’m always so curious about what other people are reading. I just love seeing their reactions to a book without ruining it for me,” the 19-year-old-said.

“It’s cool to see if we have similar tastes in books or not,” she added.

Creative lead Aya Malasig, on the other hand, only goes to Bookstagram when she’s desperate to read a fresh title.

Aside from Instagram and TikTok, YouTube has also become a source of new book titles for some readers like marketing analyst Zoe Guadalupe, psychology student Bea Biona, and political science student Kyla Lopez.

“I browse TikTok sometimes, but my old reliable is always going to be my favorite BookTubers. I’ve been on BookTube for years, so I know the content creators who share similar tastes with me,” said 24-year-old Guadalupe.

Online book reviews

Book reviews from different people help readers to know if a particular title would satisfy their specific thirst for a fun but sensical read.

In the case of writer Nicole Cawaling, the book she found on Bookstagram surprisingly became her favorite last year.

“There’s this book titled Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan. I saw it on Bookstagram because it was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. I read it as soon as I saw its blurb and I loved it. It’s actually my favorite read of 2022,” the 24-year-old said.

Dee also found one of her most loved books via online book communities. It was Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami. 

“The book just gave me not much of the plot but more of the ambience and left me nothing but emptiness, which for me is a satisfaction. Did it live up [to my expectations]? Yes,” she said.

Be wary of the hype

On the other hand, there were also books that did not live up to the reviews they were given on Booktok and Bookstagram.

Malasig recalled her experience while reading My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfeigh. 

While many people became fond of the book because of the main character’s relatability, Malasig said she thought the book was “mid” as there were instances in the book where the lead would overdose herself with prescription drugs, and people would glorify it even though it is wrong.

“I think para syang mixed bag kasi parang some people hail it, na parang ginoglorify, pero sakin parang 50/50 lang sya. Syempre relatable yung character and you can see how destructive she is based on her behavior and coping mechanism,” she said.

Meanwhile, 27-year-old Jomil Adrielle Gutierrez said most of the books she read based on recommendations from the online book community did not live up to her expectations.

“Probably 60 percent of the books I’ve read from Booktok or Booksta were overhyped and did not live up to my expectations,” she said.

Psychology student Maureene Dancalan had the same experience.

“Most people just have different tastes and I am well aware of it. However, it was still a great chance to read and travel through a story of another book,” she said.

 

How Gen Zs turned to reading

Many believe that the pandemic helped people to develop a reading habit, as it kept them cooped up at home for a lengthy period and left them bored. 

Dee believes one of the factors that pushed Gen Zs like her to pick up a book to read is the long period of having to stay home. 

“With limited options for entertainment, people were looking for new and exciting things to do, and reading became a popular choice,” she said. 

Meanwhile, Isip believes that the appeal of Booktok and Bookstagram to the young generations stems from their interest in topics like mental health and romance.

“GenZs, in my opinion, have a high level of curiosity and are very interested in romance and mental health related books,” he said.

Keeping up with the trend

Others think Gen Zs have been inclined to read because of their desire to keep up with the latest trends online.

“People are enticed to do new things and to try out new trends. Since booksta and booktok are showing how there are so many books and interesting themes, more people are exposed to different types of books which just makes the audiences feel that there are so many works that can entertain and educate them,” said Gutierrez.

Lopez said that because of the online trends, Gen Zs now view reading as “cool” rather than “nerdy” 

Books also make good online content, Dee noted.

“Many Gen Zs love taking photos of these books and sharing them on social media, creating a visually pleasing and highly shareable online trend,” she said. 

A sense of home

Bibliophiles have found a place in online communities to talk about their love for the printed word.

“For book lovers, Booktok and Bookstagram offer a feeling of community and connection where they can express their love of books, interact with others who share their interest, and find new books and authors,” said medical technology student Jhessa May Agapay. 

Cawaling also said Booktok and Bookstagram helped readers find a new home and make new connections.

“If you are a bookworm, it’s hard to find friends who love reading as much as you do, let alone friends who have the same literary taste as yours. And so, when booktok and bookstagram boomed, it felt as if we had found a home,” she said.