It’s no secret that TikTok—especially its beautiful corner known as BookTok—has become the ultimate recommendation engine for readers around the world. What once took months of word-of-mouth or curated bookstore shelves now happens in seconds through a dramatic POV video or an emotional review with mascara-streaked cheeks. From booktok romance to booktok crying books, the app has birthed overnight sensations and resurrected underrated gems.
In this article, we’re diving deep into the BookTok recommendations that truly lived up to the hype. Whether you’re looking for booktok thrillers, emotional books tiktok can’t stop crying over, or those viral reads 2025 is obsessed with—you’re in the right place.
Let’s unpack the trending books 2025 that stole hearts, broke souls, and had readers saying, “TikTok made me read it.”
📚 Why Trust BookTok?
Before we jump into the list, let’s acknowledge something important: TikTok hyped books can sometimes be hit or miss. But when they hit? They hit hard.
BookTok is powered by raw emotion—reviews aren’t polished or sponsored. They’re messy, passionate, and relatable. You get unfiltered reactions: people bawling at 2 AM, throwing the book across the room, or filming their live gasps during a plot twist. And that honesty makes booktok approved books all the more trustworthy.
So yes, the popular books on TikTok below are totally worth it.
🔥 The Viral Books TikTok Made Famous (and Why You Should Read Them)
1. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Genre: Booktok fantasy, enemies to lovers, dragons, war college vibes
If you haven’t seen this booktok bestseller yet—are you even on BookTok? Fourth Wing exploded thanks to its “Hunger Games meets Game of Thrones” energy. With sizzling booktok romance, high-stakes trials, and morally gray characters, this one’s a true fantasy books tiktok favorite.
⚡ Why it’s worth it: You’ll stay up way past bedtime trying to survive the war college alongside Violet. It’s action-packed, yet emotionally grounding. The sequel (Iron Flame) is also one of the most trending novels tiktok fans are raving about in 2025.
2. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Genre: Booktok crying books, historical fiction, celebrity drama, LGBTQ+
This book became booktok sad books royalty—and for good reason. It tells the story of Evelyn Hugo, an iconic Hollywood star with secrets that unravel through her personal account of love, ambition, and heartbreak.
💔 Why it’s worth it: It’s glamorous, juicy, and gut-wrenching. The emotional weight? Heavy. But also beautiful. Definitely a must read booktok gem for those who love rich characters and flawed decisions.
3. A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) by Sarah J. Maas
Genre: Booktok fantasy, fae, slow-burn romance, steamy scenes
Talk about viral books tiktok cannot stop recommending. ACOTAR has spawned art, theories, and cosplay on BookTok, and it’s still one of the most booktok trending reads even in 2025. Feyre’s journey from human to fae, from survival to power, from trauma to love, is absolutely magnetic.
🌙 Why it’s worth it: If you’re looking for fantasy books tiktok readers devour in one sitting, this one is your gateway drug.
4. It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
Genre: Booktok crying books, romance, domestic themes, emotional trauma
No list of booktok recommendations is complete without CoHo. It Ends With Us turned into an emotional reckoning for readers. It’s hard, heavy, and hopeful. If you’re into emotional books tiktok recommends repeatedly, this is a must.
💡 Why it’s worth it: Because it’s not just a booktok romance—it’s a story about strength, resilience, and choosing yourself.
5. The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
Genre: Booktok fantasy, dark academia, morally gray chaos
Think secret societies, magical knowledge, and six brilliant misfits. TikTok lost its mind over this one—and it’s now a booktok bestseller with spin-offs on the way.
🔮 Why it’s worth it: Smart, twisty, and filled with existential dread. What more do booktok dark romance lovers want?
💘 The BookTok Romance Books That Really Do Melt Your Soul
6. Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score
Genre: Booktok romance, small-town love, grumpy x sunshine
This is one of those booktok trending reads that comes up in every romance roundup. It has small-town charm, character development, emotional baggage, and just enough steam to keep things spicy.
🌼 Why it’s worth it: It balances humor and heartbreak in a way that makes you feel everything. And then immediately buy the sequel.
7. Icebreaker by Hannah Grace
Genre: Booktok happy books, college sports romance, spicy scenes
For those needing a break from booktok sad books, Icebreaker is a breath of fresh air. It’s flirty, funny, and cozy—a true booktok approved book that makes you feel like you’re wrapped in a comfy hoodie and a warm cup of cocoa.
🏒 Why it’s worth it: The banter is 10/10. The chemistry? Off the charts. This is booktok romance comfort food.
8. Twisted Love by Ana Huang
Genre: Booktok dark romance, brother’s best friend, billionaire trope
If you’re in your dark romance phase, Ana Huang has you covered. Twisted Love is sexy, intense, and dangerously addictive. No wonder it’s one of the most viral reads 2025 continues to obsess over.
🔥 Why it’s worth it: If tension-filled, angsty, borderline morally gray romances are your thing, welcome home.
🔪 TikTok Hyped Thrillers You Won’t Put Down
9. The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
Genre: Booktok thriller, psychological suspense, jaw-dropping twists
Freida McFadden is the queen of tiktok hyped books in the thriller space. The Housemaid kept readers screaming. It’s one of those booktok bestsellers where every chapter ends with a gasp.
🔑 Why it’s worth it: The plot twists come hard and fast. You think you know what’s happening—until you absolutely don’t. Classic booktok thriller magic.
10. Verity by Colleen Hoover
Genre: Booktok dark romance + thriller, psychological mind games
If you want a disturbing story that will linger in your mind long after the last page, Verity is for you. With its unreliable narration, morally messed-up characters, and what-did-I-just-read energy, it’s peak emotional books tiktok madness.
💭 Why it’s worth it: You’ll either love it or hate it—but you will talk about it. A lot.
11. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
Genre: Booktok thriller, psychological mystery, slow burn
BookTok can’t get over that twist. Even if you think you know what’s coming, this book proves you don’t. It’s a must read booktok thriller that stands the test of time.
🧠 Why it’s worth it: It’s smart, haunting, and elegantly plotted. One of the few tiktok hyped books that deserves all the praise.
🌈 BookTok Sad Books vs Happy Books: What Are You in the Mood For?
Depending on your emotional state, BookTok offers both comfort and chaos. Here are some contrasting favorites:
| Sad Books (for when you want to sob) | Happy Books (for when you want to smile) |
| A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara | Beach Read by Emily Henry |
| If He Had Been With Me by Laura Nowlin | The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood |
| All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven | People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry |
These booktok crying books and booktok happy books truly showcase how TikTok has something for every kind of reader.
📈 The 2025 BookTok Phenomena: What’s Trending Now?
As we cruise through 2025, some trending books 2025 are quickly climbing the charts:
- The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon (booktok fantasy)
- Powerless by Lauren Roberts (booktok dark romance + dystopia)
- Bride by Ali Hazelwood (booktok romance with vampires!)
- The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer (emotional books tiktok can’t stop recommending)
These new booktok trending reads are getting rave reviews and emotional reaction videos daily.
💬 Final Thoughts from Riya’s Blogs
If you’ve ever wondered whether those booktok recommendations filling your feed are truly worth it—the answer is a big, emotional YES. The viral books TikTok made famous aren’t just a passing trend. They’re reshaping how we discover and experience stories.
So whether you’re diving into fantasy books tiktok users can’t shut up about, seeking out booktok thrillers that leave your jaw on the floor, or collecting booktok romance novels like they’re Pokémon—just know: your next favorite read might already be trending on TikTok.
Happy reading, fellow bookworms. 💖
And don’t forget to share your favorites in the comments—because nothing beats a good BookTok spiral.
Want to read a bit more? Find some more of my writings here-
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The Written Confession: A Short Thriller Story
The Best New Horror Movies to Stream Right Now (2025 Edition)
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