Written by E.R.B
The book community has been thriving a lot over the past three years, and TikTok has played a major role in making reading trendy and cool again, and it has inspired many young adults to start heading to the bookstore. This is amazing, because everyone should be able to feel the experience of falling in love with a book, especially if it’s a fictional one. I myself absolutely love the YA Genre, and I’m going to let you know if I think some of the viral BookTok books are worth your time, or if you should skip it.
1) Shadow & Bone by Leigh Bardugo
I’m sure that you’ve all heard of this book but if you haven’t, don’t worry! I’ll give you a little summary on what it’s about. It was published in 2012 and in April 2021 it was adapted into a hit Netflix Series, that also included elements from Bardugo’s other successful YA book Six of Crows. The premise of Shadow and Bone is about a 17 year old cartographer named Alina Starkov, who doesn’t think that she possesses the magical gifts of the Grisha who can control different elements. But one day, when she is surrounded by a dangerous attack when crossing the treacherous Shadow Fold, which is filled with horrific monsters, Alina unleashes dormant light magic that she wasn’t aware of. And thus her journey begins and she has to discover the reason behind this, all while she encounters friendship, romance and villainy at the palace in Os Alta. The fictional kingdom of Ravka in this book, which takes some inspiration from Russian culture is cleverly crafted and written in a way that it completely makes the reader feel like Ravka is a real kingdom. Bardugo’s fantasy world building skills are absolutely worth the hype. However… The overall plot of the story didn’t entice me as much as I would have liked, and although the MC (Main Character) Alina Starkov is an easy character to root for, I found her easily forgettable. The crumbs of romance in the story didn’t perk my interest either. Her main love interest Mal, who is her childhood best friend does not have much to do in the book and I didn’t feel any sparks between Mal and Alina. The villain in this book is very intriguing and I very much look foward to reading about them in the sequel, Siege and Storm. Overall, if you’re an avid fantasy reader then you should read this book and experience the Grishaverse for yourself. I enjoyed it, but I personally feel that it is very overrated, and I think you can find better YA fantasies to read.
2) The Selection by Kiera Cass
The Selection was published in 2012 as well, and it attracted the attention of many fans who enjoyed the hit YA Dystopian novel The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. The Selection is a dystopian romance book that follows our MC America Singer as she is selected for a chance to win the prince of llléa’s heart. Now, with a character named America Singer (and she sings in the book as well) you can expect this book to be a way more lighthearted experience then the more intense themes that are explored in The Hunger Games. I always like to say that this book gives off PG-13 Disney, reality TV vibes. Now, is it worth the hype that it’s been receiving over the last several years on TikTok? I would personally say YES. I adored this book. If you go into it expecting a non-serious, sometimes cheesy and fun time then you will likely enjoy this. It’s a quick book to read and it has its share of funny moments as you read about the 35 girls competing for the attention of the lovable Prince Maxon. I gave this book 5 Stars and I would recommend this to new YA readers, and if you’re a parent who wants to upgrade your tween or young teen’s reading material then you can rest assured that The Selection is a great option.
1) The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
This book is hailed as a BookTok classic. It was published in 2018 and soon became a favourite amongst those who enjoy the YA genre. It’s a fantasy book that is set in the fictional world of Elfhame. It follows our MC Jude Duarte, who was kidnapped when she was seven to the world of Elfhame by a Fae General named Madoc. Her twin sister Taryn and her eldest sister Vivi were also kidnapped. The book follows Jude’s journey in Elfhame when she is 17, and how she is still adjusting to living in a world where mortals are looked down upon. This book has so many different elements to it. It has fantasy politics, cunning characters and an enemies-to-lovers romance. But was it worth the hype? To me, absolutely. I one thousand percent recommend this book. I love how Jude is a morally grey character, and her ambitious and determined attitude made her such a fascinating character to read about. This book has incredible world buiilding, and Holly Black has created such a lush and vivid world in Elfhame. The romance is so intriguing as you see Jude and Prince Carden’s relationship develop throughout the book. It has insane plot twists and it will keep you guessing. This is a great YA Fantasy book for readers looking to get into the genre. This book will forever be one of my favourites and I personally think it deserves all the hype.
Overall, I love to read trending books to see if I’ll enjoy them and if they deserve their accolades. What do you think about BookTok, and have you read any of these books yet?