“TikTok Made Me Read It,” she shouted at the top of her lungs. BookTok has gotten to be the go-to place for all things literary, and TikTok has birthed an entire new era of viral books. Here’s a roundup of the top 10 books that have taken both the TikTok universe and bestseller lists by storm, complete with everything you would like to know: release dates, authors, genres, costs, and more. Additionally, we’ve included the spice levels in each book because we know how important that’s for some readers!
A Wild Ride Through #BookTok Faves
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
1. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
“Be glad of your human heart. Pity those who don’t feel anything at all.”
Release Date: May 5, 2015
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Cost: $12.99 (paperback)
Copies Sold: 2.9 million+
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️(Moderate) – Expect a few steamy scenes, but the plot remains the main focus.
Sarah J. Maas is a YA and adult fantasy powerhouse, best known for the Throne of Glass and A Court of Thorns and Roses series.
Synopsis: Feyre, a mortal huntress, becomes entangled in a dangerous game of life and death when she is captured by a faerie lord.
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
2. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
“To the stars who listen—and the dreams that are answered.”
Release Date: May 3, 2016
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Cost: $13.99 (paperback)
Copies Sold: 2.2 million+
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (High)—Some highly detailed romantic encounters with plenty of heat.
This sequel to A Court of Thorns and Roses sees Feyre grappling with the trauma of her past while navigating complex alliances in the faerie world.
The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
3. The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
“Everything’s a game, Avery Grambs. The only thing we get to decide is if we play to win.”
Release Date: September 1, 2020
Genre: mystery, thriller
Cost: $11.99 (paperback)
Copies Sold: 800,000+
Spice Level:🌶️ (Low)—romance is present, but it’s not explicit.
Jennifer Lynn Barnes is a prolific author of YA thrillers, known for blending fast-paced mystery with captivating characters.
Synopsis: When Avery Grambs inherits a fortune from a billionaire she’s never met, she must solve riddles, navigate dangerous family politics, and stay alive.
Verity by Colleen Hoover
4. Verity by Colleen Hoover
“I think the truth is subjective. It’s based on your perspective.”
Release Date: December 7, 2018
Genre: Psychological thriller
Cost: $14.99 (paperback)
Copies Sold: 2.9 million+
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (High)—Thee spice here is intense, raw, and matches the dark, psychological tone of the book.
Colleen Hoover, queen of contemporary romance, steps into thriller territory with Verity, a book that has left readers gasping for breath.
Synopsis: Lowen, a struggling writer, stumbles upon dark, disturbing secrets while finishing the manuscript of a famous yet incapacitated author, Verity Crawford.
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
5. It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
“There is no such thing as bad people. We’re all just people who sometimes do bad things.”
Release Date: August 2, 2016
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Cost: $14.99 (paperback)
Copies Sold: 3.7 million+
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️ (moderate)—Emotional intensity is the main attraction, with some romantic heat sprinkled in.
This modern romance tackles difficult topics like domestic abuse, making it one of the most talked-about books on BookTok.
Synopsis: Lily’s seemingly perfect relationship is shattered by the dark secrets of her past and her present.
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
6. The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
“Carry yourself with the confidence of a mediocre white man.”
Release Date: September 14, 2021
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Cost: $13.99 (paperback)
Copies Sold: 1.4 million+
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️ (moderate)—One major spicy scene, but it’s mostly sweet and slow-burn.
Ali Hazelwood, a neuroscientist turned romance author, captures hearts with her charming academic setting love story.
Synopsis: Olive, a PhD student, fakes a relationship with a professor, only to discover that their feelings are more than just pretend.
The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
7. The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
“Everything’s a game. Sometimes you have to play dirty to win.”
Release Date: September 7, 2021
Genre: mystery, thriller
Cost: $12.99 (paperback)
Copies Sold: 470,000+
Spice Level: 🌶️ (Low)—Mostly focused on the mystery with only subtle hints of romance.
A thrilling follow-up to The Inheritance Games, The Hawthorne Legacy delivers even more high-stakes puzzles and deadly secrets.
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
8. Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
“I had absolutely no interest in being somebody else’s muse. I am not a muse. I am the somebody.”
Release Date: March 5, 2019
Genre: Historical Fiction
Cost: $17.99 (paperback)
Copies Sold: 1.5 million+
Spice Level: 🌶️ (Low) – Focus is more on relationships and personal dynamics than romantic spice.
Taylor Jenkins Reid, known for her deeply emotional narratives, brings a fictional ‘70s rock band to life in this gripping oral history-style novel.
Synopsis: Daisy Jones, a wild and talented singer, joins The Six, and together they create magic, but with fame comes conflict.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
9. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
“What is a person, if not the marks they leave behind?”
Release Date: October 6, 2020
Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction
Cost: $16.99 (paperback)
Copies Sold: 1.1 million+
Spice Level: 🌶️ (Low) – Beautifully written, but romance takes a backseat to philosophical themes.
Victoria Schwab is a versatile fantasy author who weaves stories full of wonder and tragedy. Addie LaRue is perhaps her most haunting tale.
Synopsis: After making a Faustian bargain to live forever, Addie LaRue is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets—until one day, someone remembers her.
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
10. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
“If I cannot be better than them, I will become so much worse.”
Release Date: January 2, 2018
Genre: Fantasy
Cost: $12.99 (paperback)
Copies Sold: 1.3 million+
Spice Level: 🌶️ (Low) While the romance builds up over the series, this book mainly focuses on court politics and tension.
Holly Black, known for her dark fairy tales, introduces a world of politics, betrayal, and brutal love in The Cruel Prince.
Synopsis: Jude, a mortal girl raised in the High Court of Faerie, must navigate a world of deceit and treachery to rise to power.
“TikTok Made Me Read It,”
Last Contemplations:
From dark faerie tales to contemporary romance, #BookTok has turned reading into an addictive social drift. These books are not just stories; they’re experiences that have captivated readers around the world. If you’re looking to get lost in a new world, any of these trending picks will leave you mesmerized.
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