TikTok’s BookTok is making it hard to tell if a book is worth the read or just someone’s idea of an aesthetically pleasing book. BookTok is becoming less about the content of the books themselves and more about the aesthetics of the covers. It’s no secret that a visually appealing book can spark curiosity, but on TikTok, that appeal often seems to outweigh the quality of the writing inside.
Many readers are drawn to a book’s cover, reinforcing the adage “don’t judge a book by its cover” but doing exactly that. BookTok has taken this instinct to new heights, transforming the cover into a status symbol. It’s common to see books with less compelling content but eye-catching designs going viral. Suddenly, a pretty cover can lead to thousands of sales or a spike in reviews—before anyone’s even cracked the spine.
What’s particularly fascinating is how the aesthetics-driven nature of BookTok can create a disconnect between what the book looks like and the experience of reading it. People often showcase stunning covers, and then express disappointment once they delve into the actual narrative. It’s easy to fall in love with a book visually and anticipate a magical reading experience, only to discover the plot doesn’t live up to the exterior.
While there’s no denying the power of a beautiful cover, this trend reflects a shift in how we consume media. Platforms like TikTok are designed for fast, visual engagement, which can reduce books to little more than props in someone’s aesthetic life. It challenges the idea that books are first and foremost about stories, knowledge, or escapism and makes them more about visual appeal.
This is not to say that books with great covers can’t also have great content—but the emphasis on appearance risks elevating form over substance. For authors, this could mean investing more in cover design and marketing appeal, rather than focusing solely on crafting a well-written story.
In the end, what this trend truly reveals is the unique way social media reshapes industries. BookTok has made reading cool again, even in a new, more visually inclined way. Whether that’s a good thing depends on how much we value the story behind the cover.
I think I wrote way too much about this subject. But I’ve been seeing Booktok as a safe place lately with all the election and campaign messages going on. So writing on something trivial like BookTok is a safe subject to talk about. And cake decorating, I’ve come to watch cakes being decorated on TikTok. No one can possibly politicize cakes.
