BIPOC BookTokkers to Follow
An explosive return to the library leaves the six Alexandrians vulnerable to the lethal terms of their recruitment.
Old alliances quickly fracture as those who remain within the archives wrestle with the ethics of their astronomical abilities. Elsewhere, an unlikely pair from the Society cohort partner to influence politics on a global stage, and still the outside world mobilizes to destroy them, while the Caretaker himself, Atlas Blakely, may yet succeed in his world-breaking plan.
The six Society recruits must decide what they're willing to betray for limitless power—and who will be destroyed along the way.
Somehow, I managed to resist the siren’s call of TikTok all during 2020. Honestly, I don’t know how that happened since most would argue that year was the height of its popularity. My guess is that with all the other changes going on in my life, it just seemed to be one more time consumer that I didn’t have time for.
However, when the winter storm of 2021 hit, it finally managed to lure me in, and I was soon hooked. Shortly after that, my “For You Page” unsurprisingly quickly tuned me onto BookTok. While at first I got a variety of videos, I managed to curate my personal logarithm to where it began to boost more and more BIPOC BookTokkers.
Over the last two years, I’ve managed to find more than a few of these creators whose content I genuinely enjoy. Their preferred genres vary, which is great for me since, even though I lean more heavily into romance, I am pretty eclectic with what I read. And they help to show books that I may have otherwise not known about because they weren’t considered “popular” enough, which is something else I also appreciate.
If you’re looking to diversify your reading, which, honestly, we all still should be doing, here are a few to start you off on your BookTok journey.
Horror
Given the long and complicated history of Black people in horror, I love it when they unapologetically love the genre. And that is the case with Chaz. What is especially interesting is that he reads all of the subgenres, even ones that are deal breakers for others, such as splatterpunk. So, you’re going to get a wide variety of recommendations from his videos.
Stephanie, who also hosts a podcast the same name as her TikTok account, loves sharing all things horror with her audience. She has a book recommendation for almost any vibe you could think of, and if she doesn’t know one off-hand, she can usually find it given enough time. She has also curated a Final Girl playlist on Spotify, which has more than a few bangers. And yes, this name is a callback to Joey from Friends and his tendency to banish a book to the freezer when it got too intense.
Bear also has a YouTube Channel, which they use to vocalize their love for horror. One thing I personally appreciate about Bear is that they consistently read a lot of indie horror as well as horror intended for younger readers. So, while you will hear them talk about adult horror books frequently, they also talk equally about books that are intended for a younger audience and are from indie presses.
Romance
Larry is a bright ray of sunshine, and I am thankful that I stumbled across her YouTube page, which in turn led me to her BookTok. She primarily reads dark romances but enjoys the other subgenres as well. You can’t help but smile at least once watching one of her TikToks because she has a personality that just oozes warmth and happiness. She also makes sure to give trigger and content warnings, which is a big plus in my book.
Lo is another dark romance reader who is unabashed in her love of that specific subgenre. She knows it is not for everyone, so she doesn’t judge those who aren’t fans. In addition to being a voracious reader, Lo also uses her platform to call out problematic behaviors and call for accountability, both in the world and in the BookTok community.
MC primarily reads Sapphic romance novels across all genres and age levels. As someone who is currently in her Sapphic Season, romance-wise, I was overjoyed when she came across my FYP and quickly gave her a follow. She will also give a heads up on the steamy content in a romance, which, as divisive as it may be, is still something readers like to know going in. And I completely respect and appreciate that.
Multi-Genre
While she reads a variety of books, Jessie specifically focuses on all genres of Latine Literature. So, if you’ve been looking to read more there, she’s your gal. She is also someone who uses her platform to highlight the various atrocities happening across the world, most recently the war in Palestine, and gives a variety of ways that you can help.
Natalia is an author who, while primarily writing fantasy, enjoys reading all the genres and is always eager to talk about them. Like the others listed here, she makes it a point to boost BIPOC authors, so if you’re looking for more of those, especially in fantasy, then give her a follow.
While Tae seems to lean more towards horror, that doesn’t stop her from dipping her toes into other genres. And since she knows that it can be tricky to know where to start when genre-hopping, she is always ready with recommendations for those who are looking to try out a new-to-them genre.
Whether or not you’re a regular TikTokker or new to the platform, I hope that you found a new influencer to follow. Until our paths cross again, happy reading, and stay hydrated.
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