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Lauren's avatar

I agree. The books that I read simply because I walked into a library and just picked up some books are some of the best books that I have read. I feel like I get into reading slumps more often now due to reading BookTok books that just don't live up to the hype. I've been going back to reading books I loved years ago just to get out of a slump. Bookselling has always been commercialized, but I think that BookTok, mostly, reduces books to buzzwords instead of focusing on exhilarating literature. I have had some luck with BookTok books, but pushing books for a check is not where it's at.

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Hannah Elizabeth's avatar

Love this, and I absolutely agree with a lot of commenters already that BookTok, while great for bringing some life back into reading, often at times feels like an echo chamber of competition and "tropes" instead of plot or character drive. Obviously not just exclusive to BookTok, but definitely more prevalent today. While reading what's popular or driven by algorithm is still reading (which is great!) I think it means people aren't as exploring and reading as diversely as they could be doing. Pick up a book because you want to - not because everyone else is doing it (I say this as someone who has just binge-read Fourth Wing a year later and enjoyed it so much more because it was on my own terms!)

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