You may have heard the term “BookTok” dominating the literary scene on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok. What does it mean? The “BookTok” trend first took off during the pandemic when everyone stayed home and turned to books to pass their free time. An online community bloomed in months, and people took their opinions, book recommendations, and funny trends to social media. Though “BookTok” started concentrating on the Fantasy, Romance and Young Adults (YA) genre, we have seen a diverse range of titles being discussed in the BookTok community.

So here comes the question: how does BookTok impact youth and adults’ reading habits in Singapore?

If you stroll along the shelves in Popular or Kinokuniya, you might spot a dedicated section for “BookTok” titles. They usually consist of YA Romance, Fantasy or even Thriller books. How effective are they at promoting reading amongst our local community?

Like many other Singaporeans, I started my Book account during the pandemic, reading books and sharing my reviews through short-form write-ups on Instagram and TikTok. However, I have recently been visiting our second-hand, independent bookstores and big bookstore chains to reflect on ways they encourage reading for the different age groups in Singapore.

Evernew Book Store

I went to Evernew Bookstore, one of Singapore’s most well-known secondhand bookstores in Bras Basah Complex. It has been running for almost 30 years, culminating in a treasure trove of literary gems. I was surprised to discover a dedicated section to Fiction containing recent and well-known titles catered to the young reading community.

While walking through the alley of books, I noticed that Evernew Bookstore carries Haruki Murakami’s works, which have gained attention and popularity in the BookTok community. The books are in good condition and are sold at reasonable prices. To share this literary cove with the rest of Singapore, I created a reel and posted it to my social media platforms!

After sharing on social media, many Singaporeans and tourists privately texted me saying they forgot that the Evernew Bookstore still exists, and it looks like a great place to source second-hand books! I truly discarded my preconceived notions of second-hand bookstores only selling very old titles in severe conditions, but I am grateful to be proven wrong. After receiving such positive feedback, I made it my mission to explore more such places.

Kinokuniya Singapore

With major publishing companies like Times Bookstore leaving the literary scene, it’s more crucial than ever that we support our remaining bookstores in Singapore. I was curious to see how Kinokuniya has changed since the last time I visited them in 2021. It has been a long time since I visited them, as the book prices here are quite high.

The amount of books from top to bottom filling up the shelves in Literature is every bookworm’s dream! Neatly categorised according to different genres, languages and formats, Kinokuniya Orchard is the largest branch in Singapore. I spent 3 hours browsing the books, reading the blurbs and people-watching. Seeing a mix of school students, young adults and seniors browsing and buying books was a sight of joy. In a small area of Kinokuniya, a section is dedicated to BookTok titles; however, they mainly target the young audience. Those books were Young Adult Romance, Fantasy and Mystery titles.

National Library Board

The National Library Board has been incorporating more literary programmes for book lovers to take part in. Bookclubs have emerged after the pandemic, and NLB hosts various book talks and dialogues that the public can attend for free. If you’re interested in what’s on at NLB, click here to learn more! I have attended multiple book clubs hosted by NLB in the past, and their book clubs are the most engaging I’ve ever attended in my life! Though some book clubs require you to read the book beforehand to engage in meaningful discussion, others welcome anyone interested in chatting or listening to the discussions! It’s heartwarming to see our national libraries creating a safe and inclusive environment for readers of all backgrounds and experiences. Most importantly, there are no right or wrong opinions! (but always be respectful and mindful with your interactions)

My Takeaways

Starting a hobby or passion for reading needs to come from within. With recent traction on social media, many are seeing an increase in book content creators or influencers in the community. While building a community of like-minded individuals is engaging and heartwarming, avoid impacting your true love for reading to gain popularity on social media. Since I started my account in 2021 due to the boredom of a pandemic, I have been impacted by the sensational feeling of wanting to be popular and gaining many followers. However, recently, I had a self-reflection on why I started this account in the first place. It was solely to share my love for reading and finding diverse books through other’s reviews and discussions. I am forever grateful for the close-knit community I have created since 2021. I hope to move forward with this thinking as society becomes more focused on metrics instead of genuine connections.

I hope everyone is having a good reading time. If you need help figuring out where to start, visit your nearest library and be spoilt for choices!