Hyped books that I actually liked and why (no spoilers)
As we all know, BookTok is the magical place where authors receive an immense amount of publicity for their books. Many indie authors have trended, even with their debut novels, and most of them rightfully so. However, some have a completely different story.
Personally, I don't have a particularly good relationship with hyped BookTok books. The expectations become so high after 20 well-known bookish content creators recommend a book, only to discover that it presents a cringe and uncreative plot that ends up wasting your time, but there are some exceptions to the rule and today we will talk about some of them.
Before I delve into the list, I need to emphasise that everyone's taste is different, and our experiences while reading the same book can greatly vary. You might read a mediocre book and enjoy every aspect of it simply because it arrived at the right time and offered exactly what you needed. At the same time, you might struggle with a very well-written book because you're not quite prepared for its content. Lastly, it's possible to eagerly anticipate reading something, do so at the right moment, and then find that it falls short of your expectations – and that's perfectly okay.
Let’s get to the list!
"Devil’s Night" series by Penelope Douglas
Genre: Contemporary Romance & Romantic Suspense
This is an easy one for me. "Devil’s Night" is and will probably always be my all time favourite series. I’ve seen it everywhere and my expectations were pretty low before I started reading it because I already had so many bad experiences with BookTok books, but it was everything I wanted from a story in one whole series. It has the plot, it has the characters, it has the growth, the writing style, the mystery, the love, the intrigue, it has the darkness. It has Damon.
The characters are so well-written and the relationship between them is so strong. It’s the type of series that you finish and you feel like a part of you is missing after. Penelope Douglas is THE queen for me and if you are into dark romances with mystery, make sure to read the trigger warnings before, as it does have some scenes a lot of readers could be triggered by. It is NOT a fluffy and healthy love story, so keep that in mind.
This is absolutely appropriate for +18 yo readers!
"The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black
Genre: Fantasy
I remember so well how much this series helped me get through the lockdown, through Uni finals and through real life. If you are looking for a strong female character, an enemies-to-lovers trope in a fantastic setting, this is for you. Jude is one of the most powerful FMCs I ever read about and she is a symbol of strength and courage. And Cardan is an a-hole that you will get attached to by the end. The second and third books went so much faster than the first one and I can’t wait to start “The Stolen Heir” that’s patiently waiting on my shelves.
This a YA series with the appropriate reading age +13, but it still has romance and angst, so if you are looking for a well-balanced plot-romance (more plot) series, this is the one for you!
"If we were villains" by M. L. Rio
Genre: Thriller / Mystery
I don’t have a good relationship with thrillers and mystery books, but I finished this book in maybe a day or so. M. L. Rio has such a beautiful writing style and the theatrics went perfectly with the plot. If you are passionate about Shakespeare, plays, murder mysteries and very well-written books, this is exactly what you need!
The age rating is +15 and it's enjoyable for teens and adults as well.
"Once Upon a Broken Heart" by Stephanie Garber
Genre: Fantasy
This book! This is the perfect fairytale that makes you miss your childhood days. It is so beautifully written and I enjoyed the plotline and the characters. I just couldn't wait to get home after work and read more. It’s beautiful, in a gorgeous setting, even the visual experience while reading is stunning, with the newspaper-like boxes. It felt magical and the perfect read to remind you about the good old days.
This has a +13 age rating so it’s perfect for teens and adults as well, if you are looking for a light fantasy, magical world to get lost in.
"Off Campus" series by Elle Kennedy
Genre: Sports Romance
I was just a baby in the booksta world when I first read this series, it was so fascinating to explore the sports romance genre with a series that focused on different characters in the friend group. This series is smutty, funny, wholesome sometimes, hopeful and overall fun. It’s easy to follow, the writing is simple and you will get through them fast if these are the type of books that you are interested in. I liked the characters a lot, and loved how they weren’t all quirky girls, as I do have a hard time liking FMCs in most of the books.
This is a new adult series rated as +18
"A Court of Thorns and Roses" by Sarah J. Maas
Genre: Fantasy
This is a controversial one, I know, but I loved it so much (not the first one though). Please keep that piece of information in mind if you decide to read it. I think the first book is no one's favourite, but after you get to the second, you will understand why the first one was important to read.
This is a series that started as YA but gradually transformed into pure smut by “A Court of Silver Flames”. If there are young readers here, I don’t necessarily recommend starting the series at all, because even though the first one is not explicit, it can create a false expectation about love and relationships, especially if you stop there. The toxicity diminishes after the first one, but the explicitness begins, leaving no middle ground.
After some research, the appropriate reading age for this series is around +17
These are just some of the books I really enjoyed that are very hyped on Bookstagram and BookTok. If you want to read a whole article dedicated to one of these, let me know in the comments or follow my Instagram where I post my thoughts and reviews about almost everything I read!
Until next time, enjoy the realms others created!