As an avid reader, I try to find books from different sources. Some new reads may come by friend or family recommendation, while others could be from previously beloved authors. However, one common way that many find books to read is via social media— especially Tiktok.
On tiktok, the he same books tend to be shared again and again, awarding themselves a spot on
“Booktok”. Two genres seen in abundant on “Booktok” are romance and fantasy, two genres I am not quick to pick up.
In an effort to expand my horizons , over the course of 2023 I tried to read pieces outside of my comfort zone, some of which were found on “Booktok”.
Now, before I turn cynical, I will preface with some great novels Tiktok has led me to. This is How you Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Goldstein and Yellowface by R.F. Kuang were two I loved, and the Neapolitan Quartet (starting with My Brilliant Friend) became a new favorite series of mine.
Nonetheless, many things come with a few bad apples, and Booktok is no exception. Whittling the list down to my top three, below are the biggest book letdowns from Tiktok. If these are some of your favorites, it’s not personal. You just have terrible taste!
3. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Out of the books on this list, Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros is the least offensive. This fantasy/romance novel follows Violet Sorrengail, who has trained her entire life to be a Scribe. However, when her mother, the commanding general of Navarre, decides her daughter will train to be a Rider, Violet has no choice but to drop her dreams of being a Scribe and join the Rider quadrant. The most dangerous quadrant of them all, the Rider quadrant is not for the weak and faint hearted. With a higher chance of dying than surviving, riders must risk their lives everyday for the chance of fighting for Navarre. Not only does Violet have to go through grueling days of training, she also must watch out for enemies within the quadrant; namely, Xaden Riorson, who also happens to be the strongest rider they have.
It was quite obvious from Violet’s first interaction with Xaden that he would be her enemy turned lover. I will admit, the romance in the book was one of its redeeming qualities. Yet, just about everything else fell flat.
This may be due to my short attention span or inability to remember names, but it felt as though a new character was introduced every page. I found myself flipping back in the novel too often to try and grasp the origin and relevance of each new character.
Additionally, the scene that set the novel—Violet’s mom making her entire the Rider quadrant instead of the Scribe— made no sense. Why would you train your daughter to be a Rider instead of letting her believe she can be a Scribe? This conflict, among the reality that anyone other than Riders were considered weak, added to the false narrative that physicality equates to usefulness. Just because someone isn’t physically strong doesn’t make them a useless person, though that’s how this novel paints them out to be.
To end on a positive note, the end of the book was well executed. The plot twist was clever and set up a great conflict for the sequel, which although I won’t be reading, many fans of Fourth Wing certainly did.
3 stars.
- Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Lessons in Chemistry is about female chemist Elizabeth Zott in the 1960s who is finding it difficult to gain the respect and proper assignments she deserves from her male-team at Hastings Research Institute. Yet, one man was able to see her for her brilliant mind and not simply disregard her due to her gender: Calvin Evans. Though Elizabeth was able to find love and solace in Calvin, she must learn yet again that life can change in unimaginable ways, as she is eventually left as a single mother. To make ends meet she reluctantly takes the role as a host on a cooking show, yet finds a way to sprinkle in bits of chemistry and science–much to the anger, surprise, or amazement of thousands across America.
This novel started out strong, it truly did. However, as the chapters went on, my criticism gathered. Why must authors make their genius characters socially awkward to the point that I start questioning their supposed smarts? I understand that as a woman in the 60s, pursuing a career in chemistry would present tough barriers from success, however, the way Elizabeth grows so confused whenever a man tells her she can’t do something makes it seem as though she does not understand the prevalent societal standard.
Lastly, it was also unrealistic that every man besides two were extremely misogynistic and at times abusive. While I’m not ignoring the fact that many men in the 60s weren’t accepting of women joining the workforce, not all of them were staunchly against it. By Garmus’ villainization of the majority of men, the characterization was lost in the masses.
2 stars
- Happy Place by Emily Henry
This book provoked so much anger in me that I wrote an entire review about it right after I finished it. My grievances towards Happy Place by Emily Henry remain the same. After you read my hateful review (I’ll give you a few minutes), below is the sparknote version of it so the especially bad parts really stick with you. Enjoy!
The book falls under the second chance romance/fake dating tropes. Wyn and Harriet must pretend to still be engaged when at their friend’s vacation home, because they have yet to break the news and don’t want to ruin the trip. However, will the forced proximity between these two ex-lovers make them reconsider why they ended in the first place? Could this even draw them back together?
Both Harriet and Wyn were extremely underdeveloped, which made it impossible to care for either of them. Wyn especially was as boring as a doorknob. Now, I’m no fan of Harriet but at least she had a personality, albeit an annoying one.
The book also banked heavily on the friend group storyline, yet all the friends were irritable, as well. The lack of communication between them all (like how Harriet didn’t tell her bestfriends about her engagement being broken off) makes me wonder how they were even friends in the first place.
The absolute worst part of the novel came at the end (you could say Henry saved the worst for last). Part of the reason why Harriet and Wyn didn’t work out together the first time was because their lifestyles were extremely different. Harriet has been studying for over 12 years to be a doctor, meanwhile Wyn lives in Montana with his family. Yet, all these valid reasons for not being together get completely ignored, and Harriet decides to move to Montana to be with Wyn.
Okay, weird. But it gets worse. Not only does Harriet move with him, but she figures out that she doesn’t actually want to be a doctor! 12 years of school and hardwork and thousands of dollars in student loans all for her to realize she wants to be a pottery instructor. In Montana. The end.
2 stars.
https://goodereader.com/blog/electronic-readers/print-books-sales-remain-steady-in-q1-2023
Many books have found popularity within Booktok, but are they all deserving of it?
