Books have become a social media sensation. Videos recommending, rating, reacting to plots, and evaluating main characters are everywhere. Whether on TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube, more people talk about books than ever before. BookTok, the TikTok content focused on literary works, surged in 2024 as a viral phenomenon. This shows that the idea that young people do not read is contradicted by data and thousands of videos proving otherwise. Yet the question remains: what about quality?
Families Debate the Relevance and Diversity in Reading
There is low quality literature in every genre and aimed at every audience, explains Júlia Baena, a school librarian and teaching fellow at the University of Barcelona. “But because demand for teenage romance has grown, some publishers publish many titles that lack depth, lack nuance, replicate identical patterns, and are overloaded with clichés.”
“Because of rising demand for teen romance, publishers publish many shallow titles that lack depth, repeat patterns, and are full of clichés”
One clear example is Wattpad, a site where teenagers and young people write and share their own novels. The phenomenon has grown so large that some stories go viral and attract the attention of major publishers. Prioritizing sales over quality, titles from Wattpad are often written by very young authors with little literary training, and that shows in the writing. Not only that: Wattpad-based fictions such as Through My Window, After, and Mine have jumped to streaming. It is worth noting that none of this new wave carries the heavy toxicity associated with some older romances, which romanticized problematic relationships or included non-consensual scenes.
Fictions Jumped from Wattpad to Publishing and Streaming
These trends show a clear movement from online platforms to broader markets, signaling that publishers monitor reading communities closely and respond to their tastes. The popularity of these stories has become a test for how the market values speed to publication and broad appeal over silent artistic craft.
Dilemma
The force of the phenomenon prompts a real dilemma for many families with teenagers: should daughters read novels with explicit scenes that can lead to toxic romances and clichés, or should they read nothing at all? Can those books be a doorway to enjoying reading for reading’s sake and help build a regular habit in free time? Or could they undermine a balanced approach to education?
With many doubts, a parent explains that she bought novels of this type for her 12-year-old daughter because they were the only ones she would read beyond the mandatory school selections. A bookseller warned that they may not be suitable and that such purchases can lead to concerns from teachers and librarians later.
“With a thousand doubts, I admit I bought my daughter novels of this type because they’re the only ones she reads beyond the required school readings.”
The daughter of another family, age 13, went from not reading anything to devouring books by a Spanish author; the parent notes that reading in Catalan and Spanish increased. She believes that TikTok content may expose viewers to more light and entertaining content, but that does not mean all such material is harmful; it simply reflects a phase that could lead to more varied reading in time.
“I’m sure that in TikTok people consume content we don’t control and that can be more harmful: after all, the protagonists are students, not influencers who live on likes and run skin care channels.”
That practical perspective leads families to look for a balanced approach: letting readers explore titles that engage them while ensuring access to more demanding works as well, so that language development stays on track.
“Tailored successes”
The answers to these family questions are not the same for everyone. A psychologist and writer notes that these novels hook readers because the industry creates “tailored hits.” Romance, especially the most conflicted, is a central element; many works aim for popularity by presenting dysfunctional relationships and recurrences of familiar clichés like that love conquers all and that a woman must be saved.
“Now one of the main elements is romance, especially the most conflicted: many novels chase success and attention through dysfunctional relationships and clichés.”
That romance-driven genre has become the most popular online. It attracts teenagers by resonating with first experiences that separate adolescence from childhood, such as the rush of a crush. Publishers and digital platforms invest heavily in these titles. It’s possible that the phenomenon would not be as strong without social media promotion, since fear of missing out drives many readers to pick up the books everyone talks about.
“Today it is very hard to hook teenagers on reading, especially if the books are difficult.”
A writer notes that the idea that what young women like is dismissed too often; there are good and bad novels in every genre. BookTok has helped show that there are entertaining, brisk, and fun reads that can spread the reading habit. The key is not just quality but whether a book is engaging. Reading well can still be beneficial, given the many stimuli of modern life. It remains true that catching teenage attention is difficult, particularly with dense texts.
“It is important to craft a thoughtful reading itinerary that supports the evolution of reading skills.”
A librarian emphasizes that reading easier titles can be part of skill-building when balanced with more challenging works. Access to high-quality titles should be available, and readers need tools to understand difficult books. If the goal is to keep teens reading, they should not be discouraged from exploring tougher works for lack of resources.
The Discrediting of Juvenile Literature
Beyond the spark of recent fiction, experts agree that juvenile literature is a valid genre with substantial works. It should not be dismissed without sufficient reading. Juvenile literature has long faced bias and been treated as lesser, a trend that also affects views of children’s literature. This bias mirrors wider gaps in knowledge about what the field offers and the audiences it serves.
Several voices stress that juvenile literature often holds depth and nuance that the adult market sometimes overlooks. The landscape benefits when readers have access to a spectrum of titles and when writers, especially young women, are respected for their contributions. The message is clear: take youth literature seriously and value the stories that speak to this age group.
In sum, experts advocate for balanced reading—combining accessible titles with challenging works—to support steady skill growth and a lifelong love of reading.