You must be looking for the best BookTok romance books if you’re a fan of both romance and social media. This popular corner of TikTok has become a hub for book lovers to share their latest reads, and book recommendations, and to gush over their favorite authors. In particular, BookTok has become a hotspot for lovers of steamy, spicy romance novels.
In this article, we’ve compiled a list of 20 of the best BookTok romance books that are sure to leave you swooning. From classic tropes like enemies-to-lovers and fake relationships to more modern twists on Greek mythology, our list has a little bit of something for everyone. So, grab a cozy blanket and settle in for some steamy and addictive reads that are sure to keep you turning the pages.
Best BookTok romance books at a glance
The 20 Best BookTok Romance Books can be divided into five main categories: modern retellings, office romances, enemies-to-lovers stories, young adult fantasies, and opposites-attract tales. These categories offer readers different types of romances, from spicy and steamy to sweet and heartwarming. Each category has its unique elements, making these books a diverse selection that caters to different preferences.
Whether you’re looking for a modern retelling of a Greek myth, a sizzling office romance, or a young adult fantasy with a dash of romance, this list has got you covered. Therefore, without further ado, let’s take a look at the 20 best BookTok romance books!
1-Modern retellings
Modern retellings are stories that take inspiration from classic myths, legends, or fairy tales and put a contemporary spin on them. These stories can vary in terms of the extent to which they stay true to the original tale, but they generally take key elements from the original and reinterpret them in a modern context. Below are the BookTok novels that do this the best.
“Neon Gods” by Katee Robert
This book is a spicy modern retelling of Hades and Persephone. Society darling Persephone plans to flee the city of Olympus and start over, but her plans are ripped away when her mother ambushes her with an engagement to Zeus. With no options left, Persephone flees to the forbidden undercity and makes a devil’s bargain with a man she once believed a myth. Hades has spent his life in the shadows, planning his revenge against Zeus. When Persephone drops into his lap and offers an opportunity to grab his revenge, he takes it.
“The Lunar Chronicles” by Marissa Meyer
This is a series of modern retellings of classic fairy tales. In this series, Cinderella is a cyborg, Little Red Riding Hood is a spaceship pilot, Rapunzel is trapped in a satellite, and Snow White is a hacker. The books follow the adventures of these characters as they fight against the evil Queen Levana who is determined to take over Earth.
“Heartless” by Marissa Meyer
This is a retelling of Alice in Wonderland. In this version, we follow the story of Catherine, who dreams of becoming a baker and opening her own shop. However, her mother wants her to marry the King of Hearts and become queen. Catherine falls in love with a mysterious court jester named Jest, but their romance is doomed as fate takes its course toward the tragic end.
“A Curse So Dark and Lonely” by Brigid Kemmerer
This is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. In this version, the story is set in a world where a prince is cursed to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year until a girl falls in love with him. The protagonist, Harper, is transported to this world from Washington D.C. due to a misunderstanding. She is held captive by the cursed prince, but as time passes, she finds herself drawn to him and his cause.
2-Office romances
Office romance is a subgenre of romance literature that involves two people who work together in the same office or workplace and find themselves attracted to each other. These stories often center around the challenges of balancing professional and personal relationships, navigating power dynamics, and dealing with office gossip and politics.
The workplace setting can provide a unique backdrop for the development of romantic relationships, as characters are often thrown together in high-stress situations and must learn to work as a team. Office romance stories can range from sweet and lighthearted to steamy and dramatic and are a popular trope in contemporary romance novels.
Below, you can check out the best office romance books that are popular on BookTok .
“The Hating Game” by Sally Thorne
Lucy and Joshua are executive assistants to co-CEOs of a publishing company and they can’t stand each other. But when a promotion is up for grabs, they start playing a game to one-up each other, and their intense rivalry starts to turn into something else.
“Dating You/Hating You” by Christina Lauren
When Carter and Evie meet at a Halloween party, they feel an instant connection. But the next day, they find out they’re both vying for the same job at a talent agency, and their flirtation turns into a competition. As they navigate their new roles, they can’t ignore the chemistry between them.
“The Kiss Quotient” by Helen Hoang
Stella Lane is a successful econometrician who has trouble with social interaction. When she hires an escort, Michael, to teach her how to be more comfortable with physical intimacy, they end up falling for each other. But Michael has a secret that could ruin everything.
“The Proposal” by Jasmine Guillory
When Nikole Paterson’s boyfriend proposes to her at a Dodgers game, she says no in front of everyone. Luckily, Carlos Ibarra and his sister are nearby and help her escape the stadium. As they start to spend more time together, they realize they have a strong connection, but both of them are hesitant to get involved after their pasts.
3-Enemies-to-lovers
Enemies-to-lovers stories are all about two characters who start off disliking each other but eventually fall in love. These books are filled with tension, witty banter, and lots of chemistry between the main characters. And as you can guess why, they are one of the most popular categories among the BookTok trend. Let’s check out some of the most popular enemies-to-lovers books.
“The Unhoneymooners” by Christina Lauren
This book follows Olive, who is forced to go on her sister’s honeymoon with Ethan, her sworn enemy. They agree to avoid each other at all costs, but when they run into Olive’s future boss, they have to pretend to be newlyweds. As they navigate the vacation together, they begin to see each other in a new light and feelings start to develop.
“From Lukov with Love” by Mariana Zapata
Jasmine and Ivan are both figure skaters, and they’ve been rivals for years. But when Jasmine’s usual skating partner drops out, Ivan steps in to be her new partner. They initially clash and argue a lot, but as they start to work together, they develop feelings for each other.
“Punk 57” by Penelope Douglas
Misha and Ryen have been pen pals since fifth grade, but they have never met in person. When Misha sees a picture of Ryen online, he realizes she’s not who he thought she was and confronts her. Despite their initial animosity towards each other, they soon develop a strong connection.
“The Bridge Kingdom” by Danielle L. Jensen
Lara, a princess of the Bridge Kingdom, is sent to marry the king of the neighboring kingdom, Aren. She is tasked with discovering his kingdom’s weaknesses and reporting back to her own people. But as Lara and Aren get to know each other, they realize that they may not be as different as they once thought.
4-Young adult fantasies
Young adult fantasies are a subgenre of fantasy literature that is aimed at young adult readers. They often feature young protagonists who are on a coming-of-age journey, discovering their own magical powers or abilities and facing various challenges in a fantastical setting. These books typically explore themes of identity, self-discovery, and empowerment.
Young adult fantasies are another extremely popular example of the BookTok trend. Below, you can check out the most popular ones.
“A Court of Thorns and Roses” by Sarah J. Maas
Feyre is a human huntress, forced to kill a faerie in the woods. The punishment for her crime is to live with the beastly Tamlin, a powerful immortal faerie. As Feyre spends time with Tamlin, her feelings transform from animosity to passion. But a curse threatens to destroy Tamlin and his world, and it’s up to Feyre to stop it.
“Shadow and Bone” by Leigh Bardugo
In the country of Ravka, Alina Starkov is a mapmaker in the army. When her regiment is attacked while crossing the Fold, a dark and dangerous swath of land filled with deadly creatures, Alina reveals a power she didn’t know she had. As she trains with the Grisha, the magical elite of Ravka, she falls for the dark and brooding Mal. But their love is threatened by the evil forces that seek to use Alina’s power for their own gain.
“The Cruel Prince by” Holly Black
Jude was just seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her sisters were stolen away to live in the High Court of Faerie. Now a young woman, Jude is determined to prove herself worthy of her place among the faeries, even as she faces constant danger and deceit. But when she falls for the wickedly handsome and cruel Prince Cardan, she finds herself caught up in a dangerous game of power and politics.
“The Iron King” by Julie Kagawa
Meghan Chase has never fit in at school, always feeling like an outsider. But when her little brother is kidnapped and replaced with a changeling, Meghan discovers that she’s not human at all – she’s the daughter of the Summer King. As she sets out to rescue her brother, she finds herself caught up in a war between the Summer and Winter courts of Faerie and falls for the handsome and dangerous Prince Ash.
5-Opposites-attract tales
Opposites-attract tales are a popular sub-genre of romance novels where the main characters are two individuals who have personalities, lifestyles, or beliefs that are completely different from each other. These characters are often initially antagonistic toward each other, but as they get to know each other, they discover their mutual attraction and eventually fall in love. The tension and conflict arising from their differences create a dynamic and engaging story that many readers enjoy.
Below, you can see the most popular Booktok novels from the opposites-attract tale novels.
“Act Your Age, Eve Brown” by Talia Hibbert
Eve Brown is a certified hot mess, while Jacob is a control freak. When Eve accidentally hits Jacob with her car, breaking his arm, she tries to make it up to him by helping at his bed and breakfast. Over time, their differences begin to dissolve, and they discover they’re more alike than they thought.
“The Wedding Date” by Jasmine Guillory
Alexa and Drew meet in an elevator and have an instant connection. Drew invites Alexa to be his fake girlfriend for a wedding, and they have to navigate their differences in order to make it through the weekend.
“Beach Read” by Emily Henry
January and Augustus are both writers with opposite styles and personalities. When they end up renting houses next to each other for the summer, they challenge each other to write in a different genre and find themselves drawn to each other.
“The Simple Wild” by K.A. Tucker
Calla is a city girl who travels to the wilderness of Alaska to meet her estranged father. There, she meets Jonah, a rugged bush pilot who challenges her in every way. Despite their differences, they find a deep connection and unexpected love.
What is BookTok?
BookTok is a subculture of the popular social media platform TikTok, where users discuss and recommend books. It has grown in popularity in recent years, with BookTok videos featuring book reviews, book hauls, and reading vlogs.
BookTok has become a hub for book lovers to share their love for literature and connect with like-minded individuals around the world. With its visually appealing and easily digestible content, BookTok has become an excellent platform for discovering new books and expanding one’s reading horizons.
The world of BookTok is full of exciting romance books that cater to every taste. From modern retellings to young adult fantasies, there is something for everyone. These 20 books are just a small sample of what the BookTok community has to offer, but they are definitely worth checking out for anyone looking for a spicy and engaging read.
For a more comprehensive answer, you can check out our article on what is BookTok on TikTok.
