Top SHELF
Vogue Singapore|April 2024
They say reading is dead. Enter BookTok, the online phenomenon changing the book industry as we know it.
JESSLYN LYE
Top SHELF

For the uninitiated, BookTok refers to the corner of TikTok dedicated to all things literary, from book recommendations based on popular tropes to guides on how to best annotate your favourite reads. Its influence is seen not just in the massive increase in book sales of viral titles, but also in the revival of brick-and-mortar bookstores. Some readers may bemoan BookTok’s leanings toward the romance and fantasy genres, but there’s no denying that the phenomenon has inspired many young people to start reading again.

Who better to delve into the intricacies and impact of the community than a BookToker? Having amassed over 566,000 followers on TikTok, Alexis Anunson—or @newlynova on TikTok—has cemented her place through diverse recommendations, incisive book reviews and a wicked sense of humour. Here, the literary influencer opens up about how BookTok has enriched her reading journey.

What inspired you to start a BookTok account?

This story is from the April 2024 edition of Vogue Singapore.

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This story is from the April 2024 edition of Vogue Singapore.

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