BookTok is easily one of the most recognisable – and popular – communities on TikTok. Impacting everything from book sales to on-screen entertainment(opens in a new tab), BookTok and its creators are a force to be reckoned with, revitalizing the publishing world in a big way.
TikTok knows the power of this community, and is expanding on it. First, a TikTok Book Club was launched on the platform in July 2022; a partnership with Penguin Random House followed in September. Now, the app is officially launching the TikTok Book Awards: a first-of-its-kind celebration of the BookTok community, specifically in the UK and Ireland.
The 2023 TikTok Book Awards(opens in a new tab) will honour favourite authors, books, and creators across nine categories. These range "Creator of the Year" to "Best BookTok Revival" to "Best Book I Wish I Could Read Again For The First Time".
Those within the BookTok ecosystem, including creators and fans, will help curate the nominees, using the hashtag #TikTokBookAwards. The long-list will then be judged by experts, including author Candice Brathwaite, creators Coco (@cultofbooks(opens in a new tab)) and Ben (@bcemercer(opens in a new tab)), and Trâm-Anh Doan, the head of social media at Bloomsbury Publishing. Finally, the TikTok community within the UK and Ireland will vote on the short-list in July, through an in-app hub.
"I love going to TikTok to find unfiltered reviews and recommendations, so it’s great to be giving this community the chance to have their say through the TikTok Book Awards for UK and Ireland," says Brathwaite, the award-winning author of three titles.
All winners will be declared this coming August. Book lovers, rejoice.
