There’s nothing like settling into a good book, especially when it’s not for class. If you’ve been craving a fictional escape, check out these gems TikTok has been raving about. Whether you’re a diehard fantasy reader or a mystery lover, you’re sure to find a book that will make you forget about the stress of the spring semester.
Here are A&E’s recommended Booktok reads:
“They Both Die at the End” by Adam Silvera: Although the title spoils the ending, this is worth the read. Told over the course of a single day, the story follows two people as they deal with hope, loss and friendship.
“The Song of Achilles” by Madeline Miller: A retelling of the Greek legend of Achilles from “The Iliad,” this book tells the love story between Achilles and Patroclus. For Greek mythology nerds, Miller’s rendition shouldn’t be missed. Warning: You’ll need a lot of tissues for this one.
“The Priory of the Orange Tree” by Samantha Shannon: At 848 pages Shannon’s masterpiece is intimidating, but rest assured that once you pick this book up, it’ll be hard to put down. The epic fantasy imagines an unwed queen trying to find an heir to the throne before she’s assassinated.
“The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue” by V.E. Schwab: If you could make a bargain to live forever, would you? Addie LaRue did, and now she’s cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets — until 300 years later when she meets a young man in a bookstore who knows her name.
“Red, White & Royal Blue” by Casey McQuiston: Summer wouldn’t be complete without some romance. Follow the story of Alex, America’s first son, and Henry, Prince of Wales, as they hash out diplomatic issues after the paparazzi catch them together.
“Shadow and Bone” by Leigh Bardugo: Enter the world of Alina Starkov, a soldier training with her country’s military elite as she learns magic and fights evil in the exciting first book of the Grisha trilogy. Read it before the Netflix original series is released on April 23.
“The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” by Taylor Jenkins Reid: Immerse yourself in the glamorous life of Old Hollywood movie star Evelyn Hugo as she recounts the twists and turns of her acting career, including her seven different marriages and her secret forbidden love.
“The Cruel Prince” by Holly Black: Book one in Black’s “The Folk of Air” series, this fantasy tale follows a mortal girl who becomes involved with the Court of Faerie as they near a deadly civil war.
“We Were Liars” by E. Lockhart: A group of four friends — the Liars — uncover secrets and lies in this suspenseful contemporary novel set on a private island. If anyone asks how the story ends, just lie.
“Honey Girl” by Morgan Rogers: After completing her Ph.D. in astronomy, Grace Porter goes on a girls’ trip to Vegas where she drunkenly marries a woman whose name she doesn’t know. Deciding against everything she knows, Grace moves from Portland, Oregon, to New York with her new wife and begins on a journey of self-discovery and love.
