This episode of The Journal explores the impact of BookTok, a community on TikTok dedicated to books, on the publishing industry, particularly in the romance and fantasy genres. It discusses how BookTok has driven major sales and reshaped marketing strategies for publishers, with insights from Leah Koch of The Rip Bodice bookstore, author Penn Cole, and Felicity Vallance from Penguin Random House. The episode highlights how BookTok's algorithm helps readers discover new books and allows publishers to identify trends and revive older titles with new packaging. It also addresses challenges such as criticisms of BookTok books, the pressure on authors to constantly engage on social media, and the potential ban of TikTok in the U.S., while emphasizing BookTok's lasting legacy of empowering readers and authors in the publishing world.
