BookTok Series You Couldn’t Pay Me to Read
I’m starting a new series on my blog where I explore popular booktok books—either reading and reviewing them (some of which I’ve covered before), recommending them, or occasionally steering you away, depending on how I feel. It’s something I’ve touched on in different forms before, but this time I’m shaping it into a more intentional, recurring feature that will appear monthly.
I have a complicated relationship with BookTok—not even because of the well-known pitfalls around overhyped books, but because I’ve realised that what I look for in a story doesn’t always align with what others value, and that’s perfectly fine. Because of that, I take most recommendations with a pinch of salt. There are a few creators whose opinions I trust, but even then, I won’t pick up a book unless it genuinely sparks my curiosity.
Today’s list veers in a more negative direction: these are the books I have absolutely no intention of reading despite their hype. The stories that don’t move me, don’t intrigue me—or that I’m deliberately drawing a firm line against.
Boys of Tommen by Chloe Walsh
1st Book – Binding 13
Binding 13 is a 600-page story about teenagers locked in a drawn-out will-they-won’t-they dynamic—and I already know that’s not for me. It immediately puts me in mind of Colleen Hoover, and that whole era of being 13, reading dramatic, emotionally heavy stories on Wattpad under the covers. And to be clear, that phase was formative—I still credit it with shaping my reading tastes, and some of my favourites came from there. But I’m no longer in a place where I actively seek that kind of story out.
This isn’t even about questioning the quality; it’s more about what I want from my reading experience now. I’m not interested in stories that lean heavily into relentless trauma or characters who never seem to catch a break. And if I’m being honest, I already suspect this would feel a bit cringeworthy, with fairly average writing—so I’m comfortable passing on it entirely.
The Folk of the Air by Holly Black
1st Book – Cruel Prince
As for The Cruel Prince, it’s one I’ve seen everywhere, and one of the few I’ve briefly considered. But my tolerance for romantic fantasy is quite low at the moment. Too often, female protagonists end up orbiting the male lead, losing their sense of self in the process, and I just don’t have the patience for that. Even when they start strong, that dynamic tends to creep in once the romance takes centre stage.
There’s also the issue of male leads in this genre often skirting the line into outright toxicity. I can enjoy a grumpy–sunshine dynamic, but there’s a clear boundary, and I have a feeling this particular character crosses it. And honestly, the way people talk about the book tells me everything I need to know—when I start seeing consistent criticisms about “telling rather than showing,” no amount of hype is going to convince me to pick it up.
Twisted by Ana Huang
1st Book – Twisted Love
I tried reading Twisted Love, but it also falls squarely into the same category as Colleen Hoover’s books for me—too much toxicity, and a male main character who is either emotionally unavailable or outright unkind. I just couldn’t get into it. I’ve heard the series improves as it goes on, but I’m not interested enough to push through and find out.
To be fair, Twisted Love does include several tropes I might enjoy in a different context—even some of the messier, more toxic ones—but something about this particular execution doesn’t sit right with me. At this point, I have no intention of picking it back up or giving it the benefit of the doubt. And honestly, that’s fine—not every book is meant to be read by everyone.
Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas
Now, Throne of Glass sits in a slightly different category from the rest of this list. I did enjoy A Court of Thorns and Roses—it wasn’t groundbreaking, but it was engaging enough to keep me hooked. I could absolutely go into detail about the formulaic elements of Sarah J. Maas’s writing or some of the common criticisms, but that’s not really my main reason for skipping this series.
I actually own the first Throne of Glass book—I picked it up when I was 17 and never got around to it. For a while, I thought I might eventually give it a go. But over time, I’ve become more conscious about the authors I choose to support. While she has not outwardly claimed to be a Zionist, she hasn’t denounced it either and has made questionable comments regarding Israel. Until I can be certain of her stance, I am not comfortable investing my time here. If I’m being completely honest, the fact that it’s a seven-book series doesn’t help either.
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
While this is a hugely popular book that I’ve seen and heard about countless times, it’s actually been around for years—long before TikTok picked it up and gave it a second life. A lot of the original readers came to it without the influence of BookTok, which is interesting in itself. That said, whenever I come across discussions about it—ignoring Goodreads—the feedback on the first book is rarely positive. And honestly, that alone is enough for me to step back.
From what I’ve gathered, it’s yet another fantasy where the female main character is described as frustrating or outright insufferable, only for that to intensify once romance enters the picture. That’s just not an experience I’m interested in anymore. Add to that the sheer length of the series—around eight books, plus novellas—and it becomes an easy pass. I’m simply not committing to all of that.
‘Not-so-Special’ Mention
Credence by Penelope Douglas
Now, Credence isn’t even part of a series—it’s a standalone—but I had to include it because it’s one of those books I see mentioned constantly, and yet I have absolutely no desire to read it. From everything I’ve seen, it crosses into territory that feels deeply uncomfortable. There’s a point where erotica tips into something far more unsettling, and this seems to sit firmly on that side of the line.
It’s not my first encounter with Penelope Douglas’s work either. I read Punk 57 as a teenager, and even then, I found the themes leaned heavily into toxicity and emotional intensity in a way that didn’t fully sit right with me. But Credence sounds like it takes that even further. I have no intention of reading it—and, if I’m honest, nobody should. I’m also not particularly interested in picking up anything else by this author, either.
So there you have it—five series and one standalone, all popular on BookTok, that I have absolutely no interest in picking up. And honestly, I don’t see that changing anytime soon.
At this point, I’m drawn to a very particular kind of substance in my reading: strong writing, a compelling plot, and at least some resistance to overused clichés—even though I can still enjoy them in the right context, and these books simply don’t deliver on what i need just from the blurbs so I think I’ll sit them out.
Let me know if you’ve read any of these, or if you feel the same way—I’m always curious to hear where other people land on these books.
Thanks so much for reading!
Signed,
