How BookTok and Fantasy Romance Redefine Reading
Entering a world full of uniqueness, where everything is possible, an imaginary place rather than a physical one; where magic is part of everyday routine and emotions feel more visible, allows deeper connections to be created. That’s what fantasy allows humans to do, creating what Richard Mathews describes in his book FANTASY The Liberation of Imagination, “a sense of possibility beyond the ordinary world.” Emphasizing the idea that fantasy is a way to be transported into a unique space, something that does not occur in the normal world.
Being transported to a different world, even for a short period of time, can offer a sense of relief that everyday life often does not. For many young women, reading fantasy romance novels becomes a way to step away from stress and enter spaces filled with imagination and emotion. This subculture is mostly comprised of young women who read fantasy romance books as a form of escapism from daily pressures. In this essay, I use both “fantasy” and “fantasy romance” because many of the books discussed combine elements of both genres, blending imaginative worlds with romantic storylines. This group exists mainly on platforms like TikTok and Goodreads, where readers share recommendations and emotional reactions to books. Unlike mainstream culture, which often prioritizes fast entertainment and constant consumption, this subculture values reading as a slower and more immersive experience. Because of this, fantasy readers are sometimes misunderstood since some people think fantasy readers don’t have serious lives, but many actually have stressful lives and do intense things while also unwinding with books. At the same time, this subculture is largely based on social media to grow and connect readers, creating a tension between how fantasy reading is perceived from the outside and how it is experienced within the community.
To understand this more deeply, it is important to consider how reading can actually help people deal with internal conflicts. The art of reading a book as therapy is real, according to Sara Lindberg, “Bibliotherapy is a form of creative arts therapy that uses literature to help you improve your life…Books and other written material can influence human emotions and provide wisdom, emotional connection, insight, and comfort.” This idea recognizes how reading positively contributes to many young women who turn to fantasy romance, not just for entertainment, but as a way to deal with stress and emotions in their daily lives. And most importantly, learning every day how to understand themselves emotionally.
Finding the right book or even knowing where to start can be difficult, especially for people who are just getting into reading. This is where BookTok becomes important. BookTok is a community on TikTok where readers, also known as “Booktokers,” share recommendations, reactions, and opinions about books. The name itself comes from combining “book” and “TikTok,” but it represents much more than that. It is a space built on constant interaction between content creators and viewers, where people connect through shared emotions and experiences with stories. Though I already read a lot of similar books, I wanted to submerge myself into this online subculture.
I take my phone and opened TikTok and search“BookTok fantasy romance.” The screen lights up and the first video that appears features a content creator named Miranda. Her caption says “books that you can’t put down.” She starts saying something very funny, that if anyone wants to feel like a teenager again hiding under a blanket at night with a flashlight then they should read these books. I can picture that moment. A dark room, a small light and someone reading while everyone else is asleep. As she begins to describe the books, her voice changes a lot. She moves her hands quickly and her face shows everything she feels. She says “slow burn” which refers to small gestures and proximity between two characters as the story develops, authors usually do this to create tension and keep the reader engaged in the story, she also stretches the words like it really matters. Every time she talks her whole body reacts like she is inside the story not just explaining it. At the end she asks people to comment and recommend more books they could not stop reading. The comment section is big, it has around 150 comments. People agree with her and share their own experiences. One person writes “literally read The Wolf King within 24 hours it was amazing!!” I notice how excited they sound even through the screen. It feels loud even though I am just sitting quietly.
As I keep scrolling another content creator called Mirianna appears talking about the book Throne of Glass. She says it is part of her personality and lifts her arm to show three tattoos. The ink on her skin shows the phrases “fire heart” and “do not yield,” and there is also a sword tattoo. In the comments people agree strongly, one girl writes “THRONE OF GLASS SUPERIORITY” in all caps like she is shouting, full of excitement.
Going back to Mirianna, she talks about the A Court of Thorns and Roses series and says her favorite is A Court of Silver Flames. She explains that she felt so connected to the main character, like the character was speaking directly to her. She says she felt seen and heard and calls the book empowering. The way she says it makes it feel personal, not just a recommendation. The whole community feels very interactive, people responding to each other, agreeing and adding more books. It feels like a shared space even if everyone is in different places. At the same time, I start to notice that not everyone agrees. Some videos say that the books mentioned are only popular, not actually the best. There is a small tension there, with different opinions but still part of the same space. What stands out is that readers are not only consuming books but also discussing them in depth. As Elizabeth Little explains, “Spaces like BookTok have changed how readers respond to fantasy, where hashtags such as ‘#dubcon’ or ‘morally grey consent’are used to point out complex or questionable relationship dynamics.” This shows that young women in this subculture are not just escaping into fantasy worlds, but also actively thinking about themes like power, relationships, and consent.
In this way, BookTok becomes more than a place to find books; it becomes a space where readers create meaning, share perspectives, and engage more deeply with characters, which allows them to become more empathic. Reading fantasy is not only about escaping reality, but also about dealing with it in a different way. According to Ruby Tijerina, “interpersonal conflict, such as arguments or tension in relationships, can increase stress, anxiety, and even depression, especially among college students.” Because of this, finding ways to cope becomes important. Tijerina explains, the experience of “getting lost in a book” can increase empathy and may help reduce stress and improve coping. This emotional connection can also be seen in the way readers interact with books online.
On BookTok, readers often describe feeling deeply connected to characters, saying that they “feel everything” the character goes through or that a story “destroyed them” emotionally. At the same time, they also describe these books as entertaining and addictive, often saying they “couldn’t put the book down.” This shows that while readers are aware of the emotional impact, they usually talk about it in more personal and expressive ways rather than in academic terms like empathy or coping. In another video, a girl places a book on her bed and pretends to enter it, as if she wants to physically step inside the story. The action may seem exaggerated, but it reflects how deeply connected readers feel to these fictional worlds. Instead of simply reading, they imagine themselves inside the narrative, experiencing it as something so personal and real that BookTokers want to step into that world and fully live the experience because of how strong that connection feels. In this sense, fantasy books can act as a form of coping, helping readers manage stress while also learning from the experiences of fictional characters. This also shows how reading becomes more engaging and emotionally immersive rather than just a simple activity.
Overall, this shows that fantasy reading is not simply avoiding problems, but a meaningful way for young women to process emotions, build connections, and cope with the challenges of everyday life. However, while BookTokers often describe “getting lost in a book” as something positive and emotionally powerful, mainstream culture may view it as avoidance or a waste of time. This contrast reveals how the subculture challenges common stereotypes about reading by transforming it as both emotionally engaging and valuable, rather than boring or unproductive.
References:
Lindberg, Sara. “What Is Bibliotherapy? How Stories Can Provide Real Comfort.” Verywell Mind, 20 Mar. 2026, https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-bibliotherapy-4687157.
Little, Elizabeth. “Reading Consent through the ‘First Kiss’ in Popular Young Adult Fantasy Novels.” Jeunesse: Young People, Texts, Cultures, vol. 17, no. 1, 2025, pp. 52–65. https://doi-org.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/10.3138/jeunesse-2023-0036.
Tijerina, Ruby Kaitlynn. The Benefits of Fantasy Books When Used as a Coping Measure against Interpersonal Conflict in Hispanic College Women. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, 2025. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/benefits-fantasy-book-when-used-as-coping-measure/docview/3240591647/se-2.
Tik tok videos:
“Girl recommending fantasy books eagerly” TikTok, uploaded by @probablyoffreading, 02/21/2026, https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8bXoxuy/
“Girl wanting to enter a book.” TikTok, uploaded by @elitereading, 03/10/2026, https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8bX5KKd/
“Girl with tattoos.” TikTok, uploaded by @mariannasread, 09/09/2024, https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8b41fAb/
AI Transparency Statement:
I did use AI, to check my connections between citation and ideas. Also, to look for synonyms, and to get a title that I really like. I used AI to do the References section and during my search for books. What I did was ask chat GPT to tell me what terms can I look for, while doing research and that made the whole research process less time consuming. Additionally, I also needed some help understanding the prompt.
