book author holding her book up caption 'yet another reason to be mad at harpercollins' 'this is my book How to Excavate a Heart' (l) author greenscreen TikTok over Barnes and Noble website listing her book as 'How to Excavate a Heart: A Christmas, Hanukkah and Holiday Book' caption 'on every single retailer is now 'How to Excavate a Heart' (c) Author speaking caption 'it is not a Christmas book' (r)

‘I’m gonna give you another reason to be extremely mad at HarperCollins’: Author says HarperCollins rebranded her lesbian Jewish romance novel as a Christmas story

'The way I GASPED at the new title.'

On Dec 5, 2022 by Jack Alban

IRL
Gender Fluid by Mia Kobabe (l) we are ants by Shaun David Hutchinson (c) Out Of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez (r)

‘I am an adult with a mature brain’: How Texas parents lobbied to get books on gender identity banned from schools

The president of the board of trustees pledged in emails to work on the bans.

On Dec 2, 2022 by Rebecca Caraway

Tech
woman with caption 'POV: Yu just bought a Kindle Tab and donated $2 on Z-Library so you can send up to 50 books per day, directly to your Kindle!!! Only to wake up and find out that the site has been shut down!!!!!!! Because of that mid Colleen Hoover!?!? I'll never forgive Y'all. I have a headache! Somebody send help' (l) Colleen Hoover holding her books (c) woman with caption 'POV: Yu just bought a Kindle Tab and donated $2 on Z-Library so you can send up to 50 books per day, directly to your Kindle!!! Only to wake up and find out that the site has been shut down!!!!!!! Because of that mid Colleen Hoover!?!? I'll never forgive Y'all. I have a headache! Somebody send help' (r)

People are blaming Colleen Hoover fans on TikTok for the demise of ebook piracy site Z-Library

Popular for its extensive archive of free textbooks, ebook piracy site Z-Library was shut down after going viral on TikTok.

On Nov 8, 2022 by Gavia Baker-Whitelaw

Internet Culture
woman with book on her lap at Barnes & Noble store caption ' Barnes and nobles gotta hate us blank who don't buy anything just treat it like a public library and aimlessly float thru the store collecting books, finding a lil corner to sneak away to and drinking ur starbies til it's time for them to close' (l) Barnes & Noble Bookseller's store building with sign (c) man speaking in front of tan wall (r)

‘Pleaseeee DON’T put the book back’: Former Barnes and Noble worker issues PSA for customers who read in the store

'We actually don't mind that you hang around for as long as you want.'

On Oct 28, 2022 by Charlotte Colombo

IRL
A thick book on fire

One parent’s fear of ‘grooming’ led a school district to ban 24 books—without even reviewing them

A one-woman army led the charge to ban 2 dozen books.

On Oct 21, 2022 by Rebecca Caraway

Tech
J.K. Rowling posing with hand on cheek on left with Book cover 'THE INK BLACK HEART' 'Robert Galbraith The Number One Bestseller A Strike Novel' on right on green to yellow gradient background

J.K. Rowling’s new book faces criticism for its depiction of online harassment

'The Ink Black Heart' is a crime thriller about a YouTuber who is harassed by her critics, inviting parallels with Rowling's experiences on Twitter.

On Sep 1, 2022 by Gavia Baker-Whitelaw

Internet Culture
woman in classroom with clipboard and caption 'Tennessee teachers you know why I'm in my classroom on a Saturday'

‘The teacher has to catalog every single book’: Teacher says students can’t read any of her books until they’re screened for ‘age appropriateness’

'The kids in here are asking me, 'can I go get a book and read?' and I have to say 'no you can't.''

On Aug 15, 2022 by Cecilia Lenzen

IRL
Rayne Fisher-Quann posing pink and purple shadow effects on blue overlay library books

BookTok’s infatuation with ‘sad girl’ novels is as complex as the books themselves

Readers toe the line between commiserating with and romanticizing mental illness.

On Jul 6, 2022 by Kaiya Shunyata

Internet Culture Passionfruit
young woman reading a book and enjoying a glass of wine.

‘Like why does a bar always have to be a place to get wildly drunk. Can’t we just chill?’: TikToker reads at bar, sparking debate

'If I saw someone at a bar reading I would think, ‘damnit I should’ve brought my book.''

On Jun 21, 2022 by Braden Bjella

Internet Culture
man waving wand in front of students

Several references to Harry Potter books were removed from ‘Red, White & Royal Blue’

The book now uses a bunch of different pop culture references.

On Jun 20, 2022 by Michelle Jaworski

Internet Culture
woman in bookstore pointing hand at employee with face mask on (l) face masks laid out on table medical mask protective worker organizing (c) woman in bookstore talking to employee with face mask on (r)

‘I have the right to explain to you that mask doesn’t help’: Woman badgers Half Price Books manager over mask policy

'Why can't people just not be difficult?!'

On Jun 18, 2022 by Brooke Sjoberg

IRL
hands holding kindle

Are people returning e-books because of TikTok?

According to some authors, Amazon charges them for e-book returns.

On Jun 6, 2022 by Michelle Jaworski

Internet Culture
tiktok video JD Vance speaking man walking up to him caption 'Interrupting JD Vance' 'Hey JD I got your book' (l) tiktok video JD Vance speaking caption 'Interrupting JD Vance' 'and he said 'what's a president?' (c) tiktok video JD Vance speaking hand on man holding book caption 'Interrupting JD Vance' 'Yeah I just want to know if I can get a refund' (r)

‘Main character wasn’t very likable’: TikTok pranksters ask JD Vance to refund them for ‘Hillbilly Elegy’

'It just wasn’t that good.'

On Apr 28, 2022 by Jacob Seitz

Tech
Books in a dumpster.

‘Could have been used or donated’: TikToker finds ‘massive amount’ of books thrown out while dumpster-diving at Half Price Books in viral video

'GRAB THEM BEFORE THEY’RE GONE.'

On Jan 21, 2022 by Moises Mendez II

Internet Culture
A wall covered with book pages.

TikTok is turning walls into murder boards thanks to ‘Cain’s Jawbone’

Sarah Scannell is trying to solve the puzzle. She also helped the book sell out.

On Nov 24, 2021 by Audra Schroeder

Internet Culture