Entertainment
15 BookTok Recommendations From 2023 — Colleen Hoover Is Not Included on December 27, 2023 at 2:00 am Us Weekly
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Colleen Hoover might be the forever queen of BookTok, but her steamy romance novels aren’t the only books that had Us hitting our reading goals this year.
While not every novel on the list was released in 2023, some major page-turners had a resurgence thanks to their popularity on the social media platform.
Sarah J. Maas’ first A Court of Thorns and Roses novel was released in 2015 and has since spawned four sequels. The most recent, A Court of Silver Flames, was published in 2021. However, BookTok has taken this book series to a whole new level — and it’s even being adapted for television.
While some have claimed that BookTok just recommends the same few titles, TikTok creator Satoria Ray, who boasts over 40,000 followers on the platform, has disagreed.
“I would say that’s someone who has probably been on BookTok for a day,” Ray told author Leigh Stein in February. “I don’t think that any of us in this room are on the same BookTok.”
The beauty of BookTok is that it has become a diverse offering of authors, books and genres to readers to spend hours, days and months scrolling the hashtag.
Keep scrolling to see 15 of the best BookTok recommendations from this year:
‘A Little Life’ by Hanya Yanagihara
The 2015 novel by Yanagihara has become a huge phenomenon years after its release. It tells the story of a group of four friends as they experience life’s ups and downs together.
Many of the BookTok posts regarding this novel are readers crying over the emotionally charged pages. “I’m not even 300 pages into this book,” one TikTok user told fans through tears. A second captioned their video, writing, “I just finished a little life and I feel heartbroken.”
‘Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow’ by Gabrielle Zevin
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Released in 2022, this novel took BookTok by storm early into the next year, making it one of the most recommended on the hashtag. Author Zevin wrote the story of Sam Masur and Sadie Green, whose friendship spans over 30 years as they become friends then business partners.
“Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow and I’m sad and tomorrow,” one TikTok user wrote of the novel. Another reviewer said she had a “recent bathtub mental breakdown” over the book.
‘Fourth Wing’ by Rebecca Yarros
Yarros released this book this year, and it became a fast favorite among readers. She even dropped a sequel before 2023 came to an end. The first in the Empyrean series, Fourth Wing introduced readers to Violet, who has trained her whole life to become a scribe before being thrown into a war college for dragon riders.
One BookTok creator said “f—k you” to “the first person who came on here and recommend this book” because they quickly became “obsessed” with the novel. “It’s crack. It’s addictive. I can’t stop, it’s easily bingeable. Like I hate you. I hate you but I love you thank you so much,” they added.
‘Red, White & Royal Blue’ by Casey McQuiston
Thanks to the Prime Video movie of the same name, BookTok went crazy for the 2019 love story between Alex, son of the president of the United States, and Prince Henry, spare to the British throne.
“Who else is obsessed with alex & henry rn?” one BookTok user captioned their video. Another social media user wrote, “No thoughts, just alex and henry.”
‘The House in the Cerulean Sea’ by TJ Klune
Released in 2020, the book tells the story of 40-year-old Linus Baker and the six magical orphans living in Marsyas Island Orphanage.
Reviewers on TikTok have referred to this book as part of the “cozy” genre. “This book had my heart man,” one person shared. A second called it “the best book of all time.”
‘A Court of Thorns and Roses’ by Sarah J. Maas
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If the acronym ACOTAR is familiar, thank BookTok. The five-book (so far) series follows character Feyre Archeron and her love story across the faery realm of Prythian.
ACOTAR was first on “spicy” BookTok but it’s since landed in the mainstream. In fact, it was announced earlier this year that Hulu is developing a show based on the novels. Author Maas has also hinted at another book already in the works.
‘Maame’ by Jessica George
Not only is Maame a BookTok pick, but it was featured in Today‘s book club, Read With Jenna [Bush Hager]. George’s novel, released earlier this year, is about a girl named Maddie living in London and taking care of her father as her mom spends most of her time in Ghana. Maddie, however, is just trying to experience some much-needed “firsts.”
BookTok users referred to this as a “must-read” of the year. “A good, relatable coming-of-age book!” one user wrote.
‘The Song of Achilles’ by Madeline Miller
Originally published in 2011, Miller’s The Song of Achilles has risen in popularity this year. The book is a retelling of the Trojan War from Patroclus’ point of view.
“Honestly might be a new favorite read,” one TikTok caption read. A second reviewer shared they were “scared” to read the ending.
‘They Both Die at the End’ by Adam Silvera
The 2017 young adult novel went viral this year, which led to readers falling in love with characters Mateo and Rufus, who both discover they only have one more day left to live.
“I was such a mess after reading this book I loved it so much I hated it,” one BookTok review read. Most TikToks surrounded the fact that the title is, hilariously, a spoiler to the end of the novel.
‘The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue’ by V. E. Schwab
This 2020 fantasy novel follows a French woman in 1714 who made an agreement to become immortal, but everyone who meets her will immediately forget her forever.
One emotional BookTok reader shared that the novel “just shattered my spirits.” They added, “I feel like my heart just got punched.”
‘The Atlas Six’ by Olivie Blake
The first of a trilogy, this 2020 novel follows the last group of six possible Alexandrian Society members — the smartest and most talented magicians — as only five will qualify for initiation.
“These two books have consumed me and it’s hard to explain. The story is extremely slow, but the characters are so addictive that I can’t stop wanting to read and learn more about them,” a BookTok reviewer shared. “The Atlas Six and The Atlas Paradox by Olivie Blake are not going to be for everyone, but they sure are a must-read series for me.”
‘Honey and Spice’ by Bolu Babalola
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This 2022 novel was a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick following its release, but BookTok made it popular this year. The book tells the story of Kiki Banjo who finds herself in a situationship, even though she swore she never would.
“Bolu Babalola should get a job as a postman because this book DELIVERED,” one BookTok user said of the author. Another social media reviewer shared that the male protagonist had officially become her “book boyfriend.”
‘The Housemaid’ by Freida McFadden
The first Housemaid thriller was released in 2022 and followed Millie, who cleans the Winchesters’ home, and soon uncovers some major secrets within the family.
“The Housemaid is Just finished chapter 42 and I need a break. I’m so upset ,” one reviewer shared on TikTok. According to another BookTok user, the sequel, The Housemaid’s Secret is also “crazy.”
‘Happy Place’ by Emily Henry
This book was quite possibly the biggest beach read that was released this year. Harriet and Wyn have been broken up for six months but haven’t told their friends. Instead, they decide to vacation with them and keep the news of their split quiet.
“I went in without expectations and was BLOWN AWAY,” a BookTok user told social media users. A second review, referred to author Henry as “a genius.”
‘Immortal Longings’ by Chloe Gong
Immortal Longings was released earlier this year and was the first in Gong’s Flesh and False God series. This installment reimagined the William Shakespeare play Antony and Cleopatra. Upon its release, Gong made her own BookTok post about the novel.
“One day you’re 14 finishing the first novel you’ve ever written,” she shared. “Then, suddenly, you’re 24 in a hotel room finishing your nationwide book tour for your fourth NYT bestseller. Wild.”
goodreads.com (3) Colleen Hoover might be the forever queen of BookTok, but her steamy romance novels aren’t the only books that had Us hitting our reading goals this year. While not every novel on the list was released in 2023, some major page-turners had a resurgence thanks to their popularity on the social media platform.
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By Bolanle Media | July 2, 2026
Photo: Tyla at the 2026 Met Gala in custom Valentino — days before making the biggest business move of her career.
There are career moves, and then there are statements. Tyla just made a statement that will be studied in music business classrooms for years.
The South African superstar — born Tyla Laura Seethal, 24 years old, and already the proud owner of two Grammy Awards — has officially signed a multi-million dollar global deal with Roc Nation, Jay-Z’s powerhouse entertainment company, walking away from Epic Records to align herself with the most influential roster in the music business. The signing was confirmed across social media with a major digital announcement this week, and the reaction from industry insiders was immediate — shock, admiration, and the quiet acknowledgment that someone just changed the trajectory of African music forever.
From “Water” to a Global Phenomenon
Let’s not forget where this all started. In 2023, a 21-year-old from Johannesburg released a song called “Water” that nobody could quite categorize and everybody needed to hear. Within weeks, it had sparked one of the most viral TikTok dance challenges of the decade, charted simultaneously across the United States, the United Kingdom, and Africa, and earned Tyla a Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance — the first year that category even existed.
That win wasn’t just personal. It was a signal. African music — Afrobeats, Amapiano, and now what Tyla herself calls A*Pop — was no longer knocking at the door of the global mainstream. It had walked through it. And Tyla had handed it the key.
What followed was a whirlwind two years of sold-out shows, magazine covers, red carpet domination, and a growing reputation as one of the most stylistically fearless artists on the planet. She attended the 2026 Met Gala — her third consecutive appearance — wearing a custom Valentino gown dripping in diamond chains with a sweeping teal skirt, styled by the legendary Law Roach, with beauty by Pat McGrath. The look was breathtaking. But it was also strategic. Every Met Gala appearance, every fashion moment, every carefully placed interview has been building toward exactly this: the infrastructure to match the vision.
What Roc Nation Actually Means
To understand why this deal matters, you have to understand what Roc Nation actually is — because it is not simply a record label.
Founded by Jay-Z in 2008, Roc Nation is a full-service entertainment company with divisions spanning artist management, touring, brand partnerships, film and television, sports management, and philanthropy. Its roster has included Rihanna, Alicia Keys, J. Cole, Big Sean, Lil Uzi Vert, and Megan Thee Stallion — artists who didn’t just sell records, but built multi-decade cultural empires that extended into fashion, film, business, and beyond. The through-line isn’t genre. It’s scale.
For Tyla specifically, the Roc Nation deal unlocks a completely different level of access. We’re talking about premium budgets for music videos and live production, top-tier brand partnership pipelines with luxury and lifestyle companies, film and television placement relationships that most artists spend a decade trying to build, and the kind of media weight that gets you on the cover of Vogue, Time, and Billboard in the same calendar year. Roc Nation doesn’t just manage artists — it engineers icons.
On the African music side, Tyla joins fellow Roc Nation signee Ayra Starr, the Nigerian pop star who inked her deal in 2025, deepening the label’s clear and deliberate strategic investment in African pop as the next dominant global genre. Jay-Z is not betting on a trend. He is betting on a generation.
The Album That Could Rewrite the Playbook
The timing of this signing is not accidental — it is surgical.
Tyla’s highly anticipated sophomore album, A*POP, is officially set to drop July 24, 2026, just three weeks away — a 14-track project that she has described as unapologetic, globally ambitious, and deeply rooted in her South African identity while simultaneously reaching for something universal. The lead single “She Did It Again” features Swedish pop titan Zara Larsson, a collaboration that announces in no uncertain terms that Tyla is not staying in any lane she didn’t build herself.
With Roc Nation’s full machine now behind the album rollout — promotional infrastructure, media relationships, tour routing, brand activations — A*POP arrives with a runway that Epic Records simply could not have provided at this scale. The industry is already paying attention. For music supervisors, film and TV executives, brand marketers, and entertainment investors reading this right now — put A*POP on your radar immediately. This is the kind of release that shapes culture, not just charts.
The Bigger Picture Nobody Is Talking About
Here is what gets lost in the excitement of a big announcement: the systemic significance of what Tyla just did.
The music industry’s historical relationship with African artists has been, at best, transactional — major labels slow to invest, quick to cash in on a viral moment, and consistently reluctant to build the kind of long-term infrastructure that turns an artist into a brand. Tyla has navigated that system with remarkable intelligence, refusing to be reduced to a trend, building her artistic identity on her own terms, and now — at 24 — arriving at the negotiating table with enough leverage to choose Roc Nation on her terms.
That matters. Not just for Tyla, but for every African artist watching this unfold from Lagos, Accra, Nairobi, Cape Town, and Houston. It is proof that the path from regional phenomenon to global superstar is not only possible — it is being paved right now, in real time, by a young woman from Johannesburg who refused to shrink.
For media companies, content platforms, entertainment executives, and brand strategists operating in the African diaspora space — this is your data point. African pop is not a niche. It is not a trend. It is not a moment. It is a movement, and Tyla just secured the most powerful co-sign available in the global music business to lead it.
Watch this space. Very closely.
Follow @bolanlemedia on Instagram for real-time music, film, and entertainment industry news. Read more at bolanlemedia.com
AfriqueFest: Pan-African Musical Experience — World Cup Edition is set to take over Noto Houston on Sunday, June 28, bringing together East, South, and West African sounds in one immersive celebration of music, culture, and connection. Presented by Experience Noir and Bolanle Media, the event is designed as a cinematic night for the culture, blending global energy with Houston nightlife in a way that feels elevated, intentional, and deeply rooted in African creativity.
Spotlight on DJ Shinski
At the heart of this year’s experience is DJ Shinski. Born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya and now based in Houston, DJ Shinski has built an international name off high-energy sets that move effortlessly across Afrobeats, Amapiano, hip‑hop, dancehall, reggae, and electronic sounds.
He has also become Africa’s most‑subscribed DJ on YouTube, crossing the 2‑million‑subscriber mark and turning his mixes into a global destination for music lovers.
DJ Shinski’s style is precise but unpredictable: one moment it’s classic Afrobeats, the next it’s East African anthems, then a run of throwback hip‑hop or R&B that still feels fresh. That ability to read a room and connect multiple worlds in a single set is exactly why AfriqueFest is building so much of the night’s energy around him.
At AfriqueFest, DJ Shinski helps drive the Safari Grooves segment, representing East and Central Africa from 4 PM to 6 PM. Expect a journey that moves from Nairobi to Dar es Salaam, Kampala, Addis, and beyond, all filtered through his signature “vibes on vibes” approach behind the decks.
DJ Tunez and the rest of the night
Supporting that energy, DJ Tunez leads the Gold Coast Beats chapter from 8 PM to 10 PM, bringing his own Nigerian‑American Afrobeats pedigree to the stage. Together with the Diamond Rhythms segment (South) and a curated roster of DJs, the night stretches across the continent in three distinct musical chapters, all connected by a single dance floor.
Hosted by @chris_gone_crazy, @kingdrewwskyy, @roselynomaka, and @samsnewleaf, AfriqueFest is positioned as more than a party—it’s a celebration of sound, style, and Pan‑African identity in Houston, with DJ Shinski anchoring the experience from the moment doors open.
Brought to you by Bolanle Media & Experience Noir
Brought to you by Bolanle Media and Experience Noir, this World Cup edition of AfriqueFest is crafted as a night where global DJs, storytellers, and music lovers collide and create a shared cultural memory. With DJ Shinski front and center—and DJ Tunez helping close the night—guests can expect a show that reflects both the future of African nightlife and the power of the diaspora to create unforgettable live moments.
If you want to experience DJ Shinski live at AfriqueFest, now is the time to lock in your spot. Purchase your tickets now at AfriqueFest.com and get ready for a night of music, movement, and culture at Noto Houston.
Laughter Meets Inspiration: Our Ladies Show Lands on The Roku Channel
A bold new sketch comedy series for women premieres June 13 across the U.S., U.K., and Canada — arriving on the back of a festival-winning run that has critics and audiences already paying attention.
It isn’t every day a brand-new comedy arrives already wearing a row of trophies. Our Ladies Show does. The seven-episode inspirational sketch comedy series — created, written by, and starring Christin Jezak — begins streaming on The Roku Channel on Friday, June 13, 2026, available free to viewers in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada.
Produced in partnership with global media services leader Encompass Digital Media, the series sets out to do something rare in today’s streaming landscape: make women laugh out loud and leave them lifted. In a media moment crowded with noise and cynicism, Our Ladies Show is a deliberate counterweight — comedy with a conscience, built for women of every age and background.
A Show Built Around Real Life — and Real Laughs
Each of the seven episodes opens with a monologue from one of the cast members introducing the theme, then rolls into three or more sketches that hit the subject from every comedic angle. The series tackles the things women actually carry: holding grudges, comparison, beauty, patience, gift giving, the importance of community, and dealing with anxiety.
The comedy comes from a place of warmth rather than mockery — a “laugh at ourselves” spirit that runs through a gallery of unforgettable characters: a nosey neighbor, an overwhelmed mom, relentlessly optimistic flight attendants, beauty pageant winners past their prime, and a crew of unruly campers with a counselor who simply cannot hold it together.
Then the show does something most sketch series don’t. In the final segment of every episode, the cast gathers in a living-room setting and invites the audience in — sharing real inspiration drawn from the theme, the sketches, and their own personal stories. It’s the moment the laughter turns into something that stays with you.
The Women Behind the Show
Our Ladies Show brings together three performers with serious range:
- Christin Jezak — creator, writer, and star (Miracle at Manchester, Raising Hope, Jimmy Kimmel Live!)
- Hillary Hawkins — (Primal, Nick Jr.’s Play Along, Gullah Gullah Island)
- Sarah Hernandez — (Nefarious, Unplanned, House of Payne)
“In a world with so much division and depression, I hope women of all ages and backgrounds will watch this show, laugh, be reminded of how beautiful, unique, and loved they are, and remember how much we need each other.”— Christin Jezak, Creator & Star
Already a Festival Favorite
The series’ recurring long-form sketch, Neighborhood Watch, didn’t arrive quietly. Originally released as a web series and revamped for Our Ladies Show with new footage, sound, and music, it has been sweeping the festival circuit:
- 🏆 Best Webseries — 2026 New Media Film Festival (Los Angeles)
- 🏆 Best Web/TV Series — Paris Film Awards
- 🏆 Best Web Series — Dallas Movie Awards
- 🏅 Additional wins at the London Movie Awards, Florence Film Awards, and Hollywood Gold Awards
- 🎬 Official Selection — 2026 Harvard Divinity School Film Fest
- ⭐ Finalist — Houston Comedy Film Festival
- 📣 Three nominations — 2025 Content Christian Media Conference, including Best Actress in a TV and Web Series nods for both Christin Jezak and Sarah Hernandez
Where and When to Watch
Our Ladies Show premieres Friday, June 13, 2026, streaming on The Roku Channel — the home of premium and free entertainment — in the U.S., U.K., and Canada. All seven episodes deliver the series’ signature blend of sharp sketch comedy and genuine encouragement.
Watch the trailer now on your platform of choice:
For more information, visit www.ourladiesshow.com and follow @ourladiesshow on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
About Christin Jezak
Christin Jezak has worked for over 15 years in the entertainment industry. She created and stars in Our Ladies Show and the award-winning web series Neighborhood Watch. She produced the EWTN TV program For the Sake of the Gospel and the all-women web series Ladies Keepin’ It Real, played Dr. Sam in Miracle at Manchester (starring Dean Cain, Daniel Roebuck, and Eddie McClintock), and voices Agnes in the podcast Confessions of a Catholic Single. She held a lead role in a short film for NTT Data directed by Academy Award–winning cinematographer Janusz Kamiński, has co-starred on Raising Hope, and appeared in Jimmy Kimmel sketches and a Grubhub Super Bowl commercial.
About The Roku Channel
Roku pioneered streaming on TV and is the #1 TV streaming platform in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico by hours streamed (Hypothesis Group, Dec. 2025). The Roku Channel is the home of premium and free entertainment, alongside Roku’s Howdy and Frndly TV services. Roku is headquartered in San Jose, California.
About Encompass Digital Media
Encompass Digital Media is a global managed services company — technology-driven, software-defined, and people-powered. Trusted by world-leading broadcasters, networks, sports rights-holders, and OTT platforms, it processes over 25,000 hours of content daily, serves 850 channels to 84 countries, distributes over 243,000 live events annually, and reaches 400 million radio listeners weekly worldwide. Learn more at www.encompass.tv.
Media & Interview Requests: To interview creator Christin Jezak or the cast, contact Christin at cjezak@p2ptheatre.com.
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