Booktok October 2022 นิยาย & เรื่องราว

Reading through my feed, I can tell this month is all about the monster romances and cozy fantasies. The 'knotting' discourse around Sarah J. Maas's books has died down a bit, but you can't scroll five seconds without seeing someone's fan art of Cassian or post about 'Iron Flame' spoilers. What's new is the absolute takeover by books like 'Butcher & Blackbird' – the dark comedy and the 'serial killers falling in love' premise is everywhere. Also, that witchy, cottagecore vibe from 'A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon' is having a major moment.

A trend I'm less thrilled about but can't ignore is the recycled 'romantasy' tropes getting super popular again. It feels like every other video is about another brooding fae lord and the human girl who 'doesn't know she's powerful.' The algorithm loves it, but my personal feed is starting to feel a bit samey. I'm seeing more buzz for 'The September House' too, which is a nice shift into horror – a mom just refusing to leave her haunted house is a hilarious and terrifying concept that's catching on fast.

BookTok's on a real run with a few titles this month. It feels like everyone’s talking about 'The Maidens of Grayson Manor' – that dark academia murder mystery with the Greek mythology twist. I saw it literally everywhere after that one creator did the dramatic reading of the prologue.

Personally, I'm more drawn to the quieter trend. 'A Psalm for the Wild-Built' is getting passed around like a secret handshake among people who feel a bit burnt out. It’s not flashy, but the conversations around it are so earnest.

The big commercial hit seems to be 'Crimson River' still. That romantasy series somehow refuses to die down. My feed is half aesthetic moodboards for the main couple and half debates about whether the third book jumped the shark. I haven't touched it, but the sheer volume of content is undeniable.

A wildcard pick I keep seeing is 'The Silent Patient' again. It's years old, but some algorithm glitch or a popular adaptation rumor has it trending with a 'if you haven't read this yet' angle. Makes me wonder how much of BookTok is just eternal rediscovery.

Spooky season vibes are real this year, and BookTok’s all about the atmospheric reads. I keep seeing people hold up copies of 'The Last House on Needless Street' by Catriona Ward next to a pumpkin—that one seems to be the gateway horror for a lot of folks. Dark academia's also having a huge resurgence; 'Babel' by R.F. Kuang is still making the rounds, paired with a cozy blanket and a mug of something hot. It's less about outright terror and more about that scholarly, moody aesthetic that fits with autumn leaves.

There's a quieter trend picking up steam too, for the readers who want a melancholy vibe without the scares. 'Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow' by Gabrielle Zevin is everywhere, and I think it's because the story about friendship and creation just feels right for a reflective season. Honestly, my own fall TBR is less about chasing the biggest trends and more about whatever has that specific, bittersweet prose that matches the weather.