By Harry Banham, Grace Briggs-Jones, and Daisy Shayegan
The TikTok Book Awards UK and Ireland 2024 aim to celebrate the diverse variety of books, authors, bookshops and creators that make up the BookTok ecosystem. Shortlists were collated by a judging panel consisting of content creators, editors and authors, before the public were able to vote via TikTok for their winners. In the end, over 82,000 votes were cast for a range of categories. This year, awards for Book of the Year (international), BookTok Breakthrough Author and TikTok Shop Book of the Year were introduced alongside the returning categories: Indie Bookshop of the Year, BookTok Creator of the Year, BookTok Rising Star Creator and Book of the Year. Let’s have a look at the winners.
Book of the Year (UK & Ireland)
None of This is True by Lisa Jewell
Lisa Jewell's novel None of This is True is a psychological thriller in which the sense of foreboding creeps in slowly. Alix and Josie have a chance meeting and discover they are birthday twins. They continue to bump into each other, and Alix invites Josie to join her on her podcast. As Josie reveals more and more, Alix starts to feel uncomfortable with her decision, but it is too late. Lisa Jewell described her shock at winning, and how "#BookTok was what the publishing industry needed."
Book of the Year (International)
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Fourth Wing is an adult fantasy romance novel originally published in 2023. It follows Violet Sorrengail as she embarks upon a treacherous college course in dragon riding, where her classmates are more likely to die than to see it through to graduation. The darkly dangerous romantic interest Xaden Riorson has been the subject of many fan-edits on TikTok, with 20 million posts being tagged with his name. It is no wonder, then, that the book has had such a far reach, and it is clear that many readers have enjoyed following Violet and Xaden's perilous journey together.
BookTok Breakthrough Author
Talia Hibbert
Talia Hibbert is an award-winning, best-selling romance author. She self-published her first novella in 2017 and has since gone on to publish more than fifteen books. Her first traditionally published book, Get a Life, Chloe Brown, was published by Avon Romance and released in 2019. This novel won the Ripped Bodice Award for Excellence in Romance Fiction and kickstarted the successful Brown Sisters Trilogy. Hibbert believes in the importance of diversity within her novels and has frequently included neurodiverse characters, as well as characters of marginalised ethnicities and all body types.
BookTok Creator of the Year
Maisie (@maisie_matilda)
Maisie (@maisie_matilda) has gained fans from all over the world with her stunning fore-edge paintings. Her videos show the process of illustrating the most iconic and heart-rending moments from the books she paints, which are often fantasy or YA novels such as Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, the TikTok International Book of the Year, and the Harry Potter series. With her videos regularly garnering over a million views, it is clear her art resonates with book lovers.
BookTok Rising Star Creator
John-Paul (@jpreads6)
The BookTok Rising Star Creator award was given to John-Paul (@jpreads6), whose videos largely include hauls, reviews and author interviews, with a focus on bringing attention to books from #BlackBookTok. His most popular videos include hauls of romance books and recommendations for sapphic reads by Black authors. In his winners’ speech he concluded, “Here’s to celebrating Black books!” Having won the category, it is clear that both BookTok watchers and us here at The Publishing Post agree with him!
Indie Bookshop of the Year
The Bookshop by the Sea
This multi-award-winning independent bookshop began with a simple dream: to open a cosy haven by the sea where beautiful books, tea and conversation could flourish. With a deep commitment to community, The Bookshop by the Sea brings together creative minds, offering an array of enriching activities, including creative writing classes, poetry evenings, live music, children’s story times, author talks and art workshops with local artists.
Whether you’re a university student or a local resident, you’ll find a welcoming atmosphere where the arts are celebrated and community connections are nurtured. The bookshop also prides itself on being conscientious, sourcing locally, organically and through fair trade whenever possible, with half of their books being second-hand.
If you ever find yourself in Aberystwyth, make sure to visit The Bookshop by the Sea - you won’t want to miss it.
TikTok Shop Book of the Year
The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore
This book has taken TikTok by storm, earning countless rave reviews and making waves on the accounts of big BookTok creators, such as @alwaysreadingxo, @prettyxbookishreads and @videodiarybyme. This heartwarming tale follows Jeanie, a spirited city girl who relocates to Dream Harbor to take over her aunt’s cherished café. Filled with autumnal romance and cosy mystery, the story explores whether Jeanie’s charm and optimistic outlook can win over the entire town, or if the grumpy-but-gorgeous Logan will be the one to resist her. If you’re a fan of Gilmore Girls, this is a must-read!