TikTok Unveils UK Bestseller List for BookTok Reads

TikTok has introduced the United Kingdom’s first official #BookTok bestseller list , created with Media Control and NielsenIQ BookData, in a move that formalises the platform’s role in how readers find and buy books. The new chart is published monthly, and its first edition was released recently.

The inaugural ranking combines UK book sales figures with analysis tied to activity around the #BookTok hashtag. TikTok said the hashtag has generated more than 77 million posts, and the new list is designed to connect that online attention with what is selling in stores and online across the UK market.

In its first month, the top 20 is made up entirely of books written by female authors. Irish writer Chloe Walsh stands out with six entries from her Boys of Tommen series included in the opening list, according to the chart details shared alongside the launch.

Genre patterns are also clear in the first release. The ranking is heavily weighted toward romance and “romantasy,” with titles by Sarah J. Maas and Rebecca Yarros among those featured. The selection highlights how social-media-driven discovery can elevate categories that may not always dominate traditional bestseller tables.

The list also points to BookTok’s ability to extend the commercial life of older books. Donna Tartt’s The Secret History , first published in 1992, appears on the chart, illustrating how renewed online discussion can translate into fresh sales momentum years after a book’s original release.

Several books on the list are linked to recent or forthcoming screen adaptations, reflecting how publishing and entertainment marketing can overlap when a title gains traction online. The chart’s launch adds another reference point for publishers, retailers, and authors tracking what is resonating with readers, particularly younger audiences who use social platforms for recommendations.

Data cited by NielsenIQ BookData underscores the scale of the phenomenon in the UK. The company attributes 11 million UK book sales in 2025—about 6% of total sales—to BookTok’s influence, positioning social media as a measurable driver of demand rather than only a promotional channel.

At the same time, the new chart does not replace established bestseller lists or conventional marketing approaches. Instead, it sits alongside them, offering a dedicated view of titles that are benefiting from TikTok-led discovery. How consistently the monthly list captures shifting trends, and how the methodology balances sales data with hashtag analysis over time, will be closely watched by the industry.