TikTok Trends can be tough to figure out- you’re off the app for one day, and suddenly everyone is doing a new dance, or silent reviews…how do you keep up with it all?

If you’ve seen our previous blogs, we’ve given you advice on how to start a TikTok, and spoke at length about the joys of the app. You can find pretty much everything on TikTok: from romance to horror, thriller to fantasy. Sometimes it can be hard to know what to post though. However, jumping on those TikTok Trends you see everywhere can be really fun, and can help your content reach more people. Read on to find out about some of my top TikTok Trends, and how to recreate them yourself.

TikTok Trend #1: Silent Book Reviews

@julianna_reads

This was a slowish start for me but then it blew my mind. Must read fantasy, all the stars. Dark academia perfection! #babel #rfkuang #darkacademia #fantasybooktok #silentbookreviews

♬ original sound – Julianna

Silent Book Reviews are everywhere at the moment. They are a really fun way to review a book with out having to say anything. Hand gestures and facial expressions can be universal, meaning that your content can appeal to more than just your own language speakers.

This is a really easy trend to jump on: read a book, then film yourself reacting to it without saying anything. How did you feel? Did the book shock you, scare you, make you cry? Show these emotions and you’ll have a hit on your hands!

TikTok Trend #2: I Can’t Do Nights

@elenasbooktok

i love this feeling #booktok #tandemcollectiveuk #theschoolreunion #theschoolreunionreadalong #shaliniboland #thrillerbookstok

♬ eye cunt dew knight – AHRIHQ

This clip from the movie Five Nights at Freddy’s is used by creators to show them staying in rather than going out. In the BookTok world it is usually showing someone reading their book instead of wanting to go out partying.

This is a very quick sound, so you just need to mime along to the words. You could be reading and show your frustration at being disturbed, or have a friend join you and show how you prefer reading on the sofa instead of going out to the club.

TikTok Trend #3: Aesthetic videos

@jenny_readss

this book is giving me genuine, visceral stress. my stomach is sore from all the tension and I’m obsessed! also this is the best excuse to use this sound. Have you read this book? If you’re on #northseatiktok pick this one up, it’s safer than actually going there! Just. #thelastpassenger @Lex Brookman #thriller #northsea #readthebook #thrillerreads

♬ Hoist the Colours – Bass Singers Version – Bobby Bass

Aesthetic posts and videos have been popular for a while. They are starting to make a resurgence on TikTok in various forms. People have created a “what you see vs what I see” trend: this starts on you reading a book, then switches to multiple aesthetic images showing what happens in a readers head. Other examples include using aesthetic images to show the plot of a book, or persuading you to pick the book up based on its aesthetic.

This trend can take a little more time because you need to find multiple aesthetic images. Pinterest is a good starting point, but make sure that the images are free to use. You then need to use TikToks editing software to stitch them together so they flash through, making a video that gives the vibes of the book.

TikTok Trend #4: Kardashian’s Kwotes

@shaebabybooks

My Top 2023 Releases⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #iconicbooks #booktok #bookrecommendations #2023books #bestbooksof2023 #greekmythology #literaryfiction #horror #shortstories #gifted

♬ original sound – kardashianicon

Whenever a Kardashian says something meme-able, the internet is going to go wild. TikTok includes lots of Kardashian quotes and sounds, including ‘Because it’s iconic‘ or ‘I’m resilient, I’m strong‘

These are another easy one to use. Pick your favourite quote, and mime it while showing your favourite book.

TikTok Trend #5: The Silent GRWM

@camillalor

make sure you listen carefully🤝🏻

♬ original sound – Cam

The Silent GRWM (Get Ready With Me) trend is used to highlight all the reasons to not do something. It starts with the creator saying ‘Get Ready With Me as I tell you why not to do…’ this could be ‘ not to read this book’, ‘not start a BookTok’ or anything that you are passionate about. The rest of the video is just silently getting ready. This shows that there are no reasons to not do the thing!

Another nice and easy trend to do yourself. Just think of something that you are passionate about, or you think everyone should do. You then just film yourself doing your morning routine.

How to find TikTok Trends

Unfortunately, the only real way to find trends is to scroll on the app, and I know we all aim to minimize our screen time. However, other ways to use trends can be using a popular song (Texas Hold ‘Em by Beyonce, or Yes, And by Ariana Grande come to mind), if there is a style you like, save it and reproduce it yourself. If you see a style used a few times, save and have a go yourself. Check out trends from other sides of TikTok: BeautyTok, DanceTok, CelebrityTok- they are all full of fantastic trends you can make bookish!

Jenny is a book influencer over on Instagram, and tries to post on her own TikTok and YouTube as well. In her day job she works for Tandem Collective as a project manager and trend collector for the rest of the social team.