‘Heartstopper’, ‘Pride & Prejudice’ Among Big Winners at Inaugural TikTok Book Awards

The graphic novel behind Netflix’s Heart stopper and a Jane Austen classic novel were among the winners over the weekend at the first-ever TikTok Book Awards. Launched by TikTok in the UK and Ireland, the awards honor the region’s biggest names in the world of literature, publishing and #BookTok, the popular hashtag used by TikTok creators to discuss their favorite authors and titles.

“Heartstopper,” a graphic novel by Alice Oseman first published in 2020, won the TikTok Book Award for “Best Book I Wish I Could Read Again For The First Time.” The LGBTQ series isn’t just a hit on BookTok — “Heartstopper: Volume One” is also currently at the top of Amazon’s young adult charts, right now.

There are now four books in the series, which follows Charlie Spring and his friend Nick Nelson as they navigate the complex dynamics of high school relationships and coming out. A fifth part will be published in December.

Picked up by Netflix, the first season of Heart stopper premiered in 2022 and the second season dropped on Netflix earlier this month.

Alongside “Heartstopper,” Jane Austen’s 1813 classic, “Pride & Prejudice,” won the award for “Best BookTok Revival,” which highlights older books that have seen a revival thanks to conversations on TikTok. One of the most popular novels in English literature, “Pride & Prejudice” has become a popular discussion topic on TikTok, with users also using sounds and dialogue from the 2005 movie adaptation.

Some new books were also honored at the TikTok Book Awards: ‘Honey & Spice’, Bolu Babalola’s debut novel, was named ‘BookTok Book of the Year’. The British writer’s book follows Kiki Banjo, as she navigates school, hosts her “Brown Sugar” radio show, and pursues — or doesn’t pursue — a potential crush.

Released last year, “Honey & Spice” became an instant bestseller and was even selected by Reese Witherspoon to be part of her book club.

The award for ‘BookTok Author of the Year’ went to Holly Jackson, best known for her ‘Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’ series. And the award for “Best Book to End a Reading Slump” went to “Everything I Know About Love,” the heartbreaking memoir of former Sunday Times columnist Dolly Alderton. The book has since been developed into a series that airs in the US on Peacock.

The winners of the inaugural TikTok Book Awards were voted on by thousands of TikTok users through the app. TikTok says the #BookTok hashtag has been viewed more than 167 billion times and reviews and recommendations of favorite titles are still coming. The company says in addition to encouraging lively discussion and debate, “the #BookTok community drives record book sales, helps support independent bookstores, and launch careers of emerging or previously underrepresented authors and genres.