TikTok reveals Septembers BookTok Bestsellers UK

TikTok is thrilled to announce the September BookTok Bestsellers list in the UK. With more than 88 million posts using #BookTok, up 65% over the past year, the community continues to shape how people discover, discuss and engage with books. From reviews and recommendations to poetry and illustration, #BookTok has become a thriving community of literature lovers, with 51% of 16-25-year-old readers now discovering new books through TikTok.

Combining real-world retail data with TikTok engagement, the monthly BookTok Bestsellers List provides a snapshot of the books resonating most strongly with readers and the wider BookTok community, in partnership with Media Control.

BookTok Bestsellers can also be identified in participating bookstores with an official BookTok Bestsellers sticker, helping readers discover popular titles both on and offline.

This month's list sees a number of titles making their debut, alongside returning BookTok favourites. The Family Friend, by Claire Douglas, is ever present on the list as it has cemented itself as a firm BookTok fans favourite keeping its place in the September rankings, with Threshing Day, by Rebecca Yarros and Brain Damage, by Freida McFadden making the strongest debuts jumping into the list at first and second respectively.

The September list sees 'romance' continue as a fan-favourite genre. However, 'thriller' titles have begun to populate the list - showing its rising popularity amongst BookTok audiences. Franchises have also emerged as a common theme within the September's list, with over half of the titles included in the Septembers list being part of a series.

The September BookTok Bestsellers

1. Threshing Day, by Rebecca Yarros
2. Brain Damage, by Freida McFadden
3. In a Heartbeat, by Ali Novak
4. Heated Rivalry, by Rachel Reid
5. The Mirror of Infinite Endings, by Stephanie Garber
6. Adversary to the Villain, by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
7. The Knave and the Moon, by Rachel Gillig
8. The Family Friend, by Claire Douglas
9. The Divorce, by Freida McFadden
10. Release Me: Shatter Me: The New Republic, by Tahereh Mafi
11. Heartstopper Volume 6, by Alice Oseman
12. The Names, by Florence Knapp
13. Yesteryear, by Caro Claire Burke
14. Keeping 13: The Boys of Tommen, by Chloe Walsh
15. Reckless: Chestnut Springs, by Elsie Silver
16. Kiss of the Black Flame, by Helen Scheuerer
17. Metal Slinger, by Rachel Schneider
18. The Secret of Secrets, by Dan Brown
19. The Legacy, by Elle Kennedy
20. Powerless: Chestnut Springs, by Elsie Silver

Celebrating the World's Biggest Book Club

The August list forms part of TikTok's ongoing celebration of the World's Biggest Book Club, a programme of unique #BookTok inspired events and in-app celebrations giving readers more opportunities to discover, discuss and share the books they love both online and in person. New research shows TikTok is now the #1 book discovery platform for young readers, while #BookTok continues to be a transformative force in modern publishing - bringing young people back into bookshops and helping supercharge the careers of up-and-coming authors.

Given the platform's unique role in inspiring young people to discover books, TikTok is thrilled to join the National Year of Reading 2026, a Department for Education initiative in collaboration with the National Literacy Trust.

The National Year of Reading 2026 is a UK-wide campaign designed to inspire more people to make reading a regular part of their lives and to 'Go All In' on their passions and interests through reading. Put simply, if you're into it, read into it. The campaign aims to inspire more people to read, visit libraries, connect through stories and develop a lifelong love of reading, in all its forms; an ethos that underpins the spirit of the #BookTok community.

Join the World's Biggest Book Club. Follow @literacy_trust and #BookTok on TikTok to discover new reads, connect with fellow book lovers, join live events and get involved in the National Year of Reading.

-ENDS-

Source: Media Control. The #BookTok Bestsellers List is based on Media Control data. The list combines real-world retail data with TikTok engagement to identify titles that have gained relevance through the #BookTok community.