Booktok and Over Consumption in the Book Community

[@NerdyNurseReads]

I’m a huge book thrifter. Readers are often book collectors and there’s sometimes a push to buy new, pristine books. But there’s something special about a gently worn book that’s been read and loved before. Used books are better for your wallet and the environment.

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

YES!!! Yes to all of this! I would say before moving to Belgium when I lived in WI, I ONLY bought used 99% of the time. There's just something so satisfying about buying used for me. And if it's better for the environment, that's only a plus in my eyes!

[@NerdyNurseReads]

@@EmilyReadsBooksmy favorite part is the hunt. Especially for series. Book thrifting is just wonderful.

[@bhsprinkle]

Yes, used or gently used books are still book and could certainly help the environment as well as a wallet.

[@alexforce9]

Old books have character.

[@keiththorpe9571]

You're absolutely right about the royalty rate discrepancy between E-books and physical format books. My E-book is priced at $2.99, while my paperback is priced at $14.99, and I make a nearly a dollar more on E-book downloads and KU reads than from paperback sales. E-books are better for the reader, better for the writer, better for the environment. Win-Win-Win!

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

Woot woot! Thank you so much for this information. I’m so fascinated by how it all works. I love that it’s better for the authors AND the environment!

[@garconerproduction3046]

not win win win. it hurts bookstores that arent huge chains with their own e book machines.

[@TairyGreen89]

Physical books are better

[@chelloo9517]

I usually get my books from thrift shops. However, there are some books you'll just never find at a thrift shop. I try to only buy books new if I know I could re-read them over and over again. I like going to the library to read, but if I fall in love with it, I will buy it. I don't mind e-books, but I like the comfort of owning my books tangibly. Books have gotten me through many things, but especially bad weather. I don't need to worry about battery life or internet connection during an outage to grab a book and cozy up.

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

That is so true, and an unfortunate reality. I am a huge supporter of buying after going to the library! I think it's a great way to know what you like, and then being able to own it and reread it is a great plus! Especially if you love to annotate your books. Ugh, I'm waiting for autumn here so I can cozy up in the cool weather under a blanket with my books! Thank you so much for commenting!

[@miireiter]

When I first discovered Booktube in 2016 I started just buying more and more books bc there were just so many good recommendations. But although I read I couldn’t keep up with minimising my TBR (especially as a moodreader). Then I watched a video about consumerism on booktube and sustainability of books. At that time my tbr was at about 60 books so I got rid of about 20 books and the others were still books I wanted to read. Now I have almost all the time 20 or less books on my TBR (sometimes it’s more especially on my birthday and Christmas) and I try to not leave books unread for a long time bc sometimes you just grow out of certain books. When it comes to the sustainability part I try to borrow books from friends or from the library (although in my local library in a small German town are not the „best“ books) and I bought a kindle or buy second hand (that of course also helps with the costs). I am also not as critical anymore when it comes to how books look or in which condition books are (not when they got a pretty cover though lol). I think sometime you just have to restart to „motivate“ yourself again.

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

I love this! You are so right, and it's awesome that you took the steps that work for you to help watch how you consume books. I myself try to do the same and keep my physical TBR as small as I can before buying more books. It can be hard, but I think it's so worth it! I also love exchanging books with my friends. It's helped me read more books without having to buy them myself, and vice versa!

[@chadia25]

I like buying books. I hate ebooks, but I love going to thriftstores. What I usually don't get is people who have multiple copies of the same book. 😅 I can't waist my money like that. But still, everyone can do whatever they want with their money. 😊

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

I agree! I used to hate ebooks so much, but once I started using Hugo's for ARCs, I've really come around to them! However, nothing beats the way a beautiful bookshelf looks.

[@TheSassyLibraryFox]

I don't have TikTok because it feels too fast moving for me. I kinda like that my channel is growing slowly. =) You made very valid points about trends and the pressure of buying books in order to be up-to-date. I always wonder how many of the books those huge BookTubers who make 30+ book haul videos actually read. I'm just a small BookTuber but I really try my best not to buy all too many books. I don't have a lot of space and only buy the books I know I'll reread again. I mostly borrow my books from the library and I recently started to use little libraries. I already donated a lot of books and sometimes I find one I want to read as well so little libraries are a great way to exchange books with others. Great video idea and discussion!

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

Hey! Thank you so much for commenting! I don't use tiktok myself for booktok, but it always ends up on my FYP eventually, so I'm not deep into it, but I see enough of it to kind of understand what's going on. I also like that my channel is growing the way it is. I get to interact with people so much more frequently and in a more intentional way which is really nice. I always wonder myself how many books from their hauls go untouched and unread. Because are they buying them with the intention to read them? Or to own them? We finally got a new library card (because I recently moved) and I got 7 books last week! I'm so excited to share them all here and read them. The best part is that I probably saved $100+ in doing so haha. Thank you so much again!

[@hannah-qg5fl]

Another good online buying option is Bookshop! I think it’s mostly new books, but you can choose a local bookstore to support and a lot of the money will go to them, even as you’re buying online. Love this video-you’re so right how easy it is to just buy books blindly because someone else says it might be good without actually thinking about it.

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

I've heard of this, but wasn't sure! This is such an amazing option. Thank you so much for your comment!

[@_nem]

E-books are also great for sharing. I have a family library with my boyfriend and his brother so we just have to buy the book once and all three of us can read it. All at the same time too.

[@MysticDivinerLJ]

I appreciate this video. I’m new to the online book community and listening to this was very insightful!

[@rowceo]

Agreed with every single point in this. I started reading heavy again in December and after a few books from Barnes and nobles I realized it would not be sustainable. Now I read books from the thrift store they’re usually $1 at goodwill opposed to $20 from Barnes and nobles. Also each Barnes and nobles studies their demographic through online engagement and purposely places their shelves in this manner and tiktok has the most influence on this. Have not made it into the ereader realm as reading for me is a whole experience and a break from tech in general

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

Yes!! I love thrifting books// buying used! It's just not sustainable to buy new all the time (especially if they're books I'm unsure I'll read). Barnes and Noble has been... giving me some weird vibes as of late, and I'm not sure how much I love them (though where I live now they don't exist lol). E-readers can be a great tool and a $$ saver, BUT they're not for everyone. I love the way books feel in my hand, AND I love the e-reader we have. It's been great for ARCS (another way to get free books!), but that's about all I use it for these days. Thank you so much for your comment!! :)

[@WellTraveledBooks]

Ok first of all I love your sweater! Thank you so much for this response! I love it all a lot. I had NO idea that It Ends With Us came out in 2016. I thought it was a new release and I had never heard of Colleen Hoover before that insanity that existed around that book. I don't have tiktok but it seeped into Instagram for sure. Honestly while you were talking it made me wonder too how much of these booktok books going viral is just random people in their bedrooms going viral vs. large corporations deciding that they now want to sell a certain authors books and working the algorithm to make it go viral. Minor conspiracy haha. Considering why you are buying is so important I think! And I agree, when I buy new and it is more expensive then I end up putting more thought into it and trying to support local as well. Thank you thank you! Great video =)

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

Thank you! It's a new favorite of mine lol. Yeah, that's why I used CoHo as the example. The other problem is her backlist is SO large that people just buy all of her books without question and so many of them probably go untouched or unread. I've heard that even major publishers are taking a step back from marketing their authors and instead having them do the work themselves on tiktok which is WILD to me. I definitely think the driving force is the readers themselves going viral and then the publishing companies reaping the benefits. Thanks for watching as always, Ania!

[@Books-and-coffee0]

What I hate is how booktok community looks down on old and worn out used books. Like why does it matter? If the book is readable is it necessary to have every new $20 hardback release on your shelves?

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

Agreed. I think a lot of it has to do with the ~aesthetics~ of booktok (and people in general). They'd rather have them all look nice/the same. Especially when they use it as a background/ main topic for their videos. I definitely understand where it comes from, but for myself I just can't do it like that.

[@NerdyNatReads]

Loved this idea for a discussion and specifically using CoHo as an example. I'm a big proponent of resale bookstores. I try to prioritize my half-price books first and I love that Pango Books is becoming more popular, might try it for myself in the future. I also love switching books with people!

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

Yay!!! Thank you so much for watching, Nat! I love seeing people using resellers and borrowing books to friends. I think it's important, especially because of how expensive books really are!

[@uniquealexname]

I love thriftbooks and betterworldbooks!

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

Both are amazing suggestions! When I lived in the USA, thriftbooks was my go-to.

[@JesstheBookFreak]

I don't have tiktok so I don't know much about booktok. This isn't a black and white matter on whether booktok is good or not. You covered a lot of the nuances of what's good/bad about it. It's great publicity for authors to promote their work. But it could be wasteful because not all hyped books are for everybody. I love shopping secondhand from thriftbooks, ebay, thrift stores... You have a lot of great alternative suggestions for getting books. Great discussion 😄

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

Hi! Thank you so much! It definitely is not a black and white issue at all. And in a lot of ways, booktok has really done a lot of good for readers and the publishing industry (especially self published authors and indie authors). I think the issue comes in with people doing 50+ book hauls and then not reading any of them lol. I hope that maybe I helped even just one person find a more sustainable option for their want to buy books! Thank you for your comment!

[@KuramiRocket]

I'm not on booktok and barely on booktube and not a content creator, but been hearing more about this issue. I would love to have a home library, but I don't have the space. So I've been more concious of what physical books I buy. For the rest I get ebooks, audiobooks and from the library.

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

I totally get this, and I think you're doing the wisest thing for you (and the environment) and that's amazing! It always baffles me when I see people unboxing 20+ books multiple times a month. Where do they all go??? Are they read??? I know for me I want to be particular about what I purchase to have physically because I want to love all the books I own. So cool to hear from someone who isn't a content creator! Your perspective is very important. Thank you so much for commenting :)

[@khricket]

I agree with you. I used to buy a tonne of physical books. now I only buy books I really want and can't access at the library. Now I have a kobo and read mostly ebooks.

[@yaeli_i_guess]

you're so right about not feeling guilty for not DNFing a book from the library. i read 95% of my books from the library. i only very rarely buy books i haven't read. most of the books i buy are books i've already read and i know for a fact that i love and want to own them. shit's expensive and i'm a broke uni student (plus books in my country are like 30 bucks)

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

Oh I FEEL that. I think buying and reading books are two different hobbies, but it intersects so much. And seeing SO much consumption can also be tempting... I try to be careful with what I spend my money on, and I'm glad I have a library I can use. Thank you so much for your comment! :)

[@BookTubewithAmy]

I like the idea of this video I do think we need more discussions like this. I've spoke about it alot on my channel and my views on positive consumerism.

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

Yes! Thank you so much. This conversation has a lot of nuances that need to be taken into account, and the more we talk about it, the better!

[@elainemalit5521]

Just commenting to give ebooks a little more love! Since getting an ereader (not a Kindle though, lol), I've pretty much transitioned to reading digitally almost full-time. I just love how convenient it is! eReader + Overdrive/CloudLibrary is how I read most of the time. And if I find a book that I know is a new all-time fave, that's when I buy a physical book. =)

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

I LOVE this frame of thinking! Ebooks definitely get more hate than they deserve. I've been using my husband's kindle for months now and I LOVE it (coming from someone who swore they would never use an E-Reader)!

[@NikoN-xw6xy]

I’m very picky with buying books, I also have this habit of just remembering plots very well too so there’s that as well. Whenever I do get a book, I normally buy it from the library or get it for free from the library as well. Hell, I even got books that look like they are brand new from there 😂. And of course I borrow books from the library too which is why I’m glad there’s a few booktube/booktok vids of people doing “Library hauls.”

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

I am a huge supporter of local libraries/ buying secondhand! Very lucky that you can remember plots well. I feel like two weeks after I've finished a book I forget lots of details :(

[@ira__s]

It's not the same as you said booktok has so many people there, but many years ago I had my booktube phase when I watched a lot of book haul videos and it definitely influenced what and how many books I bought. It just felt like I wanted to also experience the hype the booktubers where talking about. And it definitely normalized to me buying huge amounts of books. And no surprise I never ended up reading many of them. Partly because reading became so jarring and started to feel like a chore instead of something I did for fun. And after the books just sat in my room for years, I tried to read couple of them and realized I had overgrown the YA genre (not completely but I'm just much more picky with what I end up liking). I never managed to read most of the books I bought because I saw them on booktube and eventually I donated most of my books (there was like 3 big ikea bags of them. I kept only the ones that I really liked or was interested in and now I have a much smaller bookshelf but they're all books that I really like and mean something to me. Now I sometimes check reviews for books but don't follow booktube or booktok (I never downloaded tiktok) and I'm much happier reader and it's starting to be fun again when there is no pressure to get and read the huge amount of books everyone else is talking about.

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

Love this! Thank you so much for sharing your story. I do think for sure that hauls normalize this idea of going out and spending literally hundreds of dollars on books that you never end up reading or enjoying! I'm so glad that your collection has now turned into one that you love and cherish. That is so beautiful!

[@Starburst514]

I usually rent audibooks from the library, and if i findyself rechecking out a book, or REALLY enjoying it on a first read then I'll usually get a physical copy, its really helped me not to waste money on books I end up not finishing, or end up not liking like when i was younger 😅 And then i usually thrift, unless its like a brand new same year book

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

Oooh these are great suggestions! I forget sometimes that libraries also do audiobooks! They really are the best thing to ever exist, I swear.

[@christinebihasa6863]

Yeah i know about the cons like unsustainability and our habitats are getting smaller because of population density etc but still that new book scent and the feel of the crisp papers against your fingers oh god it just feels so luxuriant

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

Hahaha I feel this! I'm not against buying books! I just want people to be cognizant of how much they are buying vs reading!

[@christinebihasa6863]

@@EmilyReadsBooks definitely, because of this vid i got a scribd subscription 🙏💖💖💖 i loved having the combo of audiobook + ebook cause i get nauseous when reading on the bus haha so now i get to continue the story by listening 😌

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

@@christinebihasa6863 !!! I do the same! That is so awesome! 👏 ❤️

[@twentyonereaders]

I appreciated your intentionality with this discussion!

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

Thank you so much!

[@cookiesnack5676]

Last year I bought so many books, solely based on their trope, cover or just someone talking briefly about it. More than 60% of that books are currently sitting on my shelf, 30% have being read and I really dislike them and the other half I'm not longer interested in them (trying to sell them or gift them). This year I buy books based on four conditions: 1. They are part of a series that I have and I couldn't find them anywhere (in my country is very hard to find books). 2. They are special editions of my favorite books. 3. My current copies are completely destroyed and unreadable. 4. Books that I will re-read eventually (because I LOVED THEM, liked them is not enough). The rest I just read it on my Kindle, I got them from my local library... It is the best for our wallet and the environment ✨❣️

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

That's a really good list to stick to! I think it's good to be concious of what we are buying and WHY. Sometimes I'm more leniant with myself (especially if I'm shopping locally) but overall I try to be really concious of how many books I'm buying vs how many I have left to read. It can be hard when you realize that maybe those books aren't the right fit for you because someone else loved it so much! Love my kindle! Love my local library (very grateful to have access to both). I think because reading is considered a "good" hobby (makes you more intelligent and other stereotypes) we forget that books also weigh on our environment, and consumption DOES have consequences. Thank you so much for your comment!

[@Jess-ek2cf]

I have 58 books and I have read 51 of them. I don't want to buy new books until I have finished those remaining 7... unlike some people who just buy books for the aesthetic

[@gingercatwithtophat272]

Thank you for shedding light on this cause honestly the over consumption of books in general (not to mention the mass over consumption of booktok books) is not talked about enough. In my opinion (to add on with this topic): My biggest issue with booktok, is mainly the fact that nowadays people rely on only soley reading "BookTok" recommended books. Unlike back then where we read whatever the hell we wanted. I mean, don't get me wrong, people can read whatever they want for all I care but when they say they "enjoy reading" is it actual literature that they enjoy or is it simply over-hyped books which they wouldn't even notice or care to read unless it was hyped up all over social media...just imagine the future of this generation, instead of talking about Shakespeare or other great prominent writers in history, they're talking about those simple trouped books that was popular on tiktok decades ago. Leading back to the overconsumption/hoarding of each teenager over all the popular booktok books.

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

Yeah, the topic is complicated. I think booktok has done some amazing things for the book industry (like helped so many indie authors find success) but I think people have begun blindly buying books based on what other people want them to read vs books they actually will enjoy. Don't get me wrong, not every booktok book is trash, but so many are just mediocre. I think the industry is trying to respond to this new way to talk about their books, but it just isn't having a positive influence in the ways I wish it did. And then all of that just leads to people sharing all these books they get, which makes others want to buy more books (and then not reading them) and now we have a consumption problem. Obviously, it's a lot more nuanced than that, but yeah. It hurts my heart. Thank you for your comment! :)

[@Tiffs-bookshelf]

I had to stop buying book boxes. I really started this year in dwindling down and skipping. I have 2 December boxes coming but have cancel,ed them all except fairyloot YA. I feel perfectly fine about it.I also stopped buying books in general, I have hundreds and I mean hundreds of physical and ebooks I’ve not read and that’s after unhauling 300….. I just feel overwhelmed and the money is outrageous. I want to buy a house.

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

You are NOT alone! This is exactly why I made this video. I love having my collection of books, but with so many sitting left unread, what is the point? For me, I want to read the books I own, and make sure the books I buy are books I want to read, and not buying just because "everyone else on tiktok is reading it".

[@elisazouza]

Imma make a video on this tooo because I’m tired of booktok famous people being like look at my 30 books I got but I’m not going to tell you about the actual books and persuade my audience to do the same 😭😭

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

Yeah it's a bit unfortunate, especially with how we treat consumerism these days. I just hope people become more conscious of their buying habits!

[@bhsprinkle]

Yes to all of this. I think that it's great people can afford to buy a ton of new books a week or month but I typically only get a few maybe once or twice a year. I reread constantly the same exact books because every single one is precious.

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

There's nothing like rereading a favorite book. Such a great feeling!

[@BookishBabbles]

I love collecting books and enjoy the experience of buying but I try to get them at a cheaper price. Book outlet, PangoBooks or goodwill. And if I really don’t like the book then I sell or donate them. I think book tok has done great at introducing reading as a hobby for people that didn’t use to read. In that sense it makes me very happy, and each person has different reading tastes. While for some Colleen Hoover books might be horrible or badly written , for others it might be perfect. Not everyone likes lyrical writing🤷🏻‍♀️ Great Video overall ❤️

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

I LOVE how many people have begun reading because of booktok. I feel like we are emerging in a renaissance haha. And I'm a collector, so it's been really great to have new recs to read. My main "concern" (if you can call it that lol) is when readers (without engaging in the material beforehand) see a book on tiktok, find it in a store, and then buy 15+ books that then sit on their shelf and are never touched (for one reason or another). Or, they read a book from an author, realize it isn't for them, and then the other 5 or so books they bought from that author just sit there. I have loved hearing everyone's views on this, and just wanted to bring the idea of mindfulness when it comes to consumption as even reading has backlash on the environment when it comes to overconsumption. Thank you so much for your comment!!

[@zhisu2665]

I only buy books that are on sale [that i'll read] or if I 100% know I will more than likely not find it at the library or second-hand, there's no reason for someone to own so many books bought new when a large majority of them can be found secondhand or they know they wont end up reading them,

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

This is exactly how I feel about it! I also love trying to support small which means they are more expensive and that also leans to me not buying as much///thinking through what I'm buying!

[@sanjuthebanju]

did we all just collectively forget what a library is???

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

Truly. And I think it's sad because they are the best resource still available (in most areas where I'm seeing these trends). Book collecting is a thing, I have a collection myself, but no way do I buy even 10 books new from the store (unless they're used copies from a thrift store that I'm willing to take a chance on). Let alone when people haul 20 or more. That's like $200+ how are they doing that? lol

[@NailahUmi]

It ends with us was pretty good to me! Lol

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! I think she just isn't for me as a person. But I know she has her audience, and I'm glad that they found her!

[@NailahUmi]

@@EmilyReadsBooks yes I completely understand that. Honestly I been in that situation before which is why I loved the book. But haven’t read anything else by here! Lol

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

@@NailahUmi I'd be interested to know your thoughts on her other books if you ever read them!

[@garconerproduction3046]

whats to stop people from grabbing 20 books they bought 2 years ago, from their shelves or closet, and making a video claiming they just bought those 20 books yesterday? because realistically, 10 to 20 books is just too freaking heavy to carry home from a store at a time, even if they were all 5 dollar bargain table books and not regular price.

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

Nothing, but have you not seen the vlogs of people buying 20+ books at once? Like, them standing in the store and at the checkout. I see them constantly. Plus for a lot of these hauls I'm referring to, we are talking about books that are popular recently just due to hype. Not books from the bargain table. People can spend their money on what they want. I'm just urging people to think a bit beforehand and use caution when it comes to overconsumption.

[@Lookintobookz]

Without hype most authors wouldnt make a living 😢

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

Unfortunately this is true. But also, even hype doesn't guarantee a career or success. Especially with how little publishers are paying for (most) books these days. 😅

[@vina36]

I hate to say this but booktok ruined the joy of reading for me!!! I used to read a book every month because i really did prefer it that way now i see people making it like a game these reading goals and over consumption, buying multiple copies is really crazyy...

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

Yeeeaaahhhh you are totally not alone in this!

[@Tiffs-bookshelf]

Oh and, reading 20 or more books for booktok and KZbin, how can a person enjoy them or remember them. I mean, heck yea if I could read that many a month and remember and it be for myself only, go for it. But I see YT, BT, insta read sooooo many books and stressing out or burning out. Why? Not worth it

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

Hahah I'm not sure! I know for me, the months I read a ton have to do with reading audiobooks while I crochet or clean around the house. That's helped my book count a lot, but not everyone can or wants to do that! I want to enjoy the books I read and not speed through them just to get my numbers up. Reading is supposed to be fun! I don't want to burn myself out with my hobby haha. Thank you so much for your comments! It's great to hear from you.

[@SheWantsViolence]

I absolutely LOVE thriftbooks. A lot of my books (when I was living in the US) came from that site and I was incredibly enamoured with knowing I was getting books that came from libraries most of the time. It was very nostalgic. My only sadness and gripe now is it doesn't have the free shipping encouragement outside of the US. I also have to do conversion prices which makes a cheap, 5 dollar book suddenly get hiked up to the same price of just buying the book from an Indigo or Chapters. There's no saving for something that you should be saving money on for getting it used. If they became more international-friendly, I'd give them my anything.

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

YES Thriftbooks really is the best. It does suck about the shipping (I'm not in the USA anymore either and it's such a pain!). It is really a common thread it seems with a lot of the big sites like that.