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A TikTok user has sent social media into a meltdown after asking why a book had “so many words.”
Yanna Lina, a popular BookToker (a name given to readers on TikTok who share reviews and recommendations), shared her honest thoughts in a post that was since deleted.
“In my last video, when I asked you what book you think I should be reading, you all yelled at me and said: Six of Crows“, began.
“Do I have any news for you? Well, not really. I’m on page 34,” the TikToker, known as @YannaReads, continued.
“Can we talk about something quick? Can I just talk about nonsense for a second? Why the hell is this book… The writing is so small. Second of all, why are the pages so packed with so many words? Like, what the hell?”
“I like pages that aren't filled with so many words. Literally every page, look at this,” she said, pointing to the pages filled with writing. “Are you kidding me?”
She went on to warn her followers that she would read the book, written by Leigh Bardugo, to page 100.
“If I'm not hooked by page 100, it's a DNF” [Did Not Finish]Convince me otherwise because this book is so fucking difficult for my brain to follow.
“I’ve only read two chapters, okay, I understand. But all these words! I have no idea what’s going on,” she said, incredulously, pointing at the names and number of characters introduced.
The video, posted earlier this month, was then shared on X/Twitter on Sunday (August 18), where it went viral, racking up nearly 30 million views and thousands of comments and quote-tweeting in less than 24 hours.
“Making reading your entire personality but not being able to read a book that doesn’t have smut, has world-building, and is long is concerning,” the video’s author wrote, referring to Lina’s bio on the social media site TikTok, which reads: “If it’s not smut, I probably won’t read it.”
“When did we become this as a society?”
“At this point, just pick up a picture book,” another joked.
“But if we say that anti-intellectualism is a problem, we are pretentious and elitist,” one person added.
The video sparked a debate about BookTok as a whole, as one person wrote: “I feel like BookTok influencers like her are part of the reason the market is saturated with bad books right now. Bear with me. I know 'trash' literature has always existed, but ever since BookTok blew up, I feel like poorly written but highly rated books are constantly in front of me.”
Earlier this year, Waterstones boss James Daunt said social media and BookTok had been “hugely positive” for young readers, and were also credited with saving UK retailer The Works.
Many focused on TikTokers' comments about the number of words on the page.
“I’m sorry, what? There’s no way I just watched a video of someone complaining that their pages have too many words…” said one user, while another accused her of “seeking anger” to get a reaction.
Others felt the criticism was too harsh, writing: “Can we please stop bringing harmless TikToks to the timeline just to be harassing?”
Some found the initial review refreshing, writing, “I love it lol,” and others called the romance lover a “queen.”
“The popular inclination to make this girl the face of all of BookTok when she’s just a young romance reader who tried a fantasy book and didn’t like it is starting to wear thin,” wrote another, in response to criticism from fantasy readers who were offended by the post.
The Independent has contacted Lina for comment.
