BookTok has now become an essential part of book marketing and publicity. Though it isn’t the best at showing diverse selections due to a lack of active editorial curation and algorithmic failures, it does well at book discovery.
The BookTok community is abuzz with young adult books, driving numerous titles to popularity, including those listed below. You may have seen them while browsing your For You Pages or seen them recommended by many users. They aren’t just the newest BookTok favorites, though; sales figures back them up. A quick look at Publishers Weekly’s bestseller list, which pulls data from Circana Book Scan, reveals that these YA titles aren’t trending for naught.
The list is dominated by romantasy, one of BookTok’s all-time favorite genres, and there’s also a standout graphic novel.
Here are some of the most popular BookTok YA books from 2026 so far.
I Could Give You the Moon by Ann LiangThis is a spin-off of Liang’s If You Could See the Sun, set in the same universe. It follows Chanel, a social media personality obsessed with curating a perfect image. But she harbors a secret: her parents recently divorced. Enter Ares, the polar opposite of Chanel. His life is upended when his brother goes missing. When the two meet one night, they are struck by a vision of their shared future, which leads to an unlikely arrangement and a romance. |
 The Swan’s Daughter by Roshani ChokshiPrince Arris, the young heir, is cursed, as all heirs in his bloodline are. Only a “one true love” can break it. So far, he’s had his fair share of assassination attempts by murderous bethrotheds, and so, his parents are quick to organize a tournament to find him a bride. Demelza, whose swan family has been captured by the evil Prava and who possesses a singing magic to elicit the truth, strikes a deal with Arris so they can identify brides with evil intentions. As she enters the competition herself, does she have a chance of winning the prince’s heart? |
 The Sun and the Starmaker by Rachel GriffinAurora, who lives in the small village called Reverie, faces a major crisis: the village is gradually losing the sunlight that provides warmth in a perpetual cold. She’s well aware of the legend of the Starmarker, but she never imagines meeting him one day. Nevertheless, the Starmaker seeks Aurora out on his own, recognizing her potential abilities. To restore the celestial balance, Aurora and the Starmaker must work together–but this partnership also sparks a romance. |
 Escape Me by Tahereh MafiThis is the third book in Mafi’s spin-off series, “Shatter Me: The New Republic.” The series follows James, Aaron Warner’s brother, and takes place 10 years after the collapse of the tyrannical Reestablishment. And while the New Republic was established, the Reestablishment is still very much alive and on the move. James infiltrates their hidden base, where he meets Rosabelle, who eventually becomes an ally. Though Aaron Warner distrusts her, he’s stuck working with her to take down the enemy for good. Soon, James and Rosabelle begin developing intense feelings for each other, but Rosabelle’s loyalty remains in question. In books two and three, it’s a core conflict that drives the plot forward. |
 Heartstopper: Volume 6 by Alice OsemanThe Heartstopper saga continues in this sixth volume. Nick prepares to write his essay for his college applications, and Charlie is elected as the head student. One of Charlie’s primary goals is to stop bullying in Truham. But there are also plenty of bumps in between, such as navigating their relationship, mental health struggles, and academics. At the same time, Nick constantly worries about life away from Charlie. As he’s accepted at Leeds, what happens to them now? |
 Storm Breaker by Nisha J. Tuli19-year-old Poet belongs to an elite ruling class in New Manhattan. When she enters Amery Academy, she thinks she’s figured it all out. But the Academy is brutal, and Poet barely survives. She must also hide her magic of controlling the storms rather than have them break her. Soon, she meets Rook, who comes from a different background. This sparks a forbidden enemies-to-lovers romance that could affect Poet’s status and force her to make difficult choices. |
BookTok may have the propensity to boost the next ACOTAR or Colleen Hoover book, but these days, that may not be the case. It made a 178-year-old Russian classic a bestseller, so it’s always a surprise what the next hit may be.