Libris.ro: Young People Read About Love, in Romanian and English, Inspired by Online Trends. Eight out of ten books chosen by Generation Z are love stories
Social media platforms are radically transforming the way young people choose what to read. The BookTok phenomenon, which dominates TikTok with viral literary recommendations, has redefined bestsellers in recent years, and data from…
Social media platforms are radically transforming the way young people choose what to read. The BookTok phenomenon, which dominates TikTok with viral literary recommendations, has redefined bestsellers in recent years, and data from Libris, a leading bookstore in Romania, confirms this trend: young people read love stories, in Romanian or English, inspired by online trends.
According to Libris data, the Young Adult category has grown by almost 20% compared to last year, as have books in English, while romance dominates the charts – 80% of the best-selling books in English are love stories. At the same time, romantasy – a blend of fantasy and romance – is the new phenomenon that is taking Generation Z readers by storm, strongly fueled by TikTok’s virality. This trend is also reflected in sales, with nearly 1 in 3 romance books in the Young Adult segment featuring a storyline at the intersection of fantasy and romance, with well-built worlds infused with magic and dystopian political systems.
TikTok Sets the Trends: 7 out of 10 Books in English Are Boosted by BookTok
Social media continues to have a strong influence on reading choices, and BookTok has become one of the most important factors in popularizing certain titles. Over 70% of the top 100 best-selling books in English on Libris.ro are popular thanks to BookTok, a sign that viral recommendations and TikTok’s active reading community have a direct impact on the book market. Series like “Once Upon a Broken Heart” by Stephanie Garber or “Twisted” by Ana Huang have become true literary phenomena, propelled by online communities. Hashtags associated with genres like romance, fantasy, and romantasy garner billions of views, and emotional reader reviews contribute to increasing book sales.
"We are seeing a significant shift in young people's reading behavior – their inspiration comes from social media, and their literary choices are strongly influenced by viral trends. Young Adult and romance have grown above average, proving that, regardless of format, love stories continue to captivate generations. And while BookTok may prioritize popularity over literary complexity, social platforms manage to bring new generations of readers closer to books. A surprising example is the resurgence of Dostoevsky’s classic White Nights, which became a bestseller among young people after going viral on TikTok. And White Nights is not the only classic title to top the charts due to TikTok – The Catcher in the Rye ranked first in the Young Adult category in 2024," says Loredana Tudor, Marketing Manager at Libris.
“Romantasy” – The Phenomenon Captivating Generation Z Readers
According to the renowned VML Intelligence report “The Future 100: 2025”, the romantasy genre continues to reinvent itself, attracting readers from diverse backgrounds and offering new perspectives on love.
