Let's be honest, if BookTok told us to jump, we would collectively ask, "Which fictional cliff?" And it has spoken again with YA reads that are emotional roller coasters. These aren't like your typical hyped-up books. Not at all.

They represent laughing, crying, screaming into the pillow, and texting your best friend in the middle of the night. This is all normal behaviour, I promise.

If you love mysteries that turn you into a detective with trust issues, I have something for you.

If you daydream about fantasy universes that feel like heartbreak wrapped in glitter, I have something for you.

If you crave a romance that empowers your hopeless romantic self, I definitely have something for you.

So find a comfy spot, grab some highlighters, annotating tabs, and a blanket, because your weekend plans just became "reading until I physically can't anymore."

Here are my YA BookTok favourites that are calling your name—trust me, you'll thank me later (or curse me for a lack of sleep).

Image Credit: Norbert Tóth from Unsplash

#1: Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter (Duology)

If there was anything that could truly capture the spirit of a true rom-com, this would be it. You have a quirky main character who lives her life like she's in a movie because why not? Her next-door neighbour, whom she definitely doesn't like (wink wink), helps her secure the prom date of her dreams.

With banter so good and vibes so high, this book should receive an Oscar for simply existing. But Better Than the Movies is not just about the adorable moments, as much as I live for them; it's about growing up and realizing that love doesn't have to look like the script you have in your head. What's that I hear in the background? Oh! This book is better than the movies.

Take the Quiz: Choose Your Daily Aesthetic and We'll Reveal Which Movie Icon You Should Be This Halloween!

Your daily aesthetic can reveal more about you than you might think! Take this quiz to discover which movie star matches your unique vibe.

#2 Betting on You by Lynn Painter (Standalone)

What's better than one Lynn Painter book? Two Lynn Painter books. Because once you read one, you just can't stop.

Betting on You follows the story of Charlie and Bailey, who meet on a plane (iconic) and instantly dislike each other (obviously) and keep colliding accidentally in ways that feel like fate is really playing cupid. They swear they aren't catching feelings while constantly acting like they are. Basically, if you've ever rolled your eyes at someone while wanting to hold their hand, this book is your personality on paper.

Image Credit: Collabstr from Unsplash

#3 Picking Daisies on Sundays by Liana Cincotti (Standalone)

This one is the perfect representation of a classic 2000s rom-com. Set in New York? Check.

First love? Check. Fake relationship that turns into something real? Check, check, check! Daisy is a hopeless romantic in college who finds herself agreeing to date her childhood best friend Levi, who just so happens to be her first love and just so happens to be her first heartbreak. I mean, what could go wrong? (It's quite literally a disaster waiting to happen). With stolen glances, dance practices, and late-night walks, the line between real and fake begins to blur. From friends to strangers to... I won't spoil it; Liana Cincotti describes each aspect of a relationship with warmth, tenderness, and care. What starts as a lie turns into something neither of them expected. I'll share some food for thought: there is a book written in French by Levi about something or someone.

#4 A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson (Series)

Say it with me: "Pipa Fitz-Amobi is the queen of high school detectives." Why? Because she just is. This book is basically your high school project turning into a murder investigation.

The plot twists? Epic. The romance subplot? Epic. It's dark, clever, witty, and way too fun for something related to murder. You haven't even heard the cherry on top: it's a series! Once you finish the first book, you can immediately jump into the next one and continue to raise your standards for mystery books (no pain, no gain).

#5 The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Series)

Imagine you are working at a restaurant, and an FBI liaison recruits you to join a group of teens to solve cold cases because, apparently, profiling murderers is your "thing." Yeah...it happens. But what happens when a killer starts targeting people connected to you? All of a sudden, it's not just old clues and crime scenes: it's your life, and it's survival.

The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is the teen version of Criminal Minds. A dark, addictive thriller that gets under your skin in the best way possible. If that is your vibe, then I definitely recommend hitting "add to cart."

P.S. There is a love triangle.

Image Credit: Masoud Mostafaei from Unsplash

#6 The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Series)

Avery Grambs has exactly one plan: survive school and get out. The plan does have a slight complication when a billionaire dies and inexplicably leaves his entire fortune to her. Talk about luck spinning in your favour...right?

Suddenly, Avery is forced into the glam and dangerous life of the Hawthorne family, where every hallway and every word is a riddle, a puzzle, a threat, or all of the above. You're probably thinking, "It can't get any more complicated, can it?" Yes, it can. The four Hawthorne grandsons are too brilliant, too infuriating, and too charming for their own good. With every move being under watchful gazes, and a love triangle that rivals a royal one, Avery soon realizes this is as much a game of the heart as it is of the mind. A very risky gamble it is, I would say.

#7 Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber (Series)

Warning: this book will have you helplessly falling in love with the villain. This magical world of love, tales, and curses is everything BookTok promised and more. A girl.

A fate. A desperate act of love prompts it all. Evangaline Fox believes in love and infinite endings with all her might. To stop the love of her life from marrying the wrong person, Evangeline makes a deal with the Prince of Hearts: Jacks. In true fairytale fashion, going to a fate is never recommended—especially the Prince of Hearts: Jacks. He is the type of fictional character that will, unfortunately, ruin all real people for you. What starts as a promise ends with a magical gate, a key, a prophecy, and impossible choices. A story for those who understand the villains and passionately write Draco Malfoy fan fictions (you know who you are).

Image Credit: Rhamely from Unsplash

There it is...my not-so-secret list of BookTok treasures. From heartwarming romances to cold murder mysteries, these books all have one thing in common: they are unforgettable. The last line will linger in your mind for generations to come, and what's bad about that? After all, reading is about obsession.

Go ahead, fellow readers, turn the page, fall in love (again and again), solve the mystery, and live in the fantasy of it all. Because these books? They are worth it all.

And trust me (for the second time), your TBR will be revolutionized.