These “Bookstagram made me do it” books are so well rated by the book community on Instagram (“Bookstagram”) that I was #influenced to read them, and you will be too with these rave reviews.
For me, “Bookstagram made me do it” books have been hit or miss. There’s always a decent possibility I won’t actually like a book since I didn’t already select it on my own. (For me, romance and fantasy are not my usual genres.)
BUT, many “Bookstagram made me do it” books actually have lived up to the hype for me and are listed below for you to add to your own lists.
To make this list even more fun and give you even more insight, I polled my Instagram audience to give their opinions as to whether each book lived up to the hype for them too, and I posted the results below.
“Bookstagram Made Me Do It” Books
Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
Best for fans of modern romance novels
Instagram Poll: 89% of voters believed it lived up to the hype
- New York Times bestseller
- Named One of the Hottest Reads of Summer 2022 by Today, Parade, PopSugar, USA Today, SheReads, BuzzFeed, BookBub, Bustle, and more
If you didn’t hear about Every Summer After by Carley Fortune in Summer 2022, you must be living under a rock! I think it’s the nostalgia of first love and second chances that really got everyone hooked.
Over the course of six Summers, teens Persephone and Sam go from friends to lovers. That is, until one momentous Thanksgiving changes everything. When Persephone returns years later for a funeral, she must face Sam again.
You will be rooting for the characters and their journeys, hoping they can get it right after all. And I think you will love it as much as everyone else does!
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Best for fans of bestselling fantasy books like Harry Potter
Instagram Poll: 77% of voters believed it lived up to the hype
- An Instant New York Times bestseller
- Goodreads Best Romantasy Book of the Year
Fourth Wing is an absolute viral phenomenon that I only picked up because I saw such a wide range of readers loving it, and I don’t normally read fantasy or spicy romance books, both of which it is.
Violet Sorrengail is a 20-year-old resident of Navarre, and she’s about to enter Basgiath War College in the Scribe Quadrant, like her father, studying books and history. But, her mother, the Commanding General, has other plans and orders her to seek entry into the elite Riders Quadrant, which is extremely dangerous and deadly.
Even if she makes it through, only a fraction will live to graduate. Violet herself is petite and frail, so she’ll have to fight extra hard not just to succeed, but also to survive, especially since people like the powerful Wingleader Xaden Riorson have it out for her. He, and many of the others, are only there because of the fallout from their parents’ rebellion, after which Violet’s mother executed them.
Circumstances may bring them closer than they ever thought they’d be, however, and it’s a heart-stopping journey of not just dragon riding, but also magical powers (signets), symbols (relics), powerful books, a deadly bridge, a gauntlet, a Squad Battle, War Games, mythical creatures (gryphon, wyvern, venin), and even love.
There’s a reason the first edition of this book sold out literally EVERYWHERE and EVERYONE seems to love it. And that’s because it’s really, really good. You absolutely don’t want to miss this one, no matter your reading preferences.
Read More: Fourth Wing Series Guide | Fourth Wing Character Guide | Fourth Wing Map | Fourth Wing Synopsis and Review | Fourth Wing Quotes | Fourth Wing Book Club Questions
The Guncle by Steven Rowley
Best for fans of heartwarming LGBTQ books
Instagram Poll: 65% of voters believed it lived up to the hype
An NPR Book of the Year
Finalist for the 2021 Goodreads Choice Awards
When I first heard people talking about The Guncle, I thought the cover was cute, but I didn’t know if a cute cover translated to a good story. A few of my favorite Bookstagrammers swore by it as their favorite book of the year, so I decided to dig in, and I loved it!
It’s about a former Hollywood star, “Gay Uncle Patrick” (aka “GUP”), and how he becomes the caretaker for his young niece and nephew during one Palm Springs Summer after the death of their ill mother and while their father (his brother) manages addiction. Patrick is also coping with his own grief — the tragic loss of his beloved boyfriend.
Despite the very heavy subject matter, the tone of this book remains playful and heartwarming, as the unlikely trio shares downright funny experiences while also coping with their grief and growing as a family after difficult losses.
It’s a unique way to convey a story about grief, and I think that’s what makes it so beloved. It really captures the waves of emotions in grief and helps the reader feel not just sorrow but learn how others dealt with a range of emotions after losing someone, yet still having to navigate regular life: work, childcare, etc.
If you want to read a book that makes you feel something, I think you will love The Guncle too.
The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez
Best for fans of modern romantic comedies
Instagram Poll: 69% of voters believed it lived up to the hype
The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez was a “Bookstagram made me do it book” because I don’t often read rom-coms. They are generally plot-driven, whereas I prefer character-driven books. I found it to be one of the best beach reads and one of the easiest love stories to recommend as well. It’s just SO enjoyable. Two years after Sloan’s fiancé dies, she finds an adorable dog … that just so happens to belong to a rock star on tour.
They speak via telephone about the dog, and as they do, their calls become increasingly more flirty and romance ensues. It’s overflowing with song recommendations — a “playlist” for their love story — and, just when you think you know where it’s headed, the story moves in a different direction. You simply won’t be disappointed by this very “happy” book.
The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune
Best for fans of Shrek and Harry Potter
Instagram Poll: 72% of voters believed it lived up to the hype
- A New York Times and USA Today Bestseller
- A 2021 Alex Award Winner
- The 2021 RUSA Reading List: Fantasy Winner
- An Indie Next Pick
- One of Publishers Weekly‘s “Most Anticipated Books of Spring 2020”
- One of Book Riot’s “20 Must-Read Feel-Good Fantasies”
The House in the Cerulean Sea is one of the best “Bookstagram made me do it” books that I often saw described as feeling like a “warm hug.” I don’t often read fantasy, but I was intrigued by this description!
40-year-old Linus leads a solitary life in a tiny house with a devious cat. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he oversees children in government-sanctioned orphanages.
When he arrives at Marsyas Island Orphanage, he finds six “dangerous” children: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Their safekeeping caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur. As they unexpectedly grow closer, secrets are exposed, and Linus must choose between destroying a home or watching the world burn.
It’s an enchanting story of family, filled with loveable creatures and catchy dialogue reminiscent of Shrek. I also think fans of young adult fantasy books would enjoy it.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
Best for fans of time travel
Instagram Poll: 70% of voters believed it lived up to the hype
- New York Times bestseller
- USA TODAY bestseller
- National Indie bestseller
- The Washington Post bestseller
- #1 Library Reads Pick―October 2020
- #1 Indie Next Pick―October 2020
- Book of the Year (2020) Finalist―Book of The Month Club
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue was a “Bookstagram made me do it book” because I’m not big on time travel or fantasy-type books. I’m a realist! But EVERYONE was talking about Addie as the book of the year, so it piqued my curiosity.
In France in 1714, in an act of desperation, Addie bargains to live forever, but she will be forgotten by anyone and everyone she meets.
Thus begins her centuries-long invisible life across history and continents. But, her destiny may change 300 years after her bargain when she meets a young man in a New York bookstore who remembers her name.
It’s exquisitely and lyrically written, complete with artistic illustrations that explore how one “invisible” woman can still leave her mark on the world, making both Addie and this book unforgettable. It definitely lived up to the hype for me.
The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker
Best for fans of modern romance fiction
Instagram Poll: 81% of voters believed it lived up to the hype
The Simple Wild was a “Bookstagram made me do it” book because I don’t usually enjoy romance novels. I’m very logical, and they can often feel too idealistic to me. But I do love books set in Alaska, so I gave it a shot and ended up enjoying it! There was just enough “real-life” drama to feel believable to me.
Calla is a single Toronto twentysomething reconnecting with her estranged and very sick father in Alaska. While braving the Alaskan wilderness, she meets Jonah, the quiet, brooding Alaskan pilot who runs her father’s charter plane company.
Skeptical Jonah doesn’t think Calla can “handle” Alaska, but she becomes set on proving him wrong. And as time passes, they develop a bond. But Calla’s heart is still in Toronto, and Jonah’s is in Alaska. Calla also knows her parents’ relationship failed in these exact circumstances years prior.
And just like that, the wild is not so simple after all. This book will leave you wanting to read the next books in this beloved series!
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Best for fans of epic sagas
- New York Times bestseller
- Book of the Year (2022) ―Book of The Month Club
- One of the best books of the year: The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, TIME, GoodReads, Oprah Daily
- Fallon Book Club pick
Instagram Poll: 76% of voters believed it lived up to the hype
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is a book I would never have picked up but for Bookstagram since it’s about a topic that doesn’t interest me: video games. However, it IS an epic saga about a complex relationship, which is my favorite genre, and it left me in tears.
Childhood friends Sam and Sadie create their first blockbuster video game before even graduating college. But intelligence and success are only great on the outside. Over 30 years, their friendship experiences the highest peaks and lowest valleys that are characteristic of love, family, and work in ways, unlike other books. It’s so rare to find a book focused on a collaborative relationship like this.
Drawing thoughtful reference to Shakespeare’s Macbeth, it’s both plot and character-driven, then at one climactic event, becomes something remarkable. (When you get there, you’ll know it.)
It’s an unforgettable tale of identity, love, and, of course, the importance of play that people will be talking about for years to come. Bookstagram got it right on this one. It was my favorite book of 2022.
Related Post: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow Book Club Questions
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
Best for fans of modern romantic comedies
Instagram Poll: 76% of voters believed it lived up to the hype
The Unhoneymooners is another of the “Bookstagram made me do it” books that I normally would not have picked since I generally don’t read (or enjoy) romantic comedies. I prefer heavier, character-driven novels. But this one reminded me of everything that was best about the late 90s / early 2000s romantic comedy movies. It’s one of the top books I most often recommend because it gets such rave reviews universally.
Olive is an unlucky identical twin sister. Her sister is about to have her dream wedding — for free. But while Olive spends the wedding day with her enemy, the best man, Ethan, the remainder of the wedding party gets food poisoning in a truly hilarious sequence of events. What remains is an all-expenses-paid honeymoon the couple cannot attend.
Since it’s a free vacation, Olive and Ethan head to Hawaii with each other, planning to spend as little time together as possible. But when Olive runs into her future boss, she tells a white lie and ends up needing Ethan after all — to pretend to be her new husband. The time they spend together ends up being not so bad. Can you guess where this is headed?
The Unhoneymooners is the perfect love story, beach read, and one of the best Summer books!
With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
Best for fans of diverse YA books with a lovable protagonist
Instagram Poll: 83% of voters believed it lived up to the hype
With the Fire on High was a “Bookstagram Made Me Do It” book simply because it hadn’t been on my radar and I wasn’t yet familiar with Acevedo (I have now read ALL her books). But, everyone was loving it, and I tend to really enjoy YA books about diverse teens too, so I gave it a shot.
Emoni is a Philadelphia-based teen mom dealing with motherhood and the life-altering decision between college and her cooking passion, all amidst the backdrop of a diverse neighborhood and a trip to Spain. As with many young adult books, her voice is unique, engrossing and refreshing.
With the Fire on High makes you really think about the options available to Emoni and whether she made the right choice. And, for the record, when I posted my own review of With the Fire on High on Instagram, I never saw so many people comment consistently that they either loved the book or were adding it to their list.
Conclusion
Those are the best “Bookstagram made me do it” books that live up to the hype for me. To recap and to help you decide what to read first or next from this list, my top pick is Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin, which was my and Book of the Month’s Book of the Year 2022.
