ND Reads: What’s On Our Shelves?
What started as a small, cozy corner of the internet, has quickly transformed into a global phenomenon. As they scroll through TikTok, people can find a vast amount of content geared specifically towards readers, from detailed book reviews to controversial hot takes to viral reading recommendations. This corner of the TikTok has come to be known as BookTok, with #BookTok accumulating over 350 billion views in the past year. But this trend isn’t just shaping bestseller lists — it’s influencing what students in our own school are picking up to read. From fantasy epics to literary classics, BookTok has found its way into backpacks, classrooms, and hallways. So what are Notre Dame students reading, and how much of it is driven by TikTok’s powerful algorithm?
Gigi Gerberding ‘27 - House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
Jasmine Vemuri ‘27 - The Paper Girl of Paris by Jordyn Taylor
“My book is the Paper Girl of Paris. It's about a girl who discovers her great aunt was a spy for the allies during WW2.”
Josephine Crawford ‘26 - The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
“In this book, a British man witnesses the total destruction of his home planet, makes friends with extraterrestrials, and learns the answer to life, the universe, and everything. Just a silly book with a great sense of humor, as long as you're willing to tolerate how British it is.”
Liezl Ah-Kun ‘29 - Front Desk by Kelly Yang
“The Front Desk book series by Kelly Yang is one of my favorites because it offers me different perspectives of people's lives and the details provoke powerful emotions that help me feel what the character feels.”
Olivia Craighead ‘28 - Figuring by Maria Popova
“My favorite book right now is Figuring by Maria Popova. If you're a fan of queer history and science, then this would be a great book for you! It's written in a kind of prose that makes complex information easy and fun to learn.”
Zara Fugman ‘28 - The Martian by Andy Weir