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Reading Sustainably
- Katelin Ralenkotter
- Nov 17, 2025
- 5 min read
You know all about BookTok and its giant splash in the written world, especially when this trend totally took over the internet during COVID-19. The world needed the escapist nature of literature more than ever.
TikTok inspired creators to share interesting books by encouraging an "underrated reads" tag on posts. This helped highlight more authors and some great popular books have come out of this discourse as a result.
Additionally, small businesses are using the trend to mark their own presence on the platform. This proves a positive effect in book business as a whole, drawing readers to buy all the books they've seen on BookTok.
While great for business, it encourages new readers to only read the genres mainly popular on the platform: thriller, romance, and fantasy. These genres are typically written in such quick, witty style that you can eat one for breakfast and have a separate novel for dinner. Plus, the emergence of New Adult—a reading age classification targeting readers aged 18-26—where these genres are most popular, hits the BookTok market perfectly.
There is a huge problem with these genres. It feels as if the time it takes me to read these books is so quick that I could go through tens of books in a month. Influencers’ content reflects this, with insanely large hauls each month (and yes, we're ignoring those fake "readers" who use AI to generate a book summary and call it reading. That is not reading). When was the last time that you saw a book influencer film a TikTok without their gargantuan, at-home libraries filling up the background?
It encourages many to read books quickly and increases book production dramatically as a result. In just the US, the publishing industry uses 32 million trees just to publish books each year. And that's just one country... imagine internationally. Read more here.
This number is only growing due to the fast-fashion culture BookTok has created.
Here are some sustainable book practices to help combat this growing issue.
Use a Public Library
This is an old tip but it's a goody if it is available to you! Public libraries are not only great places to track down some reads but in the US, libraries also host lots of community events. You can also download Libby, a free app that lets you access books with your library card. Internationally, some libraries have fees that can discourage people from using them. If this is you, try going online and applying for library cards that have Non-Resident Borrowing Privileges. Here are some helpful options:
Internet Archive and Project Gutenberg
Another way to access tons of books online are through these two sites. I have used these sites countless times for classic reads online. The only downfall is that you have to read online and it is hardly adaptable to a phone screen. However, it is still a great resource if you are trying to find those rare reads.
Editor's note: there's been some debate about the legality of some of Internet Archive's materials, especially with the option to download. However, Project Gutenberg focuses on works in the public domain and any copyrighted texts are hosted with permission. It's the safter, more legally-conscious option, especially if you're looking for the classics.
Get an Ereader
I love having all of my favorite books displayed proudly on my shelf but what if a book actually falls short of the hype? It starts to take up valuable space and I feel guilty for wasting my money on a book I never loved. If I'm iffy about a book or am not familiar with the author, I'll get the ebook instead. If I love it enough, then I’ll buy a paper copy. That way I can reduce the carbon emissions required to make books in my own small way.
Ereaders are great for reading and many libraries also provide access to ebooks with your library card number through places like Libby (formerly OverDrive) and others. If you're unsure whether you want to start using an ereader, or you're hesitant to go all-in on a proprietary Amazon Kindle or B&N Nook, there are dozens of different options. Both the Kindle and Nook apps are free in the app store for tablets or your phone. They both offer desktop versions of their apps. Granted, the screens on these devices are not optimized for long reading sessions but they're a step. You could also try a cheaper ereader device or find something secondhand and load it up however you want!
Secondhand Book Shops
Speaking of secondhand... if you hate hate hate reading on a screen and prefer to crack open a physical book, this one's for you. Secondhand shopping is a great way to give books a second life. I've found some of my favorite online reads much cheaper at a secondhand store to showcase on my shelf. Most of the books I find are still in great condition and ready to read at a moment's notice. If you're struggling to find thrift stores and secondhand bookstores near you, try online secondhand shops like BookFinder, Thriftbooks, and AbeBooks.
Branch Out and Slow Down
This is a more sustainable tip but it could also open a new world to you. I see so many influencers whose job it is to read books and the amount of books they read can make me feel guilty for my lack of time to do so. They're actually setting an unrealistic standard because they have committed themselves to a job that encourages and rewards this.
It's double-edged. Know that you do not have to sacrifice your quality of reading just to keep up with BookTok. While shopping secondhand and online may not give you access to the hyped latest, you can still be open to worlds of great storytelling. Branch out and try a genre you normally might not. Try a book that takes you more time to go through. Slow down, you do not have to eat books daily; that was never the intention of reading in the first place. Reading is all about enjoyment. By taking the time to really think about what you're consuming, you’ll have a much more enjoyable reading experience overall.
With the internet at our fingertips in any corner of the world, we are privileged to a special time in history in which knowledge is accessible for all. Do not let a small corner of influencers push you out of sustainable book practices and some truly unique reads.
About the author: My name is Katelin and I am currently a student at the University of Kentucky where I major in English and Business Marketing. I enjoy writing anything from horror to contemporary literature. I try to create as much as I consume literature, a super hard challenge because I read every day. You can find out more about me here: www.linkedin.com/in/katelin-ralenkotter-38b6a02a3
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