Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly meme that was created and hosted by Rukky @ Eternity Books and then cohosted with Dani @ Literary Lion. It is currently hosted by Aria @ Book Nook Bits and Dini @ dinipandareads. This meme has a discussion format, where participants get to talk about certain topics, share opinions, and spread the blogging love by visiting other posts. You can learn more about this meme here!

Hello, fellow bookworms! 👋

Welcome back to the corner of the internet where we drink too much coffee, collect way too many books, and pretend our TBR piles aren’t plotting our downfall.
(Seriously, mine whispers to me at night: “Add one more book, I dare you.”)

What Makes Me Follow a Bookish Account on Social Media

Okay, I’ll admit it: a gorgeous book stack photo can make me stop mid-scroll like a cat spotting a laser pointer. Pretty covers, rainbow shelves, aesthetic flatlays with candles and cozy sweaters—I’m weak for them. But what really makes me stay isn’t the photography, it’s the personality.

If someone talks about books like they’re gossiping about fictional characters we both know (“Can you believe what he did in chapter 12?!”), then I’m instantly hooked. I love when accounts feel like they’re chatting with friends, not reciting a press release. Basically: give me enthusiasm, a dash of honesty, and maybe a funny meme or two, and you’ve got a new follower.

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What Makes Me Follow a Book Blog

Blogs, for me, are where the deep stuff happens. Social media is like speed-dating for books—you get a quick impression and decide instantly if you’re interested. But a blog? That’s a long, cozy dinner where you can really get to know someone’s reading taste.

I follow blogs when I can tell the blogger actually thinks about what they’re reading. Not just “this was good, 4 stars,” but why it was good, what themes stood out, how it made them feel. I love when a post goes off on a tangent about how a book reminded them of a life moment, or when they break down a trope with both affection and gentle roasting. (Enemies to lovers? Yes please. Love triangle? Eh, depends. Random brooding guy who never communicates? Sir, this is 2025, we don’t have time for that.)

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Do I Follow Back Automatically?

Ah, the million-dollar question. Short answer: no. Long answer: sort of, sometimes, it depends, please don’t hate me.

Here’s the thing: I don’t like to follow back just because. I want to make sure it’s an account I’ll actually engage with. If I follow everyone blindly, my feed turns into chaos—like walking into a library where every single book is shouting at me at once. But if someone clearly loves books, shares genuine posts, or even just seems like a kind human, I’m very likely to hit follow. I don’t care if you read fantasy epics, romance novellas, or obscure nonfiction about 18th-century shipbuilding—if you’re passionate, I’m interested.

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Blogs vs. Bookstagram vs. BookTok

Each platform has its own vibe, and honestly, it feels like choosing between different book clubs:

• Bookstagram is like the artsy club. Everyone’s feed is so beautiful, I sometimes wonder if their books ever get read or if they just live permanently in aesthetically pleasing stacks. (Meanwhile, my books are dog-eared and covered in tea stains. Oops.)
• BookTok is pure chaos—in the best way. It’s loud, it’s emotional, it’s full of quick-fire recs that make you want to sprint to the bookstore at midnight. It’s also where the most unexpected books suddenly go viral, and you find yourself reading a genre you swore you’d never touch.
• Blogs are the cozy, thoughtful club. They’re where you can slow down, dig into the details, and have actual conversations instead of just quick reactions. It’s less about vibes and more about voices.

Personally, I find it easier to engage with people on blogs. Comments turn into discussions, and discussions turn into connections. On Instagram and TikTok, sometimes it feels like you’re just shouting into the void: “I loved this book!” and the void shouts back, “Same!” which is nice, but not quite the same as a full conversation.

At the end of the day, following other readers is about connection. It’s about finding people who get as excited as you do over fictional characters, who have strong opinions about tropes, and who are always ready to enable you into buying just one more book.

So, what makes me hit follow? Enthusiasm, authenticity, and a little spark of personality that makes me think, “Yes, this is someone I’d happily get lost in a bookstore with.”

Now I want to hear from you:
👉 Do you follow back automatically, or are you picky?
👉 Which platform do you find easiest for genuine engagement?
👉 And, most importantly, do your TBR piles also whisper threats in the night, or is that just me?