It is no exaggeration to say that BookTok has revolutionized the book industry, covering everything from the publishing process to marketing and sales of books.
And while a large part of the online community consists of creators and audience members sharing their favorite reads, books aren’t the only thing BookTokkers buy. Yes, there are e-readers, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
BookTok made reading cool again – but it also turned writers into content creators
That’s why we caught up with BookTok creators and book lovers at VidCon’s 2026 BookTok Meetup last month to ask about the products they can’t read without. They share everything from speed reading apps and e-reader accessories to their favorite places to find their next great read. Check out the full list of BookTok-approved highlights below.
A place to find their next reading
BookTokker Ashley Duke quickly named GoodReads as her favorite place to get more information about what to read next. “You can look at any kind of review to become a better consumer and not just like most of us do, where we judge a book entirely by its cover,” he said. “We’re like, ‘It looks cool, I’m going to buy it!’ And then it’s like, ‘That was the worst book I’ve ever read.’
The 15 most popular books of 2026, as determined by Goodreads members
Goodreads isn’t the only site for getting reviews and tracking your books. Kobo owners, in particular, may want to check out Storygraph, which recently introduced integration with the e-reader brand.
Improvements to the ergonomic Kindle
E-reader users know that, although the device may be convenient, it can be more dangerous than you might expect. “At one point, I thought I’d broken my nose the way it was going down,” says creator Marijose, who has had the experience of dropping your e-reader while reading in bed.
Mashable Trend Report
His favorite solution? Strapsicle (one of our favorites, too). He called the cables crossed on the back, saying that it is practically impossible to drop your e-reader while your hand is tied.
For fast learners
Patrick Khanna is not a BookTok creator or viewer – he simply likes to read, which is why he represents the meeting. Show it with his favorite reading tool: Accelareader. Accelareader is a free online tool that allows users to copy and paste text from a site using a feature called “Rapid Serial Visual Presentation.” Users can adjust how many words per minute they intend to read. Khanna shared that it literally helps her learn faster.
A bookmark with personality
Isaya, who writes under the handle Zayintune, appreciates the little personality when he marks the pages of his books. “Instead of bookmarks, I like to use small crocheted strings in the book,” she added with a laugh, “I only use them in my smut books.”
Although you can find these bookmarks on Etsy or Amazon, Isaiah stocks the bookmarks at Downtowne Bookstore in Riverside, California, saying of the store, “They’re very POC and LGBT friendly. They’re hidden, like most people don’t know about, so I always like to shout them out.”
Some kind of e-reader
Naturally, e-readers came up when I talked to the BookTokkers group. Many have used the Kindle, some calling out the affordability of the basic model, while others prefer the Kindle Paperwhite for its improved brightness and storage (the Paperwhite is also Mashable’s favorite Kindle overall). A few people even use the Kindle app on their phone instead of a dedicated e-reader.
Kindle remote control
Marijose made sure I didn’t miss one of her most used accessories: the page turner remote. “I swear this,” he said, very dangerously. The model he showed me costs less than $20, comes in seven different colors, and can be used with iPhones and iPads. Kobo users: the Mashable team loves the Kobo Bluetooth remote.
Ease of use in the book
E-reader accessories get a lot of love on BookTok, but one of the OG friends many people can book is a good book light. Isaiah shared with me his favorite book light: it’s a clip on, under $10, and rechargeable, so you don’t have to mess with batteries. “It’s good, it’s cheap, it’s easy, and it does the job,” she said. And at the end of the day, that’s all you need – and a good book, of course.
