Is BookTok Changing How We Write Romance in Fantasy?

“Once upon a time, fantasy romance was a niche. Now it’s a trending tag with millions of readers — and BookTok is the kingdom.”

Fantasy romance has exploded in popularity in recent years, and much of that growth can be traced back to BookTok. From morally gray love interests to fated mates and steamy slow burns, the platform has turned niche tropes into mainstream obsessions, as well as reshaping the way a lot of authors write.

So how, exactly, is BookTok influencing this craft? One of the biggest influences we can see is in the tropes, and spice levels. Working with the BookTok algorithm, authors can gain traction for their books in a way that wasn’t possible before. Gaining a following, engaging with said followers, and marketing their books, authors have the chance to drive sales and popularity before their book is even published. However, we can also see that BookTok pushes specific tropes and qualities of a story and if your book doesn’t have them, they won’t be seen.

📱 What BookTok Wants (and Why It Matters)

In this fast-paced world we live in now, BookTok readers look for an emotional payoff right from the start. And what does that mean for authors? It means fast hooks. These can be anything from attention-grabbing openings that through their readers right into the heart of tension from the get go; mystery and/or attraction in the first few pages (or even the first few lines), and so on and so forth.

Now that doesn’t mean that the traditional slow-burn is gone, readers still enjoy those as well (especially when they are well written and the emotional payoff is huge). It just means that it is now competing with scroll speed and short attention spans. Readers want to be swept into the story quickly and completely.

Emotionally explosive scenes like break-ups, confessions, betrayals, and very intense banter are also a must have. These high-drama moments are perfect for TikTok clips and fan edits, which is why so many authors now structure their stories around them. Characters no longer need to be just compelling, they also need to be ‘shippable’, those romantic couples that readers can latch on to and discuss with others. Think Rhysand and Feyre, Xaden and Violet…

BookTok also prioritises vibe over strict genre rules. A romantasy book might read more like a romance with a sprinkle of magic seasoning, or a fantasy that only gradually reveals its world to the reader. What matters most is that it feels intense, aesthetic, and emotionally immersive.

Finally, spice is increasingly seen not as a bonus but as a necessity in romantasy. Many BookTok readers expect a certain level of heat, and they want it integrated with emotional stakes, not just inserted for shock value. If the romance is central, the chemistry has to burn on the page.

When it comes to spice, there are different levels for different readers, and authors. You don’t have to go full on with these scenes if it doesn’t fit your story or your style. Giving a heads-up to your readers is also a good idea, to make sure your story and its spice level is a good fit for them.

📚 Tropes on the Rise

Before BookTok, many of these tropes lived comfortably within niche romance subgenres or deep-cut fantasy reads. Now, they’re headlining viral videos, dominating recommendation lists, and defining what readers expect from a romantasy book. These tropes aren’t just popular, they’ve become emotional shorthand for readers looking for specific kinds of tension, chemistry, and that emotional payoff I mentioned earlier. Let’s take a look at the ones currently ruling the charts:

Enemies to lovers: I have written several articles on this trope, mainly because it continues to dominate as the ultimate tension-building trope. It offers a perfect blend of conflict, emotional growth, and emotional payoff that lends itself well to viral content. Readers love the push-pull dynamic, especially when it’s paired with witty banter and deep character development.

Morally grey love interests: How does that viral song go? You know the one I’m talking about. Well grey is my favourite colour too. Gone are the days of purely noble heroes. BookTok readers gravitate toward complex, flawed characters, especially brooding love interests who walk the line between villain and savior. They’re captivating, unpredictable, and often come with irresistible redemption arcs. That whole ‘I’d burn the world for you’ is what every girl wants. I can’t even deny it.

One bed / forced proximity: ‘I promise I asked for two beds.’ Yeah, yeah, of course you did. This trope is claustrophobic and delicious. It forces physical closeness, emotional exposure, and unresolved feelings to the surface. It’s the perfect setup for tension, awkward moments, and intimate reveals, all catnip for short-form video clips and edits.

Touch her and die: Protective instincts meet possessive vibes (normally from our morally grey character). This trope taps into power dynamics and unspoken feelings, usually with a character who refuses to admit they care, except when the love interest is in danger. It’s a favourite for fans who want a little danger with their devotion.

Fated mates / magical bonds: BookTok (and me) adores magical connections that override logic or timing. Whether it’s soul marks, shared dreams, or unbreakable bonds, readers crave the drama of destiny. These tropes offer rich emotional stakes and worldbuilding potential… and they often pair well with angst and longing.

⚔️ How Fantasy Is Adapting

BookTok’s influence hasn’t just elevated romance, it’s actively reshaping the fantasy side of the romantasy genre. Writers are adapting the tone, pacing, and structure of their fantasy elements to meet new reader expectations while still delivering immersive worldbuilding.

More contemporary-feeling dialogue in epic worlds: Gone are the days when fantasy dialogue had to sound like a Shakespearean monologue. BookTok readers respond well to characters who speak with emotional immediacy, modern cadence, and relatable phrasing, even if the setting is a sword-and-sorcery realm. The more real the character sounds, the more their emotions hit. Extra points if they are sassy and have witty comebacks. I mean, who doesn’t like a bit of tension-filled banter?

Leaner prose, less exposition: Today’s readers don’t have patience for ten pages of world history before the story starts. Authors are streamlining their prose, cutting down on exposition, and weaving worldbuilding naturally into emotional beats. It’s all about momentum, keeping the story moving while still letting the magic shine.

Romantasy as a bridge genre: Romantasy is thriving because it blends the best of both worlds: high-stakes, immersive fantasy settings with deeply emotional, character-driven storytelling. It’s no longer just about magical quests; it’s about how those quests impact the characters’ hearts, values, and relationships. BookTok readers want to cry, swoon, laugh, and rage along with the characters, and fantasy is evolving to make space for that.

Writer Tip:

If your fantasy world is rich, but your romantic tension is thin, you might lose BookTok’s crowd.

Keep your magic system tight — but your emotional stakes tighter.

🔥 Spice, Censorship, and the Algorithm

Going back to the spice I mentioned earlier. As BookTok drives more readers toward romantasy, one thing has become clear: spice sells. But the platform’s relationship with steamy content is complicated. While intimate scenes often drive engagement and virality, they can also lead to shadowbanning or algorithm suppression, pushing writers to walk a very, very careful line.

BookTok has created a culture where suggestive content, especially when paired with emotional vulnerability, thrives. Writers now design scenes and snippets that serve both the plot and the platform. This means crafting tension-ridden, emotionally rich moments that hint at spice without always showing everything. It’s all about implication, intensity, and emotional heat that can be clipped, quoted, and shared.

To avoid triggering content flags, many authors develop creative ways to imply intimacy, through coded language, emotionally charged dialogue, or cut-to-black transitions, while still giving readers the romantic payoff they expect. Although, sometimes, the coded language can really make me giggle. Us authors have to be very creative with it sometimes. This blending of desire and danger, longing and restraint, is part of what makes these stories so compelling.

BookTok’s influence doesn’t demand censorship, but it does invite innovation. And for writers, that means finding new ways to keep readers breathless, while still staying visible on the platform.

Consider:

• Are you writing spicy scenes to serve the plot — or the algorithm?
• How much is too much? How much is too little?

So, have you changed how you write romance since BookTok exploded? Or are you writing the kind of fantasy romance you wish you could find?

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Thanks for reading!