Jessica Mendoza

Hey, it's Jess. We're off on Memorial Day, but with summer reading season coming up, we wanted to bring back an episode we made a few months ago. It's on BookTok, the corner of TikTok that's all about books, and how it's transforming the publishing world. Here it is. For Leah Koch, the romance novel is life. She's loved romance since she was a teenager.

Hey, it's Jess. We're off on Memorial Day, but with summer reading season coming up, we wanted to bring back an episode we made a few months ago. It's on BookTok, the corner of TikTok that's all about books, and how it's transforming the publishing world. Here it is. For Leah Koch, the romance novel is life. She's loved romance since she was a teenager.

What is it that draws you so much to this type of writing?

What is it that draws you so much to this type of writing?

What is it that draws you so much to this type of writing?

Leah loves romance so much that in 2016, she and her sister opened up a bookstore devoted to it. It's called The Rip Bodice, and it's got locations in LA and in Brooklyn. The store is full of passionate experts who can help you find pretty much any kind of romance.

Leah loves romance so much that in 2016, she and her sister opened up a bookstore devoted to it. It's called The Rip Bodice, and it's got locations in LA and in Brooklyn. The store is full of passionate experts who can help you find pretty much any kind of romance.

Leah loves romance so much that in 2016, she and her sister opened up a bookstore devoted to it. It's called The Rip Bodice, and it's got locations in LA and in Brooklyn. The store is full of passionate experts who can help you find pretty much any kind of romance.

Romance has always had its audience, but Leah says that over the last few years, she's seen a surge of interest. At first, it was just a few people coming in with surprising requests.

Romance has always had its audience, but Leah says that over the last few years, she's seen a surge of interest. At first, it was just a few people coming in with surprising requests.

Romance has always had its audience, but Leah says that over the last few years, she's seen a surge of interest. At first, it was just a few people coming in with surprising requests.

TikTok, or specifically BookTok, the part of the platform that's all about books, was pulling in new audiences to romance. And it kept happening. Customers would come in and ask for a book because they'd seen it on TikTok.

TikTok, or specifically BookTok, the part of the platform that's all about books, was pulling in new audiences to romance. And it kept happening. Customers would come in and ask for a book because they'd seen it on TikTok.

TikTok, or specifically BookTok, the part of the platform that's all about books, was pulling in new audiences to romance. And it kept happening. Customers would come in and ask for a book because they'd seen it on TikTok.

Today, people are still showing up at the Rip Bodice because of TikTok. But the influence of BookTok has gone way beyond a single independent bookstore. Since 2020, BookTok has driven major sales, especially in the romance and fantasy genres. In one survey, TikTok found that more than a quarter of its users bought a book or started following an author after watching a video on the platform.

Today, people are still showing up at the Rip Bodice because of TikTok. But the influence of BookTok has gone way beyond a single independent bookstore. Since 2020, BookTok has driven major sales, especially in the romance and fantasy genres. In one survey, TikTok found that more than a quarter of its users bought a book or started following an author after watching a video on the platform.

Today, people are still showing up at the Rip Bodice because of TikTok. But the influence of BookTok has gone way beyond a single independent bookstore. Since 2020, BookTok has driven major sales, especially in the romance and fantasy genres. In one survey, TikTok found that more than a quarter of its users bought a book or started following an author after watching a video on the platform.

And some of the largest publishers in the US are finding new talent, rethinking their strategies, and seeing windfalls from old titles because of TikTok. Authors, influencers, agents, and publishers all told us that today TikTok's fingerprints are all over the book industry. Welcome to The Journal, our show about money, business, and power. I'm Jessica Mendoza.

And some of the largest publishers in the US are finding new talent, rethinking their strategies, and seeing windfalls from old titles because of TikTok. Authors, influencers, agents, and publishers all told us that today TikTok's fingerprints are all over the book industry. Welcome to The Journal, our show about money, business, and power. I'm Jessica Mendoza.

And some of the largest publishers in the US are finding new talent, rethinking their strategies, and seeing windfalls from old titles because of TikTok. Authors, influencers, agents, and publishers all told us that today TikTok's fingerprints are all over the book industry. Welcome to The Journal, our show about money, business, and power. I'm Jessica Mendoza.