Have you heard the word “bookstagram” before? Have you wondered WTF it is? Well let me clear that up right now: it is literally just photos of books on Instagram. As far as I’m concerned, this is the best thing ever. Why look through a series of photos of your friends having fun at the beach while you sit alone in your house when you could look at photos of books?! Read on for reasons that you should be following bookstagrammers.
1. Find out about LOADS of new books.
Follow bookstagrammers and you’re going to find what new books are coming out, what people are buying, what people are loving (and sometimes what they’re not loving), and more! It’s so easy to stay up-to-date on new releases and what books are getting all the hype!
2. Win free books!
Search hashtags like #bookgiveaway and you’ll find all sorts of awesome books that are being given away! Here was what came up when I searched that hashtag. One of those posts was a subscription box giveaway *gasp*!
3. Connect with bookish friends.
How many of you feel like you have NO ONE to talk to about books? Well fear no more! Now you can search for books you’ve read and actually discuss things with the bookstagrammer who posted about it! I have become friends with numerous users just from fangirling over the same book. Search the name of your book with the # as follows:
4. Your eyes will thank you.
Bookstagram can be SUPER PRETTY. People take gorgeous photos of books, and it’s so fun to see the creative things people are photographing. Here are just a couple of my favorite bookstagrammers (can you tell I’m a sucker for the white background with brightly colored books??):
So what are you waiting for? Search #bookstagram and find all sorts of new bookish friends! And be sure to check out my bookstagram, too.
And keep your eyes out for future “Bookstagram” posts where I’ll featuring various ‘grammers and lots of beautiful photos!
Do you have a bookstagram account? Comment your link/username!
A.S. Thornton has evolved from book blogger to author with a particular fondness for writing forbidden love in ancient deserts. When not writing, she’s caring for dogs and cats as a veterinarian. You’ll never find animals at the center of her writing, though, because those fictional worlds don’t have veterinarians and her literal brain can’t accept that the poor critters would be without parasite prevention. Thornton’s debut, DAUGHTER OF THE SALT KING is available wherever books are sold.
Maria Casacalenda
I wish I could force myself to be as committed as you are to bookstagram! I feel like I generally go back to it in sprints, where I’ll post a lot for a little while and then go completely dead for even longer. I also need to work on getting some better lighting for my photos 😛
Maria Casacalenda just posted #Review: Orange: The Complete Collection, Book 1 by Ichigo Takano
Ali
Well I think everyone has their outlet that appeals to them the most. Instagram is what I like the most of all my blogging platforms – twitter the least (I’m terrible at it). You have an AWESOME blog, and I wish I could be as amazing at blogging as you are!
Gwen @ The Book Lounge
Great post.
Ali
Thanks Gwen!
Lais
although i follow multiple bookstagrammers and hype their pictures up everytime, i don’t think i’d ever be able to mantain an account. i already have an instagram account for different purposes (it’s very kpop related, oops) and i don’t think i can keep both of them, at the same time. but one thing i love about the instagram community is that, in general, it feels very welcoming. of course there will be arguments, fights and negativity, but i feel much more comfortable there than on twitter, for example.
Ali
Yes, I agree! It’s very friendly compared to other social media. And I totally get only being able to have one account. OMG I tried to start a pet account once (while I had my book account), and I was like NOPE this is TOO MUCH WORK. They’re a lot to maintain!
Maraia
I’m not familiar with either account you linked, but they both have gorgeous photos!
Molly @ Molly's Book Nook
hehehe “your eyes will thank you”. Yes, so true. Also, for some reason I randomly stopped searching hashtags of the books that are in my photos? I used to do it ALL THE TIME and now I don’t? How did I not realize this. Must remedy.
Molly @ Molly’s Book Nook just posted My 5 Essential Blog Design Resources
Ali
Hahahaha. Searching hashtags is so fun! I love doing it. XD
Evelina
Bookstagram is super pretty 🙂 but I like using it to share nice quotes, mostly. I don’t have print copies and I don’t have crazy photo skillz (lol), so I just share what I can 🙂 I still love it.
I have never taken part in a giveaway though, cause I’m silly and don’t really understand Instagram giveaways! Like, most of the time you have to save and repost someone else’s photo? How do I even do that? And it’s so weird reposting a photo I didn’t take..? Maybe I’m missing something crucial here? 😀 can you explain?
Evelina just posted Anne of Green Gables v2.0: Slow Start, Good Delivery
Ali
Hahahaa, giveaways are pretty simple – you just follow the instructions set out by the person doing the giveaway! But yes, you do often have to repost a photo. I usually just screenshot it and repost it that way (if you don’t know how to take a screenshot, just google it – it’s easy). I suppose it is weird to share someone else’s photo, especially if it’s incongruous with your feed (which is often why I don’t participate in giveaways that require that step), so you’re not alone in finding that unappealing!
Evelina
Nah, it’s not the screenshot that’s the problem, I’m quite technological myself. It’s just weird posting something I didn’t make :/
Evelina just posted Sunday post #15
Ali
ahhh okay 🙁
Geybie's Book Blog
Those things are what make me love bookstagram! I had a hard time when I first joined but I enjoyed it so much now.
Awesome post. Thanks for sharing. 😁❤️
Geybie’s Book Blog just posted Book Review – The Knocked Up Plan by Lauren Blakely
Ali
Thanks so much! I do love bookstagram. It’s such a fun way to showcase books!
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Patricia Camille
Bookstagram is hard for me to maintain, tbh. With my thesis and writing – blog not included – I sometimes struggle to fit time in for IG. But I do have an accound @camille.sedai because I love, love the beautiful photos on IG. All the reasons listed above are so legit, especially about how pleasing it is to look at bookish photographs!
Ali
Yes, it is definitely NOT for everyone! Of all my social media outlets, I do bookstagram the most, blog the second most and then poor twitter and pinterest are left to dust XD We all have to pick and choose what to do with our free time, and bookstagram isn’t for everyone!
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