I don’t know about you, but one of my favourite things about online classes this past year has been the opportunity to spy on people’s bookshelves. I love knowing what books people choose to read and keep close by – it gives you a huge insight into a part of your peers’ lives you may otherwise never know about. So it’s fair to say, I’m only mildly obsessed with shelfies – yes, that’s right, a bookshelf selfie. Now the perfect place to find such shelfies is instagram – or as we call it, Bookstagram. 

Bookstagram refers to a community of accounts dedicated entirely to book-themed content. They are the perfect place to find recommendations, reviews, quotes, and of course the most beautiful staged photographs. It’s perfect for every book lover. 

If you haven’t already discovered this corner of instagram, you can find accounts by searching the hashtag #bookstagram and looking for content creators who match your genre interests. Or, keep scrolling here and check out my top ten recommended accounts to get you started!

@storygramtours

Run by a dynamic friendship duo, both of whom are avid YA readers, this account creates the most gorgeous displays of new recommendations. There aren’t any personal reviews available, but this one is a definite follow to spruce up the wow factor of your feed. On their website they also give a small rundown of how to create your own bookstagram posts so you can join in on the fun!

@silkreads

If you find reading reviews daunting, aren’t really looking for any new recommendations, and just want to see what other readers are doing with their lives beyond the pages of a book – then this one’s for you! Silke not only provides the most aesthetic photographs (I’m talking, sepia tones, typewriters, and houseplants) but each post is an insight into her quirky personality as she shares tidbits of her daily life.

@surlymsa

Would it be weird to include ourselves on this list… surely (or should I say surly) not? If you don’t already follow our instagram, be sure to head over there and do it right now. It’s the perfect place to find recommendations or reviews for books and films you’ll find right on campus. And it will keep you up to date on all the events we offer!

@theguywiththebook

If you only thought this was only for women, fear not, for Faroukh manages an award winning bookstagram account (I’m not kidding, he won Bookstagrammer of the Year once). He writes the most authentic reviews and also drinks a lot of coffee (which is honestly, such a vibe). 

@whatsallyreadnext 

Last year’s Bookstagrammer of the Year, Sally is a self confessed cat lady who writes reviews and loves a good book tag challenge. Her posts are always colourful and vibrant, which is a lovely change from the usual vintage aesthetic. She also includes image descriptions for all her posts, which just makes her account all the more worth following. 

@thebibliotheque 

Run by the spanish author, Elena Armas, this account is perfect for readers whose guilty pleasure is loving romance books in an entirely unironic way. Unlike her fellow bookstagramers, ebooks are a frequent feature in her posts and she provides her followers with regular updates on her writing – great for those of you who are aspiring novelists!

@subwaybookreview 

WIth 132K followers, this account is easily one of the most popular amongst readers. Each post features a real New Yorker and their honest opinion of a book they are reading during their commute. It provides an interesting insight in the lives of people from different corners of the world and is a fantastic way to discover books you’ve never heard of before.

@tomesandtextiles 

Carmen runs the greatest Latinx bookstagram that focuses primarily on YA reads, with reviews that genuinely make you connect with her on a personal level. Each of her posts is fun and vibrant, the perfect way to brighten up your feed. She also has a strong passion for feminist issues as well as diversity and representation. 

@foldedpagesdistillery 

This is one of those instagram pages you can get lost in for hours! Each of the photos are intricate and the more you stare at them, the more you notice just how much effort Hikari puts into them. The thing I personally love about this account is that the posts aren’t just about recommending a book or reading a review, they are written in such an authentic way it’s like you’re catching up for coffee with an old friend and they’re sharing how life as a bookworm is going. An absolute must from me!

@pieladybooks

I’ve saved the best account for last… Steph doesn’t just grace us with amazing recommendations and bite-sized reviews, she also makes pies to accompany them. They are incredible; her talents are enough to inspire me to take up pie making so that I too, can create food that matches my reading tastes.