Author name: SHEYANNE

https://youtu.be/uzpoElP4iDs 📚 Is There Such a Thing as Too Much Representation in Books? 🤔 Hey book lovers! Let’s talk about a debate that always pops up in the book world: Can there be too much representation in books? I’ve seen this argument float around social media, publishing spaces, and even in some book reviews. The idea that “too much diversity” weakens storytelling or makes books “less relatable” is still floating around—but here’s my take: 🚨 That’s nonsense. 🚨 Stories are meant to reflect the world, and the world is diverse. There is no such thing as too much representation, just as there’s no such thing as too much perspective, culture, or experience in storytelling. If anything, we need more of it. So, let’s break it down—with some book recs to prove diverse storytelling isn’t just important, it’s essential. 📖 Why Representation in Books Matters Books shape the way we see the world. They influence how we understand people outside of our own experiences, and they provide validation to those who rarely see themselves in stories. 📊 Did you know? A 2020 study from the Cooperative Children’s Book Center found that: 📚 12% of books featured Black characters 📚 9% had Asian characters 📚 5% had Latinx representation 📚 1% featured Indigenous characters Even in adult fiction, there’s still a lack of fully developed representation for BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and disabled characters. Many authors from these communities have had to fight just to get their stories published, while the industry still favors one type of narrative (you know the one: white, cishet, able-bodied). 🎯 Representation affirms existence. People deserve to see themselves reflected in books in meaningful ways. 💡 Books That Nail Representation: 📖 Legendborn by Tracy Deonn – (Black excellence, Arthurian fantasy, grief, and magic)📖 You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi – (Queer, Black romance with deep emotional complexity)📖 A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Badger – (Indigenous futurism, Lipan Apache storytelling) 🚨 The “Too Much Diversity” Argument is a Myth I’ve seen people say some books feel “forced” because they feature too many diverse characters. But let’s be real—what does that even mean? 💡 The real world is diverse. People aren’t just one thing. A person can be:✅ Queer & disabled✅ Black & neurodivergent✅ Latinx & nonbinary Stories that reflect this are not “too much”—they’re realistic. Yet, books that don’t center white, cishet experiences often face pushback. I’ve seen this happen with books like The Blood Trials by N.E. Davenport and Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas—books that center Black, queer, or non-Western narratives unapologetically. Some readers frame their discomfort as “criticism,” but let’s call it what it is: people not being used to diverse stories being centered. 💡 Books That Challenge the Default Narrative: 📖 The Blood Trials by N.E. Davenport – (Black, sci-fi/fantasy, military training, revenge)📖 Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas – (Latinx, trans protagonist, YA paranormal fantasy)📖 She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan – (Queer retelling of Chinese history) 🎭 Tokenism vs. Authentic Representation Now, don’t get me wrong—bad representation exists. 🚩 Tokenism happens when marginalized characters are added with no depth, often as a way to seem “woke” without real substance. But here’s the thing: The problem isn’t diversity. The problem is bad writing. ✔ A well-written diverse character is fully developed, with flaws, goals, and complexity.❌ A token character is just there—often sidelined or only existing to educate the main character. So instead of blaming diversity for “ruining” books, let’s demand better writing from authors and publishers.  Books that have been called out for tokenism or flat, one-dimensional representation: 📖 The Maze Runner by James Dashner – The only Black character, Alby, is the leader of the Glade… for about five minutes. Then he gets sidelined, injured, and basically exists to make the white protagonist look better before dying. Cool. 📖 Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling – Look, I love nostalgia as much as the next person, but let’s be real—Cho Chang is the only East Asian character and her name is literally two last names mashed together? Meanwhile, characters like Kingsley Shacklebolt and Dean Thomas barely get any real development. Oh, and don’t even get me started on how she retroactively made Dumbledore gay but never actually wrote him that way. 📖 Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard – There’s one queer character in the entire book. He’s introduced, made into a tragic figure, and then—yep, you guessed it—he dies. Because apparently, queer characters can’t have happy endings? 📖 Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo – Now, I like this book, but let’s talk about it. While the rep is there (queer, disabled, racial diversity), some people feel like Kaz’s disability is used more for aesthetic and edginess rather than a fully developed part of his character. And let’s be honest—Jesper’s queerness is barely explored in the first book. It gets better in Crooked Kingdom, but tokenism is when diversity is added without depth, and for some readers, the early handling of these characters felt a bit like that. 📖 The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood – Our main character is bi, but the book barely acknowledges it. Like, why throw that in if it’s not actually going to be a meaningful part of her character arc? 💡 Books That Handle Representation Well: 📖 The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin – (Diverse cast, social commentary, sci-fi/fantasy blend)📖 Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar – (Queer, South Asian romance with depth)📖 Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender – (Black, trans joy, self-discovery, and romance) 📲 How Social Media is Shaping the Representation Conversation BookTok has had a huge impact on diverse books. Some of this has been great—amplifying voices that might have been overlooked before. But it also has its downsides. ⚠️ The same 5 books dominate the conversation, leaving equally amazing diverse books in the shadows.⚠️ Some books go viral for their aesthetic, but don’t actually explore diversity in meaningful

https://youtu.be/SSnma_RbqXs # How BookTok Saved Barnes & Noble If you’ve walked into a Barnes & Noble recently, you’ve probably noticed the overwhelming presence of BookTok. Entire tables are dedicated to books that have gone viral on TikTok, adorned with colorful signs that boast “#BookTok Made Me Buy It.” But if you take a closer look, you’ll realize that all the books are the same—since romantasy is popular, that’s all that dominates the tables. From the latest romantasy phenomenon to tearjerking contemporary reads, these displays prove that TikTok has played a massive role in revitalizing Barnes & Noble’s book sales. But did it really or make the same authors more popular? The Struggles of Barnes & Noble Before BookTok A few years ago, Barnes & Noble was struggling. The rise of Amazon and digital books put the company in a precarious position, and many thought the brick-and-mortar chain wouldn’t survive. Ebooks surged in popularity, and many readers moved away from physical bookshelves, preferring the convenience of digital libraries. Despite this shift, I have always maintained my physical bookshelf, even though my Nook library contains 310 books and my Kindle holds about 50. Yes, I could probably build a small fortress out of my digital books alone, but there’s just something about seeing a physical book on my shelf that makes me feel like a scholar—or at least someone who has their life together. Meanwhile, my TBR pile continues to grow at an alarming rate, and if books were currency, I’d be a billionaire (but still somehow broke, because I’d just buy more books). And if you’ve ever watched one of my videos that I create alongside these blogs, you’ve likely seen my bookshelves standing proudly behind me, an ever-present testament to my love for physical books. No matter how many ebooks I own, my shelves remain stocked, ever-growing, and sometimes threatening to collapse under the weight of my book-buying habits. The love of physical books never truly faded, and BookTok played a crucial role in bringing readers back to in-store browsing. The viral power of TikTok’s bookish community brought a surge of readers back into physical bookstores, eager to get their hands on the latest sensation. According to reports, sales skyrocketed, and Barnes & Noble even credited BookTok with driving a new generation of young readers into their stores. Studies such as The Rise of BookTok and Its Influence on Publishing by Publishers Weekly and How TikTok Brought Readers Back to Bookstores by The New York Times provide deeper insights into this phenomenon. If you’re curious about the numbers behind this resurgence, NPD BookScan’s Annual Report on Book Sales is also a great resource for understanding just how much BookTok has impacted the industry. The Dual Nature of BookTok But here’s where my feelings on TikTok get complicated. Depending on what side of BookTok you’re on, your experience can be vastly different. Black BookTok: A Hub for Fresh Discoveries If you’re on Black BookTok (or really any space dedicated to diverse authors), you’re constantly exposed to fresh recommendations, underrated gems, and books by authors who don’t always get mainstream recognition. There’s a richness in variety, a chance to discover books outside the repetitive cycle of the same five bestsellers. Black BookTok actively works to uplift books by authors of color, queer authors, and stories that often go ignored by mainstream publishing. It fosters deep discussions about representation, the importance of own-voices narratives, and the way books reflect lived experiences. Instead of cycling through the same viral recommendations, Black BookTok dives into different genres, from hard-hitting contemporary fiction to fantasy epics infused with cultural influences. These spaces also highlight indie and self-published authors, ensuring that a wider range of voices is celebrated. Additionally, readers on Black BookTok engage critically with books, not just hyping them up for the sake of trends. Reviews tend to be more honest, analyzing themes, writing styles, and impact. This makes the community feel like a trusted space for book lovers who are looking for more than just surface-level bookish content. Mainstream BookTok: Repetitive and Homogeneous On the viral (often white-dominated) side of BookTok, however, the recommendations can feel stagnant. The same books—Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover, A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas—circulate endlessly. These books are fantastic in their own right, but the homogeneity of recommendations means that lesser-known books, especially those by marginalized authors, struggle to get the same visibility. I also don’t like TikTok for its short-form content and creators’ tendency to chase virality rather than be honest about the books they promote. Many influencers prioritize engagement over genuine recommendations, which can make it difficult to trust the hype around certain titles. Sometimes, it feels like books go viral not because they’re groundbreaking, but because they fit into a trend or a quick aesthetic appeal. This can lead to great books being overlooked while the same few dominate the conversation. How Barnes & Noble Reflects These Trends It’s frustrating when Barnes & Noble’s BookTok tables reflect this lack of diversity. Walk into any store, and you’ll see the same trending books prominently displayed, while other incredible books—especially those outside the mainstream—are buried in less noticeable sections. Even within different genres, the selections remain limited to what has already proven to be a bestseller. This creates a feedback loop where only the most hyped books continue to dominate while fresh voices struggle to gain exposure. Meanwhile, on Black BookTok, you’ll see readers hyping up books like Blood Debts by Terry J. Benton-Walker, Legendborn by Tracy Deonn, or The Blood Trials by N.E. Davenport—books that are just as gripping, yet rarely get the same level of bookstore promotion. What This Means for Other Brick-and-Mortar Bookstores While Barnes & Noble has benefited greatly from BookTok, the impact on smaller, independent bookstores is more nuanced. Many indie bookstores have adapted by curating their own BookTok sections, often with a more diverse selection than mainstream retailers. Some even