From celebrity book clubs to the revival of edgy literary parties, being a book lover is now fashionable. Dior has released new versions of its Book Tote featuring covers of classics like Ulysses and Dracula. Coach collaborated with Penguin to produce miniature literary bag charms—fully readable micro-versions of books such as I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and Sense and Sensibility. Miu Miu hosts a Literary Club, while Chanel runs its Rendez-vous littéraire.
The 'Hot Literati' and Criticism
i-D magazine recently profiled the Whitney Review, a New York-based literary journal, calling its team part of the "hot literati reshaping criticism." The founder described the Review as "sexy, surprising, stubborn" and its contributors "curious and beautiful," with accompanying photos showing the team looking like models. However, the article sparked backlash in i-D's Instagram comments, with one user calling it "the definition of vacuous and vapid" and another writing "No room for ugly literati, only HOT." This raises questions about the trend's darker side.
Economic Pressures and Celebrity Influence
Writer and content creator Sihaam Naik believes reading has become "hot" due to economic pressures on young people. "Gen Z is a generation that will probably never be able to own houses, and so we're more aligned with investing in taste. So you buy books, art books and niche ephemera to set yourself apart from peers or signal your taste," she says. Celebrity book clubs—like those hosted by Dua Lipa, Kaia Gerber, and Reese Witherspoon—also drive the trend, sharing books by writers who need their platform. But Naik notes this reinforces the idea that "something is only worth sharing online if you are conventionally attractive," creating an exclusionary barrier around literary culture.
BookTok and Aestheticization
The trend originates from BookTok and Bookstagram, where creators share aesthetically pleasing reading spaces and beautiful books. Book creator Sol Noya views it positively as "a welcome change from past stereotypes of readers being dull or odd, particularly given that there are still very significant percentages of the population that barely read for leisure at all." According to YouGov polling from January 2024, 40% of Britons had not read or listened to a book in the prior year. Noya adds, "Reading has a positive impact on critical thinking and empathy, which are two traits society needs desperately." However, she warns that the aestheticization of reading focuses too much on consumption and "subtle wealth signaling," as having a large book collection implies money and space.
Positive Aspects and Skepticism
Bookstagrammer Diana Clough believes opting for analogue media over phones is something to "wear with pride and feel sexy about." She says, "Visibly engaging with the written word stakes our claim in the joy of reading, reclaiming the narrative of it being a reclusive act. And it can very much be hot, as the popularity of romantasy attests to." Naik remains skeptical: "I'm glad to see people treat bookworms and reading as worthy of being cool again, but is it a fleeting trend, and are we going to dunk on it next year? Who knows!"
