TikTok Book Awards

In 2023 I was one of the judges for the inaugural TikTok Book Awards.

Not only that but I ended up presenting 4 awards in a row in front of a fairly raucous crowd in central London.

The award winners ended up victorious over their long and shortlisted contemporaries after being whittled down using app data, the BookTok users and judges’ opinions. The winners were an eclectic mix of debut authors to all timers. We were even treated to a Pulitzer Prize winner in the crowd when Sir Kazuo Ishiguro turned up to see his Remains of the Day beaten to Best BookTok Revival by Jane Austen.

Being the only male judge on a panel of 9 was an honour while reading a variety of books I’d never normally pick up exposed me to a range of great writing. The initiative was great fun and gathered a great deal of interest both on the app and elsewhere, all focussed on the books that moved us in 2022/23.