BOOKS

You're scrolling through your Insta feed and stumble across a gorgeous pic of your favorite book. The comments are full of people chatting about the plot and geeking out over the series—which none of your friends have read yet! You want to join in, but you're not exactly sure how. 

Welcome to #bookstagram, the bookish side of Instagram, where book lovers can connect with each other, discover new books and share their love of reading. There's a space for everyone here, with book nerds across all genres. And we *love* welcoming newbies to the community!

Before you get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of #shelfies and picture-perfect props, take a breath. We've got some beginner tips to make your journey into bookstagram much easier. 

@pretty_little_library

Find props around your house

That expensive crown might look super aesthetic, but you don't need to spend any money to find props for bookstagram photos. All kinds of household objects can be used in your pics, like fake flowers from your fam's vase, wrapping paper or blankets as a background or even your fave cozy sweater placed underneath the book. This is a super fun chance to get creative!

@miraculousreads

Try fun angles

In bookstagram, there are a lot of frequently used terms to learn, like a #flatlay (where you take a pic from above of the book lying flat) and #shelfie (a selfie of your bookshelves). You don't have to stick to these two shots, though. Experiment with photos from different angles and directions.  

@mothergamerwriter

Take your pics near natural light

Tbh, titles can be a little bit harder to capture when there's so much writing on the book cover. That's why taking your bookstagram photos near a window or other natural light can be so helpful. The light helps illuminate the title of your book so that everyone can see and properly fangirl over the right series. 

@night0urt

Use hashtags on your post

Hashtags help let everyone know that you're joining the bookstagram community! They'll also allow you to highlight what genres you're obsessed with, what books are featured, and other niche things on Instagram. Some common bookstagram hashtags are #bookstagrammer, #booklife, #yabooks and #bookworm. Adding #newbookstagrammer, #newbiebookstagrammer and #newbookstagram will let others find your new account, too!

@myhoneyreads

Start commenting on other bookstagrams

The *best* part of bookstagram is the community you'll find there. So many people are excited to talk about their fave books and make online friends. There are all types of bookish content, from reviews to bookstagram templates to creating fake Insta profiles for book characters. Comment your love on your fave posts to connect with the bookstagram accounts you admire!

@thispeculiarlibrary

Experiment with your account

There are tons of accounts with aesthetically-pleasing feeds and planned-out posts, but don't give in to the Insta pressure! You totally don't have to be locked into one type of post, especially if you're just starting out on bookstagram. Try your hand at reviewing books, posting #shelfies and creating fun TSwift-book combos. Bookstagram is for the fun of talking about books, so make sure it's fun for you above all else!

Are you creating a new bookstagram? Tag us on Instagram @glbestiebookclub so we can see your fab new content! 

Top image: @tainasbookadventures
Slider image: @pretty_little_library

by Ally Coy | 2/19/2023