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TBR, Bookstagram, Backlist…Book Hashtags & Terms Decoded!

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Popular book hashtags used by #Bookstagrammers

Whether you’re a permanent resident of the online bookish community or take a pit stop often, you’ve probably encountered a dictionary’s worth of phrases and acronyms used by readers all around.

The reader community online is like its own distinct world, one that seems to have emerged from a high-fantasy world with characters and a language of its own. Whether you’ve just entered this world (that can sometimes feel intimidating) or you’ve been staying here for a while, we have you got covered.  

Here is a list of commonly used book-related terms decoded for you! 

#Bookstagram / #Booktok / #Booktube

These are portmanteau terms used to describe the reader community on different social platforms. Readers on Instagram call themselves Bookstagrammers, those on Tiktok are Booktokers and YouTubers who create literary content are Booktubers.

#TBR

Probably the most-used phrase by readers, this stands for “To Be Read”. It is commonly used to refer to the number of books one has in their “to-be-read” pile, or the number of books one has yet to read from their book collection.

#BookHaul / #Unhaul

When you purchase many books or borrow too many from the library at once, you’re ‘hauling’ them. On the contrary, when you get rid of many books at once, it’s a book ‘unhaul’. Sometimes, readers online showcase their hauls and unhauls to either get accountability to reduce their TBRs or rehome the books they’ve read.

Reading slump

Infamous among the book community, the reading slump hits you when you just don’t feel like reading. A reading slump can be a reader’s worst nightmare but it can also be a sign that you might need a break.

#Backlist

Similar to TBR, your backlist books are the ones you haven’t read yet but are not new releases. Backlist books are releases from previous years that you must have still not got around to reading. (Been there, done that and highly guilty of it myself!)

#BuddyRead

When you read the same book with another person or a friend, you’re buddy-reading. You can set daily or weekly goals based on page count or chapters and notice how you breeze through your current reads!

#ReadingSlump

Infamous among the book community, the reading slump hits you when you just don’t feel like reading. A reading slump can be a reader’s worst nightmare but it can also be a sign that you might need a break.

Reading slump

Infamous among the book community, the reading slump hits you when you just don’t feel like reading. A reading slump can be a reader’s worst nightmare but it can also be a sign that you might need a break.

Read more about the reading slump, how to tackle one and some interesting recommendations to help beat the slump HERE. 

#BookBuyingBan

Something I have never been able to stick to, a book-buying ban is when a reader pledges not to buy books for a specific time period and sticks to it. This is a way for readers to prioritise the books on their TBRs and read more while buying less.

#AutoBuyAuthor

Simply another term for ‘favourite author’. You don’t even need to read the synopsis of their books when they are announced. You love their works so much that you buy anything they put out, including their to-do and grocery lists!

Reading slump

Infamous among the book community, the reading slump hits you when you just don’t feel like reading. A reading slump can be a reader’s worst nightmare but it can also be a sign that you might need a break.

#MoodReader

Refers to those who read based on their current mood, whether that be snuggling up with a cozy fantasy during the rains or breezing through a contemporary romance in the summer!

Reading slump

Infamous among the book community, the reading slump hits you when you just don’t feel like reading. A reading slump can be a reader’s worst nightmare but it can also be a sign that you might need a break.

#Readathon

Some commonly used acronyms and their meanings:

  • CR (Currently Reading): Refers to the book(s) you’re reading now. 
  • DNF (Did Not Finish): When you stop reading a book at any point before you get to the ending. 
  • MC (Main Character): The protagonist(s) of the book. Also referred using the acronyms FMC (female main character) and MMC (male main character). 
  • RTC (Review To Come): Typically used by reviewers and bloggers to let their audience know that they will post a review soon once they have finished reading a particular book. 
  • POV (Point of View): The perspective from which the book is narrated – first person, second person or third person. 
  • TW/CW (Trigger Warning/Content Warning): Any books or book-related content like reviews that contain potentially triggering topics are prefaced with these abbreviations.  
  • BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour): This term is used as a more specific alternative to identify works by “marginalized” or “minority” authors. As an extension, the term OwnVoices is used to identify books written about BIPOC characters by people belonging to those communities. 

Want to become an influencer? Are you interested in leveraging social media for marketing yourself or your brand? Here are a few books that can help you get started: 

Social Media How to Engage_Share and Connect
Instagram Marketing
_Social Media 101
Hashtag Marketing
Crushing It with Social Media_Marketing
1000 Social Media Marketing_Secrets

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