When the truth is at risk of coming out

Synopsis

She’s BookTok famous.
She’s never read a single book in her life.
And the internet is about to find out.

Luna is a viral literary influencer with thousands of followers hanging on her every dramatic hot take. There’s just one problem: she’s been faking it all along.

When a rant about Ulysses rockets her to superstardom, the algorithms reward her chaos—and Luna doubles down. Bigger opinions. Louder drama. Relentless engagement. Until an anonymous comment threatens to expose everything.

Panicking, she smashes her phone and deactivates her account. Offline, there are no likes, no applause—just the quiet truth: she feels unremarkable, invisible, unworthy.

Then a stray cat walks into her apartment and refuses to leave. Convinced he belongs to someone nearby, Luna knocks on her neighbor’s door.

He actually reads—grounded, attentive, and completely uninterested in her follower count. Through him—and because of the cat—Luna discovers connection and the joy of reading.

But the internet never forgets. When her past resurfaces, she must choose: return to her influencer life—or risk losing everything real she’s finally found.

BookTok Queen is a witty, uplifting novel about impostor syndrome, internet fame, and the courage it takes to be real in a world that rewards pretending—blending sharp satire with heartfelt self-discovery and a touch of romantic tension.

My review

Luna has finally found something she is good at. Even while growing up, through trial and error, she has been searching for something that she is truly passionate about. And of course something where her twin sister doesn’t outshine her. But now, she is BookTok famous, by making dramatic hot takes about books, whether positive or negative. But there is one problem, or rather one big secret: Luna has not ever read one book. She believes that her secret is safe, until there is one anonymous comment that can and perhaps will expose everything. In a sense of panic, Luna throws away her phone, making her go offline. And that makes her feel unseen, invisible and unworthy, and she does not know what to do with her life now. And then a stay cat follows her into her apartment and refuses to leave. Luna believes that the cat belongs so someone nearby, and that makes her encounter her neighbour, whom she has never met before, even if Rafael has been living there several months already… Even if Luna and Rafael have complete different lives and interests, a friendship is being built and Luna even gives reading another chance. Until someone from her internet – past resurfaces, jeopardizing everything once again…

As a bookaholic myself, I understand that not everyone loves reading as much as I do. But I find it difficult to grasp that someone cannot even finish reading a book. And I am not talking about a specific genre, but any book. There must be a subject that interests you, that you want to read more about it? However, I listen and I don’t judge (or at least, not at loud 😊).

I have to admit, because Luna is such a not – reader, I found it difficult at the start of the book to ‘get into’ it. How can Luna get internet – famous, by posting videos with her overreacting to books? Each to their opinion, but I could understand it more if she had actually read any of the books she is trashing or praising.

But as I couldn’t understand her of the videos, the insecurities, the sense of unworthiness, that is something that truly resonated with me. Now I have found what makes me happy, but there has been moments that I shared in a way the same emotions and feelings that Luna has in this book. And once I found that connection with Luna, it was rather easy to continue with her story.

I think it is safe to say that everyone has a few secrets in their lives. But I cannot imagine how terrible it feels for Luna to be at risk of being exposed as a fraud… And perhaps her reaction is a bit over the top (just like her videos may me), but her going offline is exactly what Luna in fact needs.

It makes perfect sense for Luna to feel truly at loss once she is not only connected to internet. Being online has been her world for a few years, and now that she has lost her world, it means the start of searching who Luna truly is.

And what a hilarious thing that her self – discovery starts with a stray cat that just claims Luna’s apartment as its new home! I am a cat – lover myself, so if a cat appears in a book, I am a happy woman 😊.

That same stubborn cat is also how Luna and Rafael meet. Rafael has been Luna’s neighbour for a while now, but as Luna has been so stuck in her viral world, she hadn’t even acknowledged that she had a new neighbour.

The best way to describe Rafael is that as being the complete opposite of Luna. Where Luna despises books, Rafael loves reading them. Where Luna is still searching who she is, Rafael knows exactly who he is, and what kind of life he wants to have.

And very important, Rafael is a kind, patient and non – judging. He may not always understand Luna and her reasoning, but he respects her, and he tries to understand her. At the same time, he is also helpful in so many different ways. Not only is he willing to help Luna out with decluttering her home, but he makes it also his mission to let Luna understand how books can sweep you of your feet. If only you find the right book to let that love start.

I absolutely loved to read how Luna and Rafael are not only becoming friendly neighbours, but actual friends. Why be pleased with having just a good neighbour, when that neighbour can turn into a great friend?

It was also amazing to see how Luna is finding herself, how in a way her eyes are being opened to the real world, the outside world, and how much better and more real it is from the world that is limited to that screen. A fake world, that somehow catches up with Luna, making Luna doubt again, despite all the growth she has been going through. And yes, I may have been afraid that Luna may be falling back in the trap that the online world is, while she has been truly enjoying the real world.

Luna goes through a lot of growth in the book, as she is on a journey of self – discovery and a journey of understanding that she is worthy, important and that she matters. It is okay to not know where you excel in, but with time and patience you will find *your* thing.

While this book is obviously fiction, perhaps it can also serve for the people that are too attached to their online lives. Yes, I know, even I have to check several times a day if something has happened online, but I also know that there are more people truly addicted to that world. And perhaps if they read this book, they can understand better about how fake that world is, how it is all about algorithms, and likes. And how online friends are nothing compared to the friends we have in real life…

Rosa Silva for sure wrote a funny story, about the ‘tragedies’ of being exposed online. But between the laughter, she also makes us see how less that online world matters, and that stepping outside, literally, can make you see things in the right perspective.

It was a funny story, but also an inspiring, eye – opening one! It was truly a delight to read!