{"title":"The Best of #Booktok: 2026 September","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN-US\"\u003eShop the Best of #BookTok in our monthly selection of popular reads and Booktok recommendations. From gripping romantasy, to fluffy rom-coms, we have the best selection of the best reads on Booktok, straight to you every month.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN-US\"\u003eIf you’re looking for something new or can’t decide between all the books popular on Booktok, use this monthly list to start your search.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN-US\"\u003eWe’d love to know your thoughts, don’t forget to tag us @exclusivebooks in all your reviews.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"9781035084005","title":"Nightshade","description":"\u003cp\u003e‘Immensely fun and sexy . . . everything I love about dark academia. Autumn Woods wrote a winner!’ - ALI HAZELWOOD Sunday Times bestselling author of PROBLEMATIC SUMMER ROMANCE\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMYSTERY. MURDER. REVENGE. WELCOME TO SORROWSONG UNIVERSITY. . . He’d burn the world down for her . . . but she plans to burn his to the ground. Isolated in the Scottish Highlands, Sorrowsong University only welcomes students from the most powerful families. Ophelia Winters doesn’t belong, but a rare scholarship grants her the perfect opportunity to investigate her parents’ “accidental” death near the castle grounds. Things get off to a rocky start when she runs afoul of the mysterious Alex Corbeau-Green – son of her prime suspect. As far as she’s concerned, he is just a younger version of his billionaire father. A monster hiding beneath a beautiful façade. When an unknown tormentor begins to stalk Ophelia, she realizes she may not be able to survive Sorrowsong on her own. Alex becomes her unexpected ally – and alibi for murder. And as she begins to fall for the soft heart that hides beneath his hard exterior, her hunger for revenge wavers for the first time. Can she really bring herself to destroy everything he’s ever known? The Sunday Times bestselling dark academia TikTok sensation packed with romantic suspense, murder and addictive, enemies-to-lovers tension. Print edition includes an exclusive bonus chapter from Alex’s POV! NIGHTSHADE WILL BECOME YOUR NEW OBSESSION . . .‘I need a therapist because this book emotionally destroyed me . . .’‘I am genuinely mind blown at how phenomenal this is.’‘It completely took over my life, and I have zero regrets . . .Think dark academia, eerie Scottish highlands and secrets lurking around every corner.’‘You will want to devour and savour this book all at once!’‘Literally no words right now. 10 stars.’‘6 stars. I’m obsessed. Why is this the most perfect book ever’ ‘Nightshade is not only one of my favourite books of the year but is now also one of my favourite books ever.’‘I will never recover. Also, a man like Alex please . . .’‘How can a book be so perfect? The tension, the slow burn, the characters, the setting everything was immaculate’ ‘EVERYTHING I needed and more – 5 stars, no hesitation.’NIGHTSHADE IS BOOK ONE IN THE SORROWSONG DUOLOGY.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Autumn Woods","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52401548656958,"sku":"9781035084005","price":295.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4357\/7662\/files\/9781035084005.jpg?v=1761192935"},{"product_id":"9780008769284","title":"The Someday Garden","description":"\u003cp\u003e‘Ashley Poston writes really beautiful love stories with just a sprinkling of magic’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Proud to say that I've never met an Ashley Poston book that wasn't a five-star read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ *** Sophie Drear never expected to fall in love. But over a summer in Maine, she does: with the dazzling flowers and the towering hedge maze of Lilymoor House. But then, a door appears. Never in the same place twice. Leading only to a dishevelled garden, and a beguiling thundercloud of a man, confined inside. Battling with the vines – just as much as she is with Lilymoor’s owner’s two inconveniently handsome nephews – Sophie knows that she is the only person who can help Lilymoor bloom again. But when you're stuck between the men on the outside, and the one trapped within, can the seeds of romance bloom into something more…? *** Featuring all your favourite tropes: 🌱 Grumpy vs sunshine 🌱 A setting you’ll grow obsessed with 🌱 Magic that defies nature 🌱 Characters you root for 🌱 A love story that will leaf you breathless *** 💖Readers are OBSESSED with Ashley Poston💖 'Ashley Poston has done it again … enchanting' B.K. BORISON 'Ashley Poston continues to reign supreme as magical realism x contemporary romance queen' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I LOVED this book. A beautiful, poignant story … breathtaking, hopeful, and dreamy' ALI HAZELWOOD ‘Ashley Poston knows how to write romance … if you’re a true, soulmate-believing, kitchen slow dancing, and lover of romance with a bit of magical a realism, this is the one for you’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'An absolute and unexpected delight' CHRISTINA LAUREN 'Ashley Poston just gets it. Every word she writes hits right in the feels, and the way she blends magical realism with real emotional depth is actual witchcraft' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A gorgeous love story from one of the finest romance writers out there' CARLEY FORTUNE\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ashley Poston","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53189926027582,"sku":"9780008769284","price":320.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4357\/7662\/files\/9780008769284.jpg?v=1773842434"},{"product_id":"9781037406539","title":"Daggermouth","description":"\u003cp\u003e'Daggermouth is one of the best dystopian romances I've ever read' Clio Evans, author of Broken Beginnings He Is Her Ruin. She Is His Rebellion. The first thing you'll learn in New Found Haven is mercy no longer exists. Showing mercy is a weakness, and weakness will get you killed. The second thing is this-the Veyra are always watching. From the highest glass atrium in the Heart to the windowless slum dens of the Boundary, no movement goes unseen. The last lesson is the hardest, but you must remember it. Love outside of your ring is a death sentence. The city is carved into rings of privilege and poverty, ruled by the masked elite who will do whatever it takes to hold onto power. Obedience is demanded. Rebellion is crushed. Greyson Serel has spent his life caught between two worlds. Publicly, he's the flawless heir to the presidency. Privately, he's entangled in secrets that could topple the regime. But when he's forced into a political marriage meant to bind him tighter to the government's brutal laws, he finds himself shackled to a bride who is as lethal as she is unwilling. Shadera is a mercenary raised to kill, not to wed. Yet when her bullet misses its mark, survival leaves her bound to the very man she was sent to eliminate. Trapped inside the corrupt heart of the city, she becomes both prisoner and wife, her every step watched, her every move tested. Their union is no love story-It's a battlefield. As secrets come to light and betrayals fester within the walls of power, Greyson and Shadera must decide between annihilating one another or burning the city to the ground together. In a world where passion sparks rebellion and loyalty is paid for in blood, their forced bond may be the spark that ignites a revolution. Or the fire that consumes them both. Spice Rating:3\/5Tropes: Forced Political Marriage Assassins vs Militia Morally Grey Characters Multiple POVs Rise of the Oppressed \/MCs in their 30sMasked Elitism Multiple Romances True Enemies to Lovers Extremely Corrupt Government Stratified City Dom Daddy Masked MMCBadass FMCI tried to kill you but now I want to f*ck you\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"H. M. Wolfe","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53234596282686,"sku":"9781037406539","price":405.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4357\/7662\/files\/9781037406539.jpg?v=1774620034"},{"product_id":"9780356524788","title":"The Exquisite Torment of Loving Your Enemy","description":"\u003cp\u003e'Sworn enemies, dazzling magic and delicious romantic tension make this a witty, wonderful gem' Sangu Mandanna, author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular WitchesIn this swoony, witty and heart-stoppingly romantic sequel to instant Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy, the stakes are high, the love is forbidden and the slow burn turns steamy.Osric is a member of the Fyren Order, a guild of assassins who gleefully murder for money. Aurienne is a Haelan, a scholar-healer whose Order's motto is Harm to none. Clear-cut absolutes separate them: good and bad, right and wrong, light and dark -Until they don't. When Osric first bribed Aurienne to heal him, he never imagined those lines would begin to blur. But every healing session draws the two of them closer together. He finds himself developing unwanted feelings for Aurienne as her capable hands heal his body - and his heart. Aurienne's perfect life has been flung into chaos in the form of a devastatingly handsome assassin. She should be in her research lab, not illicitly healing a Fyren every full moon - nor wrestling an attraction to him that threatens to slip into something else. Things go superbly sideways when Osric and Aurienne discover more about the deadly Pox deliberately unleashed through the Tīendoms. The plague may be the work of another Order - an Order far nastier than either of them can handle.As the lines between Osric and Aurienne continue to blur, the balance between peace and war and love and hate trembles, shifts, and hinges on a heartbeat.Tropes include:Forced collaborationForbidden loveDenied attractionMajoring in YearnalismSemi-public s*x and other words not in the BibleRated E for E*ting Her OutPraise for Dearly Beloathed duology:'Utterly unique, hilarious, swoony beyond my wildest dreams! This book is an instant classic and a true masterpiece, it took my breath away and made my heart explode' Ali Hazelwood'Brilliant and wildly imaginative, with a delicious forbidden romance set in a fascinating fantasy world. Knightley is a remarkable talent, weaving together witty comedy, slow-burn longing, and heart-wrenchingly poetic imagery' Sarah Hawley, author of A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon'Knightley is in a league of her own! For those craving an enemies-to-lovers fix, you will find it all here. This is an explosive duology that makes me believe in magic and all things impossible!'  Danica Nava, author of Love is a War Song'With the most wickedly delicious banter, Brigitte Knightley is sure to become your next favourite author. This had all the things I love most: a slow-burn romance that hurts so good, truly agonizing enemies-to-lovers, with a twisty mystery at its core' Julie Soto, author of Forget Me Not'Brigitte Knightley is such a wonderfully talented writer with a unique voice and a real genius for banter' India Holton author of The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love'The slow burn romance of my dreams. Whip smart, \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Brigitte Knightley","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53291354620222,"sku":"9780356524788","price":465.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4357\/7662\/files\/9780356524788.jpg?v=1775656882"},{"product_id":"9781405962988","title":"Break Me","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe addictive new novel from bestselling author and TikTok sensation, Tillie Cole. Born and raised a Texas cowgirl, Hallie Oakley is the most skilled showjumper on Team USA. And she has just one goal in mind – an Olympic gold medal. But to achieve this, she must train with the most prestigious facility in the world – Golden Oaks. A beautiful English stables, nestled in the Cotswolds which has produces some of the best riders. . . Including Chester Knighton. The oldest son in a showjumping dynasty, who has recently inherited Golden Oaks and only has eyes for Hallie. Their attraction is instant and mutual, but when a shocking event threatens to tear Golden Oaks apart, Chester knows he’ll do whatever it takes to protect what matters most to him. Because losing Golden Oaks would be devastating – but losing Hallie is something Chester refuses to risk\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tillie Cole","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53328154034494,"sku":"9781405962988","price":305.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4357\/7662\/files\/9781405962988.jpg?v=1776434630"},{"product_id":"9780857509154","title":"Steelborn","description":"\u003cp\u003eFeaturing a reverse jacket illustration, illustrated endpapers and a foiled board design. Enter a world ruled by tyrants and thieves, where magic is outlawed, revolution brews, desire is dangerous, and an impossible cure may prove deadlier than the curse. Never run. Never bow. Never die. Reya Connery became the Crimson Dagger, the most notorious thief in Rhiterra, by following a strict set of rules. One: There is no honour among thieves. Two: A good blade is key to any negotiation. Three: Only the dead keep secrets. And Reya has a secret that must be kept at all costs. But when a heist goes wrong on the eve of paying off her debt to a ruthless crime lord, Reya may need a new set of rules. And a lot of coin. Fast. Enter Caelan Halcyon, an immortal warrior whose magic makes him a valuable target – if the curse inching closer to his heart doesn’t kill him first. There’s just one person who might be desperate enough to try and get their hands on the fabled cure in time to save his life, someone whose legend claims they can steal anything: the Crimson Dagger. A male of honour, Caelan loathes everything the beautiful, cocky thief represents yet knows that Reya is his last hope for survival. Their search takes them to the edge of the known world, where Reya discovers that there is far more at stake than her and Caelan’s own lives. Now, Reya must confront deadly foes, her growing attraction to the immortal who is as lethal as his jawline is perfect, and the rage she’s spent a lifetime trying to bury. This time, her daggers aren’t going to cut it, and the fate of all magic-born hangs in the balance. Introducing an epic, slow burn enemies-to-lovers romantasy novel about a heroine forged in steel and rage, and the cursed immortal who might turn out to be as much her salvation as she is his, perfect for fans of Danielle L. Jensen and Callie Hart.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Taylor J. LaRue","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53438394859838,"sku":"9780857509154","price":465.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4357\/7662\/files\/9780857509154.jpg?v=1778079634"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4357\/7662\/collections\/Booktok_banner_Sep_26_1.png?v=1788504896","url":"https:\/\/exclusivebooks.co.za\/collections\/the-best-of-booktok-2026-september.oembed","provider":"Exclusive Books Online","version":"1.0","type":"link"}