The latest BookTok drama has taken over TikTok, sparking debates about representation in books, LGBTQ+ romance, and how BookTok creators talk about reading preferences. At the center of the controversy is Ericka (@erickawitha_ck), who shared to her +300k followers that she DNF’d a book because it featured an MM romance and said she could not recommend it because she “couldn’t see herself as one of the characters.”
While DNFing a book is common in the reading community, the reasoning behind this decision triggered widespread backlash and reopened long standing conversations about diversity in reading.
What Happened in the Ericka BookTok Controversy?
In a video that quickly circulated across BookTok, Ericka explained that she did not finish or recommend a book due to its male/male romantic pairing. Her explanation focused on her inability to personally relate to the characters.
Viewers criticized the statement, arguing that it framed straight perspectives as the default and positioned queer stories as less accessible or less worthy of recommendation. The video led to stitches, response videos, and commentary from across the BookTok community.
What Was the Book? A Gay Sports Romance at the Center of BookTok Drama
The book at the center of this BookTok controversy is For the Fans by Nyla K, a title frequently discussed in conversations about gay sports romance on BookTok.
For the Fans is an MM sports romance set in the world of college football, making it a common recommendation for readers searching for *gay sports romance books similar to Heated Rivalry. Like many popular MM sports romances, it blends rivalry, forced proximity, and emotional tension with explicit content and character driven storytelling.
The novel follows two college football players whose rivalry leads them to start an OnlyFans account together. What begins as a transactional arrangement evolves into a complex relationship that explores:
Queer self discovery and internalized homophobia
Masculinity within competitive sports environments
Emotional vulnerability alongside physical intimacy
Enemies to lovers dynamics common in MM sports romance
Because For the Fans sits firmly within the gay sports romance niche that BookTok readers actively seek out, its dismissal based on relatability resonated strongly. For many readers, this book represents the kind of MM sports romance that has helped expand the genre’s visibility in the wake of viral titles like Heated Rivalry.
Why Ericka's BookTok Drama Went Viral
This situation gained traction because it reflects a larger issue within online book spaces. BookTok has enormous influence over:
Book sales and visibility
Which books go viral on TikTok
Which authors gain mainstream attention
When a BookTok influencer publicly dismisses a book based on the characters’ sexuality rather than the writing itself, it sends a message that LGBTQ+ books are niche or optional rather than part of mainstream reading culture.
@erickawitha_ck Replying to @missthangxx some of these….I just… 🤦♀️ #booktokbooks #booktok #bookrecommendations ♬ original sound - 📚Ericka📚
Why “I Couldn’t See Myself” Is a Problematic Reading Standard
Books are not meant to function solely as self-inserts. Reading has always been about exploring perspectives outside your own lived experience.
If readers only engage with books where they can personally see themselves as the protagonist, entire genres and voices are excluded, including:
MM romance and LGBTQ+ romance novels
Books by authors of color
Stories centered on marginalized communities
International and translated literature
This approach limits empathy and reinforces narrow reading habits.
The Harmful Impact on MM Romance and LGBTQ+ Books
MM romance already faces barriers in publishing, marketing, and algorithmic visibility. When creators with large audiences publicly reject books for featuring queer relationships, it can directly impact:
Discoverability of LGBTQ+ books on BookTok
Sales for queer authors
Reader willingness to try diverse romance books
Representation in books is not about making every story relatable to every reader. It is about ensuring that readers from different identities can see themselves reflected somewhere in literature.
Why This Is Different From Personal Preference
One of the most common defenses in the Ericka BookTok controversy is that this was simply a matter of personal reading preference. Readers are absolutely allowed to like what they like. No one is obligated to finish or recommend every book they pick up.
However, what made this moment different was how the preference was explained publicly.
Personal preference sounds like:
“MM romance isn’t my favorite genre.”
“I didn’t connect with the writing or pacing.”
“This story just wasn’t for me.”
What caused backlash was framing the DNF around the identity of the characters, specifically saying she could not recommend the book because she “couldn’t see herself as one of the characters.”
That distinction matters.
The Connection to Books by Authors of Color
Many BookTok users pointed out that the same reasoning has historically been used to dismiss books by authors of color.
Statements like “I couldn’t relate” or “I couldn’t see myself” have often been applied to stories centered on Black, Indigenous, Asian, and Latino characters. When used publicly, this language reinforces the idea that certain identities are outside the perceived norm for readers.
This is why the Ericka BookTok controversy resonated beyond one creator or one book. The issue is not personal taste. It is how that taste is communicated.
BookTokers Speak Out on Representation and Reading Diversity
In response to the controversy, many BookTok creators shared videos discussing:
Why diverse reading matters
The importance of reading books outside your own identity
How MM romance and LGBTQ+ stories build empathy
The responsibility of influencers when recommending or critiquing books
This section is ideal for embedding reaction videos, stitches, and thoughtful responses from across BookTok.
The Role of BookTok Influencers in Shaping Reading Culture
BookTok creators are not required to finish or recommend every book they read. However, how creators frame their critiques matters.
Criticizing pacing, prose, plot, or character development is part of healthy book discussion. Rejecting a book because of the characters’ sexuality or identity reinforces exclusionary reading norms, even when unintentional.
With BookTok’s influence on publishing, these moments shape which stories are amplified and which are quietly sidelined.
Why This BookTok Drama Matters
The Ericka BookTok controversy is about more than one DNF or one recommendation. It highlights ongoing tensions around representation in reading, LGBTQ+ visibility in books, and how readers define relatability.
Reading is not meant to be limited to mirrors. It is meant to be expansive.
And BookTok, at its best, is a place where readers discover stories they might never have picked up otherwise.
What Can You Do? Supporting Authors and Inclusive Reading on BookTok
Moments like the Ericka BookTok controversy can feel frustrating, especially for readers who care deeply about representation in books and diverse reading. The good news is that readers still have real power. Here are meaningful ways to respond that actually support authors and improve reading culture.
Read and Recommend the Book Anyway
One of the most direct ways to counter harmful narratives is simple. Read the book and talk about it.
If you enjoyed it:
Post your own BookTok or review
Share why the characters and story worked for you
Recommend it without caveats or apologies
Algorithms respond to engagement. Positive reviews, ratings, and recommendations help balance out dismissive takes.
Support MM Romance and LGBTQ+ Authors Directly
Support does not have to be loud to be effective. Small actions add up:
Request LGBTQ+ books at your local library
Buy from indie bookstores when possible
Follow and engage with queer authors on social media
Preorder or borrow books to boost early metrics
Visibility matters, especially for MM romance and queer fiction that already face systemic barriers.
Talk About Why Diverse Reading Matters
If you are part of BookTok or bookish spaces, use your platform at any size to normalize reading outside your own identity.
You can:
Share books you loved that challenged your perspective
Talk openly about learning from stories unlike your own
Encourage curiosity instead of self insertion
Reading is a practice. Empathy grows with exposure.
Be Thoughtful With Critique Language
Not every reader will love every book, and that is okay. What matters is how critiques are framed.
When discussing books with marginalized perspectives:
Focus on craft rather than identity
Avoid language that positions certain stories as inherently unrelatable
Be aware of how words land beyond personal intent
Thoughtful language helps keep book spaces welcoming rather than restrictive.
Amplify Nuanced Conversations, Not Dogpiles
Holding space for criticism does not mean encouraging harassment. Supporting authors does not require attacking creators.
You can:
Share thoughtful response videos instead of outrage clips
Link to educational discussions about representation
Center the impact on readers and authors rather than personal blame
Sustainable change comes from dialogue, not dogpiles.
Keep Your Reading List Expansive
The most powerful long-term response is to keep reading broadly.
Try:
Picking up books from identities you do not share
Exploring genres outside your comfort zone
Letting curiosity guide your TBR instead of relatability
Every reader who expands their shelf helps shift what is considered “normal” in publishing.