BookTok Drama Explained: The Ericka Controversy, MM Romance, and Why “I Couldn’t See Myself” Is Harmful
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. @lausbookrambles #stitch with @📚Ericka📚 Look, I’m the first person to respect everyone’s tastes, I actually don’t mind when people give their honest opinion about a book, even if it’s negative, obviously as long as they don’t tag the author in any way, but the fact that she felt that part of her review of the book that she did not finish was negative because she couldn’t feel like the FMC in an MM romance is just insane to me.