Bookstagram Abbreviations You Need To Know

If you’re new to the Bookstagram world, you’re probably going to run into a lot of mysterious abbreviations. Well, I’m here to break those down for you so the Bookstagram world is a little less intimidating.

This is such a friendly community, like, for reals. I was welcomed like 15 times when I started my Instagram for this. But on all these posts and any book-related Facebook groups, you’re going to run into a lot of these, so here are some really common Bookstagram abbreviations broken down for you.

Bookstagram Abbreviations

TBR – To be read

DNF – Did not finish

CR – Currently reading

CL – Currently listening

GR – Goodreads

MC – Main Character

POV – Point of view

ARC – Advanced Readers Copy (books sent out by publishers/authors to get reviews before it is published)

HP – Harry Potter

SJM – Sarah J Maas (an author)

TOG – Throne of Glass (an SJM series)

ACOTAR (ACOMAF & ACOWAR) – A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Mist and Fury & A Court Of Wings and Ruins) another SJM series

BAM – Books-A-Million (store)

B&N – Barnes & Noble (store)

KU – Kindle Unlimited

YA – Young adult genre

NA – New adult genre

Bookstagram Terms

Bookstagram – The book community on Instagram

Booktube – The book community on YouTube

Book Twitter – The book community on Twitter

Shelfie – A selfie, but your bookshelf. Example: Let me see your shelfies for inspiration!

Book hangover – When you’re so upset/sad/distressed after finishing a great book. Example: I have such a book hangover from Shantaram, I don’t even know what to do with myself!

Buddy read/Read along – When two or more people read a book at the same time so they can talk about it as they go. Example: I’m doing a buddy read with my sister, want to join us? (I don’t actually have a sister)

Ship(ping) – When you’re a fan of two people being in a realtionship. Example: I ship Hermione and Draco.

Hopefully this helps you navigate the Bookstagram world a little easier. Let me know if there’s anything I should add. Join me over on my Bookstagram to keep up to date with what I’m reading and just get to know each other!