We all have those late-night scroll sessions. Just five more minutes on TikTok, right? For Val, one of those casual scrolls turned into something way bigger.

What started as love for the ACOTAR series and a curiosity about BookTok trends became a full-on creative side hustle… and then a thriving small business.

Let’s just say, the algorithm really knew what it was doing.

How ACOTAR (and BookTok) Started It All

Val’s bookish journey kicked off the way so many do: falling deep into the world of A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR). Like many readers, she found herself swept up in the story.

Then, just as quickly, swept into a whirlwind of TikTok videos, memes, and aesthetic content centered around the series.

Then she stumbled upon something a little different: book binding.

Not just crafting bookmarks or painting book edges—literally ripping off book covers and rebinding them into beautiful new creations.

Intrigued and inspired, Val decided to give it a shot herself. One year later, she’s turning heads with her custom designs and racking up views and orders along the way.

From First Rebind to Viral Video

Her first rebind? Naturally, it had to be ACOTAR. Then, It Ends With Us. This is the one that went viral.

She recorded the process, shared it online, and the internet noticed.

Comments started flooding in: “Can you do this to my books?” Even indie authors began reaching out for special editions and giveaway collabs.

Before long, Val launched an Etsy shop and eventually, a website, to keep up with demand.

These days, if you want your favorite fantasy book turned into a swoon-worthy display piece, Val’s your girl.

Balancing a 9-to-5 with a Book Binding Side Hustle

Here’s the wild part: For her first year and a few months, Val worked a full-time job as a behavioral technician. So, how did she make it all work?

After clocking out around 4:30 p.m., she took her dog out, grabbed some dinner, and dove into bookbinding until bedtime. Most nights, she worked until 10 p.m., taking only a few short breaks. It was a lot, but so worth it.

TikTok remains her biggest platform, and her videos (some with millions of views!) are where most customers discover her.

But she’s also growing her presence on Instagram, dabbling in YouTube Shorts, and exploring Pinterest as another way to connect with the bookish community.

What Makes Her Work Stand Out?

There are other bookbinders out there, but Val’s approach is refreshingly personal. She puts herself on camera, showing her face, the process, and even the behind-the-scenes chaos (like accidentally almost gluing a book on backwards… whoops).

Plus, her designs are totally custom. If she’s read the book, she’ll tie in subtle nods that only true fans will catch. If she hasn’t, she dives into the vibe—gothic borders, fantasy fonts, moody color palettes—until the new cover feels just right.

Building a Bookish Business (and Avoiding Burnout)

Turning a hobby into a business isn’t always sunshine and glitter.

Val admits she recently hit her first real wave of burnout. It’s tough, especially when you want to keep the spark alive but don’t have the time to experiment with new designs.

Her solution? Keep it fun where she can, whether that’s FaceTiming with fellow bookbinders, listening to podcasts, or queuing up audiobooks while she works.

As for her advice to others?

• Stay consistent.
• Don’t compare your growth to someone else’s.
• And don’t overpost—especially on TikTok and Instagram, where the algorithm can get finicky.

Favorite Reads and Bookish Recommendations

Fantasy is Val’s sweet spot. She’s currently reading Phantasma and still raving about The Cruel Prince. And if you haven’t read Fourth Wing yet? She’s got five special editions sitting on her shelf, and she’s not sorry about it.

(Spoiler: she strongly suggests reading Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, and Onyx Storm back-to-back to avoid confusion… and because the cliffhangers are that brutal.)