It took just one TikTok post for Luke Bateman to make a major splash on BookTok.
BookTok — the viral hashtag where readers share their favorite reads — exploded in popularity during the pandemic. By October last year, it had racked up over 309 billion views across 38 million posts.
Within days of launching his own account to talk about the fantasy novels he loves, Luke had already attracted over 136,000 followers. That number has since climbed to 178,000 — and continues to grow.
Just a month later, the former NRL player landed a two-book deal with Atria, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Australia. The announcement sparked controversy — many questioned how someone with seemingly no writing experience had secured such a deal. Rumors swirled that he hadn’t even completed a manuscript. Or so people thought.
Who is Luke Bateman?
Bateman, a 30-year-old tree logger from Toowoomba, Queensland, began his professional rugby league journey in 2013 when, at just 18, he was signed to the Canberra Raiders’ under-20s team. He played with the squad for three seasons before advancing to the NRL.
Unfortunately, a serious knee injury cut his career short, leading to his retirement in 2019.
He resurfaced in the public eye in December 2023 as one of the three suitors on the final season of The Bachelor on Network Ten. Though he left the show in a relationship with contestant Ellie Rolfe, the couple parted ways a few months later.
On April 22, Bateman made his TikTok debut, introducing himself as a book enthusiast eager to talk about his favorite genre: fantasy—especially romantasy. “I love fantasy,” he shared with his followers, “but I’ve never really had a place to talk about it or share those interests, especially being a guy from the country.”
What’s behind his growing BookTok following on TikTok?
A quick glance at the comments on his posts makes it clear that Bateman’s audience is largely female. In fact, in his very first video, he remarked, “There’s a lot of females here, and you all love smut and spice…I think I may have to have a little delve into it myself and see what all the fuss is about.”
His followers loved it—and he leaned into the vibe. What started as a simple “Hello BookTok” soon evolved into his signature greeting: “Hello besties.”
Bateman’s videos are almost always shot from the cab of his truck or out in the fields, with the dirt and sweat of a long day’s work still visible—and his well-worn Akubra perched on his head. But beneath the rugged exterior, he’s not afraid to show vulnerability, even tearing up in a post announcing his new book deal.
He’s also embraced popular romantasy titles like A Court of Thorns and Roses, earning him a reputation as somewhat of a unicorn in the BookTok community — a rugged young man with a genuine passion for genres typically loved by young women.
