'I started a TikTok account and it saved my life - people went mad for it'

Tyrone Reid is not ashamed to admit that A Court of Thorn and Roses, the smash hit “romantasy” novel by Sarah J Maas saved his life. A mixture of fantasy and romance - heavy on sexy fairies and magic- ACOTAR, as it’s known by devotees, isn’t seen as typical “male” reading.

But six months ago, Tyrone, 34, had a breakdown in which he feared he would take his own life. On his therapist’s suggestion, the former car salesman, from Chesterfield, Derbyshire, rediscovered his childhood love of reading and began his social media account, @bookishdadreads on TikTok and .

“My book account started when I was having suicidal thoughts,” he says. “I needed something - my wife Ellie was working and I was home alone. So I just posted about what I was reading - mostly thrillers and police procedurals. But as soon as I posted about ACOTAR this spring, people went mad for it and my account started snowballing.”

Tyrone isn’t your typical #BookTok influencer - a side of TikTok dominated by American women swooning over their favourite literary hunks. And yet his authenticity, honesty and sense of humour - not to mention his frank reviews of the books he reads - have garnered nearly 90,000 followers, including popular authors such as Callie Hart, whose romantic fantasy novel Quicksilver was crowned the book of the summer by social media.

But his deeper mission, to use books and his account to help people like him, who are struggling with their mental health, is at the true core of what he does. “I’ve always suffered with my mental health but being a typical man, I didn’t speak to anyone about it,” Tyrone says.

“I kept it inside until one day at work last November my manager pulled me in and said, ‘something’s up’. I started speaking openly to him and I crumbled. I had a mental breakdown. I was then diagnosed with depression, and four months ago I found out that I’m autistic. I’m still waiting on an ADHD diagnosis.”

He is only now discovering the toll of his undiagnosed neurodivergence. “I was constantly masking at home, trying to stay strong for the family, and masking at work,” he says.

“Probably because of my autism, I’m all or nothing. If I have a hobby, I obsess over it, and I got into cycling. But I’d go out five times a week for 100-mile rides. I was also obsessing over my weight - I went from 22 stone to 14 stone in a year and a half.

“My therapist said I had to find a healthy outlet and I always read as a child - I loved Goosebumps House of Shivers and . But then I had my first daughter at 19, and my life went on hold a bit.”

Today he reads for up to three hours a day, guided by his followers’ recommendations, wearing ear defenders to reduce distractions, such as the noise of family life (the couple have two daughters aged 14 and 10 from previous relationships, and a four-year-old son together).

“Ellie is unbelievable, because of my hyperfixation with anything - before reading it was or my cycling when I was out of the house. She’s happy now that I’ve got a hobby where I’m present.”

When he’s not reading he’s posting on his platforms and messaging followers. “I never miss an inbox - I always reply,” he says. “I don’t think people can fully understand how that account is an escape for me. Knowing that I’m helping people is the serotonin boost I need.”

Although women make up the lion’s share of his followers, Tyrone’s following includes plenty of men too. “But they tend to be more silent followers, they’ll inbox me,” he says. “They’re ashamed to say they’ll read these books and say that their wives and partners have convinced them to read ACOTAR.”

And, for now, that’s where the male element in Tyrone’s life ends. “I don’t have friends to socialise with, I’ve never typically done ‘man’ things like the pub or football and I just drifted apart from friends. I started a family young, I never socialised with anybody,” he says.

“With my autism, if I’m interested I’ll give you my full attention but if I’m not interested, I won’t really engage. And trying to find men with similar interests is near impossible. Between the two accounts I’ve got 90k followers and I’m still trying to find a man local to me who can meet up and have a coffee.”

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He is unconcerned however. More important is the next step of his mission. “My long-term plan is a books mental health brand. I’ve got the branding, the logo - I know what I want to do. That will help me keep accountable long term. I never thought that I could do something that changes lives, and now I’m in a position that I can.”

For more information visit @bookishdadreads on Instagram and TikTok