Like some celebrity memoirs, books by YouTubers come with a certain…image. But oh, you who are so quick to judge! Okay, sure, there are the cheap cash-ins filling up the Xmas shelves (and the landfill shortly after, naming no names), but there are also some real gems hiding in plain sight.
So here we’ll autoplay five of the best YouTuber books recommended for you.
Noumena Series (2020 – Present) – Lindsay Ellis
View on Amazon.comI’ll say it right off the bat, but Lindsay Ellis (along with Jenny Nicholson and Red Letter Media) is one of the best YouTube film and media critics out there. And I’ll sign my name to that statement.
Providing analysis and commentary on media, Lindsay Ellis has been a mainstay of the YouTube video-essay since 2014. Initially making her name (standing out) on Channel Awesome, she’s always had a hand in reviewing genre fiction, breaking down the tropes and ideas. It stands to reason then, that her own debut ‘franchise’ is sci-fi.
The series itself begins with Axiom’s End, telling the story of Cora Sabino making contact with an extraterrestrial calling itself Ampersand. There are government abductions and secret bases, as she gets to the bottom of a conspiracy, all while trying to protect her newfound alien friend.
So far, so ET.
But with whistleblowers reminiscent of Snowden, Bush era politics, alien superorganisms, and the limitations of communication and human understanding, there are many larger ideas here. It’s an imaginative debut more interested in asking the deeper questions. Not only that, but it’s entertaining to boot!
The Fault in Our Stars (2012) – John Green
View on Amazon.comSure, this one may be playing a little fast and loose with the brief here. The Green brothers were already fairly well established authors when they started their channel back in 2006. But, considering how much of an institution Vlogbrothers has become since, it would be almost criminal not to include one of theirs.
Now a Young Adult classic, this coming-of-age dramedy romance provided a whole generation of readers something to cry over. Focusing on the growing relationship between teenage cancer patients Hazel and Augustus, it’s very much a tragedy, but it does have its moments of levity. The book is far from being a maudlin slog, as you become fully invested in the characters’ (short-lived) growth. While it’s bittersweet (and all the usual cliches you might expect), it does earn its keep with something profound to say.
And it’s easy to see how John and his brother Hank became such prominent figures in the online literary community. While their YouTube blog provided a little of everything, they continue to be a source of inspiration for aspiring writers far and wide.
Buffering: Unshared Tales of a Life Fully Loaded (2016) – Hannah Hart
View on Amazon.comFamous for her online cooking show ‘My Drunk Kitchen,’ Hannah Hart was an early YouTuber, starting her chaotic web-series back in 2011. The format was simple: cook a recipe pissed up cracking jokes. And it worked.
So it stands to reason she’d bring out recipe books, encouraging viewers to get loaded and do try this at home. Buffering is a little different though, taking fans behind the scenes, providing some truly heartfelt stories from Hart’s past. There are funny one-liners, but readers should be prepared for some serious, candid deep-dives into her past and her experiences growing up.
Broken up into essays, it’s accessible not just for fans, but for anyone wanting life-affirming stories.
The Book of Mythicality: A Field Guide to Curiosity, Creativity, and Tomfoolery (2017) – Rhett and Link
View on Amazon.comThere from pretty much the beginning, Rhett & Link are a double act who helped define early YouTube. Setting the stage with their daily ‘Good Mythical Morning’ web series, they created their own unique brand of ‘intertainment’ (their word, not mine), dealing with a different topic each episode.
And it’s this set-up that informed their first book together.
Combining all the winning elements of their show, the book offers a hodgepodge of information: trivia, advice, memoir. It’s all there. So ideal for shoving in the toilet (wait, no, I mean…oh you know what I mean). It’s a great casual read. That’s what I’m saying.
Reflecting their comedy tone, it’s light-hearted and does precisely what it says on the tin. Not to mention long-term fans will enjoy the insights into their lives behind their internet personas.
Girl Online Series (2014 – 2016) – Zoe Sugg
View on Amazon.comPossibly a somewhat controversial choice, this peek into the life of 15-year-old Penny Porter would draw from the reality of Sugg’s own life. The question was, how much of it did she actually write herself? With Siobhan Curham credited as the co/ghost-writer, it’s a classic case of name recognition.
Not that that’s a bad thing mind.
In it Penny deals with the trials and tribulations of growing up in Brighton, complete with school, boys, and drama. So far so typical. But, unbeknownst to her family and friends, she’s also the anonymous blogger ‘GirlOnline,’ documenting her life online. With her audience increasing, the series reframes typical teenage drama through the lens of rising fame online. It’s an interesting snapshot of a brief moment in history: being young online in the early tens (Bo Burnham’s film ‘Eighth Grade’ also covers similar ground well).
While it’s a well-written Young Adult coming-of-age series, it also benefits from Sugg’s experiences living in the YouTube spotlight. Offering much needed advice about being online and what it means for young people growing up in such a space, ‘Zoella’ clearly knows what she’s talking about here (regardless of any assistance along the way).
Is there anything we’ve failed to tune in to? Let us know below.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A lifelong lover of quality storytelling, Sam grew up in rural England with little else but reading (okay, and some gaming). Starting with Charlotte's Web, he developed a passion for ghost stories and comedy. With his background in narrative and scriptwriting, he writes for Book Notification, providing recommendations both good and not so terrible.