Booktuber (book-too-behr) noun: a person who (like the rest of us) talks about books all the time. But in person and on YouTube for all the world to watch.
We are fortunate to live in this day of social media, if only because it makes it easier to find others who live and breathe books like we do. From book twitter to bookstagram to booktube, finding someone who has heard of (and adores) that under-appreciated series you love so much (looking at you Pendragon series by D. J. MacHale) is a few clicks away on your platform of choice.
Unfortunately, though, as in many other industries, it can be difficult to find people of color on booktube. The lack of visibility of these super talented youtubers (along with POC often being seen as niche) leads to smaller follower counts on their pages. This is why I want to highlight a few fantastic youtubers of color with under 20K subscribers (at the time of writing this post) who not only consistently give quality content but do so about a beloved topic: books!
This list is in no particular order.
- ReadWithCindy: @readwithcindy on Instagram and @readwithcindy on Twitter
With her biting humor, booktuber Cindy Pham will have you laughing loud enough to disturb the other people in the library…or on the train…or in line at your favorite coffee shop. Her channel offers reviews of mainly YA novels, wrap-ups, tags, and reactions to bookish drama…all sprinkled with delicious sarcasm. If nothing else, you must watch her video titled “Interviewing to Be a YA Protagonist,” which can be found below. You won’t regret it!
- ILivieForBooks: @livvie_simone on Instagram and @livvie_simone on Twitter
The owner of the channel, Olivia, goes by Livie (doesn’t that make her channel name all the more cute???). Her booktube features mainly reviews, hauls, booktubeathon vlogs, and discussions such as “Bookish Pet Peeves.” As an added bonus, Livie is a super talented artist and has posted multiple time-lapse videos of herself defacing her books (less horrifying than it sounds, I promise!). You can check out a video of her marring Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows below. She is also quite the movie lover, so you can find her videos about films too. Livie is such a ray of sunshine; just try watching her videos without smiling. No really, I dare you!
- Little Wolf Reads: @littlewolfreads on Instagram and @itsmyoreads on Twitter
Myonna’s booktube is full of reading vlogs, book tags, haul videos, wrap-ups, discussions, and bookshelf tours. Her unique personality and dry sense of humor always come through, beginning with the titles of her videos. She has a review video called “THE CRUEL PRINCE DESTROYED ME,” which you can watch below. Or you know, you can just skip it and regret it for the rest of your life…the choice is yours.
BONUS: her hair and makeup are always on point!
- OhSheReads: @Ochoule on Instagram and @Ochuole_Ode on Twitter
Ochoule is a Nigerian-American booktuber who not only talks about books, but writes them too! So you get the usual booktube stuff (reviews, wrap-ups, vlogs, discussions, etc.) plus insight into the mind of a writer. What more could you need??? She participated in 2018’s NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), so you can also watch her helpful NaNo-related videos, like the one below. Your future novel will thank you!
- Damian Terriquez: @DamianTerriquez on Instagram and @TerriquezDamian on Twitter
Last, but never least, is Damian, and there’s something incredibly charming about him that will make you want to be his friend. His channel is largely discussion videos about books/booktubes as well as vlogs. Check out the “Top Six Bookish Tropes” he loves below. And while you’re at it, be sure to view his fashion and dance videos too. We stan a multitalented person!
This list is by no means exhaustive in any way, shape, or form. It is only meant to be a gentle push toward expanding your YouTube subscriptions list. Another great thing about these booktubers is that they themselves often shine a light on other booktubers of color worth watching, so you’ll have absolutely no trouble wasting the rest of your day. Though let’s face it, a day spent on all things books is never a waste!
This post was originally published on GetLiterary.com.