I’ve made no secret of the fact that I enjoy watching YouTube videos occasionally, particularly of the BookTube variety. Not all BookTube videos are created equal, though. Some are just okay, and there are too many BookTubers who recommend the same books and say the same things as other BookTubers. Then there are the creators who stand out from the crowd.
If you’re new to BookTube or if you’ve never tried it, here are my favorite bookish YouTube channels.
Ben McEvoy–Hardcore Literature Book Club
This is by far my favorite BookTube channel. Ben is the founder of the Hardcore Literature Book Club, which can be found on Patreon and YouTube. He provides lectures about some of the greatest books ever written, focusing primarily on the classics, and he kindly adds the introductory lecture for each book to YouTube for free.
Through Ben’s YouTube channel, I’ve been introduced to books I hadn’t heard of (such as The Tale of Genji and The Master and Margarita) and I have a Master’s degree in English. With the Hardcore Literature Book Club, I’ve read East of Eden, The Tale of Genji, Infinite Jest, The Master and Margarita, Far From the Madding Crowd, One Hundred Years of Solitude (a reread for me), Madame Bovary, and probably a few others that I’m forgetting.
Ben’s introductory lectures for each book cover the background of the author, the history and social issues behind the book, and other fascinating tidbits. When Ben puts out a new lecture video, it takes me twice as long to watch since I pause it every few minutes to take notes.
I haven’t yet signed up for the Hardcore Literature Book Club on Patreon, but I’m making that a priority this summer after my teaching year has finished. I wanted to ensure I had the time to engage with Ben’s lectures. If you love classic literature and want intelligent, thoughtful discussions, look no further than Ben’s channel.
Cath is so creative. She’s a big journaler, as I am, and I love watching her create her spreads for her book journals. She gets as excited about books as I do. She introduced me to the work of Carlos Ruiz Zafon, and I loved both The Shadow of the Wind and Marina. Cath mainly reads fantasy and young adult-type books, so if that’s your vibe you may pick up some good recommendations. Her videos are faceless and silent, yet her content feels quite personal.
Cath has a 9 to 5 office job, so she has to juggle her reading and artistic endeavors around her working life. I’m always appreciative when creatives are honest about that. She shows that it’s possible to earn a full-time living while still pursuing your passions. Also: tea. A lot of tea.
When I want a relaxing bookish video, I’ll watch something from Cups and Thoughts.
Desi is a charming young woman whose content is primarily of the slow living variety. She talks about baking, crafts, and appreciating life, but she also loves books and she has many videos where she talks about her favorites. I appreciate that she shares books that not every other BookTube creator talks about. I had never thought about reading seasonally until I started watching Desi’s channel, but it’s something I’ve grown to appreciate. If you want book recommendation for each season, Desi has them for you.
I mentioned Christy in a previous post where I talked about my favorite creative YouTube channels. I love Christy’s bookish content as well. She introduced me to the novels Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell and Piranesi, two of my favorite reads in 2024, so she’ll always have my gratitude for that.
I’m not sure Ruby qualifies as a hidden gem since she has nearly a million followers, but I love this young woman’s content. Like Desi, she talks about slow living, baking, and appreciating life, but she loves to read and it shows. She likes the classics, as I do, and she also recommends books that not every other BookTuber is recommending. Also: tea. Even more tea than I drink, which is impressive.
All of the creators I’ve mentioned are on the younger side, and I’m old enough to be their mother. A friend of mine says that when you think you’re the smartest person in the room, get another room–meaning that no one knows everything and we should always learn from those around us.
I’ve learned so much from these well-read BookTubers. The English teacher in me is thankful to see that there are young people in the world who understand the value of books and reading.
I worry that we’re losing an appreciation for literature and knowledge in general. Great literature teaches empathy as well as critical thinking skills. If we lose these skills our society will suffer greatly for it, if we haven’t started to already. When I watch content from young adults like Ben and Ruby, and when I see how much value they find in reading and deep thinking, I feel like maybe we still have a chance.
That’s no small thing these days.
