Book Talk, etc. — "A Celebration of BookTube and the Creators We Love"

Host(s): Tina (@tbretc) & Hannah (@hanpickedbooks)
Date: October 7, 2025

Episode Overview

In this lively, conversational episode, Tina and Hannah celebrate the vibrant world of BookTube, sharing their experiences both as creators and avid consumers. They offer a collection of book recommendations inspired by BookTube creators, discuss their favorite channels, and reflect on how BookTube’s unique culture influences reading habits and content creation. The episode combines deeper reviews—both glowing and critical—of books discovered through BookTube, tips on navigating niche content as a creator, and a nostalgic look at the community’s evolution.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Atmosphere of the Episode & BookTube’s Influence

• Tina and Hannah set out to highlight how BookTube inspires diverse reading and has shaped their own “to be read” (TBR) stacks. Both hosts admit to feeling overwhelmed trying to pick the perfect BookTube-inspired recommendations, ultimately landing on books that genuinely resonated with them.
• Humor and relatability shine through as Tina confesses:

  “I had to finally just force myself to sit down... In this half hour, you’re picking your next book.” (03:01, Tina)

2. Loving Lately: Personal Shout-outs

Tina: Studio Ghibli Movies

[04:54–08:12]

• Tina shares her new love for Studio Ghibli films as cozy, comforting family entertainment, noting their appeal across all ages.
  • Highlights classics like “Kiki’s Delivery Service,” “My Neighbor Totoro,” and “Spirited Away.”
  • Discusses accessibility (on HBO Max) and the movies’ gentle but engaging storytelling.
  • On why she loves them:

    “They are animated and they are cozy. Cozy. Cozy. Cozy is the best way I could describe it... They’re comforting, beautifully illustrated... interesting storylines, but it’s not cheesy.” (05:01, Tina)

• Hannah chimes in with her family’s favorites: “Ponyo” and “Howl’s Moving Castle,” also flagging “Princess Mononoke” as “not kid friendly” due to its mature themes (08:12).

Hannah: BookTube Creator — Erin Reads Everything

[08:50–11:49]

• Hannah spotlights Erin Reads Everything, a BookTube and TikTok creator who reads widely across genres and delivers concise, insightful recommendations.
  • Praises her “evergreen” backlog, perfect short video lengths, and genre-spanning interests.
  • Tina immediately recognizes and relates, admiring Erin's brevity:

    “She’s so good at delivering her recommendations. Like she’s really concise about it... something that I admire in people because, you know, I’m a yapper...” (11:09, Tina)

3. Community Read Review: Catabasis by R.F. Kuang

[12:34–24:57]

• Tina recaps the high-profile buzz and setup (“academic magicians, trip to hell”) and candidly expresses initial intimidation.
  • Tina: “I ate this book up... It’s a little chunky... I couldn’t read it fast enough, which shocked me.” (14:38)
• Hannah rates it 3.5, notes pacing and a less optimal audio experience due to missed visuals (like diagrams), but values the insightful community discussion.
• Both highlight the book’s humor (academic satire), feminist themes, and unique structure.

  “I obviously loved this book... some of it was funny, tongue in cheek... funny remarks on academia, but some of it was very serious remarks on being a woman...” (15:43, Tina)

• Conversation covers:
  • Importance of the print edition for visuals and structure.
  • Chronic illness/invisible disability representation.
  • Kuang’s literary “big brain” and how the book immerses you in its world.

Notable Quote:

“She just is such a smarty pants. I think you all really like that.” (24:27, Hannah)

4. Inside BookTube: Creation & Consumption

[25:34–35:31]

• Tina details her journey from podcasting and Instagram to BookTube:

  “Thank goodness I started with Renee, this podcast years ago, because I found during doing that, I like talking about books, like, verbally talking about them much more than I like writing about them...” (26:00, Tina)

• They discuss platform-specific “silos,” with YouTube favoring creators who stick to one genre (especially thrillers), echoing similar experiences on TikTok.
  • Tina: “YouTube wants you to read one type of book... my reviews of mystery and thrillers, that is what people want from me.” (27:39)
• Both hosts reflect on how platforms reward narrowly focused content and how this affects content creation—and their reading lives.

  “I see a lot of people that have their niche and that’s what they talk about and I, I could see why they do it because you get rewarded from that.” (28:54, Tina)

5. BookTube Then & Now: Favorite Creators and Community Growth

[32:47–36:17]

• Tina has only recently started watching BookTube, regularly following BooksandLala (Kayla), WhatMichaelaReads, and The Pastel Bookshelf, but compiles a community-sourced list of 70+ creators for further discovery.
• Hannah has a decade-long viewer’s perspective, reminiscing about starting in 2015 when BookTube was much smaller. Early favorites include BooksandLala, Peruse Project, Savage Reads, Jen Campbell, and others, many of whom still create today:

  “This year she [BooksandLala] is doing a series like her 10 years of BookTube and she’s going back to the first videos she’s made and creating videos now from that, which is really cool.” (34:05, Hannah)

• BookTube is compared to other online book platforms, with a special appreciation for its longevity, community, and the ability to form lasting reader/viewer connections.

BookTube-Inspired Book Recommendations

Each host brings two books discovered via BookTube recommendation—and explains which creator inspired their pick.

Tina’s Picks

1. You Should Have Left by Daniel Kehlmann (Recommended by The Book Castle)

[36:20–40:05]

• A short, psychological horror novella about a screenwriter, his troubled household, and an isolated German mountain home that “defies the laws of physics.”
• Praised for its “creeping dread” and meta-structure (told as the narrator’s journal).
• Standout moments: The blurred lines between supernatural and psychological disturbance, darkly funny parenting scenes, and completed-feeling arc despite brevity.

2. Mary by Nat Cassidy (Recommended by Wicked Reading)

[45:09–51:10]

• Explores the isolation of a middle-aged woman (Mary) facing perimenopause, a toxic aunt, and mysterious happenings in a small Arizona town.
• Tina’s take:

  “I dnf’d this the first time—I had a hard time with Aunt Nadine, she’s so mean to Mary...” (46:01)
  “It’s a wild story that I think only Nat Cassidy can tell.”

• Ultimately a “lukewarm” recommendation (“3.5 stars”), but Tina praises the outstanding audio narration and Nat Cassidy’s always-insightful author notes. The novel offers echoes of “Carrie,” both in spirit and origin story.

Hannah’s Picks

1. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater (Inspired by BooksandLala)

[40:10–44:14]

• YA fantasy featuring Blue Sargent, a clairvoyant’s daughter, and four “Raven Boys” entwined in mystery, fate, and magic.
• Praised for weird, lovable characters and enduring emotional resonance. Hannah calls it “the series at the time” for 2015-era BookTube and sums up its vibe:

  “I have heard this book pitched as a series for weirdos and I could not agree more.” (41:15)

• Notable for its slow-burn romance, vivid friendships, and singular atmosphere.

2. Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad (Recommended by Plant Based Bride)

[51:38–55:13]

• Literary/historical fiction about Sonia, who returns to Palestine after a failed marriage and joins a bold production of Hamlet in the West Bank.
• Hannah was enthralled by the novel’s beautiful prose, atmospheric depiction of contemporary Palestine, and sensitive exploration of family, identity, and the arts.

  “She’s really a conduit to being able to immerse yourself in contemporary Palestine because she is someone who, while Palestinian, has never lived there full time. And so she herself is feeling like this imposter...” (52:46)

• Particularly recommended for lovers of literary fiction with immersive sense of place and theater themes.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:46 — Patreon/Community Updates
• 04:54 — Tina’s “Loving Lately”: Studio Ghibli
• 08:50 — Hannah’s “Loving Lately”: Erin Reads Everything
• 12:34 — Deep Dive: Catabasis by R.F. Kuang (Community Read Discussion)
• 25:34 — BookTube: Creator/Consumer Experience
• 36:20 — BookTube Recommendations Begin
  • 36:20 — Tina: You Should Have Left
  • 40:10 — Hannah: The Raven Boys
  • 45:09 — Tina: Mary
  • 51:38 — Hannah: Enter Ghost
• 55:37 — Shelf Additions (Forthcoming & Anticipated Books)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I had to finally just force myself to sit down... In this half hour, you’re picking your next book.”
  — Tina (03:01)

• “They are animated and they are cozy. Cozy. Cozy. Cozy is the best way I could describe it.”
  — Tina on Studio Ghibli (05:01)

• “She’s so good at delivering her recommendations. Like she’s really concise about it... something that I admire in people because, you know, I’m a yapper...”
  — Tina on Erin Reads Everything (11:09)

• “I ate this book up... I couldn’t read it fast enough, which shocked me...”
  — Tina on Catabasis (14:38)

• “YouTube wants you to read one type of book... my reviews of mystery and thrillers, that is what people want from me.”
  — Tina on content silos (27:39)

• “This was the book series at the time... But I personally think it is worth the hype...”
  — Hannah on The Raven Boys (41:14)

• “She’s really a conduit to being able to immerse yourself in contemporary Palestine, because she is someone who, while Palestinian, has never lived there full time... she herself is feeling like this imposter...”
  — Hannah on Enter Ghost (52:46)

Closing Thoughts

Tina and Hannah encapsulate the joys and quirks of the BookTube community—its niches, warmth, and capacity to grow even seasoned readers’ TBRs. They encourage listeners to explore the wide range of BookTube creators (check the show notes for their curated list), reflect on the importance of trying “weirder” or off-the-beaten-path reads, and share in the communal, infectious love of books that BookTube channels—and podcasts—keep alive.

For More:
Links to all mentioned books and BookTube creators can be found in the episode’s show notes. Follow @tbretc and @hanpickedbooks on Instagram for future recommendations and reading community updates.

Everything’s better with books!