Books and reading may feel like a dying hobby, but there are still millions of people opening a hard-cover every day. One element that has been part of reading since forever is community building. American book influencers are the new pillars of such communities.
People love to discuss the media they’re consuming, and books are no different. Using an American book influencer can help you connect with a massive potential audience and get your name out there. A great way to find these creators is through an influencer marketplace; another option is to use listicles such as the one below. So let’s get into it.
American Book Influencers on TikTok
If you’ve been in the industry for a while, you’ve probably heard of the term “BookTok”. This made-up word refers to the side of TikTok that’s focused on introducing and discussing books.
Using TikTok influencers is also a great way to increase brand visibility. There are plenty of creators on BookTok. Here’s a list of the top five American book influencers on the platform.
1. Abby (@abbysbooks)
Young adult novels have always been popular. One of the largest groups of readers is 12 to 18-year-olds, and YA novels are geared towards this exact demographic. Abby’s content is focused on delivering the newest gems in the genre.
Her content includes skits, relatable reader moments, TikTok Q&As, and most importantly, book introductions. Since her content is mostly directed at a younger audience, she also tries to turn complex themes into digestible concepts.
Influencer stats:
- Followers: 466k
- Average Likes: 568
- Average Views: 7.3k
- Engagement Rate: 9.28%
- Audience: 16-30 Year olds
- Niche: YA Novels, Unknown books
2. Jenna Justreads (@jennajustreads)
An all-inclusive BookTok creator, Jenna does not discriminate. From romance and young adult novels to thrillers and horror, Jenna quite literally just reads! This creator has carved a niche for herself by comparing books vs TV adaptations, busting the common myth of all adaptations being bad.
Jenna’s content is appealing to classic lovers on both the TV and book side. This American book influencer is a staple in the community, mostly due to her genre inclusion and creativity in content.
Influencer stats:
- Followers: 336.4K
- Average Likes: 2.3k
- Average Views: 23.2k
- Engagement Rate: 7.71%
- Audience: 18-45 Year olds
- Niche: Book Vs TV adaptations
3. Kendall Ferrari (@kendallsreads)
A problem BookTok faces is spoilers. Everyone loves to talk about what they’ve already read, but no one enjoys spoilers. That’s why Kendall ensures that all her content is spoiler-free.
While spoilers are universally disliked, they’re even more important with this creator, mainly due to her genre of choice. Kendall’s TikTok page is built around horror and thriller books, making it crucial to avoid spoilers.
Influencer stats:
- Followers: 146.8k
- Average Likes: 484
- Average Views: 8.6k
- Engagement Rate: 6.75%
- Audience: 25-40 Year olds
- Niche: Horror and thriller content
4. William (@williampdozier)
If horror, thriller, romance, and everyday pop culture moments don’t grab your interest, then William may be the influencer for you. As opposed to exploring new names on the market, this creator picks up classics and reintroduces them to his audience.
Authors such as Toni Morrison and Cormac McCarthy are frequent topics on William’s page. While this creator may not be the greatest pick for beginners, the academically inclined are guaranteed to enjoy his content.
Influencer stats:
- Followers: 125.4k
- Average Likes: 531
- Average Views: 14.3k
- Engagement Rate: 6.13%
- Audience: 30-50 Year olds
- Niche: Literary fiction and classics
5. Lauryn Hickman (@laurynslibrary)
If even the classics are too fanciful for your taste, then the only option left is nonfiction and historical fiction. This is where Lauryn comes in. This creator is focused on exploring less-heard historical events and giving a platform to marginalized voices.
In addition to books, her content is heavily integrated with anthropology. Examples of her collaborations include a project with the Smithsonian cultural institution and her local history museum. Unfortunately, her follower count and other stats are hidden and unavailable.
Influencer stats:
- Followers: –
- Average Likes: –
- Average Views: –
- Engagement Rate: –
- Audience: 25-45 Year olds
- Niche: Nonfiction and historical fiction
American Book Influencers on Instagram
While TikTok was the birthplace of book influencers, they’re certainly not confined to the platform. Instagram has its own list of American book influencers that typically reach a smaller, but more varied audience.
1. Jordy (@jordys.book.club)
Looking for new ideas for your book club? Jordy’s got the list for you. This creator is all about the latest hit romance on the market. A book that you can gossip with friends about is Jordy’s exact specialty.
Emily Henry and Colleen Hoover are repeated names on Jordy’s channel. In short, this American book influencer covers the book equivalent of Marvel movies: low commitment and high drama.
Influencer stats:
- Followers: 300.9k
- Average Likes: 899
- Average Views: 108.1k
- Engagement Rate: 0.29%
- Audience: 25-45 Year olds
- Niche: Romantic escapism and dramatic literature
2. Katrina Botell (@rusticpages)
Spooky, dramatic, romantic, and aesthetically pleasing, Katrina doesn’t just sell books. She sells a “vibe”. In addition to book recommendations, Botell helps her audience create a beautiful atmosphere to read and live in.
This influencer is focused on horror and spooky books, with a side of romance. Indie horror authors such as T. Kingfisher and Silvia Moreno-Garcia are common names on Katrina’s page, making her a balanced mix between mainstream pop culture and indie gems.
Influencer stats:
- Followers: 131.6k
- Average Likes: 1.8k
- Average Views: 7.6k
- Engagement Rate: 0.43%
- Audience: 18-35 Year olds
- Niche: Indie horror
3. Sara Hildreth (@fictionmatters)
With a more academic outlook towards reading, Sara delivers critical essays and new perspectives on classical works of fiction. Something that sets her apart from her peers is her contemporary analysis of non-contemporary work.
Sara’s social media presence isn’t confined to her Instagram page. This American book influencer also co-hosts a podcast about reading and a dating series focused on matching people based on books.
Influencer stats:
- Followers: 111.4k
- Average Likes: 818
- Average Views: 15.9k
- Engagement Rate: 0.70%
- Audience: 30-50 Year olds
- Niche: Classics, feminist themes, and narrative structure
4. Katelyn Cole (@bookcasebeauty)
A creator for the Christian woman, Katelyn is everything your pastor wants you to follow. This Christian book influencer is focused on delivering romance and drama, but in a “clean” way. So unlike most well-known romance books, you can’t find any smut or other adult themes in Katelyn’s recommendations.
She has a 5-star rating system to weed out anything she doesn’t view as morally good. Her moral judgment system matches the Bible’s narrative. If you’re looking for books you can introduce to your church’s book club, this is the American book influencer for you.
Influencer stats:
- Followers: 107.2k
- Average Likes: 527
- Average Views: 20.5k
- Engagement Rate: 0.58%
- Audience: 25-35 Year olds
- Niche: Christian romance
5. Gabby (@_myfictionalworld)
Being young and reading about magical realms and dragons, traveling with elves, and swimming with mermaids is where reading starts for most people. Gabby’s book recommendations deliver on magical YA novels, written to make you fall in love with reading.
Something that makes Gabby special is her series called “Bookish Playlists”. If you enjoy reading and listening to music simultaneously, then her Spotify playlists are curated just for you. This innovative idea makes her a popular creator among Gen Z.
Influencer stats:
- Followers: 80k
- Average Likes: 1.2k
- Average Views: 13.8k
- Engagement Rate: 1.52%
- Audience: 13-25 Year olds
- Niche: YA novels and fantasy
American Book Influencers on YouTube
Although YouTube is past its prime days, there are still millions of people visiting the platform every day. With book readers having a longer attention span, long-form content remains popular in the community. That’s why American book influencers thrive on YouTube. Let’s take a look at the top five creators in the category.
1. Cindy Pham (@withcindy)
Ever had those moments where it feels like someone’s top pick is just another over-hyped YA novel? Feeling like you’re just over those carefully curated to appeal to the biggest group possible? So does Cindy!
This macro influencer’s YouTube channel is a tribute to critical thinking and real criticism of overrated media. Her authenticity lends itself to her crowdsourced literary analysis as well. In her book club, all ratings are decided by the winning vote, rather than her opinion alone.
Influencer stats:
- Subscribers: 574k
- Average Likes: 6.5k
- Average Comments: 502
- Engagement Rate: 6.58%
- Audience: 16-28 Year olds
- Niche: Literary criticism
2. Regan (@PeruseProject)
You may have been thinking sci-fi is missing from this list, but we’re not going to leave any rocks unturned. Regan is focused on fantasy and sci-fi novels, bringing them to life through read-along vlogs.
In addition to creating a friendly reading experience, this American book influencer uses her platform to teach subscribers about fantasy and sci-fi world-building. Her teaching includes common themes and symbolism, as well as more specific elements.
Influencer stats:
- Subscribers: 385.4k
- Average Likes: 1.5k
- Average Comments: 61.5
- Engagement Rate: 5.62%
- Audience: 20-40 Year olds
- Niche: Fantasy and sci-fi
3. Jesse (@JesseOnYoutube)
Queer literature has always been a popular category. Jesse creates a loving and accepting environment for her thousands of queer people. Every element of this channel represents her ideologies, from the rainbow book arrangement to the literary choices.
Her LGBTQ+ support goes beyond just books. This is shown in her partnerships with the likes of the Trevor Project and Lambda Literary. A perfect mix of literature and social justice is showcased on Jesse’s channel.
Influencer stats:
- Followers: 38.8k
- Average Likes: N/A
- Average Comments: N/A
- Engagement Rate: N/A
- Audience: 16-30 Year olds
- Niche: Queer literature
4. Merphy Napier (@Merphynapier42)
Epics and fantasy often go hand in hand, and if you just squint your eyes, they make manga! If your books sit heavy in your bag with 600+ pages, then Merphy is the choice for you. This creator does analysis of books and manga, and she does it with utmost patience.
Her chapter-by-chapter, or frame-by-frame, analysis of mangas such as The Stormlight Archive makes use of psychological theory and narrative structure analysis, making her a unique and popular American book influencer.
Influencer stats:
- Subscribers: 478k
- Average Likes: 1.8k
- Average Comments: 210
- Engagement Rate: 7.95%
- Audience: 25-45 Year olds
- Niche: Epics and mangas
5. Kat (@paperbackdreams)
A deeper look at your reading habits may show some colonisation in your library. Kat reveals these often unnoticed, subtle cultural phenomena and helps her subscribers move past them.
Her literary criticism takes on a cultural look, working beyond the work itself and into the cultural and historical elements that come with it. She urges readers to make their bookshelves more colourful by adding indigenous and Global South authors as well.
Influencer stats:
- Subscribers: 277k
- Average Likes: 7.7k
- Average Comments: 528
- Engagement Rate: 8.21%
- Audience: 30-60 Year olds
- Niche: Literary advocacy and cultural criticism
Ainfluencer: Best Way to Find American Book Influencers
There are various ways to find American book influencers, but your best choice is to use an influencer marketing platform. The very best influencer marketing platform we could recommend is Ainfluencer.
This platform is 100% free, easy to use, completely customizable, and the home to more than 5M influencers. Ainfluencer supports Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, and ensures safety all throughout the process.
Some key Ainfluencer features include:
- Secure payments with the Escrow system,
- AI-powered search and discovery features with more than 20 filters,
- Built-in chat feature,
- Zero platform fees,
- AI translation and multi-language support,
- Performance tracking and insights,
- Streamlined campaign creations and end-to-end campaign management,
- Easy integration into e-commerce apps such as Shopify.
Using an influencer marketing platform such as Ainfluencer ensures you have access to the best creators while staying completely safe. Not having to worry about your budget is also a plus, allowing you to optimize your marketing budget. So what are you waiting for? Join Ainfluencer now and enjoy everything the platform has to offer for free!
Conclusion
Influencer marketing campaigns have proven to be effective in getting a new product to consumers. You may be thinking reading isn’t the best activity to promote online, but books have always been a part of the internet.
The birth and rise of BookTok cemented reading into social media. Nowadays, the two media are in a mutually beneficial relationship, helping each other tap into a new audience. American book influencers continue to be the catalysts of this partnership.
FAQs
1. Do American Book Influencers Only Introduce Books?
No. There are various ways to be a book influencer. While introducing books is a common task in the field, book influencers also offer insights, criticism, and company. These insights and criticisms can be academic or purely from a consumer point of view.
2. Do Book Influencers Make Money?
Yes. Much like any other category of influencers, book influencers make money based on brand deals, collaborations, ads, and more. These influencers also work with museums, which is an opportunity that most other creators don’t have.
3. Can I Use Book Influencers for Affiliate Marketing?
Yes! In fact, working with American book influencers as affiliates is a great way to sell your work. Using a platform such as AlgoRift is the perfect way to find Amazon affiliates for books. This platform is 100% safe and vetted, and gives you access to millions of affiliates.
So join AlgoRift now to start your affiliate marketing journey.
