There was a time, before I was paid to write, when I fancied being paid to vlog. I was obsessed with YouTube personalities Shane Dawson and iJustine, and I thought that making money off of silly videos was my ticket to, well, money. Then I found out that such things require cameras, lighting, makeup, and a clean room, and I decided to keep videos of my non-photogenic self off the Internet and stick to what I know.
Little did I know that, within just a few years, the creatives I watched on YouTube would snag book deals. Suddenly, I'm somehow left feeling like I took a wrong turn at Albuquerque, but I digress.
The 2010s have been a boon for YouTube personalities breaking into the book world, and the 17 titles on this list were all published in 2015 alone. The books here are largely memoirs, but you'll find some comedy, how-to, and even fiction sprinkled about. Several of these 17 — including books from Shane Dawson, Tyler Oakley, PewDiePie, and Dan and Phil — have hit the bestseller lists, so yes, we are in the future.
There are people out there who argue that YouTubers have somehow cheated fate by making livelihoods out of new, ultra-visible media. PewDiePie might not be a real star, according to his detractors, but his 40 million subscribers say otherwise.
Here are the year's biggest books by YouTubers.
1. The Glam Guide by Fleur de Force
The Glam Guide is a lifestyle manual from beauty vlogger Fleur de Force. Here you'll find a collection of makeup tips, wardrobe hacks, and dating advice, all in one convenient package.
2. Grace and Style:The Art of Pretending You Have It by Grace Helbig
Like many of the entries on this list, Grace Helbig's Grace & Style is book No. 2 for its YouTuber-turned-author. Helbig's actually a pretty huge star, what with her own show on the E! network and all. Grace & Style turns the concept of a beauty guide on its ear with Helbig's signature sass.
3. Life with a Sprinkle of Glitter by Louise Pentland
English vlogger Louise Pentland's Life with a Sprinkle of Glitter has all the giggleful tips girls need at any age. Whether you're gearing up to graduate or give birth, there's something for you here.
4. We Should Hang Out Sometime: Embarrassingly, a True Story by Josh Sundquist
Josh Sundquist is a motivational speaker, a former Paralympic skiier, and a 2006 Body-for-Life champion. He holds a master's degree from the University of Southern California, and — to my knowledge — he's the only author on this list to have been a writer before he became YouTube famous. The result of his real-life High Fidelity experiment, We Should Hang Out Sometime is Sundquist's second book.
5. Selp-Helf by Miranda Sings
Did you know that the secret to finding a boyfriend involves an all-black costume and a net? Or that proper first-date attire has sequins and tulle? You will after picking up Selp-Helf from YouTuber Miranda Sings.
6. This Book Loves You by PewDiePie
After all that BS you've been fed about just hang in there and say no to drugs, you need some practical inspiration in your life. PewDiePie's This Book Loves You is the healthy dose of reality you need to make it through your next bad day.
7. Binge by Tyler Oakley
If you're in a position to say, "My life's a real train-wreck," pick up Tyler Oakley's Binge before you breathe a word. This memoir of disaster has all the keep-you-up-at-night embarrassing stories you need to make you feel a little bit better about your own mishaps.
8. A Work in Progress by Connor Franta
YouTuber-turned-author Connor Franta is the epitome of a small town boy. Here's a memoir about growing up gay in a tiny Midwestern town where you have almost as many siblings as you have classmates.
9. Username: Evie by Joe Sugg
Joe Sugg's graphic novel, Username: Evie, kinda sounds like Tron: Legacy with a female protagonist. When a file on her father's old computer sucks her into an invaded, virtual world, it's up to Evie to find a way to save it.
10. I Hate Myselfie by Shane Dawson
The man, the myth, the legend, Shane Dawson finally wrote a book after seven successful years on YouTube. If you've ever wanted a look at who Dawson is when the video isn't streaming, here's your chance.
11. Really Professional Internet Person by Jenn McAllister
A recent Teen Choice Award nominee, 19-year-old Jenn McAllister has it all laid out before her. In Really Professional Internet Person, she offers an inside look at what growing up Internet famous really means.
12. All I Know Now by Carrie Hope Fletcher
All I Know Now is a memoir, sure, but it's also 23-year-old Carrie Hope Fletcher's self-help guide for normal teens leading normal lives. Want to know how to handle rumors, love, Twitter, and bears? Then this is the book for you.
13. The Amazing Book Is Not on Fire by Dan Howell and Phil Lester
Dan and Phil have made careers out of being awkward guys with a great friendship. Now, in The Amazing Book Is Not on Fire, the two YouTubers have climbed to the top of the New York Times Bestseller list for YA.
14. You Deserve a Drink by Mamrie Hart
If you enjoy the interesting cocktails and hilarious, raunch-filled stories on Mamrie Hart's YouTube channel, you'll love You Deserve a Drink. Each of the misadventures included in this volume is accompanied by a stiff, tasty libation for you to try.
15. I, Justine: An Analog Memoir by Justine Ezarik
I fell in love with Justine Ezarik's gaming mishaps years ago, but I was already a latecomer fan, even then. Ezarik's been around for a really long time and shows no signs of slowing down. I, Justine is her story and then some.
16. Girl Online: On Tour by Zoe Sugg
Girl Online: On Tour is the follow-up to author Zoe Sugg's 2014 novel, Girl Online. Zoe's first book broke sales records in its first week, and now she's back to continue the story of Penny and Noah's sweet romance.
17. Love, Tanya by Tanya Burr
This glossy tome is one part lifestyle guide and one part journal. Here, author Tanya Burr discusses beauty hacks, cute recipes, and how to deal with life's basic problems, all while offering spaces for readers to log their own favorites, least favorites, and personal mantras.
18. The Haunting of Sunshine Girl by Paige McKenzie
Teenage breakout YouTube star Paige McKenzie has creeping out her more-than-350,000 followers with her eerie ghost stories, so it was only natural to write a YA novel with her serious horror skills.
Image: iJustine/YouTube
