The Inkitt Influential Voices Award is an opportunity for us to acknowledge and praise the most important influencers in the book industry. Here at Inkitt, we believe that these online voices are the backbone of the current book market – they help connect authors with new readers and readers with new friends. The community they have helped build is unlike any other, and we believe that they deserve to be recognized for their contributions!
We scoured thousands of these tastemakers on reading platforms, blogs, and YouTube to find the best of the best and have included their names and accounts below. The mentioned book enthusiasts share their passion for reading while inspiring and exciting masses of book nerds such as yourselves, all over the world. When you’re looking for your next great read – these are the places to start!
We were lucky enough to have the chance to chat with some of these book maven’s and you can peep some of our favorite moments at the bottom of the post.
OUR FAVE BLOGGERS (ALPHABETICALLY)
Aestas Book Blog
I started this blog when my newly-found addiction to reading made me want to start writing down my thoughts about the books I was reading. Turns out I wasn’t the only one with such an addiction and since then, I’ve had the privilege of “meeting” an incredible number of amazingly wonderful readers and incredibly talented authors with a shared love for reading through this blog. I can’t tell you how happy it makes me knowing there are so many other people out there whose hearts race when their favorite book is mentioned, who’ll stay up till 5AM ‘cuz they just *had* to finish their book and who love to share recommendations.
All About Romance
All About Romance has always been THE place to find your next quality romance read. AAR was created in 1997 and since then has offered unbiased book reviews, author interviews, industry commentary and much more to romance readers.
A Little Blog of Books
It may not come as a surprise to you that I like books and I read quite a lot of them – mostly contemporary, literary and translated fiction. My favourite authors include Haruki Murakami, Sarah Waters and Ian McEwan. I love stories with unreliable narrators and my greatest fear is running out of books to read.
All Things Urban Fantasy
The place where para is normal. This blog is devoted to keeping readers up to date on the latest books in Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Paranormal YA, & Speculative Fiction (Dystopian and Steampunk etc.)
Blushing Babes Are Up All Night
The blushing babes are made up of 7 ladies who know their way around a romance novel. These girls review an array of books and have created a place to discover what to read in the darkest hours of the night.
Book Briefs
I love all things Young Adult and New Adult. Sometimes I like Dogs more than people, and I have an unhealthy obsession with trash reality tv. I never know what to write for these things, which is strange because I love to talk.
Book Nerd
I love reading books. I have always had a passion for reading ever since I learned. My dream profession in Kindergarten was to be a Librarian (true story!). Reviewing all the latest books from young adult, children, and adult genres. Book Nerd also specializes in Canadian authors, books, festivals and events! OH CANADA!
Fiction Fare
“Yes, we’re sisters. Yes, we’re twins. Now that that’s over with, let’s talk books. Our goal with Fic Fare is to always give our honest opinion, even if it’s unpopular. We’ve been told that sometimes we read too much, but we know there is no such thing as too many books.”
Happy Indulgence Books
Happy Indulgence captures how we should blissfully enjoy life’s greatest offerings, no matter what it is. Here, we share our love for YA books and all things reading!
Joyfully Jay
Looking for some hot M/M steam? Look no further – that is Jay’s primary focus. With a team of strong associate reviewers, this blog will give you plenty to look forward to with tons of new content posted weekly.
Katy’s Book Blog
After spending months checking out other young adult book blogs I decided it was past time I created my own. Since then I have fallen in love with the blogging community and I don’t know where I would be without the wonderful friends I have made over the past two years. You can expect Katie’s Book Blog to be around for many years to come.
Love Is Not A Triangle
This blog is a love triangle free zone! Do you want to rip your hair out every time you read about a character who can’t decide between two love interests? – this is the blog for you. Lauren loves to discuss books with other readers and openly posts her email on her site to chat with fellow book nerds and those who “just say no!” to love triangles.
Maryse
Maryse has created a thriving online community because…well…she needed someone to gush with! “I felt the need to talk about books. You know…go over every little detail, sigh over the latest “hero”…”suqee” a little. But my book friends were few & far between & my husband could only humor me for so long…And so this blog was born.” — this attempt to find one or two book lovers to chat with has skyrocketed and her blog now has more than 100,000 views monthly.
Paper Fury
I read quite furiously and have been known to swallow whole books and whole worlds before breakfast. I’m taking over the world. It’s happening.
Perpetual Page Turner
“I write reviews that fell lie you are sitting down with a friend over margaritas talking about books — sometimes it’s serius, sometimes there is flailing & CAPSLOCK but it’s always genuine.”
Reading Teen
READING is an obsession, & TEEN is a state of mind. Andye started Reading Teen with her friend and their teenage children as a way to connect with each other and the world of book-loving people. Please don’t tell her YA isn’t for Adults. That just makes her angry. And you won’t like her when she’s angry.
Rhapsody in Books
This husband/wife book blogging team have paired up to give you the scoop on quality reads across many genres – including some less talked about genres such as Children’s, Coffee-Table/Gift books, Poetry collections and much more. There is something for everyone !
Smexy Books
“Love equals everyone” The 6 ladies reviewing on Smexy Books know what’s what when it comes to smut! They review all genres of romance plus urban fantasy! Because it’s hard to deny yourself the pleasure of urban fantasy!
Totally Booked Blog
A Danish/Brit and a Brit/Aussie meet through a love of reading. Our friendship was forged from a love of books. We maintain the same love and passion for reading as we did on the day we started blogging. We are book soul mates through and through and spend hours every single day chatting about the books we read.
Twirling Pages
Twirling Pages is a blog filled with bookish rambles, lifestyle tips, and updates on the editors’ personal lives. the posts are all meant to have a casual ambiance so readers (echm you!!) can sit back, relax, and join us on whatever we’re complaining flailing talking about. you can expect lower-case letters, gifs, italics, ALL CAPS, and other assortments.
Under The Covers Book Blog
Books have the power to unite people and that is exactly what happened with us! Our love for books have brought us together and we’ve become good friends in a short amount of time. We “met” online through Goodreads and decided to share our passion of books with fellow book lovers. And that is how Under the Covers came to be…
Vilma Iris
As an internationally renowned book blogger and USA Today blog columnist, Vilma reviews the most anticipated books, finds new gems to read, and interviews the industry’s bestselling novelists.
YA Books Central
Are you a YA and/or Kids book fanatic?! YA Books Central should be your first stop to find out what to add to your TBR pile next. This site has become one of the largest professional book recommendation sites targeted towards tween and teen readers.
OUR FAVE BOOKTUBERS (ALPHABETICALLY)
For BookTube – I’ll let these influencers speak for themselves – because they can! Each channel below is linked to a video that will provide you with a heavy dose of entertainment along with your book reviews & recommendations. Check out the # of subscribers each of these book addicts have – the social proof alone should be enough to convince you to give them a follow!
We had the chance to catch up with href=”https://www.youtube.com/user/ThoughtsOnTomes”>Samantha @ Thoughts on Tomes, Cait @ Paper Fury and Vilma @ Vilma Iris to give us the scoop on what inspires them to continue contributing to the book community, advice they have for someone trying to break into the world and other bookish questions! Check out their answers and sage wisdom below.
Inkitt: What inspires you to keep blogging/booktubing?
Samantha: The books I’m reading and the online book community. I started my channel, as many do, because I had no one in my real world life to discuss books with and it was KILLING ME! I needed to gush or gripe with someone! Those discussions continue to bring me back. I love the community. Although we aren’t perfect, it’s so nice to be able to discuss book things with other, whether it’s about books, authors, or publishing. I’ve learned so much about the book world since starting my channel.
Inkitt: If you could live in any literary fantasy world, which would it be?
Samantha: I always have the same response to this kind of question: I’d die in almost any fantasy world! They are dangerous! If I had to pick one, I might go with the world from His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman. It would be awesome to have an animal soul companion like they do.
Inkitt: How have you managed to build such a loyal and huge community?
Cait: I definitely think friendliness is a huge factor in how I built my audience! One of my top goals as a blogger is to connect with other bookworms and support and encourage them…and in return, I’ve just been super lucky to meet hundreds of amazing book enthusiasts who support me back! I also have been blogging for 6 years, so networking and consistent posting of quality content has helped too. Also I talk about cake quite frequently. Nothing brings people together like mutual love for cake.
Inkitt: Which upcoming books are you most looking forward to?
Cait: I’m very much looking forward to All The Crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvater, Wonder Woman by Leigh Barudgo (just released), and Wild Beauty by Anna-Marie McLemore, all coming out later this year!
Inkitt: What advice do you give to young aspiring booktubers/bloggers?
Vilma: Be thoughtful. Take the time to think through who you want to be, what you want to achieve, what you want your brand to stand for.
Once that’s clear, work hard every day, take notice of the details and take the time to know your audience so you can connect with them in a way that’s real and authentic.
Inkitt: What inspires you to keep blogging/booktubing?
Vilma: Personally, I need an outlet for my creativity and ideas, and blogging allows me to do that. But more than anything, on days when I feel too spread thin or feel like I’ve hit a creative dead end, it’s my followers who inspire me to keep going. Their thoughtful messages and comments mean so much to me.
A massive thank you to all of the winners for sharing their experiences and keeping the book community thriving! Congratulations on being among Inkitt’s Top 40 influential voices.
If you have any questions at all, make sure to leave them in the comments below and keep an eye out for any news and announcements on our Facebook and Twitter.
Emma Tonner
Publishing Manager
