The Reading Crisis, BookTube & Why Reading for Pleasure Matters

In this episode of the Quick Book Reviews podcast, Philippa chats with Victoria from the BookTube channel What Victoria Read about books, community, and the growing reading crisis in UK schools.

Victoria has been creating BookTube content for over seven years and is also an English teacher, giving her a unique perspective on how reading habits are changing — both online and in the classroom.

Together, Philippa and Victoria discuss:

• What BookTube is and why it matters
• Building an online bookish community
• Honesty and authenticity in book reviewing
• Charity fundraising through BookTube
• Teaching English in secondary schools
• The reality of falling reading levels in children
• Why reading for pleasure is so important
• How schools try to engage reluctant readers
• Why it doesn’t matter what you read — just that you read
• Audiobooks, rereading favourites, and TBR piles
• Book recommendations from the past year
• And, of course, a very important discussion about biscuits 🍪

Victoria also shares her three magic-wand wishes to help solve the reading crisis and offers thoughtful advice for anyone thinking of starting their own BookTube channel.

Books mentioned in this episode include:

• Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
• Human Rights by Juno Dawson
• Wayward by Amelia Hart

🎥 Find Victoria on YouTube: What Victoria Read https://www.youtube.com/@WhatVictoriaRead

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