6 - Critiquing a Media Critic

Media Critic: Leonie Christel, "The Book Leo"

Leonie Christel, known online as The Book Leo, is a Dutch YouTuber who creates book-related content, including reviews, reading vlogs, and in-depth analyses. At just 25 years old, she has gained a following of 614,000 YouTube subscribers and nearly 3,000 members on Patreon. Leonie has risen to popularity for her witty humor, criticism of common book tropes, and judging her audience's favorite books (all in good fun). Her content provides insight into reading-related issues and the books her viewers should definitely read or avoid altogether.

Her most popular videos include:

1. "i read this terrible tiktok student-teacher romance so you don't have to"

2. "is tiktok ruining reading? & the desire to be 'a reader'"

3. "the hidden truth behind our declining attention spans"

Above: Leonie's Popular Videos

Leonie often starts her videos with a cup of tea, and her warm, candle-lit background perfectly adds to the cozy aesthetic she aims to create. She has fantastic fashion sense and a good eye for detail, which are apparent in this video and on her Instagram profile:

Leonie clearly put a lot of time and love into this video. I enjoyed "going" to the bookstore with her and seeing her engage in cozy fall activities like reading and making cinnamon rolls. Watching her content feels like catching up with an old friend. 

View this profile on Instagram

Leonie Christel🍄 (@thebookleo) • Instagram photos and videos

More videos:

"The ultimate guide to Autumn reading"

In this video, Leonie discusses books that put her in the Autumn spirit. She separates these into eight categories to help readers find the genres best for them:

• Atomospheric - books with a fall-like atmosphere
• Gothic novels - books with elements of mystery and horror
• Dark fantasy - books with monsters or other mystical creatures set in fantasy worlds
• Spooky - books with creepy elements or Halloween vibes
• Horror - books that contain disturbing content or gore
• Romance - supernatural romances
• Classics - books that stand the test of time (Halloweeny books, specifically)

Leonie briefly summarizes each book she recommends, giving viewers a general idea of its theme, writing style, maturity rating, and tropes. These overviews let readers know what to expect before opening the first page. 

One helpful aspect of Leonie's reviews is her honesty. She acknowledges that reading is subjective, so the books she recommends may not be everyone's "cup of tea." She often states, "If you don't like [specific trope, writing style, or genre], you probably won't like [name of book]. I appreciate her openness and that she does not try to force her favorite books on other people.

"Are tropes on BookTok ruining reading?"

In this deep-dive video, Leonie explores whether or not the tropification of books on social media, particularly TikTok, has "destroyed" reading. This is one of my favorite videos of hers. She makes a strong argument that new romance books are often built around and marketed on a set of tropes. While books used to earn recognition for originality and good storytelling, many now achieve success purely because of their tropes and common plot points. Anyone can publish a best-selling novel if they follow a set formula, write the same material as everyone else, and market their book well. 

Most of Leonie's videos are 25-40 minutes long, but unlike some content on YouTube that is around that length, her videos are far from dull. Her fact-based arguments and conversationalist approach keep my attention every second of the way. I highly recommend her channel to anyone looking for book recommendations or wanting to learn more about book culture.