Olly of the YouTube channel CriminOlly has been sharing recommendations on what to read if you like “crime, pulp, horror… that kind of thing” since the fall of 2021. What began as a friendly bet with his son over competing YouTube channels has grown into the creator publishing book reviews, top ten lists, publisher spotlights, and much more. CriminOlly even has a Discord server where his 21,000+ subscribers can join a book club and participate in community chats.
So, in our ongoing Creator Spotlight series, let’s get to know the creator and channel a little better!
What to Expect from CriminOlly
BookTubes, BookTwitter, and Bookstagrams are more popular than ever, making it difficult to stand out. CriminOlly’s channel demonstrates that less is sometimes more. Olly is relatable as he sits in front of his bookshelves, discussing the books and stories, and the well-lit, cozy setting is ideal for rich conversation. The small bookstore vibe is inviting and comfortable, making new viewers feel as welcome as longtime subscribers.
Along with book reviews, CriminOlly has a gallery of informative and entertaining lists with topics such as books for new horror fans, sci-fi books for non-sci-fi fans, horror books you’ve never heard of, and favorite banned books. It’s nearly impossible to watch any of these videos without adding titles to your reading list.
RELATED: ROTTEN TOMATOES’ TOP-RATED 2022 HORROR MOVIES (AND HOW TO WATCH)
CriminOlly has a packed schedule covering a wide range of topics. Whatever type of video content you prefer, there is likely a format that will appeal to most readers.
- Mondays: Pot luck – books hauls, TBRs, unboxings, top 10s
- Tuesdays: Book tags – random questions about books
- Wednesdays: Week 1- Ask CriminOlly (viewers questions) / Week 2 – Classic book review / Week 3 – Ask CriminOlly / Week 4 – British horror book review
- Thursdays: Crime or horror book review
- Fridays: Pot luck – books hauls, TBRs, unboxings, top 10s
- Saturdays: Weekly reading wrap-up
- Sundays: Sunday Bollyx – Olly talking about bookish topics
Q&A with CriminOlly
To get to know Olly a bit more, we asked a few questions, including his top horror book recommendations!
Q: Favorite recent/modern horror film?
A: Barbarian.
Q: Three horror book recommendations for readers?
A: Blackwater by Michael McDowell, Slugs by Shaun Hutson, Through the Woods by Emily Carroll
Q: If you could meet any genre author living today, who would you meet?
A: Dean Koontz – I’d tell him to stop already.
Q: What is the most surprising thing since starting your channel?
A: Honestly, it’s that anyone watches it. I started it to win a bet with my son and never expected it to last more than a few videos.
RELATED: MOST ANTICIPATED 2023 HORROR MOVIES SO FAR
Coming up, CriminOlly will host the “GarbAugust Wasted Weekend” readathon on February 4th and 5th. It will be dedicated to reading trashy books. And, if you’re wondering why everyone should read more garbage, look no further than this top ten list.
