What the “It-Girls” Are Reading: From Dua Lipa to Emma Chamberlain

If you’ve been anywhere on social media in the last year, there are a couple of names that keep emerging on Pinterest and TikTok consistently. Beautiful and stylish women, ranging from worldwide pop singers like Dua Lipa to modern fashionistas like Ruby Lyn, have more than just their Gen-Z appeal in common: they also love to read.

Lipa even has her own podcast, Service95 Book Club, where she interviews prolific authors after reading their books. In an era driven by visual aesthetics, these “It Girls” encourage their audiences to discover and delve into written prose and carve their creativity through art.

Dua Lipa

Lipa seems to be inspired by culturally diverse stories, recommending On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong, a heartbreaking letter dedicated by a son to a mother who cannot read, and Trust by Hernan Diaz, a novel about the consequences of greed during the Great Depression. The singer seems to enjoy conversing with these authors through her podcast and delving deeper into the inspiration driving their ideas.

Ruby Lyn

Lyn became popular on social media for her unique and trendy fashion sense. She emulates what it means to be a “cool girl” in contemporary media. Her recommendations are more classical and traditional than Lipa’s. She also hosts a book club called Ironically Literate. Some of her favorite novels include White Nights by Fyodor Dostoevsky, a short read about the dangers of dreaming too intensely, and Madonna in a Fur Coat, which follows a man who falls in love with a painting.

Kaia Gerber

The famous supermodel has used her Instagram Live to invite other celebrities and discuss their favorite books and has her own book club as well, Library Science. Gerber recommends The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion, an author central to Gen-Z female readers who encapsulates the essence of California. She also enjoys Normal People by Sally Rooney, which catapulted to fame after its 2020 Hulu adaptation and inspired a continuous generation of “sad girls.”

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Emma Chamberlain

Chamberlain is one of the most popular YouTubers and podcasters of her generation. Throughout the years, she has been able to stay trendy, often by simply being herself. Her recommendations are more traditional and include more classical literature. She called East of Eden by John Steinbeck her favorite book, which explores whether humans can choose goodness. Her bookshelf also contains 1984 by George Orwell and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, which are both acclaimed novels that delve into themes of injustice and the fragility of truth.