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Zoella: YouTube sensation Zoe Sugg's debut novel set to become bestseller

Girl Online follows the life of Penny, an insecure teenager who uses her blog to voice her concerns about her family and friends

Daisy Wyatt
Tuesday 25 November 2014 11:16 GMT
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Fashion and beauty vlogger Zoella
Fashion and beauty vlogger Zoella

The debut novel by YouTube blogger Zoe Sugg, also known as Zoella, is expected to become a number one best-seller in the UK after reaching number three on the Amazon Best Sellers chart thanks to the scale of pre-orders alone.

Though many may not recognise her name, Sugg’s book has proved so popular with fans that every bookseller broke the embargo on its sale, according to a spokesperson for the publisher.

Girl Online, which is released in the UK today, follows the story of Penny, a teenager who blogs about her hidden feelings on friendship, family, boys and her anxieties.

The novel is based in part on Sugg’s own experience of charting her everyday thoughts in video blogs or 'vlogs' online.

The 24-year-old has become an online sensation after creating video blogs with beauty advice, helping her gain more than 6.5 million YouTube subscribers to her ‘ZoellaYouTube channel.

A video in which her and her boyfriend, fellow YouTuber Alfie Deyes, quiz each other on how well they know one another has been watched more than 6 million times.

Tom Weldon, chief executive of the book’s publisher Penguin Random House, said Girl Online would be sold around the world.

Adele Minchin, publicity director at Penguin Random House, said at the book’s launch last night: “We're expecting number one this week”.

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