In this book review article we tackle the IG phenomenon turned book Subpar Books! If you weren’t aware, Hashtag59 was named in homage to the 59 US National Parks that existed when we launched our website. So we love the Subpar Parks coverage and were excited to review it on here!

I have been following, laughing, and sharing my way through the Subpar Parks story on Instagram since its first few months of starting. Amber’s creativity, outstanding art/designs, and of course the reviews themselves make me howl with laughter even on a stressful and hard day.

Amber wrote a great book and today’s review is a recommendation not just of the book but of why I liked the way online content was kept but also transformed into a book. As a content creator myself I always strive to, and struggle, with making sure my books are not just all my blogs, my IG posts are not just my blog, so on and so forth. Make the experience different for the person enjoying the content.

Three Reasons I enjoyed the Subpar Books:

1. If you think you have seen it all just because you follow the account on Instagram, guess again! Amber did a great job of repurposing her best content along with adding in new stories, fun facts, quotes, and more that truly make it a different experience than the IG account!

2. The intro was outstanding. I didn’t know her story, background, and how she started the account and it truly gives a personal touch to the whole Subpar Parks story.

3. Her designs that you see on IG (and perhaps on a poster or a sticker you have purchased from her) truly came to life in the hardcover. It was put together with such beauty and intention that it would be easy to pull out and refresh yourself with the journey time and time again.

Overall I think this book does an excellent job of complementing the online content but it’s not redundant of it. If you follow it on IG the book is still well worth reading and if you have never heard of this project and love the US National Parks then I highly recommend giving it a read!

Be careful though. These 1 star reviews are meant to make your belly hurt with laughter, not a rise in blood pressure about how someone could complain that there is only desert in a place like the Mojave Desert!

Have you read this book and/or follow Subpark Parks content online?

Leave your comments with what you thought of it!

Because Adventure Feeds the Soul,
Mike