YouTube Star Zoella’s Novel Records Biggest Ever First Week Sales For A Debut Book

Girl Online has rocketed to No. 1 in the charts.

Girl Online, the first novel by YouTube sensation Zoe Sugg, aka Zoella, has recorded the largest ever first week sales for a debut book in the UK, publishing house Penguin has announced.

Luke Macgregor / Reuters

Penguin said on Monday that the novel sold over 78,000 copies in its first week.

As well as representing the highest first week sales for a debut author ever, the sales make the book the fastest-selling hardback of 2014.

Commenting on the announcement, Sugg said:

It's such an amazing feeling. I'm so grateful to everyone who has bought a copy of Girl Online.

I love that so many of my viewers are enjoying the book! This year has been so exciting and this for sure is the icing on the cake.

The 24-year-old, who has around 9 million subscribers across her two Zoella YouTube channels, held a series of book signings around the UK last week.

Bluewater

Her fans were ecstatic to meet her, with some shaking so much with emotion they dropped and broke their phones.

Sugg has signed a two-book deal with Penguin, with the sequel to Girl Online due out next summer. Francesca Dow, Penguin Random House Children’s managing director, said:

We always knew that the captivating story of Girl Online, and Zoe's fantastic ability to connect with and entertain her audience, had the potential to be an extraordinary combination.

However, this is truly an outstanding accomplishment and testament to Zoe and everyone who has contributed to make Girl Online the biggest fiction debut ever – the team at Penguin, our retailers, and, of course, Zoe's devoted viewers.

We couldn't be prouder of Zoe's success and to be her publishing partner.