How to Read Amber Share's Books
Amber Share is an illustrator and graphic designer who found a brilliant way to celebrate nature: by illustrating the absolute worst, most absurd one-star reviews left by online visitors. Because her books compile beautiful artwork and real-life complaints rather than a continuous narrative, there is no strict plot timeline to follow. However, reading them in order of publication or theme offers the most satisfying journey from local treasures to global wonders.
Recommended Reading Order
- Subpar Parks: America’s Most Extraordinary National Parks and Their Least Impressed Visitors (2021) – The book that started it all, focusing on the 62 U.S. National Parks.
- Subpar Parks Postcards: 22 Postcards (2022) – A companion postcard book designed for mailing or framing.
- Subpar Planet: The World’s Most Celebrated Landmarks and Their Most Disappointed Visitors (2024) – A global sequel targeting famous international landmarks.
The Main Series: Subpar Parks & Subpar Planet
Subpar Parks (2021)
This New York Times bestseller is the ultimate starting point. It features poster-style illustrations of U.S. national parks paired with real, hilarious one-star reviews (such as Yellowstone's recommendation to "boil some water at home" instead of visiting). Alongside the illustrations, Share includes fun park trivia, ranger anecdotes, and personal travel memories, making it both an art book and a lighthearted guide.
Subpar Planet (2024)
In this follow-up, Share takes her signature concept worldwide. She illustrates major global landmarks—like the Taj Mahal and the Dead Sea—alongside the hilariously disappointed comments of unimpressed tourists. It provides the same witty juxtaposition of breathtaking landmarks and human pettiness, but on a grander scale.
Practical Reader Advice
Since these books are collections of standalone illustrations and anecdotes, you do not need to worry about missing plot points if you read them out of order. You can easily start with Subpar Planet if you are more interested in international travel, or dive straight into the original Subpar Parks if you love U.S. geography. The postcards serve as a neat physical companion for fans of the art style rather than a traditional reading experience.