What started as a thrift store find has turned into a viral storytelling series. Gunner Bolton, known as @gunnertothemax on Instagram, picked up a paperback at a Florida Goodwill, opened it, and realized it was someone’s handwritten journal. Instead of tossing it aside, he started reading the entries on camera.
Since his first post, Gunner’s page has exploded, climbing past 139,000 followers in just weeks. His Reels now draw thousands of comments and likes as viewers tune in to hear the next installment of a stranger’s life.
“Can you imagine scrolling IG one day and some kid is reading aloud your journal from 15 yrs ago to 90k ppl 😂😂😂😂😂I’m about to burn all mine brb,” an Instagram user commented.
Internet Gold from Goodwill
Each clip shows Gunner flipping open the worn notebook and reading excerpts in a mix of deadpan delivery and heartfelt curiosity. The entries—covering topics like loneliness, day-to-day routines, and scattered life updates- feel personal but universal.
The diary, presumably decades old, now anchors a weekly ritual for thousands. Gunner uploads new reads regularly, often teasing upcoming pages with captions like “Next journal reading is today” or “JUST HAVE FUN MICHAEL!!!!!”—the latter earning over 17,000 likes and 224 comments.
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Followers are invested not just in the entries but in the unseen author behind them. Gunner’s blend of Gen Z sarcasm and sincere engagement makes each post feel like a group chat reading session.
The viral climb has been rapid. Just weeks ago, Gunner had fewer than 10,000 followers. Now he’s fielding comments by the hundreds from fans eager to decode the next page or defend the diary’s author from imagined critiques.
