September 27, 2017 – Sincerely Karen Jo

Hello Lovelies! Hope you’re all having a wonderful week. Today I would like to rave about one of my favorite book festivals, Pasadena Loves YA.

Pasadena Loves YA is an AMAZING and FREE book event sponsored by Pasadena Public Library and Bridge to Books. This year was my second time attending and I can honestly say that I LOVE this festival with all my heart. With awesome panels, author signings, and free books/swags, I was definitely in heaven.

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HERE ARE ALL THE BOOKS I GOT SIGNED!

2017 Author Line-Up

Ameriie – Because You Love to Hate Me
Audrey Coulthurst – Of Fire and Stars
Jeff Garvin – Symptoms of Being Human
Maurene Goo – I Believe in a Thing Called Love
B.T. Gottfred – The Nerdy & The Dirty
Emily Ziff Griffin – Light Years
Aditi Khorana – The Library of Fates
E. Katherine Kottaras – The Best Possible Answer
Robin LaFevers – Mortal Heart
Stacey Lee – The Secret of a Heart Note
Cindy Pon – Want
Chelsea Sedoti – The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett
Sherri L. Smith – Pasadena
Misa Sugiura – It’s Not Like It’s a Secret
Daniel Sweren-Becker – The Equals
Jessica Taylor – A Map for Wrecked Girls
Mary Weber – The Evaporation of Sofi Snow

I was most excited to see Mary Weber, Jessica Taylor, and Ameriie since I’ve never met them before. I was also really happy to see Maurene Goo and Cindy Pon again. I loved meeting all the other authors and was glad to be able to add their books to my neverending TBR.

(Excuse my big face! I get so nervous that my selfie game was not very great haha!)

With Robin Lavers and Cindy Pon

With Jessica Taylor

With Mary Weber

With Ameriie and Maurene Goo

All the panels were fantastic and so much fun. My mom and I had a blast listening to authors talk about their beginnings, their writing styles, their challenges, and plenty of their silly stories.

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I also really love that Pasadena Loves YA isn’t as hectic or crazy as other book festivals. Don’t get me wrong, I do love Yallwest and look forward to it every year… BUT being able to spend more time talking to my favorite authors is without a doubt THE BEST THING about this event. I don’t feel rushed and I get to fangirl and be awkward a little longer.

This year, Pasadena Loves YA also had their first ever Book Blitz Giveaway. Basically you get to pick one free book and if you want another one, you just line up again. My mom and I lined up maybe 4-5 times and stayed all the way to the end. Good thing we did because they had so many books left that they just told everyone to grab whatever they wanted. So awesome right!?!? I mean you don’t need to tell me twice…

SO MANY AMAZING BOOKS TO CHOOSE FROM!!!

I came home with 4 bags of books and ended up with 42 FREE BOOKS!! My shoulders were super sore the next day, but it was definitely worth it. I can’t wait to read my new pretties! And because I enjoy spreading my love for books, I’m planning on sending some to my cousins in the Philippines in a few months. We just sent 2 boxes home for the holidays, so it’ll be quite while for the next round.

Take a look at my EPIC PASADENA LOVES YA BOOK HAUL! See any of your favorites? Let me know in the comments.

To keep up to date, follow Pasadena Loves YA on Instagram, Facebook, and/or Twitter.

Hope you enjoyed reading this post. Thoughts, comments, or questions… just sound off down below.

Sincerely Karen Jo

Hello lovelies! Time for another WWW Wednesdays which is a weekly meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words.

Just answer these three questions:

What did you recently finish reading?
What are you currently reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

I recently finished reading Black Bird of the Gallows by Meg Kassel and loved it! This book is deliciously dark, satisfyingly eerie, and absolutely enthralling. You can read my full review HERE.

So, I haven’t been reading much lately. Right after getting over a short reading slump, I was so excited to get back into knocking off books from my Netgalley TBR (gosh I’m ridiculously behind). But then I started feeling sick. It’s just that time of the year when the weather is changing and people around me are getting sick too so I guess it was bound to happen. I’m trying to fight it though, so I’ve just been resting every day after work. I do try to read in bed, but once the meds kick in, I’m done for the night.

Anyway, I’m currently reading A Short History of the Girl Next Door by Jared Reck. I actually started this before I got sick. I’m about 30% into the book and so far I’m really enjoying it. Hopefully in a day or two I’ll feel rested and better that I can read an hour or so before going to sleep.

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Once I’m all better, I really want to catch up so I’m planning on reading Fraternize by Rachel Van Dyken, No Plain Rebel (No Ordinary Star #2) by M.C. Frank, and Odd and True by Cat Winters.