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.
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.
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
Omigosh, that looks like a LOAD of fun. There were some fantastic authors there, and I love how you get them on a more personal level. Plus, that free table :O I would have cried a bit. XD Out of all the books you got, I’ve only read one and that was Hex Hall – and what I can remember, it was pretty fun and funny. Hope you enjoy them! ❤ And wonderful recap! (So jealous of meeting Robin Lafevers – Grave Mercy is one of my favorite books ever!)
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It was an awesome day for me!!! I love how low-key and intimate it is and yes the free books were such a nice surprise! I knew they would have a book giveaway, but I never expected to come home with all those books!! =)
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I want to go to a book con or festival so badly
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You should try to go at least once! It’s so much fun and you get to hang out with other booknerds… I’ve only been to Yallwest and Pasadena Loves YA. But I really want to go to BookCon someday!
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Thanks so much for coming out to the festival this year, Karen Jo! You and your mom were super cute and it looked like you had a great time. We’re not sure we’ll be able to do a big blitz every year but are happy that you were able to get lots of goodies this year. We’ve already put on our thinking caps for next year!
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It was a great event! And even without the Book Blitz I would still definitely be there! 💕
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[…] even think I’ve officially done a Book Haul post. I did do a recap of my experience at Pasadena Loves YA last year and that included me going home with 42 FREE BOOKS. Guess that’s why I really […]
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