BookCon Book Haul

Whenever I go to BookCon, I never leave with as many books as I would pick up when at BookExpo. The shows are pretty different. BookExpo gives away more ARCs, and BookCon is more of a fan experience with bookselling. There are some ARC giveaways, but it didn't seem there were as many this year as in the past. 

I've got a whole BookCon recap video that you can watch here for more of my take on the show.

Oh well! I did wait (in very, very, very long lines) to get autographs from some fave authors/people: Ann M. Martin, Lindy West, and Tegan & Sara. And I picked up a couple books along the way, too.

Shrill by Lindy West - When I saw that Lindy West, author of Shrill and the upcoming The Witches Are Coming, was signing copies of Shrill, I knew passing up this opportunity would be crazy. I've been watching the Shrill TV show on Hulu and have been enjoying it, but I had no idea until BookCon that it was based on a book.

Here Now by Kate Merrick - At the HarperCollins booth, I stopped by the Christian publishing section and picked up an ARC of this upcoming book all about taking time away from technological distractions. Really looking forward to reading it. There is also a summer reading challenge from HarperCollin's Page Chaser website, so check it out if you need some exciting new reads this summer.

Getting autographs from the original The Babysitters Club author
 and the illustrators of the updated/graphic novels

No Judgments by Meg Cabot - Also at the HarperCollins booth were two ARC giveaways. This one is the latest from Meg Cabot, an author who I know about but have never read. This book sounds interesting, though. It's about a woman who flees New York for Florida, gets caught in a hurricane, and ends up helping animals that have been left behind.

Get a Life by Chloe Brown - This was the second ARC at HarperCollins. It's about a woman who has a near-death experience that prompts her to change her life around and try to "get one". It's set in England, my favorite place!

The Babysitters Club panel! Books will be on Audible!

Cooking for Isaiah by Nilvana Sardone - I also passed by a booth that had been set up for BookExpo but was tearing down and trying to get rid of everything so they didn't have to schlep it all back to the office. So I picked up a free copy of Nilvana Sardone's gluten-free and dairy-free cookbook. The recipes sound yummy and appear easy to make, so that's a win-win in my book. I can't wait to cook my way through this one.

The Secrets We Kept by Lara Prescott - I randomly found a short line for this one, and I'm so glad I did. It's a novel about secretaries during World War II who were also spies. Sounds like some historical girl power to me!

Being incredibly awkward when meeting Tegan and Sara

High School by Tegan and Sara - I didn't get a copy of this book, but I did pre-order it. (It comes out in September.) It's a memoir by singer/songerwriter/siblings Tegan and Sara about their experiences as teenagers and how those shaped them into the women and successes they ultimately became. Looking forward to this one. I've been a fan of them since the summer before college.

I also picked up two children's books for my daughter. Those were free. All I had to do was spin a wheel and get a book! If you bring your kids to BookCon, it's not that bad of an idea. (Although, I know my 3-year-old would NOT be into waiting in lines.) There is a Family HQ section with activities and speakers (and costumed characters). Maybe someday I will bring my daughter with me to BookCon, but for now, it's strictly a "me" thing.

Did you attend the show? What books did you pick up? Which of the books that I got sound good to you? Let me know in the comments!