I feel as though I’ve just floated through the first five months of this year. It’s like I had an epiphany last week that July, the month of YALC and my Summer holiday, is almost here. Cue panic. By now I’ve usually written of all my packing lists, planned out the itineraries and even started packing in some instances. I go to Spain early July then I have a week between getting back and heading down to London for YALC so I need to be super prepared. I thought I’d start with pulling all of the books together that I want to take with me.

I sadly couldn’t attend last year’s YALC, but I did go in 2017 and one thing I learned is that it is possible to have too many books. Particularly when you are running down the train platform in Euston lugging all of your suitcases and tote bags to try and make it to the unreserved carriage to secure a table and some storage. I literally had a “go on without me” moment with Bec of Two Book Thieves. So, in the spirit of not having to go through that again, I’m attempting to take less with me this year, and hopefully pick less up.

This post will be split into two sections: the books I want to take with me and have read, and the books I want to take with me and need to read. Let’s get stuck in!

First up, the books I’ve already read. Luckily for me and my TBR I’ve actually read more books than I haven’t. From my bookshelves I am planning on taking: Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus / A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson / The Quiet at the End of the World by Lauren James / The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman / Other Words for Smoke by Sarah Maria Griffin / Heartstopper by Alice Oseman.

I really enjoyed these books and am looking forward to getting to chat to the authors and get my books signed!

Next up we have my surprisingly small YALC TBR!

The first book I want to read is No Big Deal by Bethany Rutter. I managed to pick up this arc at NYA Lit Fest earlier this year and am so excited to read it, particularly as it is a YA novel with a fat main character who loves her body. It sounds super empowering and this diversity is definitely necessary!

I also managed to get my hands on this advanced copy of We Are Blood and Thunder by Kesia Lupo at NYA Lit Fest too and again, I’m looking forward to picking this up. I’ve heard mixed reviews but they’re predominantly positive so I’m hoping I love it too.

Viper by Bex Hogan is a book that I’ve heard a lot of good things about recently and despite it not sounding like my usual read (I have a bad history with pirate books/books at sea) I definitely want to give it a go.

Not pictured (as I’m waiting for my pre order to arrive) is Free to Be Me by Dom & Ink which is an interactive LGBTQ+ journal. Who doesn’t love journals and stationery, right? Well this is full of spreads with activities, advice and quotes. I actually used to work with Dom back in the days of retail and I haven’t seen him for years. I am so proud that he is now a published author with Penguin and I can’t wait to catch up!

Also not pictured for the same reason as above is The Places I’ve Cried in Public by Holly Bourne. I love Holly’s books and having read some early reviews of this book it sounds like it’s going to be a very important read.

Finally I want to read the graphic novel The Steel Prince by V. E. Schwab. I picked this up at V’s signing earlier in this year so it’s actually already signed so depending on the size of the queue I might get it double signed!

And there we have the books I want to take to YALC this year! I’ve probably missed some off – some accidentally and some purposely (I have had all my Samantha Shannon books signed multiple times now so for the sake of my shoulders and back I *might* not take them this year). Who else is going to YALC this year and who are you most excited to see?

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