My Time At YALC 2023

If you’ve been following my for a while, you’ll know I’m no stranger to YALC. Back in 2014, when they were hosting the first ever YA book con, I took myself off to London by myself for the first time ever for all the bookish shenanigans… I’ve since been to every single YALC so this was my 9th year attending. I have met so many amazing friends over the years while there and it is always a joy to see them all again! I even made some new ones this year which was awesome. The not so great thing was I completely forgot to take many pictures with everyone… I totally fail on that front!

Preparing for YALC

This year I decided to take some friendship bracelets to give away. I did not make enough… I went armed with 13 and they went so damn fast! I’m going to start making some now for next year so I have loads!!! I also travelled with my best bookish friend, Han! We also travelled in style, flying there! I know, I know… so bougie! Once we were there we met two of my absolute bookish besties Lou and Mariana. We all shared the same room and it was so much fun!

The Authors

I did fewer signings than I usually do this year. With my travelling via plane, I was very conscious of the weight of my case so I definitely picked and chose what I wanted to take with me. But I met some amazing authors… and got slightly emotional while telling Sangu Mandanna what her amazing book means to me and how much it saved my mental health at the time of reading! I didn’t cry… but I almost did! All of the authors were just so wonderful!

The People, The Competitions and the After Party

I absolutely failed at taking many pictures with all of the wonderful people I met, however I did get a wonderful picture with my three besties that I attended the event with! In addition to this, my amazing friend Charlotte (who I met for the first time in person), invited me and Han to the ‘bkmrk’ after party which was so amazing to hang out with other bloggers, authors and publicists… I felt so VIP and got some free books! It was honestly just so amazing! I also did another blogger event in YALC on the Sunday morning, but I totally failed at taking any pictures at all! Next year I need to be better!