BEA Recap - Pre, Post, and Outside of BEA Fun

Book Expo America is always TONS of fun, but part of that is the stuff that happens outside of the Javits Center. 

This year I ended up doing a few things I had been looking forward to. First and most fangirl worthy is that I got to see the Heathers Musical. 

My view of the stage! Incredible being THIS close.

Front row, baby

They also have a killer poster outside of the New World Stages theater that houses the production currently.

The second picture? Ran into the adorable guy who plays J.D. in the play outside after and he graciously signed my playbill. His name is Ryan McCartan. He was fantastic (as was Barrett Weed who plays Veronica).

I also had to snag some swag from the event. My personal favourite? How Very!

The play was amazing. They have a song called 'Our Love Is God' which happens to be one of my most favourite lines from the movie. If you're in NYC, check it out. It's funny, and captures the movie rather perfectly while becoming it's own thing. Bonus - the entire cast happens to be amazing.

I also went to a little place called Macaron Cafe, and purchased some DELICIOUS macarons.

Raspberry, Coconut and Chocolate Raspberry

I now need to find a place in Ottawa that has macarons this good. The coconut was probably my favourite, but all of them were delicious. 

No trip to NYC would be complete without visiting Shake Shack. It's delicious. I wish we'd get one here in Ottawa. I seriously crave this and countdown to when I can get my fix at next year's BEA.

I was also fortunate enough to be invited to a party hosted by the incredible ladies from Epic Reads. We got a goodie bag filled with some awesomeness.

Kiss Kill Vanish by Jessica Martinez (goodreads)
The Invisible by Amelia Kahaney (goodreads)

The items came in a cute Harper Teen/Epic Reads tote bag. I love the Use In Case Of Feels tissues, and I can't wait to try the tea. Margot and Aubry are awesome. It was fun running into Jamie (from The Broke and Bookish/The Perpetual Page Turner) and Hannah (from The Irish Banana Review). The highlight though was meeting Jodi Lynn Anderson. Her novel, Tiger Lily, is one of my absolute favourites (pretty much EVER). I may have fangirled just a bit.

My last day there also included grabbing a drink with Kaiti from Harper Collins Canada as she happened to be in town. We met at Tir Na Nog and had a fantastic catch up. One of the highlights of the trip for sure.

So that is how I spent my non Javits Center time in New York City. I'll have my recap of day one tomorrow (and days two and three on Thursday).

Anything I should try to see/do while in NYC next year? Let me know. I love finding new things to try while on vacation.

Book Expo America

Book Expo America (or book heaven to anyone who loves books) is THIS week. In fact it starts tomorrow. I hope to run into a bunch of you there, so I thought I would post a "Where You'll Find Me" type post.

Javits Center (AKA BEA itself)

What are some of the places you'll find me during BEA itself?

- BEA Bloggers Conference - I'll be going this year! Excited to see everyone who will also be attending this event.

- Morgan Matson's line. I love Since You've Been Gone and can't wait to fangirl about it in person with Morgan.

- RL Stine's signing on Saturday - My niece Kenadie is a huge Goosebumps fan now. I'll totally be the coolest Auntie ever when I come back with a signed book for her.

- Heather Demetrios's signing for Exquisite Captive. Heck yes! I can't wait to read this one.

-Rebecca Serle's signing line. I need Famous In Love. NEED. It sounds adorable, and fun, and perfect for anyone who loves Hollywood and CW shows.

There are plenty more places you'll see me. Chelsey Philpot's line is another place. I'll also be grabbing a few moments to relax here and there down in the food court area (at least that is the plan).

OUTSIDE BEA 

Part of what I am most looking forward to though is the outside BEA stuff in New York. So where else will you find me?

Heathers, The Musical - Kelly (from Kellyvision) and I have tickets to the Friday May 30th showing of this. I am really excited to be going, especially as I've heard many of the iconic lines are featured in the musical in some way.

Shake Shack - At some point I am going to need to grab lunch or dinner here. I tried it for the first time last time I was at BEA, and I have basically been dreaming about having it again ever since.

The Strand

Pretty sure all the bloggers I am staying with will be making the trek to The Strand at some point during our stay. I've never been (shocking right?!) but I hear it's an amazing bookstore! Plus, Dash and Lily's Book Of Dares uses this as an important backdrop to the story, so extra bookish bonus points.

Most Anticipated Books

Someone asked me for a list of my most anticipated finds at BEA, so I am going to include that here as well.

- Famous in Love by Rebecca Serle
- Falling Into Place by Amy Zhang
- Even In Paradise by Chelsey Philpot
- Anatomy of  a Misfit by Andrea Portes
- Exquisite Captive by Heather Demetrios
- Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld

Plus many, many more. My list is pretty Harper Collins heavy, but they have an incredible Fall catalog this year!

If you see me around don't be afraid to say Hi. I am shy, but love to meet new people. Especially if it means talking books. Are you headed to BEA? Let me know where I might see you!

Weekly Obsessions

The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every Saturday.

Here are my obsessions this week. Short and sweet this week!

BOOKS

Trial By Fire by Josephine Angelini

The first book in the Worldwalker Trilogy has a cover! This twist on Salem, and witches sounds delightful. The synopsis will have you dying to get your hands on it, and I do love the cover.

OTHER

Heathers - The Musical 

I have tickets! Not only do I have tickets, but they are front row tickets! Kelly (from Kellyvision) and I are eagerly anticipating going to see this. It's a little surreal to have tickets already. I can't get over that we were able to secure them for a great price, and FRONT ROW!

So what are you obsessed with this week?

Weekly Obsessions

The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every Saturday.

Here are my obsessions this week.........

BOOKS

Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige

I was fortunate to have gotten an advance copy of this. I read it, and needless to say LOVED it. It's a dark, twisty take on the Wizard of Oz tale, and it's a well plotted, gripping story. My full review is to come, but this one totally gave me a book hangover.

Cover for Even In Paradise by Chelsey Philpot

This cover is summer wrapped in contemporary goodness. I can't wait to read this. Epic Reads referred to the family in this as Kennedy-esque and obviously, I was sold. The Goodreads synopsis has only increased my need to read this book.

OTHER

Heathers, The Musical

Heathers is one of my favourite 80's movies. It's filled with insanely quotable lines - 'Our love is god, let's go get a slushie' being my personal favourite. The fact that they are turning this into a musical is amazing. Kelly (Kellyvision) and I will be going to see this while in NYC for Book Expo America and I am SO VERY EXCITED! #HowVery

A Long Way Down trailer

AARON PAUL! Enough said. He's adorable in this trailer. Sigh. (yes, okay, I might have a bit of a celebrity crush on him right now). Rosamund Pike and Imogen Potts are both so pretty. Super excited to see Rosamund in this because she'll be Amy in the Gone Girl movie. I just bough this book, and I am hoping to read it before the movie comes out. Yes, I totally bought the book because I want to see the movie (this surprises nobody).

So what are you obsessed with this week?