Rounding out #Bookchella (on April 18-19) was the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. I have been attending the LA Times Festival of books for four years (this was my second year going both days) and I have always had a spectacular time. Because it is such a huge event you have to plan ahead and know who you want to see. Fortunately for me I was able to see everyone I wanted to this year. I already can’t wait for next spring.

I arrived early at the USC campus to pick up my press badge. This was my first year going as press so I was excited to get my badge.

After getting my badge I headed over to the YA Stage and hung out around there waiting for Elizabeth Eulberg to start her signing at the Once Upon a Time tent. When I got to the tent I was excited to see that not only was Elizabeth signing there but also Jenny Han. This worked out perfectly as I was able to set them to sign my books before their panel “The Girls are Alright”.

After getting Jenny to sign my copy of To All the Boys I Loved Before Elizabeth and I found a nice sunny spot where I was able to interview her. (You can watch my full interview with Elizabeth here).

After the interview I wandered around until finally heading over to “The Girls Are Alright” panel. Because of my press badge I was able to skip the line and got priority seating in the auditorium. Because I had already gotten my books signed by Jenny and Elizabeth earlier that morning I decided to see if Octavia Spencer was still at the Children’s Stage. She was already signing books by the time I arrived but unfortunlty she was only signing copies of her book The Sweetest Heist In History, the second book in her Randi Rhodes, Ninja Dectective series. I usually would not do this but I ended up waiting for her signing to be over and as she was leaving I asked for a quick selfie which she was kind enough to say yes to.

The last panel of the day for me was the “Thrills and Chills” panel at the YA Stage. I had told myself I wasn’t going to purchase any books at the festival (I have enough already) after listening to this panel I ended up buying Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas (pictured below).

Day two was a lot less hectic as I only went to two panels. I ended up getting to the festival later then I had on the first day as I went to Target for their Lily Pulitzer x Target collection (the pink dress I am wearing is from there).

Because I got there late (and ended up leaving early) I was only able to attend two panels (although the first wasn’t an actual panel but a cooking demonstration). YES you heard that right, a COOKING DEMONSTRATION, by none other then Katie Lee herself. Since moving into my first solo apartment I have been determined to cook more so going to see Katie Lee cook was a no brainer.

After the cooking demonstration (and getting my cookbook signed) I headed straight to my next (and last) panel of the day: “Famous by Association”. I was really excited for this panel because Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan (of Go Fug Yourself) were going to be there. I am a bit of a royal watcher so I absolutely loved their Prince William and Kate Middleton inspired novel The Royal We. (Sidenote: you can read my interview with Heather and Jessica here).