HarperCollins Canada: Frenzy Presents
(Spring 2018 Edition)
On April 8, 2018, I attended Frenzy Presents, a YA-centered book preview event hosted by HarperCollins Canada (HCC). As HCC recently moved to a new office location, closer to the core of Downtown Toronto and merged with Harlequin side of things, attendees got to see their new digs (which is hella lit and has an amazing “new office furniture” scent — which…yes, of course that’s a thing I would enjoy).
So many thanks to the team at HCC Frenzy for allowing me to participate in an afternoon of wonderful bookish company. And for potentially exploding my TBR shelves. As one does.
For more details and other thoughts from this event, peruse the Twitter hashtag #FrenzyPresents!
Pre-Preview Ritual: The Grub
This isn’t so much of a ritual anymore than to just say that I need fuel before going into the frey of imploding your Goodread shelves. I went to grab some brunch goodness before the event and, yes, of course ya boy got eggs benny. I love food far to much to not share. Also, there were these doughnut holes that were hella good but I couldn’t take a photo of them because they were inhaled real quick.
Thought I just had to mention food because food.
Frenzy Presents: Spring 18′ YA Preview
We began the event with a quick video looking back at the year HCC Frenzy had, with milestones including reaching 10k Twitter followers, hosting Becky Albertalli, Julie Murphy and Angie Thomas in Canada, screening of Love, Simon (which I graciously attended), among other highlight reel moments. My tweet mentioned in my Love, Simon was also featured in the reel! That was pretty neat.
But then we got to [book] business.
Spring 2018 In A Glance
Showcased below is the list of books Frenzy spotlighted. It’s not inclusive of all titles releasing under the Harper/Harlequin YA umbrella but what they’re excited for.
Are there of these covers that entice you? Let me know!
Spring 2018 Books I’m Excited For!
I would normally go through “every” book, but I don’t know what I could say that could entice you more than the cover lust above. So I’ll highlight some key titles for me.
April 2018
Leah on the Offbeat (Becky Albertalli – April 24, 2018)
Reasons: Ah, you know, it’s related to that one book no one has really heard of called Simon v.s. the Homosapiens Agenda.
May 2018
War Storm (Victoria Aveyard – May 15, 2018)
Reasons: The end is in sight! (Although we all know I wasn’t particularly fond of Red Queen and Glass Sword — haven’t read King’s Cage — but I do want to see this story through to the end.)
Onyx & Ivory (Mindy Arnett – May 15, 2018)
Reasons: Considering I make orders with couriers on the daily, having a protagonist who’s initial profession is a courier…I mean, this is some voodoo wizardry of fate.
Monday’s Not Coming (Tiffany Jackson – May 22, 2018)
Reasons: From the author of Allegedly, Jackson delivers another one-two punch of mystery focusing the narrative on the disappearance of black women.
June 2018
Summer of Salt (Katrina Leno – June 5, 2018)
Reasons: This was not on my radar at all…except now I hear a lot of buzz for this literary fantasy story.
August 2018
Heretics Anonymous (Katie Henry – August 7, 2018)
Reasons: Stop the fucking presses. This book sounds rad as all heck. Saved By The Bell meets Saved is the pitch. Give me all the humour.
“Michael is an atheist… …But Lucy introduces Michael to other St. Clare’s outcasts, and he officially joins Heretics Anonymous, where he can be an atheist, Lucy can be an outspoken feminist, Avi can be Jewish and gay, Max can wear whatever he wants, and Eden can practice paganism.”
Bonus: Friendships and Bookish Hauls
With every book preview event comes mingling. And though yours truly is usually an awkward beaver, he was alright this afternoon. Plus, I got to finally slow-motion-run-hug Jamie (Books and Ladders, bottom right in green), who despite having blogged in the same Twitter-space for years, I’ve never attended the same events as her. So that’s neat. Overall, it was just nice to catch up with everyone again!
https://twitter.com/booksandladders/status/983142546233872384
At the end, they provided swag bags to attendees and I received the following in his:
Afterthoughts
Which Spring 2018 release are you excited for? Which cover designs have caught your attention?
Let me know!
Cheers,
Joey
connect:
afterthoughtAn // twitter
anotherafterthought // goodreads
picturevomit // instagram
thoughts and afterthoughts. 
That looks like such an amazing event!! I am so excited for Sea Witch and War Storm!!
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Everyone in the room was like “oooooooooh!” when we were pitched Sea Witch. I mean…Ursula retelling? Sign us allllllll upppppppppp.
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It seems like you had such a lovely time, hearing about these kind of events and getting invited to them, that’s the dream for me haha so I live through you with these posts, thank you 😀
I’m very excited for many of these releases, especially Leah and Summer of Salt, which sounds quite amazing 😀 x
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I’ll always try to deliver the vicarious experience for you, Marie. Much like how I lived your meeting of Schwab through your post!
I’m really curious as to this author for Summer of Salt. I’ve never heard of her until this past weekend and it seems that *everyone* I know online is excited for this book!
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Thank you, I appreciate it SO much haha 😀
I had heard of her previous books as well, but that’s because I am a big contemporary fan I guess? 😛
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I love all mentions of food and yours looks delicious! This book event looks and sounds like so much fun! 😀 So many of those books you showed I need to read ASAP! Top ones being: Puddin’, Leah on the Offbeat, and 9 Days & 9 Nights. I’ve kind of given up on Red Queen after reading Glass Sword. I kind of want to see what happens next, but then I also remember how much I hated Glass Sword. Maybe I’ll check out the others in audiobook, lol.
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I think your husband might also need to return back to the Simon Vs. world with Leah! Seems like you have better successes with books you struggle with via Audio, so that might be the right route for you to go with Red Queen et al. I just want to know how it ends…and if the TIME spend was even worth it in the end.
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Food is always important! 😉 This sounds like such a fun event and you got some excellent swag as well. And there are so many good titles coming out! My top title would probably be Leah but there are lots of titles that I can’t wait to read.
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I’m actually not the biggest fan of book swag in general because I never know what to do with it! But in the heat of the event moment, I forget to just return it/drop it off (it comes in the bag–I don’t grab it!) I’m really excited for Leah too!
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Sounds like a lit time! And got dang those eggs benedict look delish.
Omg we need to buddy read King’s Cage to prep for War Storm or whatever the last book is. Or is it the last book? I thought she got a couple of book extensions. What even is happening to this series.
Also I read the Bird and the Blade and it was so bad, 11/10 stay away from it.
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Yes, a lit time is what we could be having soooooon.
I’M BAD AT BUDDY READING — THIS HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED. War Storm is the last book, yeah, and I will have a field day reading it.
I love how people come here for recs and Aila comes strolling in “nah bro its bad” omggggg
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Looks like you had a great time! Harper Collins has a lot of good looking YA books coming out in the future. I want to read Leah and Puddin’. I am looking forward to reading your reviews for the ones you took home.
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They do have a varied selection of books coming out, and I’m glad there are some that you’re excited for as well! And maybe for your kiddo too!
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Wow it seems like you had a fantastic time! First things first, good thought putting those eggs bennedict there, my mouth is watering. Secondly, I can’t wait to watch Love, Simon!!! I adored the book and am super bummed that it’s not premiering any time soon in my country. And those covers are gorgeous, I particularly love the more simplistic ones.
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I’m glad I’ve connected with all the eggs benny connoisseurs in the book blogging community — who would have thought?
I really hope you enjoy Love, Simon when you see it! Did the theaters list a time that it’s gonna be playing in your country (I hope it gets its screen time there). I’m also for simple and clean covers with great use of colours!
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It’s premiering in late June 😅
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Yesssss. Soon!
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Nice post thanks foor sharing
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