Guest Post- Lisa Maxwell

I've got an awesome guest post from author Lisa Maxwell about the 5 best YA books she read last year. Her newest book comes out Feb 2 and I posted the summary for it below, and there's a swag giveaway too from Lisa, so leave a comment telling us what book(s) you loved most from last year on this post by next Monday, Feb 8 at 9pm EST to be entered!

For as long as she can remember, Gwendolyn Allister has never had a place to call home. Her mother believes they are being hunted by brutal monsters, and those delusions have brought them to London, far from the life Gwen had finally started to build for herself. Gwen’s only saving grace is that her best friend, Olivia, is with her for the summer.

But shortly after their arrival, the girls are kidnapped by shadowy creatures and dragged to a world of flesh-eating sea hags and dangerous Fey. And Gwen begins to realize that maybe her mother isn’t so crazy after all…

Gwen discovers that this new world she inhabits is called Neverland, but it’s nothing like the Neverland you’ve heard about in stories. Here, good and evil lose their meaning and memories slip like water through your fingers. As Gwen struggles to remember where she came from and tries to find a way home, she must choose between trusting the charming fairy-tale hero who says all the right things and the captivating pirate who promises to keep her safe.

Caught in the ultimate battle between good and evil, with time running out and her enemies closing in, Gwen is forced to finally face the truths she’s been hiding from all along. But can she save Neverland without losing herself?

Thanks so much for having me on Book Chic! I’m excited to share my five favorite YA reads of 2015 with your readers. Ready?

In no particular order…

THE WALLS AROUND US by Nova Ren Suma
I’ve been a fan of Nova Ren Suma’s ever since I read an ARC of IMAGINARY GIRLS back in 2011, but this one is by far my favorite. THE WALLS AROUND US is a compelling page-turner that blends the authors trademark lyricism and magical realism with a plot that keeps you guessing until the very end.

BONE GAP by Laura Ruby
I heard a lot of buzz (no pun intended) about this one on Twitter, so I decided to check it out and, WOW, am I glad I did. I’m a sucker for gorgeous writing and magical realism, and this one has both. I was so happy to see it won the Printz.

THE REVENGE PLAYBOOK by Rachael Allen
I absolutely loved this story of a group of girls out for revenge. It has Allen’s trademark wit and shimmers with a motley group of girls that you want to root for until the very last page.

THE BOY IN THE BLACK SUIT by Jason Reynolds
I really enjoyed Reynold’s WHEN I WAS THE GREATEST, but THE BOY IN THE BLACK SUIT is even better. He has an amazing talent for bringing the everyday trials of his characters to vivid life. Reynolds has this really wonderful combination of minimalism and lyricism in his writing that drew me right in.

SECRETS OF ATTRACTION by Robin Constantine
I absolutely loved this contemporary told in alternating points of view. Constantine does such a great job of bringing these characters to life, and I’m always a sucker for a boy in a band. But it’s more than just the romance that made this book for me—her layered and complex family relationships make this book a winner all around.

Thanks so much for having me and letting me share some of my favorite reads of the last year! I’d love to hear what YOUR readers loved in 2015. Anyone who comments will be entered to win a Swag Pack for UNHOOKED, my upcoming dark Peter Pan retelling!

Bio:
Lisa Maxwell is the author of Sweet Unrest, Gathering Deep, and Unhooked (Simon Pulse, 2-2-16). When she's not writing books, she's an English professor at a local college. She lives near DC with her very patient husband and two not-so patient boys.
This July, she will be teaching a writing workshop for a week in western Ireland. You can check out more information at http://www.irelandwritertours.com/

Links:
Website: www.lisa-maxwell.com
Twitter: @lisamaxwellYA