The US Cover for Wish You Were Italian by Kristin Rae

Today I’m delighted to a part of the 2014 Debut Author Bash hosted by YA Reads. I’m so excited to be sharing with you all today a guest post from Kristin Rae.

Earlier this year I had the pleasure of reading Kristin Rae’s debut novel, Wish You Were Italian. This is such a fun book about Pippa, an American teenager who spends one eventful summer in Italy. I loved reading this book – the romance, the culture and the fantastic characters all combining into a read I didn’t want to finish. It is so much better than I’m making it sound (you can read my review by clicking here) and I recommend it for fans of well written and entertaining contemporary YA fiction.

I feel honoured to have Kristin on the blog today where she shares ten young adult novels she loves.

10 YA Novels I Love – Kristin Rae

Thank you so much for having me! I’m excited to share ten young adult novels that have nestled into my brain for the long haul. These are in no particular order.

1. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins – Me? A YA contemporary author with this book on her list? Surprise. I’ll just be real with you here. Without this book, mine probably wouldn’t exist. I’d wanted to set a story in Italy for YEARS, but it wasn’t until I read this book and was inspired by Perkins’s courage to set a story in France (before she’d even been there! And I had been to Italy!), and of course by all the swoons, I knew contemporary was the subgenre for me, and that I could, in fact, write about Italy.

2. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith – This was probably the second novel I read that convinced me to keep writing contemporary. It’s sweet and swoon-worthy, filled with real issues, and all wrapped up in one fairytale-like day. And it involves travel, which we all know I’m a sucker for.

3. Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard – Another travel contemporary?! Get out! I read this on a beach in Florida, which really added to my reading experience, like I was there with Bria on her adventures. The author’s drawings are also incorporated throughout, which I found to be a special touch.

4. Splintered by A.G. Howard – Everything about this Alice in Wonderland inspired book is just gorgeous. The writing, the world, Morpheus…. Yes, there’s a love triangle (we know I’m not afraid of these), but Howard really made me like both of these boys, which I think is hard to do as an author. Despite my obvious love for Morpheus, what I take away most from this book is the imagery of Wonderland. You’ll feel like you’ve been there.

5. There You’ll Find Me by Jenny B. Jones – Another travel book! I don’t even know what to say about this one. I adored everything about it. The setting, the characters, the storyline. So. Sweet.

6. Perfect Chemistry and Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles – There’s not much to say about these books except for HELLO! Seriously addicting. My note to myself after I finished this was: “Swoon heartbreak swoon swoon heartbreak swoon double triple swoon.”

7. Past Perfect by Leila Sales – What a cute cute cute story! I loved that the MC works at a historical reenactment village, and that there’s a rivalry with a competing reenactment village where THE BOY works. I mean, really. It’s too much fun for words!

8. Nevermore by Kelly Creagh – Varen Nethers. That’s all you need to know.

9. Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare – It may be unfair listing the third book in a series, but THIS BOOK. It’s a miracle I survived it. So many feels.

10. Hello, I Love You by Katie M. Stout – Another travel story! With music! This is also a bit unfair of me since it doesn’t come out until summer 2015, but it’s SO GOOD and everyone needs to read it! Here’s the Publisher’s Marketplace description: a teenage girl from a famous country music family, after a rough year at home, attends a boarding school in Korea only to get swept up in the K-pop fandom when she falls for a teen idol. Add it to your list!

Thank you so much Kristin for taking the time to share ten of your favourite YA novels! I know you’ve been very busy lately what with writing your next book, What You Always Wanted (expected publication early 2016) and your daughter being born this week! Congratulations on the exciting new addition to your family!

For everyone reading this – if you have liked any of the books on Kristin’s list, I think you’ll enjoy Wish You Were Italian. I’ve read most of them (and those I haven’t I am moving up my to-read list!) and I can attest that Kristin has captured the wonderful European travel vibe which so many of those books also embrace.

Click here to see Wish You Were Italian on Amazon