The Disenchantments

by Nina LaCour

Colby's post-high school plans have long been that he and his best friend Beth would tour with her band, then spend a year in Europe, but when she announces that she will start college just after the tour, Colby struggles to understand why she changed her mind and what losing her means for his future.

• ISBN10: 1101575433
• ISBN13: 9781101575437
• Publish Date: 1 February 2012
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Dutton Children's Books
• Format: eBook
• Pages: 304
• Language: English

Reviews

[Joséphine]

Initial thoughts: The Disenchantments surprised me by how much it affected me. I mean, it was a fairly straightforward road trip novel during which the sights and places weren't pivotal to the travel aspect. However, the emotional rollercoaster was really there. This book had so much heart, which made me feel so much and also relate to Colby.

Can't say I've ever been in love with a best friend but I've clung on to promises that the other never meant to actually fulfil. Grappling with that was a painful experience for me, and I think LaCour captured the confusion and the conflicting emotions that Colby dealt with quite well. Also the notion of a last hurrah before friends part ways to uncertain futures was captured in ways that made me think of end-of-high school and end-of-uni days. You really don't know who the friends are who will drift and who will stick around, so there's a lot of sentimentality during those times, which again, The Disenchantments brought to life.

I did have a quibble with Bev. I don't understand how she and Colby ended up as best friends. That chemistry wasn't entirely apparent on the page, especially with Colby in love with Bev. Meg and Alexa did fit into their friendship group, though.

[Stephanie]

For the most part, this was a fun book. Colby and Bev's plans for traveling through Europe right after high school graduation are finally happening. But first, they are going on a road trip with Meg and Alexa, who make up Bev's all girl band.

Bev and Colby were very big downers for most of the book. I was annoyed by Bev most of the time for being so moody towards Colby. Colby was always sad and mopey because of Bev. Which I felt bad for Colby, but not bad enough that I could deal with his sadness the whole time. Meg and Alexa were the best part of the book, to me. They were the ones who made the book a little bit brighter.

The ending wasn't very surprising to me, I definitely saw it coming.

This was a fun journey to read about, though I would never have the guts to go on a road trip and go into strangers basements. And even thought I felt like the book moved at a slow pace, it was still an easy, fun read.