The Happiest Book Birthday to The Disappearances by Emily Bain Murphy! (And a very happy Fourth of July to my fellow Americans!) Before I continue with this review, a HUGE thank you is in order: I got an ARC of this wonderful book from HMH Teen through Netgalley, so thank you, thank you, thank you! This might actually be one of my favourite books I've read so far this year and I'm so excited to share my thoughts with you guys! As always, my review is spoiler free.
The Disappearances is a real gem! On of those unexpected ones that you don't expect. Oh, god. Obviously! Anyway, I was like super interested in this book, but then I didn't add it to my TBR shame on me! and forgot about it until I found it again on Netgalley! By the time got the email saying I was approved for the ARC, I already kind of forgot about the synopsis again. I'M SO SORRY. IT JUST HAPPENS. OKAY?!
So, I went into The Disappearances pretty much without any expectations, which I honestly like the best because it's sort of difficult to feel let down. I was really enjoying the story from page one, but one thing bothered me a little: the timing. I won't tell you what it is, as I want you to go into this book blank, but I was a little meh about it. Especially when I realised that a specific timing just wasn't necessary for this book! Anyway, I didn't realise how I hooked I was on this book until certain things started happening and I was nearly crying and hysterical because OH MY GOD. Yes, it really is just THAT good.
I thought The Disappearances was a fantasy novel, and it is, a little, but it's more of a mystery. And it made me realise how much I love reading about mysterious things! Literally everything, from the setting to the events to some characters, it's all one mystery that's solved throughout the book. The further you get, the more you know. I got such a big kick out of it! There is, however, one mystery that hasn't really been solved for me. I'm blaming it on the fact that I had to put the book down for almost a full week and details got foggy, but I'm sad I don't know the answer to my rather important! question!
The characters are just SO WONDERFUL. Aila's name sounds very much like my own or like identical? and I was afraid this would bother me, but it didnt. I loved her as a character, I loved experiencing everything through her and being in her head. Her brother Miles is introduced as an annoying prick of sorts, but I don't get it because he's lovely and kind and ??? I don't get it! Okay. he has his flaws but he's like what? Ten? I'm actually not sure anymore, oops! Beas and George are wonderful characters as well. I feel as if I could be friends with the both of them. And George is really smart and funny. I've saved my favourite for last: Will! Oh my goodness, what a guy. And don't even get me started on the romance! D'aawh, it was cute! New OTP for sure! I'm not even saying who my OTP is because I don't want you to know the couple yet but omg! It's probably my first/only OTP that I hated before I loved it but I'm in LOVE.
Overall, The Disappearances is such a wonderful, incredible book. It made me smile like a lunatic and it made me ridiculously happy. Of course it also broke my poor heart, but it's okay. It's really one of those books I could reread again and again and just laugh at the funny parts and cry at the sad bits. I'd love to experience it all over again, so I'm definitely getting myself a finished copy! And obviously I suggest you do, too!
Is The Disappearances on your TBR yet?
PS. For more gushing about this wonderful book, check out the spoiler tag of my Goodreads review!