Review: The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour

The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour

Colby and Bev have a long-standing pact: graduate, hit the road with Bev's band, and then spend the year wandering around Europe. But moments after the tour kicks off, Bev makes a shocking announcement: she's abandoning their plans - and Colby - to start college in the fall.
But the show must go on and The Disenchantments weave through the Pacific Northwest, playing in small towns and dingy venues, while roadie- Colby struggles to deal with Bev's already-growing distance and the most important question of all: what's next?
Morris Award—finalist Nina LaCour draws together the beauty and influences of music and art to brilliantly capture a group of friends on the brink of the rest of their lives.

Review:

Ever since reading and loving Nina's debut, Hold Still, I've been anxious for her next release. I've been in a contemporary kick lately and this one did not disappoint. I loved The Disenchantments! 

I've noticed a few other people make this comment, but I also thought this before I started reading- that Colby was a girl! Luckily, it turned out he was most definitely not a girl! Books with male narrators are awesome and, unfortunately, rare, so I was glad to see that The Disenchantments was told from Colby's POV! 

Road trips, romance, friendships, music... this book had it all! I loved every minute of it. After graduation, Colby sets off on a road trip with the all-girl band, The Disenchantments. Bev, Alexa, and Meg were all awesome and I am so glad the reader got to know them each extremely well by the end. All of the characters were wonderfully developed and were dealing with their own issues. Colby and Bev have been best friends for years and he was shocked when Bev announced that she was ditching him on their planned European trip and going to college that fall. The band road trip still had to happen, though, and things would never be the same for any of them. 

The plot was awesome and it made me want to go on a road trip and/or join an all-girl band! There were various plots weaving together to form the main story and I loved seeing the different people the main characters met on their road trip and seeing how their different experiences shaped them. 

Alexa, Meg, Bev, and Colby were a great team and each of them was unique. Seeing them through Colby's eyes also made the story that much better. Colby was dealing with his own personal struggles, but he also had to face the fact that Bev was no longer coming to Europe and he had no where to go to college. This was much more than a book about a road trip, but a heartbreaking tale of first love, growing up, and finding yourself. 

I am a music person, but I have to admit I hadn't heard of many of the bands mentioned in The Disenchantments, so I'm glad it opened my eyes to some fantastic groups! The music aspect wasn't the biggest part of the book either, but it still had a large role. Without The Disenchantments Bev and Colby wouldn't have met Meg and Alexa, two awesome people. 

All of the characters left an impression on me. Even people they only talked to once, each of them was fascinating in their own way. 

I am so glad I read this book and will certainly be recommending it to as many people as I can. It was a unique and wonderfully written novel that will certainly impact anyone who reads it. 

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars

February 16, 2012/Dutton Juvenile/304 Pages/Young Adult

Source: Publisher

Other books by this author: Hold Still 

Review: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

Review:

I am kicking myself for not reading this sooner, it was brilliant! Shatter Me is Tahereh Mafi's debut novel, and what a debut it was! Shatter Me has an awesome protagonist, a sweet love interest, a devious villain, one hell of plot, and beautiful, beautiful writing. How can I possibly wait a year to read the sequel? I loved Shatter Me! 

The writing was what originally captivated me. Some people said it distracted them or felt like too much, but I think it was amazing. Every word seemed to be perfectly placed and the lyrical writing was gorgeous. It had me completely invested in the story and I felt like I was there experiencing things with Juliette. 

Juliette was amazing! She was brave and snarky and just plain awesome. Watching her grow over the course of the book was one of my favorite aspects of Shatter Me. In the beginning she was broken and emotional after being locked up, as anyone would be! She hasn't touched anyone in 264 days because of her "problem"- she can't touch anyone. My heart broke for Juliette, what a terrible thing to have to suffer from. It's scary to realize how often you touch other people, even just a brush against their arm when walking by. I can't even begin to imagine how awful that would be! Being in Juliette's head made everything more real and she is definitely one of my new favorite heroines. 

The dystopian genre is booming of late, but I can't get enough of it. The world-building in Shatter Me was great and I'm eager to find out more of the background in the sequel. Everything about Shatter Me was unique and fresh and... different. It completely grabbed me and had me gripping the pages from the start. 

Shatter Me's plot was action-packed and intense. Everything Juliette had to face made her grow as a person and I was constantly on the edge of my seat. Especially when Warren entered the scene. What a fantastically twisted and evil villain! I know other people have felt the same way, but I have to say there was something about Warren that just made me like him. I hope to see more of him in the sequel!

Adam was...wow. What a guy! He was brave, determined, and sexy. I loved him! His relationship with Juliette was wonderfully developed and I was rooting for them throughout the book. They went through a lot together and even had some steamy scenes ;) 

Shatter Me was a spectacular debut that blew me away. I will definitely be recommending this to everyone and anyone I can. Tahereh Mafi is an author to watch and I am counting down the days until I can get my hands on the sequel....

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars

November 15, 2011/Harper Collins/338 Pages/Young Adult/Book One

Source: Publisher (ARC)

Top Ten Tuesday (5)

Top Ten YA Standalone Titles 

1. Moonglass by Jessi Kirby

Moonglass was a fantastic debut that tugged on my heartstrings and made me long for summer. I've recently read Jessi's sophomore novel, In Honor, and loved it as well. If you're looking for a romantic and wonderfully written standalone contemporary- Moonglass is definitely the book for you!

2. Mostly Good Girls by Leila Sales

Leila is one of my favorite authors because her books are always hilarious and full of heart. Mostly Good Girls is a wonderfully fun read that shows just how important friends are. Loved it! (Her newest release, Past Perfect, is fantastic as well!) 

3. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver 

This is the only book I have read by Lauren (her others are in my TBR!!), but I loved it. Before I Fall was emotional and intense, but I loved it. I know most of you have probably already read this, but if you haven't please do ASAP!

4. Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

Beauty Queens is craaaazy- but in the best possible way. Libba Bray is an awesome writer and Beauty Queens did not disappoint. I always recommend this! 

5. Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

Road trip books FTW! Morgan's debut was a fun and overall fantastic read. I loved Amy and Roger and the way the book was told. I can't wait for her next book to come out!

6. The Queen's Daughter by Susan Coventry 

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres and this was a gem. I didn't know much about this time period before reading The Queen's Daughter and Susan wrote it in an enthralling and entertaining way. If you are a fan of historical fiction or haven't found something in the genre that you've clicked with, definitely give this a shot!

7. The DUFF by Kody Keplinger 

Kody, and her books, are wonderful. I loved The DUFF so much and have made all my friends read it. This is a contemporary book at its best and her newest release, Shut Out, is another one I highly recommend!

8. Anything Sarah Dessen 

Sarah Dessen is the queen of contemporary standalones. Her books are always great and some of my personal favorites are This Lullaby and Just Listen. 

9. Sea by Heidi R. Kling

Sea is a wonderful, wonderful book. I've never read anything quite like Sea and I really need to reread this soon. 

10. The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson 

Such an emotional, but amazing, read! I loved this book and it was a truly beautiful story. I wish it got more attention because it was fantastic and Jandy is definitely an author to watch!

What are some of your favorite YA standlones? 

Review: Everblue by Brenda Pandos

Everblue by Brenda Pandos

She wanted her life to change... he wanted his to stay the same.

Best friends share everything with each other. Or do they? Seventeen-year-old Ashlyn Frances Lanski is tired of her boring, single life. Spending time with her best friend Tatiana, dreaming about kissing Tatiana's twin brother Fin, and swimming competitively are her only sanctuary. The girls plan to leave their drab lakeside town far behind for college. But when Tatchi fails to return home after a family emergency, and no one knows where the family has gone, Ash chooses to do something drastic to find them.

Ashlyn is about to discover what she'd thought to be true her whole life, wasn't, and the truth, too fantastical to imagine. Secrets lurk beneath the deep blue waters of Lake Tahoe, secrets that will change Ashlyn's life forever.

Review:

I am a big fan of Brenda's Talisman series and a lover of all things mermaid, so this seemed like it was going to be a winner for me. I definitely liked the story and characters, but Everblue didn't completely live up to my expectations. I first started reading this a few months back, but had a hard time getting into it so I set it aside. In December I picked it back up again and soon was immersed in the story. While Everblue definitely had it's pitfalls, it was a fun read and I am interested in trying out the sequel.

The alternating perspectives worked well for Everblue. It was interesting to see both sides of the story, especially since Ash and Fin were the narrators. Ashlyn has lived next door to twins Fin and Tatchi for a long time. Ash and Tatchi are best friends and Ash has always harbored a secret crush on Fin. Everything seems to be going smoothly until Ashlyn discovers her neighbors have disappeared. She can't contact them and has no idea where they could have gone. Everything for all three of the main characters is about to change in more ways than they could have ever imagined.

Everblue's premise was great and I liked Brenda's take on mermaids. The mystery angle was also something I enjoyed and I was constantly rooting for Fin and Tatchi. There were a lot of interesting characters introduced through Fin's perspective and the new twist Brenda put on the mer was definitely unique. While getting to know the mers was a highlight of the book for me, I also liked Ash's chapters because she was an ordinary and relatable teenager.

On the downside, I wish some of the characters could have been more developed. Tatchi, in particular. She seemed like such an exciting, spitfire character that I would have loved to see more of her. The romance was also a little strange. It seemed so forced and... off to me. I'm hoping to get some resolution in the sequel and to see the characters figure things out for themselves. It's hard to explain my feelings without spoiling anything, so you'll have to read the book to see what I mean!

All in all, Everblue was a promising read that ended up disappointing me on a few accounts. I enjoyed the read, but the romance made me uncomfortable. I will be checking out the sequel in hopes that some of my concerns will be resolved. The dual points of view and mer lore were two pluses and I am looking forward to seeing what happens next!

Overall: 3 out of 5 stars

July 30, 2011/Obsidian Mountain Publishing/304 Pages/Young Adult/Book One

Source: Author (ARC)

Other books by this author: The Emerald Talisman, The Sapphire Talisman, The Onyx Talisman 

In My Mailbox (108)

I am especially excited about two of the books I received this week: Pandemonium and Tempest. What did you get this week?

For Review:

Curveball: The Year I Lost My Grip by Jordan Sonnenblick

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Titanic: Voices From the Disaster by Deborah Hopkinson

Tempest by Julie Cross

Vesper by Jeff Sampson

Havoc by Jeff Sampson 

IMM Is Hosted By: The Story Siren 

Review: Fracture by Megan Miranda

Fracture by Megan Miranda 

Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled from the icy waters of a Maine lake by her best friend Decker Phillips. By then her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead. And yet she somehow defied medical precedent to come back seemingly fine -despite the scans that showed significant brain damage. Everyone wants Delaney to be all right, but she knows she's far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can't control or explain, Delaney finds herself drawn to the dying. Is her altered brain now predicting death, or causing it?
Then Delaney meets Troy Varga, who recently emerged from a coma with similar abilities. At first she's reassured to find someone who understands the strangeness of her new existence, but Delaney soon discovers that Troy's motives aren't quite what she thought. Is their gift a miracle, a freak of nature-or something much more frightening?

Review: 

Fracture was a unique and captivating debut that will definitely appeal to a variety of readers. The first few chapters had me gripping the book and anxious to read on. I loved the premise of the book and how Megan Miranda was obviously knowledgeable on the subject of brain damage. Delaney was also a likable character. While I did like Fracture, it, unfortunately, did not live up to my expectations. I think I went in with such high hopes, that the few complications I had with the novel made me like it less than I would have if it hadn't been compared to some of my personal favorites like Before I Fall. 

Delaney Maxwell should have died after spending eleven minutes under the ice. But she doesn't die. This was such a unique idea for a book and it drew me in right away. I just had to know what was going to happen to Delaney and why she was a medical miracle. Delaney herself doesn't entirely understand what's going on and she is a seemingly new person after waking up from her coma. I did care for Delaney and she was a strong and independent protagonist. Her determination to do what was right was clear from the start and I can't imagine dealing with what she was. 

As I mentioned before, the first few chapters were fantastic and gave me such a good feeling about this book- I was certain I was going to love it! The more I read though, the weirder things got. I was confused about several plot points and the introduction of Troy was a little creepy. I knew something was off about him and the more involved Delaney got with him the more I wanted to shake her shoulders! I did like Decker though, and I enjoyed seeing how Delaney and Decker's histories intertwined. They had grown up together and he was a great friend, plus a hero for saving Delaney from the ice.

I had originally thought this was a purely contemporary novel, but there was a paranormal twist, something I wish was explained a little more. Fracture had a lot of intriguing sub-plots that kept me reading and wanting to know what was going to happen. This was a spooky and unique read that will definitely hook readers from the first page. 

Although Fracture didn't entirely live up to my expectations, it was a solid debut, and I definitely recommend giving it a shot. While some parts disappointed me and I wish there was more explanation in other areas, I am glad I had the chance to read Fracture! I'm certain Megan Miranda will only grow as a writer and I can't wait to see what unique concept she comes up with for her next book!

Overall: 3.5 out of 5 stars

January 17, 2012/Walker & Company/272 Pages/Young Adult

Source: Publisher (ARC)