An interesting magical realism mystery that I would've been obsessed with as a teenager. If you're a fan of Sweep by Cate Tiernan, you may just love this.

DNF at 40 percent. I liked the idea behind the novel and the writing is beautiful, but I just felt the pacing was too slow and I couldn't get into the story.

Hands down, this is one of the best YA novels I have read in ages.
Absolute gem.

Aila Quinn’s mother Juliet is a legend on her own, the only girl who has ever been able to leave Sterling and live the normal life. Because Sterling is somehow cursed - there are disappearances, the missings of the stuff we consider normal until they are missing. Like stars.
So when Aila and her younger brother Miles are sent to live in Sterling after Juliet's death, they firstly do not understand - but then they enter the life there passionately. There is a mystery to be solved. There is a school to cope with. There are friends and foes and all the teenage stuff. There are feelings. There are decisions, past and present.

I have enjoyed every page, and for so many reasons!
This is a thing of beauty, this novel. It has everything I love in the YA genre (namely the pure teenage feelings and efforts to truly change the world) and much of the maturity of the fiction - namely the burden of the past. There is the strength, the calling, the message - and all this hidden in the clothes of the vibrant, pure young soul.

This novel should stand on pedestal with much many worse, yet more famous YA novels. Or better, this book should dethrone them - because unlike the more many famous works, this one has much to offer.

A book with a unique premise. I found The Disappearances really hard to put down once I had started. I just wanted to know everything I could about this world and these strange occurrences.

I sadly wasn't blown away by this novel. It took me a while to read it, and I finished it and it wasn't amazing and I just was bored sadly. Not sure if I'll be checking out her work in the future, but I might give her another chance. I just wasn't feeling this book and I pushed myself to finish it and I think that ruined this book for me.

You can definitely tell there was much thought invested in this book. It was lovely written and kept me intrigued. I just wish there had been more.

What if the ordinary things in life suddenly…disappeared?

Aila Quinn’s mother, Juliet, has always been a mystery: vibrant yet guarded, she keeps her secrets beyond Aila’s reach. When Juliet dies, Aila and her younger brother Miles are sent to live in Sterling, a rural town far from home--and the place where Juliet grew up.

Sterling is a place with mysteries of its own. A place where the experiences that weave life together--scents of flowers and food, reflections from mirrors and lakes, even the ability to dream--vanish every seven years.

No one knows what caused these “Disappearances,” or what will slip away next. But Sterling always suspected that Juliet Quinn was somehow responsible--and Aila must bear the brunt of their blame while she follows the chain of literary clues her mother left behind. 

As the next Disappearance nears, Aila begins to unravel the dual mystery of why the Disappearances happen and who her mother truly was. One thing is clear: Sterling isn’t going to hold on to anyone's secrets for long before it starts giving them up. -Goodreads

I've been sitting on this book for a while, unfortunately,  so when I actually began reading it, I was very pleased.

The Disappearances started off really well. It doesn't take a whole lot of time for you to get to some big points in the novel. However, the first thing I noticed was how Aila acted. Although she is 17, her actions, the way she speaks and interacts with everyone makes it appear she is younger than what she is. It isn't until she starts school... high school that you have a confirmation on her age. From there, how she interacts with others and what her own actions begin to shift. It was interesting to read because I thought she was 12 when I began the book.

Beyond that she was an alright character. I didn't dislike her nor did I like her. I felt that she was one of those neutral characters that only saves the day because of how it affects her and her family and not necessarily because it may be the right thing to do or because she has that spark in her. 

The love interest didn't have enough chemistry for me to feel that it was truly genuine, which is unfortunate because it would have been nice. Half way through the book things staled a little as not a whole lot was really really going on. When some things did happen, it wasn't the big explosion the book or even the summary made it seem it was going to be. It was disappointing the say the least.

But I kept reading the book even though my excited for it was dwindling. I couldn't put it down because the author was very creative and it reminded me a bit of a movie I watch on Netflix called Perfect Sense (2011) featuring Eva Green and Ewan McGregor. It's a decent watch with a lack luster ending, which surprisingly is exactly how I feel about the ending of this book.

Overall, I didn't think it was a bad read and for the most part I enjoyed this book. But there were misses in the plot, backstory, romance and twists (the twist is not shocking at all). This book could have been amazing but for the most part, it was a nice between read. 

3 Pickles

This book is everything. The Disappearances is one of those books where you are just so taken aback by the sheer level of work that had to go into creating this masterpiece. This is Emily Bain Murphy's DEBUT novel. I am having such a hard time comprehending that. She has set the bar so high for the start of her writing career and I cannot wait for her to write another book. Oh, please say she will be writing another book.

What can I even say about this book that won't be some sort of spoiler? I feel like everyone just needs to read this book for their self without knowing much about it. But since a review is meant to tell the reader what they will be getting, I can tell you that the book is about siblings. Their mother died at the beginning of the book and the kids are going to go live with a family friend because their father has been called away to war, WWII to be exact. Upon reaching Sterling, the town where the family friend lives, Aila, our main character, notices weird things here and there. Essentially, the town has and event every 7 years called The Disappearances, which is when everyone loses a sensory thing such as taste, things losing color, the inability to hear certain people, etc. That is where the mystery portion of the book comes into play and, God, I loved it soooooo much!

The story is a historical fantasy type with supernatural elements. Oh, and Shakespeare. We can never forget Shakespeare. But that is all I can say about that. You need to figure everything else out on your own. I think I can also safely say that, with the book being a mystery, the author did a fantastic job setting everything up for that. Once the plot was revealed to me I had to put the book down to think of the possibilities that could arise from such a unique twist.

The world this author set up is so brilliant. The mystery that the book takes place around is so unique, creative and, intricate. The characters are all important and serve their purposes in the plot. This book is just an all around great read and I cannot wait to read it again.

In the end, I don't think I have ever felt this satisfied by a book. I truly adored this story and it will be on my top 10 books or 2017 as number 1. Unless... by some complete miracle, another amazing book comes out that can top this one. I doubt that will happen.

Overall, I gave the book 5/5 stars.

I had a hard time with this book. The storyline was slow moving, too slow for me. I also had a hard time connecting with the characters.

I loved this book! I thought the mix of magical realism, historical fiction, and poetry--including Shakespeare!--was very well done. I could feel the emotions of the characters and see Sterling in my mind. I loved how the mystery slowly built and was revealed in turn.

The Disappearances will definitely delight readers with its story. It's one of my favorites for 2017!

A full review can be found on [a cup of tea and an armful of books]!

I lost track of this one. It happens occasionally with eARCs in non-.mobi format, and I apologize for the inconvenience.

THE DISAPPEARANCES has to one of my favorite books ever. I didn't even know what to expect going in (except that I loved the premise!) but the story grabbed me and wouldn't let go. Emily Bain Murphy is a master with prose and the way she described things made me feel like I was living in the world right alongside her characters. I cannot recommend this book enough, and I can't wait to read what Emily writes next.

What a delightful book. It was different from what I usually read and that was what I needed. Highly recommend. Just a lovely book

Funny Story: I had a deja vu of starting this book a couple of years ago. I remember loving the story, but being unable to finish the reading the book. So when I saw the cover and title again, I thought that it was a re-release .....It was not. Weird, right????

The Disappearances has one of the most original plots that I have read this year.

Not only is the storyline unique, but also the writing style is so beautiful. This in its own makes me want to add Emily Murphy to my list of auto-buy authors, which include Lauren Oliver and A.G Howard.

The pacing of the events might seem slow at first, but it is done in a very smart and effective way that left me with no choice but to be hooked to this genius storyline.

The characters were very realistic and believable, which made the book stand out even more.

When creativity meets historical fiction in a story filled with bizarre events, make sure that you don't miss out on it and give the author your cents.

I received an eARC in exchange with an honest review.

Ever come across a book that just grabs you and doesn't let you go? This is one for me. The Disappearance sunk itself in me. I devoured it, It lived up to it's hype, and I can't wait to read more from this author!

Mini review:

DNF

I received this E-ARC via the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I had been hearing a lot about this book through GR. It sounded interesting. Right up my alley. Unfortunately it wasn't for me.

I was so bored while reading this! Something about the writing style was boring me and honestly I probably could've slept. Although I did enjoy the main characters relationship with her family. Especially her brother.

This was a personal problem. Still recommend.

The Disappearances is Magical Realism at its best!

Part historical and part mystery with a dash of magic, Murphy's debut novel The Disappearances is a whimsical treat with a side of sinister that worked so well together.

What I LOVED

The writing and setting work perfectly together. The setting of Sterling (during the 1940's in New England) has a wonderful small town feel to it complete with lively characters you could easily imagine: quirky, nosy, some obnoxious and others endearing. The atmosphere, touches of magic and writing create this enchanting pocket in time where you're invested in the people and mystery of Sterling.

The magic is unique and unlike anything, I've read. What makes this story so fascinating and compelling is the secrets the town is hiding. Every seven years, the people of Sterling lose something valuable ... their sense of smell, then their reflections, even the stars but no one knows why these "Disappearances" happen. Seen through the eyes of an outsider like Aila, who is also now experiencing these disappearances for the first time, I couldn't help but be saddened. Imagine not being able to smell flowers, chocolate or even the food you eat! 
I really enjoyed Aila's spunky persona and her determination to solve the mystery behind the disappearances. Her brother Miles is mischievous and adorably cute. I loved seeing the big sister, little brother relationship between these two and thought it was very heartwarming. Realistic mistakes and misunderstandings made them relatable and believable.

There are numerous references to Shakespearean literature, clues left by Aila's mother, Juliet, that she uses to try and solve the mystery. I thought they added an interesting twist to the story and the clues really kept me guessing.

There is a slow blooming romance that works really well and it was so nice to see it unfold slowly ... adorable and realistic. The scene where Aila received a gift from a certain someone was simple swoony to me.

What I Did NOT Care For
 
Honestly, the villain of the story. The perspective was definitely sinister and strange, giving the story a chilling edge, but I just could never imagine Juliet's connection. The unfolding mystery was not affected by this at all, just not one of my favorite villains nor one that really stood out. 
 
THE DISAPPEARANCES ended up being a terrific read for me.

I highly recommended it, especially to those who enjoy mysteries or magical realism. The Shakspearian references also make it a great choice for literary enthusiasts. If you enjoy Young adult reads and want something well written with compelling characters and mystery, you should definitely give The Disappearances a try.

When Aila's mother Juliet dies and her father is drafted for the war, she and her brother Miles pack up and move to the city of Sterling to stay with her mother's best friend. Sterling is also the city her mother grew up in, and it's full of mysteries. 

Not long after arriving, Aila and Miles find out that in the city of Sterling something new disappears every 7 years. Things like reflections, scent, and the stars are gone, and there are rumors that Aila's mother was the catalyst for the disappearances starting. Aila is determined to take her mother's notes and solve the mystery of Sterling and its disappearances once and for all. 

The Disappearances was told in alternating POVs, between Aila and an ominous third party who is up to no good, however we don't know who they are yet. Overall, I enjoyed the story and thought it was very unique! I've never read anything quite like this book, and Shakespeare was incorporated in the book pretty heavily, which I loved. 

The one small qualm I had was around the pacing - I did feel like there were some parts in the middle that started to drag, and I felt like the relationship that occurred between Aila and a boy named Will could have been developed a little better. I felt more like I was being told that they liked each other rather than shown until the very end of the book. I absolutely loved the last third of the book. Everything fell together, and a lot of things were revealed and the pace picked up a lot. I was really curious about how the book would end, and I enjoyed the ending a lot. 

The Disappearances was set in the 1940s, and I think the author did a great job of capturing the atmosphere and ambiance, and the writing was spot on. Overall, this was an impressive debut novel from Ms. Murphy, and I'm excited to see what she writes in the future!

(Review will go live on my blog at theblondelikesbooks.wordpress.com on 9/2)

*I received this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

What a unique story this turned out to be- though I'm not entirely sure why this needed to be set in the 1940's, I really loved the characters and magic in this book. Aila was such a strong character whom I really enjoyed getting to know. The story line was super interesting and enjoyable and was told in a really odd way with the dual perspectives/timelines that converged, so that everything was mysterious until the end.
I wish there'd been a bit more Aila/Will action after seeing her pine the whole book, but overall apart from a few nitpicky things, I was really happy with the journey this book took me on.