This was such an amazing novel and I'm so glad I got an ARC of this! The author has created such a unique story that I was never bored for a minute! First off, the plot was just fantastic. I was already intrigued by the idea of different senses and elements disappearing, but once the author brought in Shakespeare, it was a done deal for me. I loved how the author weaved all of these different components to create such an awesome cohesive piece of work. I liked that there were segments of the story told from a different perspective, as that just added to the intrigue. I loved all of the characters in the story and Aila is definitely a great main character! My only slight complaint would be that WWII didn't really have much of an impact in the story; since the author chose that specific time period for her setting, I wish it had had more relevance to the story. Overall, this was an amazing YA fiction story and I would recommend it to anyone who loves YA fantasy because you will NOT be disappointed!

This book was archived before I got a chance to download. they changed the publication and archive date on me and so I didn't notice this until it was too late. I'm very sorry.

I don't know what it is, maybe I am jaded with what is happening in life, but NOTHING seems to just suck me in lately. Which is a bummer. While I didn't hate this book, I didn't love. I didn't read it slowly, but I blazed through it, but mostly because I needed an outlet. I feel like there was all this build up for only a few pages of wrap up. I dunno how to feel right now. Not great.


**I received a copy of this for free in exchange for an honest and unbiased review from NetGalley, unfortunately I had to wait until my local library got it because the font was too small and you were unable to change the size....buzz kill**

The Disappearances unfortunately was not for me. I had a hard time getting into the story and connecting to the characters.

I received a copy of this book in return for my independent honest review.
Oh what a beautifully written book. A magical mystery set in WWII when two children have to stay with their Mother's friend after she passes away a d their father's absent in the war.
The plot is very well crafted, which kept me captivated until the end. I soon became emotionally attached to the children,whilst other characters were well created too.
I loved the use of Shakespeare which will hopefully entice younger readers to delve more into his world of plays.
I loved the unravelling of family secrets and the emotions they evoked.
I loved the world building
In fact I just loved it. An excellent debut must read

The Disappearances is an engaging story with an intriguing premise. Watching Juliet maneuver through her new environment and experience the loss of certain abilities makes you notice all of the little things that utilize our five senses daily. It is a reminder to never take for granted our ability to see and hear, smell and touch, yet the story is not just about the loss of certain niceties but about the dangers of secrets and the lasting consequences of keeping secrets can have on a person, a family, and a town.

While I enjoyed the novel, one thing irked me about one of the Disappearances. It is a minor thing but it bothered me so much that it kept taking me out of the story. The townspeople of Sterling lost their ability to smell things and yet they seemingly can still taste everything. In fact, there are several scenes that revolve around meals, and Ms. Murphy makes it seem as if the townspeople compensate for the lack of scent by creating delicious and enticing meals. However, it is common knowledge that smell is one of the primary factors of taste. Anyone who has ever had clogged sinuses can attest to the blandness of food when you can't smell anything. While this is a small detail that in no way impacts the overall story, it still bothers me because it ignores basic science. Good fantasy novels may play with the laws and theories of science but they do not ignore basic knowledge. Not only that but if Ms. Murphy did acknowledge the impact to taste that the lack of scent has, it would make the Disappearances more serious. It would change the entire dynamic of the story.

I find it interesting that Ms. Murphy chose to set her novel during World War II. As the war is a peripheral event occurring outside of the town, making itself felt only in the absence of Juliet's father and the length of time between letters, this is a story that really could have occurred at any point in history. Indeed, outside of descriptions of clothes and hairstyles, plus some minor adjustments to speech and manners, Juliet and her fellow classmates have a timeless quality to their actions and thoughts. My theory is that it has to do with the lack of technology; towns could keep secrets like the Disappearances from outsiders because no one had smartphones to document the lack of stars or inability to see reflections. Still, if anyone has a chance to see Ms. Murphy on tour, I would love to ask her what exactly where her reasons for selecting this particular setting and this particular period in time because it seems such an arbitrary choice.

In spite of what it may sound like given what I have written so far, I did thoroughly enjoy The Disappearances. It is easy to like Juliet as she struggles to fit in to her new surroundings. We have all been the new kid at some point in time, and those feelings of isolation and embarrassment never really leave us. On top of that, her longing to understand her mother and keep her alive are not just understandable but palpable. At the same time, it is refreshing to see her relationship with her brother as fraught with frustration mixed with love. They fight often and may be slow to reconcile, but that is a true sibling relationship - something I feel is not as realistically portrayed often enough. In general, I found Juliet to be very real, reminding me of my own teen years and frustrations about fitting in as well as fights with my brother.

The story of the Disappearances is interesting but distracting. The aside chapters involving Stephen are confusing in their rambling nature. While they end of revealing more of the story behind the Disappearances, there is a stream-of-consciousness aspect to these chapters which muddle as much as they clarify. While the search for the source of the Disappearances is a major focus for Juliet, I cannot help but feel that the true story of the novel is Juliet's hunt for answers about her mother and the growing up she needs to do now that her mother has passed for I got more satisfaction from watching Juliet come into her own than I did watching her solve the mystery.

The Disappearances is not the type of story to garner acclaim or media attention. This makes it no less enjoyable though. Juliet is endearing, and Sterling is charming in its quaintness, although that may have to do with the time period more than the locale. The mystery of the Disappearances and the ways the townspeople have worked to overcome them are intriguing, but it is watching Juliet grow where the story becomes most entertaining. It is the type of novel that will appeal to readers who enjoy coming-of-age stories with a touch of magic.

Trifecta! Beautiful writing, setting, and characters. I was swept away by Murphy and the vivid world she created. The mystery made this a page-turner that I literally could.not.put.down.

The Disappearances
Emily Bain Murphy
HMH Books for Young Readers
Published July 4, 2017
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

About The Disappearances
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.

My Review
I loved the sort of ethereal, powerful descriptions that filled this story. Aila won me over right away, as did most of the other characters in the book. I liked that though it had a historical setting, it’s not a historical novel. It definitely has a fantasy/mystery feel to it.

The story unravels slowly, but picks up steam as it goes. There are a lot of elements to set up before the big push that sets off the major conflict. I liked trying to piece together the connections between the families from Sterling and Aila’s family and the mysterious man whose story we also follow through the novel.

Another great element to this tale is the way works of Shakespeare tie into the mystery. I liked the way the author used those familiar stories in a fresh and different way here to add an unusual flare to The Disappearances.

While I wouldn’t at all describe this as a dystopian tale, I feel like it would appeal to readers who like old-school, classic dystopian novels, like The Giver. Something about the remote, aloof town made me think of Jonas’s world. This might make a great book for kids aging out of middle grade and into young adult literature. While there are a couple of creepy scenes, it’s a pretty clean story overall.

I initially received an ARC of this book from NetGalley (THANK YOU!!) I was unable to download the pdf so I had to wait for my library copy.

First of all, I loved this book. I love the slow steady build of more than one story line/time and watching how they come together.

I have a couple of critiques. One - I would have appreciated a bit more about the Shakespeare tie-in. Are we to assume it was the bard's bones in the box Phineas purchased with the ring? Why did he think the ring would save his wife? What made Juliette and Stefan think there was a tie-in with Shakespeare in the first place. Just because the sonnets seemed to match? Why did the ring prevent Juliette from having the Disappearances after she left Sterling? A bit more development would have been helpful.

Also, why could Aila hear Will after she was unable to hear him? Midway through chapter 55 (and I quote )["I'm sorry, Malcolm we don't know how he did it," the police chief says. "What do you mean, gone?" Will's voice. Furious.] Aila overheard this conversation but should not have been able to hear Will's voice at this point. For the rest of this chapter and most of the next the book seems to forget they can't hear each other only to remember later in chapter 56 when they scratch lengthy sentences to each other in the dirt. I read the chapters again - no mention of a variant for hearing the voice of the person you love again. Although a musical variant had been developed by this time in the book, it did not cover that next disappearance. This confusion is the only thing that kept this book at 4 stars rather than 5,

Other than that, the writing is beautiful. I know I love a book when I wish I could live in it. I loved the concept of the disappearances and the way they were kept hidden from the world. Wonderful story.

I wasn't particularly into this book at first. My attention wasn't really captured until nearly halfway through. I got rather caught up in theories and secrets. I really wanted to know what was causing the sensory losses. While the characters were a little light, the plot kept me going. I was a little disappointed by the final reveals. I don't know that we got enough explanation about the stone and the curse. Between that failing at the end and the slow start, it could be a hard sell for young readers.

Aila Quinn’s mother, Juliet, has always kept her secrets guarded. She was a vibrant mystery. When her mother dies Aila is sent to live in Sterling, her mother’s hometown, while her father fights in the war. It turns out Sterling is a place with many secrets of its own. Aila and her brother aren’t welcomed by the whole community, and she is starting to notice that things aren’t exactly normal. For example, the flowers have no scents, she can’t see her reflection, and she no longer dreams. Apparently, they are called the disappearances and something vanishes every seven years. No one knows what caused these occurrences but the town suspects Juliet, which puts Aila in an uncomfortable situation where she has to take the brunt of the blame in the place of her mother. Aila is determined to find out exactly what caused the disappearances and how to stop them.

The Disappearances was not what I expected but I was pleasantly surprised. It was magical, enchanting, and atmospheric. I felt that at times it had a very gothic feel to it, which I enjoyed. There were a lot of aspects of The Disappearances that I really enjoyed, most notably, the actual ‘disappearances’. It was an interesting and unique plot and I appreciated the mystery and the use of Shakespeare and how the mystery and ‘the disappearances’ revolved around Shakespeare and his work and how they were subtly unwrapped throughout the novel.

Aila was a lovely character and I really admired her. She was kind, patient, but stubborn and driven. She was determined to not let anyone get under her skin and determined to prove them wrong. She was not always welcomed in Sterling but she always held her head high. I also really enjoyed her complicated relationship with her brother, who was hot-headed and defensive. Their relationship was developed and complex, they didn’t always get along and when emotions ran high they were sometimes overly cruel to each other, but still, they love, care, and are protective of each other. I also loved their ‘finishing word’ game, it was lovely. The romance was another favourite, cute and swoon-worthy and sometimes embarrassing.

Overall, I’d recommend The Disappearances if you are looking for a magical historical fiction book with an intricate plot and a subtly unwrapped mystery.

The Disappearances by Emily Bain Murphy sounded amazing. It had such an incredible premise, and it showed so much promise, but it fell flat for me right at the end.

It's 1942, and three weeks after their mother dies, Aila and Miles' father has to go to war. As there's no-one to look after them, they go to Sterling with Mrs Cliffton, their mother's childhood best friend, and her husband Dr Cliffton. Sterling is a small quiet, town no different from any other - except that something will go missing every seven years. It started 35 years ago, and the people of Sterling have lost scents, the stars, their reflections, and their dreams. Aila and Miles aren't made to feel welcome in Sterling, as some believe it was their mother who caused the Disappearances; they started when she was born, and when she left Sterling, she got everything back, while other members of Sterling never did. And with another Disappearances due this year, the people of Sterling are worried, even more so now that Aila and Miles are here. Desperate to clear her mother's name, Aila tries to find out all she can about the Disappearances; what causes them, and how to stop them. But the past is full of secrets, and curses can be more intricate than she ever imagined.

Doesn't that sound just so exciting?! I was so eager for this to be amazing and blow my mind! The Disappearances is one of those quiet, calm stories, and normally I enjoy that kind of story, but it took a while to really get going, for Aila to have a theory that looked like it might lead somewhere. But once it did, oh my god, it was so good! It was so clever and so complicated, but so intriguing and fascinating. Murphy really know her stuff, and I was just so impressed and so eager for the truth.

And then there's the mysterious Stefen. For the most part, the story is narrated by Aila, but every now and then there would be a chapter from Stefen, coming more often as the story goes on. He, also, used to know Aila's mother. When we meet him, he's about to commit suicide by jumping in front of a train. At the last minute, he changes his mind, and decides to go and meet his father, Phineas. He's never met him before due to being in prison for grave robbery, and never coming back for Stefan when he got out. Stefan has a troubled past; he caught influenza when he was young, and it really affected him. He was left in a wheelchair for a long time, unable to do most things like children his age, like go to school. His legs are stronger now, and he can walk, but he still struggles. There's also the fact that he and Juliet, Aila and Miles' mother, fell out a long time ago, and there was someone from his past that he was in love with. He too is affected by the Disappearances, and is jealous of Dr Cliffton for discovering the Variants, something he believes he should have got some credit for. But he has a plan of his own. I was so intrigued by him! Who is Stefan? How did he know Juliet? Is he somehow linked to it all? And his own plan. It's all so intriguing, but he's also kind of sinister. Even so, I really enjoyed his chapters.

The problem is, there were too many questions without answers. Firstly, Dr Cliffton is a scientist who discovered Variants, things which will bring back the lost things temporarily for the user of the Variants. He's discovered Variants for reflections and for scents, but not for the stars or for dreams. But in his experiments, he's discovered other Variants, and so has a doctor in a sister town - because it's three towns that are affected by the curse, not just Sterling - so there are now Variants that will create warmth, Variants that will keep the rain off you, and so on. But there's no explanation as to how they work, or why they work. As the story goes on, we learn more about specific Variants, what's in them, and the link there is to literature, how sometimes they can point out things that Dr Cliffton has tried and has worked. So we know literature, in some way, is involved, and although we don't get told why or how the Variants work, I assumed it was part of the overall mystery of the curse, and when the truth finally came out, it would be explained. No. I mean, I've finished the book, and so I know what the curse was about, but it doesn't explain why, for example, crushed Blessed Thistle can bring back scents. I don't accept that it works because an author wrote about it. It gets difficult for me to discuss my problems with this without spoiling the story, but basically, so what? So what if this person wrote about it? Why does that make it work? And how does it work? I know you sprinkle it on flowers or food, and voila smell, but how does it actually bring back scents? There were no answers.

And the ending was just the biggest disappointment of all. I was getting so close to the end, and still no answers, and so I was sure this would end on a cliffhanger and there would be a second book. But no. The ending is convenient, and really, just ridiculous. It just all happened too quickly, and there are still so many unanswered questions. There are so many holes! I know about the curse, but there are still so many how's and why's! That whole ending could have been taken and developed a whole lot more. It was far too easy. It was ridiculously easy. I feel cheated. It should never have been that easy, they never would have worked it out without something conveniently happening. They would have no idea. And there's never any proof about their theories anyway. There is so much conjecture about what's going on without any real proof that this is the case. Aila and her group of friends just decide this must be it because it all seems to work out, but they don't know for sure, and they just go along with it, and yes, they're right.

**SPOILERS START**
When Shakespeare's works were brought in, and everything that was happening to Sterling and it's sister towns could be found in his plays and sonnets, it was amazing. It was so intricate! And then Shakespeare's missing seven years, and the quote on his gravestone. But it just came about so conveniently. Stefen gives Aila the map, Aila and friends find links to the Helena Stone in Shakespeare's works, and find the quote on the gravestone about the curse, and that's enough for them to solve everything. It just wasn't enough. Why did Shakespeare curse his grave? How does the curse work? And why did the curse specifically affect people by losing certain things? "He linked it to his work!" they say, but how? And oooh, the map leads to places where Shakespeare's bones are, so we'll just dig them up and bury them all together, and everything will be fine! No! Too easy! And why would Phineas have made a map of where he buried the bones anyway? Why would he care where he buried them? He didn't know what was going to happen, he was just burying them to get rid of them. The locations of those bones should have been more difficult to find. There shouldn't have been a map. Too bloody convenient.

(And also, on a side note, how on earth did Stefen make his so called virtues? Seriously, what does he do? How does he make the mice fell peace, and how does he extract it? What is he actually doing? These are never answered!)
**SPOILERS END**

It should have been harder to work out, harder to fix, and more questions should have been answered. This is fantasy - historical fantasy, yes, but still fantasy. None of this happens in real life, so you've got to make it believable. And to make it believable, you've got to work on the world building. You've got to answer all questions and have things make sense. It's got to be believable! That whole ending could have been worked on and made into a second book. I finished the book in complete disbelief, and quite angry really. It was a shoddy ending, and I'm so disappointed and so annoyed.

The Disappearances had so much promise! It was doing so well! I really can't believe Murphy got away with that ending really. I feel ripped off. I really don't know if I'll read anything by Murphy again, because although the book completely had be gripped and seemed so clever, with no answers and an easy, convenient ending, I just can't see why it would be worth my time.

Thank you to HMH Books for Young Readers via NetGalley for the eProof.

This book was such a wonderful surprise. It sounded interesting but reading it, I had even more fun than I expected. The mystery was great and I really loved seeing the town through the eyes of Aila and Miles as they discover its secrets and the secrets of their family. On that note, I loved Aila as the main character. She was strong and yet still vulnerable and I just found myself really enjoying being in her head. The disappearances that the town went through sound horrible but I loved that in a way it bonded the townspeople together and made them so protective of each other in a way that outsiders couldn't really understand. The way they stood together through their struggles was beautiful. This was a great book and I'm so happy I was able to read it.

Gothic feel in the beginning. Set in the midst World War 2, The Disappearances opens with a bittersweet farewell to a beloved home filled with happy memories. Aila Quinn ponders on the harsh realities of life and the absence of what, or rather, who kept the family together. She wonders what becomes of her and her brother now that their father is being called to service. They say goodbye to their father and are shipped to the town where their mother grew up, as mysterious as she was.

Sterling may be dubbed as an everyday, rural town somewhere in the vastness of farm-country America; but the mystery shrouding the place conveys an atmosphere of Gothic romance in the middle of a fogged moor. Coupled with the stately house of the Clifftons, I was ready for ghost-haunted rooms, underground passages, and secret stairways... plus a hidden, crazy aunt in the attic.

Small town drama. Common in stories where the main character moves to a new place, the town suddenly becomes a hotbed of gossip and no small amount of scrutiny and, maybe, hostility. Alia and brother's move to sterling created quite a stir indeed.

However, what I loved about Murphy's writing is that she devised it without being overdramatic, overrated, and overacted. And with this being from the point-of-view of Alia, it also reflects on her character: observant without much harsh judgement, dealing with and from her circumstances without being theatrically angsty.

Well-crafted, well-written mystery. Reminiscent of the whimsy and mysticism of the writings of Maggie Stiefvater and Jennifer Murgia, The Disappearances is beautifully captivating. The narrative unfolds the mystery at a steady pace that builds the anticipation of the reader.

I am impressed.

Notes:

- Why is it set around WWII (other than getting the father out of the way)?
-Shakespeare was a diva.

A mesmerising read.
Aila and her brother, Miles, are sent to their mother's home town of Sterling after her death. They learn that Sterling has secrets - things/experiences/senses disappear every seven years- and some are convinced the childrens' mother, Juliet, was in some way responsible.
We follow Aila through the experience as she learns about herself and her family, solves the mystery and tries to restore the balance.
The links to Shakespeare are an intriguing touch (though not to everyone's taste), and the writing was beautiful. Delightful.

The Disappearances by Emily Bain Murphy
Publisher: HMH
Pub Date: July 4, 2017
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (5/5)
Where to Buy: Barnes and Noble. Amazon. Audible.

"Sometimes I imagine what it would be like if there was music in everything. If stars could sing, or shadows scraped along where they fell. Or if the wind made leaves tinkle like wind chimes."


What would happen if things you take for granted suddenly disappeared? Things like being able to dream, see the stars in the night sky, or even look at your reflection in the mirror. That is what has been happening in the small town of Sterling. Every 7 years there is a disappearance and no one knows just what is going to be taken from them next.

Fifteen year old Aila just lost her mom and has been shipped off to the small town of Sterling where her mother grew up. She is beginning to unravel the mystery that is the disappearances all while trying to figure out who her mother truly was and why she kept her secrets. Aila is desperately trying to solve the mystery and clear her mother's name before it's too late.

Wow. Just wow!

The story is set in the 1940s during WWII chock-full of mystery and other fantastical elements. I could not put it down! There are some eerie yet magical elements to this story. I just adored this book and it is quickly one of my favorite reads this year! The writing was beautiful, the characters felt so honest and real to me, and this unique story line is unlike anything you have ever read.

I had the great opportunity to meet Emily and she is just the kindest person you'll ever meet. I was a part of a wonderful pre-launch party for Emily. We painted ceramics, talked about books, and ate cookies. I was able to paint Emily this plate:


Before


After

Me and Emily with the plate and her finished book!

This was such a fun experience and I had the most amazing time with Emily and I'm still in denial about her move to St. Louis. You seriously need this book in your life. It's one of those stories you do not want to miss!


I have created a playlist for this book! Music plays a role in the book and plays an important role in my life, so I put together 7 songs that I believe fit the story well. I hope you enjoy it!

"I want to tell him, Sometimes I almost think I can hear the music again, whenever I'm with you." -Aila Quinn

20 Years by The Civil Wars
"There's a note underneath your front door. That I wrote 20 years ago. Yellow paper and a faded picture, and a secret in an envelope...I'll be praying for redemption and your note underneath my door."
I Don't Want to Live There by The Lonely Forest
"Give to me miles of tall evergreens. And the smell of the ocean. And the cool mountain breeze won't you please?"
To Build a Home by The Cinematic Orchestra
"There is a house built of stone. Wooden floors, walls, and window sills. Tables and chairs worn by all of the dust. This is a place where I don't feel alone. This is a place where I feel at home...Until it disappeared from me, from you..."
Soon We'll Be Found by Sia
"Well it's been rough but we'll be just fine...Turn around. I know we're lost but soon we'll be found."
Seven Devils by Florence + The Machine
"It's a melody. It's a battle cry. It's a symphony."
Eyes on Fire by Blue Foundation
"I'll seek you out. Flay you alive. One more word and you won't survive. And I'm not scared of your stolen power. I see right through you any hour."
Cosmic Love by Florence + The Machine
"The stars, the moon, they have all been blown out. You left me in the dark. No dawn, no day. I'm always in this twilight. In the shadow of your heart."

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?! (... sorry for shouting!)

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.

4.5 stars

Review date: July 6
Link: https://dulivre.blogspot.com/2017/07/book-review-disappearances.html
Plot: When I first requested this novel, I was under the assumption that this would be a thriller/mystery. Those assumptions were thrown out of the window by chapter one. Aila and her family just lost their mother to an unexpected illness and their father was just summoned to serve in World War II. The two children were sent to their mother's childhood home to continue their education and learn more about their mother's mysterious past. I loved the overall town of this book. If you were a fan of the Unspoken series, I think you would enjoy this one immensely. The mystery was very smart and I loved how Murphy unraveled everything. The Disappearances was told through two perspectives, Aila's and another man's and it's very confusing how those two would come together. I thoroughly enjoyed how it all worked out and how Murphy wrapped up her mystery.

Characters: I loved everything about these characters. Aila had an air of innocence that I clicked with immediately, but she also had an air of adventure and a stubborn streak. Her relationship with her brother was often rocky as two siblings who lost everything that they loved; it was interesting to see how their moods flipped but how they kept coming back to each other for support. Aila also had a great support system in her new community and I fell in love with each inhabitant. I worried about Aila's friends just as much as I worried about Aila and swooned over her hot new housemate.

Worldbuilding: I mentioned earlier that this book gave me major Unpsoken feels and I was under the impression that the location was England for like 90% of the book. I knew in the back of my head that it was set in the United States, but the town was so small and whimsical that I had a hard time envisioning 1940s United States. Also, there was no mention of diversity in this novel which really disappointed me.

Short N Sweet: The Disappearances was full of magic and "firsts", I highly recommend!