“Slanted and Disenchanted” was almost aptly named, I say almost because I’m actually very enchanted by it! I’m not sure if it’s intentionally a reference to an album from 1992, but considering how heavily music influences this book, I wouldn’t doubt it for a second. We’re still a long way from 2026 but I can confidently say this is a contender for my favorite book of the year. It isn’t a new release, as it was published back in 2021, but it does have a sequel which was released just last month (as of this writing).

It follows Carla and Pete; a pair of twenty-somethings trying to find their way in an ever and rapidly changing world. They face many challenges from toxic familial and romantic relationships to the sexual tension they find between each other, and the book does a fantastic job of showcasing both sides to the conversation. It’s told in the style of a tell-all memoir chronicling their debut tour across the nation as a two-person band with heavy indie rock influences.

The book itself is a ton of fun, and I was hit with two significant thoughts throughout my reading; the first that I wish I’d learned an instrument and studied more music earlier in life. The second, was a huge taste of nostalgia. I’m more into the 80s and 90s scene, but I’ve forgotten just how charming the 00s were too, not only for music but pop culture in general. It also made me quite glad I’m not longer in that age group, as it was fraught with heaps of “teenage” angst. In case you were unaware, that stuff doesn’t go away once you’re in your 20’s.

The characters were fun to read about and the dialogue was superb. I really had so much fun reading it and really felt like I was on the tour with them and one of the band. Lisa Czarina Michaud is clearly a fantastic writer and I’m thrilled to know there’s more to read with Carla and Pete, I’m very much looking forward to it. If you couldn’t guess—before I forget to list it—I scored this one an easy 5 out of 5 stars, no question and no halvsies here. It’s great, while I’d recommend it to anyone to read, I doubly so for those who love music as much as a culture as it is something to listen to. If music is in your soul and you’re always with a song stuck in your head for better or worse, you’ll love this book.

Lisa Czarina Michaud’s Slanted and Disenchanted is one of those books that definitely left an impression. It’s more than just a story about music—it’s about identity, family, the ways we escape, and the ways we come back home to ourselves.

As a huge music fan, I loved Michaud’s writing--there were music references throughout and the playlist I compiled afterward is proof enough of the book’s pull. There are so, so many music references and name drops, some you'll recignize (hello, Nirvana!) and some you won't - but hopefully this inspires some music discovery.

What really shined were the characters—Carla and Pete are beautifully imperfect. Their personal histories are layered, and their flaws frustrating yet relatable.

Ultimately, Slanted and Disenchanted was a charming read from an author with a clear voice and vision. It was fun--maybe not the best pic for a non-music lover (who may be tempted to Google constantly). And while I'd love a sequel, the ending was definitely satisfying.

What initially drew me to this book was the music aspect: as someone who really loves music and seeing it in other media, I was really excited to read a coming-of-age novel with music as the backdrop. Unfortuately, I DNF'd at about 20% in. Here are the things that weren't working for me:

* I really appreciate that the author is enthusiastic about music, but I think the music tidbits and references every other sentence was a little heavy-handed, so much so that it took away from the actual story at times.

* I did not like the mentions of Columbus Day/Christopher Columbus as a day to celebrate or as a point of Italian pride. As an author that claims to be all about punk music and ethos, this was probably one of the least punk things about the story. There’s plenty of other things to highlight about Italian culture that aren’t problematic people

* The story was dragging on for too long to keep me invested. It already felt a bit predictable and repetitive even just 20% in

This is a coming-of-age novel with a heavy emphasis on music. The blurb aptly compares it to High Fidelity and Normal People. Our flawed main characters have a lot of emotional baggage to fit into their music van along with their amps. If you’ve ever lugged one around, you know there’s barely room left over for feelings.

I liked the way Carla and Pete connected over music! They could talk forever about all the different bands they listen to, argue album rankings, and just jam together to create their own sound. The way they got each other felt real. I’m fortunate to have this kind of relationship in my own life, so it made me feel all warm and fuzzy.

Of course, I have a few nitpicks about their music takes:
- I could have done without the boyband slander. I get that music snobbery was part of the scene, but still. The Backstreet Boys did nothing wrong.
- Kurt Cobain’s go-to guitar was a Mustang, not a Strat.
- There’s also some Avril Lavigne hate that is A) uncalled for, and B) anachronistic, since this book takes place in 2001 and Avril’s debut album released in 2002. It’s a pity, because Carla would have loved Girlfriend.

Still, watching their garage band come together was great. Much like myself, Carla’s a Fender girlie. I don’t fully get how her adorable orange Telecaster and Pete’s drums can compensate for the band’s lack of bassist, but I do appreciate the you-and-me-against-the-world energy of the duo. They figured things out along the way, and I felt like I was in their garage and tour van with them.

Did anyone bring Febreze?

That said, I sometimes struggled to actually hear what their band sounded like. They said that they blended their styles, but it didn’t fully come together for me. Like Pete, I’m blaming the (imaginary) bassist. The choppy POV shifts also threw me off; some chapters were barely half a page, making the constant switches feel more jarring than intentional. I think this could’ve worked better as a movie or show to bring the music to life and avoid the whiplash.

The romantic angst in this story must have burned a mixtape from Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, because ooh boy. Pete and Carla were a mess. Unfortunately, a big part of this conflict revolved around Pete’s girlfriend, and I just didn’t care for that. It dragged on for too long, and being in Pete’s head made it hard to root for him. I didn’t like how he was stringing along both girls, and his thoughts felt really selfish. And horny.

I really felt for Carla. She struggled with self-worth and it didn’t help that her family was so unsupportive. She kept repeating that everything was fine and just internalized everything and shrunk in on herself. (“Who can relate? WOO” - esteemed Maryland poet, Logic) Definitely me, but I wanted to see more character growth. I also think her eating disorder was realistically woven into the story, but mental health awareness wasn’t great in the early aughts, so her struggles weren’t always given the weight they deserved.

The story captures the messy in-between phase of growing up, with vivid imagery of the music scene and a deep love for music at its core. The emotional angst didn’t quite resolve in a satisfying way for me, but I think other readers will connect with it. If I’d read this book in my angsty college years, it probably would’ve hit harder. At this point in my life, it didn’t land the way I hoped—but my punk rock spirit still sees something familiar in it.

2.5 stars, rounded up since I think this caught me at the wrong time.

Thank you to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for providing me with this ebook for an honest review!

In 2000, former high school classmates Pete and Carla were working dead-end jobs and still living at home with their parents. Pete's house is full of love and support from his flight attendant mother and his French-born father. Carla is the youngest and only daughter of a hard-working Italian family. She's often overlooked or the receptacle of her mother's ire.

Both are lovers of music, both listening and playing. While Pete tends towards jam bands and jazz, Carla enjoys indie rock, often fronted by women. After a chance reunion and a few months, the two connect and start playing together.

After a few local gigs, the two embark on a cross-country tour, during which they will learn more about each other, the country in a post-9-111 world, and themselves.
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Lisa Czarina Michaud was able to capture the pre- and immediate post-9/11 feeling in New York and the rest of the country. Carla and Pete are full of angst in their early 20s and have plenty of room to grow up. They both are stuck, living between high school and actual adulthood. The cross-country tour forces them both to confront their issues and discover who they are.

The alternating POVs added a nice element to the story, adding the alternating views of the same incidents and interactions. I am eager to read the second/follow up as I want to know what happens post-Hollywood, so I'll be picking that up immediately.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book.