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caseyaboutthroughout's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.0
merkyr's review against another edition
I wanted to like this more than I did, but I am excited to read her other work! I do wish I read this when I was 18. Perfect for that on the brink wondering.
ameliez's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
aneeqah's review against another edition
This one just isn't working for me right now, so I'm putting it back on the shelf. I'm hoping to pick it up later and hopefully really like it then!
emilychau's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
sbelasco40's review against another edition
4.0
When I was thirteen, my family made a two week long road trip up the California coastline, starting in San Francisco. It was the first time I'd ever been to California, and it was the kind of trip that changed my life forever - all I wanted, from that point forth, was to make the West Coast my home. THE DISENCHANTMENTS is at its most powerful and compelling when it captures the aimless, thrilling quality of youthful road trips and the scattered, disjointed beauty of Northern California. It's the least compelling when it tries to capture the will-they/won't-they romance of its two main protagonists, childhood best friends Bev and Colby. If you're looking for an epic romantic journey, this is not it - Bev is too nebulous of a character, plagued by unattainable-mystery-girl-syndrome, to make the pairing a driving force behind the narrative - but if you want a story of self-discovery housed within some great description of place, art and music? This is for you.
junotranscends's review against another edition
4.0
Got this as a Christmas gift from a friend who loved it. It's a great book, and I love having a male POV that feels so genuine. Some parts were a little slow, and Bev's reason for not going to Europe felt a little bit anti-climatic, but that's okay. Sometimes the book felt like it was taking me in one direction but ended up going in another. For awhile, I thought maybe Colby would end up liking Meg (or the other way around), but nothing happened with that.
I enjoyed seeing his relationship with each of the girls, though. He does grow a lot through the story, starting out as a guy who mainly goes along and does what the band wants him to do, and eventually morphs into someone who realizes sometimes he needs to do what HE wants. The ending was bittersweet, which I love, and very open-ended so it's interesting to speculate on what might happen a year or two down the road.
I enjoyed seeing his relationship with each of the girls, though. He does grow a lot through the story, starting out as a guy who mainly goes along and does what the band wants him to do, and eventually morphs into someone who realizes sometimes he needs to do what HE wants. The ending was bittersweet, which I love, and very open-ended so it's interesting to speculate on what might happen a year or two down the road.
kaitrosereads's review against another edition
5.0
Nina LaCour's sophomore novel does not disappoint. It's a story of self-discovery, friendship, and love in it's many forms. Nina LaCour hooked me with her writing in Hold Still and she did the same with The Disenchantments. She is one talented author.
The Disenchantments is a road trip story which is why I originally wanted to read it. As soon as I started it though, I knew it was going to be so much more. First, it's told from a guys point-of-view which you wouldn't expect from the cover or the synopsis. Second, it's not your typical light-hearted road trip with tons of stops at touristy places. This road trip really is all about where the four friends are going and what waits for them at the end of the road.
Colby is not a typical guy. He's best friend with three girls and so he's not quite so boyish. That doesn't mean he doesn't have boy tendencies however. He curses, drinks (sometimes), thinks about sex, and talks about how hot his friends are. He's both typical and unique and you can't help but fall in love with him especially since he is so dang lost and confused. Bev, however, is not so easy to like but by the end you will. She is just as confused as Colby and she just wants to make the right choices in life. Meg and Alexa are a bit less complicated but not by much. They are awesome sisters and friends and their personalities are so wonderful. Jasper, while not present a whole lot, also had a great personality and he cracked me up. A well-rounded cast of characters is really what made this book so awesome.
Overall, The Disenchantments is a book you don't want to miss. It's a story about how every person you meet shapes your life in some little way but how, in the end, you must make the final decisions. It's a book anyone can relate to and one everybody will love.
The Disenchantments is a road trip story which is why I originally wanted to read it. As soon as I started it though, I knew it was going to be so much more. First, it's told from a guys point-of-view which you wouldn't expect from the cover or the synopsis. Second, it's not your typical light-hearted road trip with tons of stops at touristy places. This road trip really is all about where the four friends are going and what waits for them at the end of the road.
Colby is not a typical guy. He's best friend with three girls and so he's not quite so boyish. That doesn't mean he doesn't have boy tendencies however. He curses, drinks (sometimes), thinks about sex, and talks about how hot his friends are. He's both typical and unique and you can't help but fall in love with him especially since he is so dang lost and confused. Bev, however, is not so easy to like but by the end you will. She is just as confused as Colby and she just wants to make the right choices in life. Meg and Alexa are a bit less complicated but not by much. They are awesome sisters and friends and their personalities are so wonderful. Jasper, while not present a whole lot, also had a great personality and he cracked me up. A well-rounded cast of characters is really what made this book so awesome.
Overall, The Disenchantments is a book you don't want to miss. It's a story about how every person you meet shapes your life in some little way but how, in the end, you must make the final decisions. It's a book anyone can relate to and one everybody will love.
ellacmack's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 Stars.
I picked up this book thinking it would be a fast meaningless read about some dumb kids going on a road trip. The characters in this book were real and relate-able with great development. I can not express how much I fell in love with all of the characters. Along the way, they meet different people and even though they are not with the characters for long they have great development too. In a way, I feel like I was able to relate to the characters. This story was real and honest dealing with issues that many people are actually going through. This book made me want to rebel and just be a teenager and not worry about anything. Throughout the reader can really see Colby grow from a insecure teen with no plans to an individual who knows exactly what he wants. It is also refreshing to read a book like this from a guy's perspective. It was in no way what I was looking for but exactly what I needed. If anyone is looking for a quick read to make you feel all good and bubbly, this is the book right here!! Pleeeease do yourself a favor and read this book.
I picked up this book thinking it would be a fast meaningless read about some dumb kids going on a road trip. The characters in this book were real and relate-able with great development. I can not express how much I fell in love with all of the characters. Along the way, they meet different people and even though they are not with the characters for long they have great development too. In a way, I feel like I was able to relate to the characters. This story was real and honest dealing with issues that many people are actually going through. This book made me want to rebel and just be a teenager and not worry about anything. Throughout the reader can really see Colby grow from a insecure teen with no plans to an individual who knows exactly what he wants. It is also refreshing to read a book like this from a guy's perspective. It was in no way what I was looking for but exactly what I needed. If anyone is looking for a quick read to make you feel all good and bubbly, this is the book right here!! Pleeeease do yourself a favor and read this book.