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? Nina Lacour's The Disenchantments has all the ingredients that make this a must read contemporary: rocking music, wonderfully vibrant characters, electrifying romantic tension, and a "we're on the verge of the rest of our lives" roadtrip.  5 Reasons to Get Disenchanted 1. Crushworthy Colby  I'm not sure when it was that I fell head over heels for Colby. Maybe it was when he made an adorable list of items Bev would need to start her own Riot Girl-esque band after seeing her fall for Sleater Kinney. It might have also been one of the many moments he sweetly fantasized about lip-locking with his best friend, or when he lovingly rendered the back of her neck in his sketchbook for the millionth time, or one of the many times he daydreamed about riding bikes in Amsterdam and running through tulips with Bev.  Maybe it's because he can't help but stop and draw everything he finds beautiful on their trip—the people, the countryside, the odd baby, a coffee shop tableau. I know Colby's confused about his life purpose after Bev's RISD a-bomb, but something tells me he's going to be just fine. I mean, he's uber-talented at drawing, and so knowledgeable on art history; I don't think he's going to be slinging mail or arranging flowers, as he half-heartedly suggests. Whether he travels to Europe or not, I feel confident that he's going to do great things. The bottom line: Colby is a total keeper. He is cute but not vain, sensitive but not emo, brilliantly talented at drawing, and pretty much the best guy friend ever. He treats all three girls SO well during this roadtrip, so much better than they deserve to be treated (okay, well maybe Meg and Alexa deserve his chivalrous roadtrip gestures, but NOT Bev). Colby really cares about his family, getting majorly distressed when he thinks something may be amiss at home. Most impressive of all, despite how much Bev has effed with his head, he forgives and loves her. He's just not the petty, grudge-holding type.  2. The music I love that The Disenchantments are pretty much the worst band ever. That's not really the point of the band, though. It's not really about making earth-shattering music, more about the electric rush of being on stage, living on the road, and paying awful out-of-tune homage to the kinds of girl bands they like; some of which they discover on this trip. With everything from Riot Girl music such as Sleater Kinney to The Supremes to Heart, the girl band fangirling is a fun ride. BTW, I am a casual Sleater Kinney fan, but I hadn't really listened to "Modern Girl" the way Bev has listened to it until I read this book. I am officially a convert. 3. Alexa and Meg I love these adopted sisters' personalities, and they provide much-needed mellow & comedic relief to Colby and Bev's semi-estranged BFF tension on the road trip. Meg is a bubbly, "let's make this a MOMENT" kind of gal, which is always a fun type to have around on a trip, and Alexa is an idealistic listmaking planner, who truly believes in the almighty Magic 8 ball's ability to guide you to your fate (hey, I still occasionally shake mine up when I want to see that reassuring "all signs point to yes" or "it is decidedly so" when I ask whether I should have Valentine's chocolates for dinner). They each have their weak breakdown moments on the trip (isn't that like, a requirement on a road trip? it's kind of like stopping for gas—ooh pull over, I need to freak out about something!). They're both so endearing, and though we only get to spend this short trip with them, I would definitely like to be a fly on the wall in their house pre-roadtrip, before Meg leaves for college.  4. Hating Bev is Fun Okay, after reason #1, you may not be surprised to hear that I kind of hate Bev. Like knives-out, fire-breathingly hate her. I pretty much never stopped hating her, for being SO horrible to Colby—leading him on, lying to him, going all distant and aloof on him rather than just explaining her selfish behavior. Bev is one of those girls who loves attention, but doesn't really love dealing with the people who give it to her. Meg even calls her out on it, telling her she'd be a great stripper, because she's very into the "look but don't touch" tease thing. She freely makes out with anyone moderately kissable who comes along, and always RIGHT in front of Colby. Even when she finally fesses up to why she chose college over backpacking with Colby, and sheds some light on why she's pulling away from him, I still couldn't forgive her. It's a good reason, and I get it, but I still kind of want to smack her for it. Again, WHY couldn't you maybe just HINT to your best friend that he should make some kind of backup plan?? So selfish!! It makes me love Colby even more that he can see through the smack-rage I assume everyone feels toward Bev, and still find something to love. (Ok, I feel like I'm being too hard on Bev. I mean, yes she is selfish and stupid, but she's young, and I CRINGE at some of the things I did in high school. I believe someday she will be a better person, and a better friend. She has a lot of heart, but she doesn't know how to use it without hurting people yet.) 5. The Beeyootiful Pacific Northwest The band travels from San Francisco to Portland, with a nice little sidetrip to Seattle, and the quirky, small town stops along the way are the perfect backdrop for this artsy quartet to party, perform, and "figure it all out." They meet some interesting people along the way, and pick up a wacky tattoo-related side mystery to solve, which unexpectedly helps Colby make sense of his newfound aimlessness. I am DEFINITELY marking this book's journey down on my list of YA roadtrips to recreate someday. The Disenchantments was a fun, heartfelt post-high school adventure that will ring true to anyone who has had a hard time 1) growing up, 2) realizing your parents aren't perfect, and/or 3) growing apart from friends you thought you'd never leave behind. That transition between the shelter of home and The Rest of Your Life is an exciting plunge to take, but still terrifying, and this book captures the breath before the plunge perfectly. Check out the trailer to see some sweet romantic tension and girl band shenanigans, set to considerably more in-tune music than the Disenchantments would provide.

Comments

[Hannah Wright]

I love NIna Lacour! sounds like i'm going to love this book. Sleater Kinney, Portland, girl bands, hot guy? ohmg i want

[Laura]

I'm glad to hear you liked this book. I've heard mixed things, but I feel like this is a story I would like. This just seals the deal!

[Jenni L.]

Rock & Roll roadtrip, say no more. I'm there beech!

[Cara Sommerhalder]

I am so excited to read this! You've been talking about this one forever and I love the cover. Just put it on my Nook. Weekend....get here now please.