THE DISAPPEARANCES by Emily Bain Murphy

 What if the ordinary things in life suddenly…disappeared?

I adored this book!" – Stephanie Garber, #1 New York Times bestselling author of CARAVAL

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.


Available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audio book formats from these and other booksellers. Want a signed copy? Contact Main Street Books here.



What people are saying about THE DISAPPEARANCES

A Bookish Must-Read YA Book of the Summer

~~~

A GooglePlay Pick for Best Books of Summer Reading List

~~~

Barnes & Noble Most-Anticipated YA Fantasies in 2017

~~~

Shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Award 2018

~~~

"Aila is a solid protagonist amid a surprisingly subtle landscape where the fantastical lies just beneath the surface. ***½ out of four stars." -- USA TODAY

~~~

"Sumptuous worldbuilding, richly developed characters, and a swoon-worthy romance elevate this delightful, fantasy-tinged mystery." – Publishers Weekly, starred review

~~~

"Thick with mystery, buried secrets, and magic, nothing is safe in The Disappearances. Be careful, or you might lose yourself in this strange and wondrous world, where stars go missing, reflections don’t exist, and the question, how much would you sacrifice for love? is given entirely new meaning.

  I adored this book!" – Stephanie Garber, New York Times bestselling author of CARAVAL

~~~

The Disappearances is purely poetic—a beautifully woven story with enough heart to take on its own life.” – Lindsay Cummings, New York Times bestselling author of THE MURDER COMPLEX

~~~

"The Disappearances is a dazzling debut, as glimmering as the Variants themselves, with a haunting mystery, wondrous world building, and a finely wrought family at its heart. I adored it." – Jessica Spotswood, author of THE CAHILL WITCH CHRONICLES

~~~

"A story bursting with color and originality." Kirkus Reviews

~~~

"Murphy's expertly woven world, spun with secrets, lush with literary alliteration, and shimmering with magic (quite literally) is a place many readers will happily disappear into." – Booklist

~~~

"The riddle behind the town’s curse is an intricate and surprising one, and readers will happily join the clever and witty Aila on her hunt for clues." – Bulletin

~~~

"Debut novelist Murphy has created a genuinely fresh and original supernatural romance with content that manages to be both intelligent and compelling without scandalizing those looking for a relatively 'clean' read.... Highly recommended." VOYA

~~~

"The Disappearances is a delicious mix of mystery, fantasy and romance." – Bookpage

~~~

"The Disappearances is a book of wonder and mystery by first time novelist, Emily Bain Murphy. It is well crafted and the plot is memorable and complex. Shakespeare’s words help solve the mystery, leaving the reader with a sense of hope as well as awe. This book should appeal to young adults and adults. The eloquent writing style and the well-researched inclusion of historical details make it memorable. Aila and Miles often use one word to summarize an experience, calling it a finishing word. My finishing word after reading The Disappearances is sublime." – Assembly on Literature for Adolescents of the NCTE, an ALAN pick