Synopsis: Colby's post-high school plans have long been that he and his best friend Bev would tour with her band, then spend a year in Europe. When Bev announces that she will start college just after the tour, Colby struggles to understand why she changed her mind and what losing her means for his future.
Review:
I admit one of the main reasons I was obsessed with reading this book was because of the cover. And honestly, the cover really conveys the feel of the book perfectly. Although, it doesn't really showcase that the book is from the male perspective . . . so I'm not sure if an actual young adult male would want to be carrying around a book with this cover ;-)
That being said though, the male point of view is done superbly. I haven't read many YA books with the guy telling the story, but I have loved most of the ones that do. Like Ashfall, loved that one! Colby is the narrator and he is so honest about how he feels even when he doesn't know exactly what he is feeling. That plays a huge part in what this book is about. Basically just growing up. Colby has to find out who he really is and what he wants. I was rooting for this boy whole-heartedly.
The story is about him and his long-time childhood friend Bev. She is one of the three girls in the band The Disenchantments (who kinda suck, but they look amazing! ha!). Colby is their trusty friend and steadfast supporter. This group of friends is made up of a bunch of free spirits and hipsters. Like the cool 'indie' types that are so different and cool. Not because they're trying to be different but because they are being themselves and being true to the things they love.
The huge turning point for Colby happens when Bev tells him that their plans of traveling through Europe for a year after high school aren't going to happen because she wants to go to college. They have been planning this trip for years. And then, boom. Not happening. Colby is furious and I was SO mad at her too. Colby still agrees to go on tour with their band as planned and it is a very eventful journey. Along the way you (and Colby) start to realize that Bev has some good reasons for why she didn't tell him sooner, and then it's really hard to feel mad anymore.
This book is full of some deep growing-up type stuff and I loved it. Everything comes together to give off some good book vibes.
Publication Date: February 16, 2012
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Young Adult, Coming-of-Age
Source: Thanks so much to Southern Book Bloggers for making me a part of this tour :-D
