The Disappearances: A Magical Young Adult Fantasy of First Love and Dark Family Secrets in a Cursed Town

Emily Bain Murphy’s magical debut young adult novel THE DISAPPEARANCES follows a teen girl who moves to her recently deceased mother's hometown and discovers that it is cursed to lose the experiences that weave life together—the sound of music, the stars in the sky, the ability to dream—and that her mom may be to blame.

Every seven years something disappears in the town of Sterling: reflections, dreams, colors, stars. When Aila Quinn arrives, she realizes why her deceased mother, Juliet, never spoke of growing up there—the town is cursed to lose the experiences that weave life together, and everyone thinks Juliet is to blame.

Aila sets out to clear her mother’s name with the help of George, whose goofy charm makes him a fast friend; Beas, the enigmatic violinist who writes poetry on her knees; and William, whose pull on Aila’s heart terrifies her.

The Disappearances is a bewitching tale full of intrigue, beauty, and dread that will leave you entranced.

But in a town that thrives on secrets, clearing her mother’s name will be more dangerous than she ever imagined. What will Aila risk to uncover the truth?

• Magical Realism Meets Historical Fiction: Step into 1942, where a small town is losing everything that matters—reflections, dreams, colors, and stars—and only mysterious items called Variants can bring them back.
• A Daughter’s Dangerous Quest: Aila is determined to clear her mother’s name, but every clue she uncovers points to a darker web of family secrets than she ever imagined.
• Slow Burn Romance: She’s drawn to the enigmatic William, but in a town where nothing is as it seems, trusting her heart could be the most dangerous move of all.
• Atmospheric & Lyrical Prose: A bewitching, beautifully written tale of intrigue and dread perfect for fans of The Night Circus and The Ten Thousand Doors of January.

Emily Bain Murphy was born in Indiana and raised in Hong Kong and Japan. She graduated from Tufts University and has also called Massachusetts, Connecticut, and California home. She is the author of The Disappearances and lives in the St. Louis area with her husband and two children.