Monday 12 January 2015

Book Review: Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson


Goodreads Description:

The Pre-Sloane Emily didn't go to parties, she barely talked to guys, she didn't do anything crazy. Enter Sloane, social tornado and the best kind of best friend—the one who yanks you out of your shell. 

But right before what should have been an epic summer, Sloane just… disappears. No note. No calls. No texts. No Sloane. There’s just a random to-do list. On it, thirteen Sloane-selected-definitely-bizarre-tasks that Emily would never try… unless they could lead back to her best friend.

Apple Picking at Night? Okay, easy enough.

Dance until Dawn? Sure. Why not?

Kiss a Stranger? Wait… what?

Getting through Sloane’s list would mean a lot of firsts. But Emily has this whole unexpected summer ahead of her, and the help of Frank Porter (totally unexpected) to check things off. Who knows what she’ll find?

Go Skinny Dipping? Um…


Title: Since You've Been Gone
Author: Morgan Matson
Genre: Contemporary, Coming of Age, Romance, YA
Format: Hardback
Pages: 449 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Source: Purchased from the Bookdepository

 First book completed in 2015!!!

Since you've been gone was so good!! *hugging book*

A great coming of age story of friendship, getting out of your comfort zone and trying something new.

Emily's best friend Sloane leaves town without an explanation and a list of stuff to do. The list consist of dares like 'hug a Jamie' to 'horse back riding' taking Emily out of her comfort zone. Trough the book we get flashbacks on their friendship and how some of this dares is related to it.

The books follows Emily's summer as she go to some extreme measures to complete the list and learn to live life without Sloane.

Along the way she makes friends with Frank, Collins and Dawn who helps her complete her list.

Emily was a great portrayed to someone who's socially awkward and needs a bit of a push to come out of her shell. As the book progresses she grows in confident and gets bolder with every dare she takes. She also becomes more independent as when Solane was around she was very dependent on her. She also establish relationships she would not have established if it not for the list.

I also love the sibling relationship as for an odd reason i rarely find a YA that has a good brother-sister relationship.

Her friendship with Frank was another favorite thing about the book! I love the development of their relationship and how Frank who at first looks like this 'perfect' guy but is more that meets the eyes. Also a guy who loves the band 'Parachute' and 'The Beatles' wins my heart! 

In a way i could relate to the book about having a friend suddenly leave/ leaving a friend and feel so lost without that them.

The playlist as a fun bonus! Lots of song that i love and some new discoveries! (Btw fangirled when my favorite band Parachute was mentioned) 

The book when i first saw it in the mail was a lot chunkier then i expected (though its partly cause i wanted the pretty hardback) but i breezed trough this super fast! Its well paced and an easy light read. Though the book is more on the friendship it does have a side of romance that was well developed and paced out. Also some of the scenarios and ways that Emily complete the list was entertaining and hilarious. 

Since you've been gone is about getting out of your comfort zone, making memories with friends and family that you are comfortable with. A fun Summer contemporary that is a must read!



Things to do after you read this review

1) pick up 'since you've been gone' (skip this step if you have and go straight to number two if you have read this book)

2) leave a comment and your thoughts in the book

3) let me know the first book you've completed in 2015 


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