Since You've Been Gone

At A Glance Review: I LOVED IT. Morgan Matson just keeps solidifying herself as one of my favorite authors. My heart wants to seize up with happiness over Since You’ve Been Gone. It was a most anticipated book for 2014 and it did NOT disappoint. If you love contemporary YA, read it and then go read her other books if you haven’t! Made my heart melt like ice cream on a hot day. Great book about friendship and finding out who YOU are at the core.

FULL REVIEW:

Morgan Matson is one of my favorite authors ever. Her books always just strike the right chord within me and I connect emotionally and always just love the story, the writing and the characters. Since You’ve Been Gone, I’m happy to report, kept that trend alive…but in a different way for me. Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour and Second Chance Summer were really, really personal for me because they dealt a lot with grief and loss. There was that personal connection there for me. This one there wasn’t that same HUGELY personal element (though I connected quite a bit in ways) but it proved my love for Morgan Matson’s books even more fiercely because DAMN can she write a story that sucks me in, makes me love the characters, makes me swoon and gives me all sorts of emotions. Since You’ve Been Gone, like her other books, just does it all for me. That perfect feeling of getting lost in a great book.

So let’s talk:

1. I’m used to Morgan Matson’s books making me cry (okay SOB FEROCIOUSLY in the case of Second Chance Summer) but Since You’ve Been Gone just made me grin like a fool — allegedly…according to my husband who apparently watches me while I read but I’m too absorbed to notice. Okay, he’s right though. My face hurt from grinning so much. This book gave me happy feels and I did some happy crying at times. I could produce for you a whole LIST of these moments that made my heart happy or made me giggle. This book is sweet, heartfelt and a wonderful story about friendship and really finding yourself. I just felt giddy the whole time I was reading it. And the relationship between Emily and Frank made my heart melt like an ice cream on a hot day…just a sticky sweet puddle of heart eyed feelings. Ooh the friendship and then the tension.

2. I love lists and I loved watching Emily deal with Sloane’s list: I was so pissed at Sloane for leaving Emily with no explanation..just this list. Like YOU HAVE SOME SPLAINING TO DO, Sloane. WHERE ARE YOU? I half wanted Emily to crumple the list up but obviously I was happy she was going to tackle the list because I was so interested in what some of them meant and HOW she would do some of them (skinny dipping, kiss a stranger, steal something). It was a super fun premise and I felt like each thing on the list helped me to get to know Emily AND Sloane even more. Obviously watching Emily go out of her comfort zone with this list was a given, which I’ll talk about below, but I felt like I got to know Sloane in learning where some of these list items came from and WHY she put them on her. I’m a bucket list enthusiast so I was excited about this premise.

3. I loved experiencing Emily figure out who she was apart from Sloane: I don’t know about you but I’ve had the experience of being in relationships (friendships/romantic/otherwise) where I don’t know who I am apart from the person and it’s only when I’m forced to confront that absence that I start to realize how strongly my identity was in those people. Doing these things on Sloane’s list helped her to start to figure out who she was without Sloane there. Sloane had been such an integral part in her past couple years and Sloane was the driving force of their fun and excitement. I loved watching Emily be brave, in the small and big moments, and start to figure out who she was while tackling this list. Even though at first she was doing this list in hopes it would help her find Sloane, she began to do it for herself. Her growth was wonderful to watch and she honestly kind of inspired me.

4. I loved the focus on friendship: Without Sloane, Emily really didn’t have any other friends so I loved watching her meet some new people like Dawn, Frank and Matthew. I just loved them so much and loved how they ended up helping her with the list and it really became less about this THING she was doing for Sloane but for herself and with these new friends. I also really loved how this experience really gave her perspective on her friendship with Sloane and really added even more depth to it when she eventually figured out what happened with Sloane. All these friendship feels made me miss that feeling of making new friends — those friends who end up being your partners in crime, the ones you tell all your secrets to, etc.

5. Morgan Matson gives me an experience: I could say this about her other books but I think maybe I felt like it with this one even more. She makes me feel like I am really involved in the story with the details she gives and how she takes her time in the best way possible to get you to feel it and to KNOW the characters. She just doesn’t paint me a picture of the scene and of the feelings but she makes me feel and experience everything. I feel like I’m there in the midst of it all. I feel the pain of missing Sloane, the fear of doing the things on the list, the thrill of the moment they skinny dipped,the awkwardness of making new friends and seeing Emily’s ex boyfriend. I couldn’t contain my reactions and feelings at times — the laughs escaped, the happy tears fell, the tension constricted my heart and the love just flowed.

6. FRANK FRANK FRANK. That’s all. Also, that boy has excellent taste in music. Okay, so maybe that’s not all. So often in YA I see these boys who are not in fact teenage boys but like supposed to be hot, hunky man candy with all the right moves and words. Frank made me swoon like a school girl in love but he was not perfect or mysterious or anything. He was a teenage boy who was smart and had so many facets to who he was. He felt like somebody I would have REALLY fallen for. And I loved the friendship that he and Emily built. MY HEART. I would like to guarantee a Frank for my nieces and if I ever have daughters (I mean, unless they aren’t into boys). WEAK IN THE KNEES FOR FRANK!

7. Be happy, fans of Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour…the music playlists are back!! And they are so, so good though Morgan said they are a little different in the final copy!

You can also read my review on my blog, Caught Read Handed
So this was the first Morgan Matson book I’ve read, and since starting my blog and checking out other book blogs, it’s pretty much impossible to escape Morgan Matson fan girls. Like, they’re everywhere. And…well, I think I’ve become one of them. :)

What I thought:
As you now know, Sloane leaves a list for Emily to complete. I’m a huge fan of lists, so I’m going to do my review in one. 

1. I think I need to start first with the friendship between Sloane and Emily, which is the basis for the novel. Their friendship was strange at first because I’ve never had a friendship that I was this crazily wrapped up in, but the way Matson writes gets you involved in what Emily is going through and you feel for her as she pretty much mourns the loss of her best friend. The time away from Sloane, along with what happens to her during this time, really gives Emily a new perspective on their friendship. Sloane was behind all of their fun and adventures, so Emily didn’t know who she was apart from that or what to do when Sloane wasn’t there. It was great seeing her stepping out of her comfort zone; I could completely relate to this. I used to be pretty shy in high school (I know, it’s hard to believe), and I found myself in college by breaking out of my shell and doing things by myself and meeting new people. I saw myself in Emily quite a bit.

2. Sloane isn’t who Emily thinks she is. As we learn more about Sloane through flashbacks to when she was still around, we, along with Emily, find out that Emily has built her up to be this perfect person, and she just isn’t that. Emily has lost herself in Sloane, following her along and doing what Sloane says to do. We find out that Sloane needed Emily just as much as Emily needed Sloane. Sloane put on a bit of a front, and I appreciated that; she felt more real this way. Honestly, I wasn’t really a fan of Sloane’s until closer to the end when you began to understand her more.

3. FRANK. Asdfjkl; He’s not your average love interest in a book. He’s the class president/”boy scout”; he’s a leader, but he’s not nerdy either. I think he really just wants to be normal. That’s what he gets with Emily. He was so complex and rounded and lovely and I’m in love. I can’t really put into words all the reasons why. But I swooned. Several times.

4. There are quite a few music playlists throughout the book, made by both Emily and Frank. How cool! It gave the book a really awesome, complete experience. And this is another reason I loved Frank so much: he had a playlist with Twenty One Pilots (one of my top two favorite bands), Andrew McMahon, fun., Swedish House Mafia, and more. I liked the idea so much that I made it into an actual playlist on Spotify (if you are so inclined, you can check it out here: Since You've Been Gone - Mix #7). Also, there’s a fake band called The Henry Gales, which I love because that’s Dorothy’s uncle’s name in The Wizard of Oz but it is also Ben Linus’ fake name in Lost. I don’t know if this is why Matson chose it, but I’m going to pretend it is.

5. I can tell that Matson has been writing for a while. Her writing is clear and succinct, nothing was unnecessary. Each sentence was perfectly placed and well-rounded. I was kind of surprised by just how well-done this book was; it’s not your typical YA/Contemporary romance, that’s for sure. I thought the voice was definitely genuine, and even though she name drops some playwrights and obscure bands, the voice still felt like that of a teenager. Also, I wanted to know what was going to happen and lost myself in the novel. I was undoubtedly impressed.

6. Oh, the romance. I thought the romance between Frank and Emily was really sincere. It was gradual, not an all-at-once instalove, which I appreciated. They become friends first and foremost (he has a girlfriend when they start hanging out). But it wasn’t just that he had a girlfriend: they needed each other, needed a friend to talk to. So they were friends first, and then came the feelings, yet it wasn’t forced; it felt organic, like it actually came from their friendship and appreciation of the other person. Because of this, the romance felt more realistic to me. Of course, the reader knows where it is heading, but you still hold your breath when problems arise, and you root for them the whole time (at least I did).

7. Emily’s transformation was really gradual and not all at once, too. I liked this. No one changes all at once; no one can just dive into being brave and doing things out of their comfort zone. It felt more honest and real this way. She was scared when she started going through the list, but with a little help from her new friends, she knows she can do it. Also, I won’t give any details, but I think she even backpedalled a little bit towards the end; I liked this because it shows that even after you change some, you’re not perfect and you still make mistakes.

8. The list was such a great idea! Sloane couldn’t be there, but she gave Emily a list of things to do that she knew would break her out of her shell. Through it, Emily made new friends, found herself, and can now go through life on her own path. And it was so fun to see her do these things. A couple of things from the list: Ride a dern horse, ya cowpoke, dance until dawn, share some secrets in the dark. The list was sweet and entertaining, and I enjoyed seeing Emily figure out how she’d do them and felt for her as she struggled to get up the courage to do some of them.

9. Something I didn’t like: I thought the ending was a little rushed. Again, I don’t want to give away too many details, but the book led up to this big event (which was pretty genuine and I understood it) but it felt too fast.

10. I liked the secondary characters – Beckett (Emily’s little brother who is basically a ninja), Dawn (Emily’s new friend from the pizza parlor), Collins (Frank’s best friend). I thought they were all well-developed, rounded, and were each included with a purpose.

11. However, we are left without knowing what happens with two of the secondary characters who played a pretty big role in the book. I wish we could have found out what happened there, but I suppose it’s nice to be able to make up my own mind about that.

12. This quote: "I closed my eyes only to open them once more, and make sure it was all still there - the riot of stars above me, this whole other world existing just out of reach." –Page 261

13. I borrowed this book from the library, but I’m pretty sure I’m going to be buying it along with Matson’s other two books. I was seriously impressed and I can completely understand the hype in the book blogosphere around Morgan Matson.

The bottom line:
This is a book about self-discovery, friendship, young love, and finding your own path in life. Everyone can relate to Emily in one way or another, and I was sucked in pretty quickly to the story. The romance and transformation of the main character was real and genuine and organic, and I appreciated it very much. Honestly, the more I think about it, the more I like this book.

Rating: 9 – Practically perfect

Emily had planned to have the Best Summer Ever with her best friend Sloane. Ever since she met Sloane two years ago, it felt like everything was better. Emily could be braver and more interesting just by virtue of being around Sloane.

But then Sloane disappears. No emails. No calls. No texts. Suddenly, the perfect summer Emily had imagined with her best friend is a lost cause. With her little brother busy trying to climb everything in sight and her parents starting a new play, Emily is expecting some quality wallowing time in her near future.

Then the list arrives after Sloane has been gone for two weeks.

This isn't the first time Sloane has sent Emily a list of random, sometimes scary, things to do. But now, with Sloane gone, Emily hopes that completing the list might also help her figure out where exactly Sloane has gone.

With the help of some unlikely friends, Sloane works starts working her way through the list. Apple picking at night should be easy. Dancing until dawn might actually be fun. Kissing a stranger might take a little more work. Skinny dipping? Stealing something? Those might take a little more work in Since You've Been Gone (2014) by Morgan Matson.

Since You've Been Gone is Matson's third novel. (It includes a surprise behind the dust jacket so be sure to check that out!)

From the cover and book design to the plotting and story, Since You've Been Gone is a perfect package. Every piece makes sense. Every aspect of the story clicks. Matson delivers a strong and immediately accessible story here.

Most of the story occurs during the course of Emily's summer. Matson also includes key flashbacks to Emily and Sloane's relationship to highlight the arc of their friendship. The flashbacks also add just the right amount of tension to the story as readers wonder what might have changed between these two girls.

Emily is a deceptive narrator, initially seeming passive and very meek. During the course of Since You've Been Gone readers can see Emily's obvious growth as a character. Matson also delivers spot-on secondary characters ranging from Emily's quirky brother and playwright parents to the friends she never expected to find in Frank, Collins and Dawn.

While Emily loses Sloane before the novel even starts, this book is very much about finding things--including a very authentic and charming romance. In her efforts to complete the list, Emily finds inner courage and maybe even a little bit of herself. Sloane's tasks also add a nice structure to the story as each chapter focuses on one task and how its completion unfolds--often in unexpected ways. Since You've Been Gone is an effervescent, delightful read that is sure to leave readers smiling.

Possible Pairings: The Best Night of Your (Pathetic) Life by Tara Altebrando, Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, A Little Wanting Song by Cath Crowley, Reunited by Lauren Weisman Graham, To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han, Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson, Fly on the Wall by E. Lockhart, Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta, The Miles Between by Mary E. Pearson

My Thoughts: I always end up loving all books written by Matson so when I got the chance to read this one, I jumped on it!

We are introduced to Sloane and Emily who have been best friends for a while. Sloane is adventurous and outgoing while Emily is quiet and usually in her own world. Sloane is a leader and Emily is a follower, sort of.

When Emily wakes up one day and Sloane is completely gone, she’s confused. Where did Sloane go? And then she finds a list left by Sloane of things Emily should do! I loved the list! I especially loved all the little things on it, including going skinny dipping and kissing a stranger, etc. I enjoyed watching Emily do all these things!

Emily also makes a new group of friends. I liked them all. But especially Frank. Oh Frank!!! Frank was such a sweet guy but he has a girlfriend so Emily doesn’t think much about being his friend (or more). She starts running with him and gets to know him pretty well. He also enlists himself in helping her complete this list, as does her new group of friends.

I really really enjoyed this one! I loved it! I loved the characters, I loved the list of things she had to do. And I loved all the time spent with Frank! And that skinny dipping scene was just too cute and so was the tent scene! This one was filled with so many cute adorable moments that made me gush.

And the moment she finds Sloane, wow! This one was so much fun and good!!!

Overall: Loved this one! Another winner by Matson! I always enjoy her stories so much! If you haven’t read all of her books, you need to now!

I loved Emily and Frank and all the side characters! I really loved the plot! And I was so fascinated with the list of things. I enjoyed watching her complete each and every one!

Wonderful story and great characters!

Cover: Seriously cute! I love their clothes and how they are just hanging out eating ice cream!

What I’d Give It: 5/5 Cupcakes
_______________
Taken From Princess Bookie

You know when you close a book and lean back with a sigh and a happy smile? This book gave me a happy smile, and I stayed up late to finish it (a big sacrifice, considering I'm already dragging at the end of the school year!). Totally worth it. *yawns* *reaches for more caffeine drinks*

The author of a favorite 2010 read, AMY AND ROGER'S EPIC DETOUR, Morgan Matson hit another one out of the park with SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE. Shy, introverted Emily and her BFF Sloane have an awesome summer planned...until Sloane and her family move without warning and without any information. Calls and texts go unanswered. Nothing's left in the house where Sloane lived. And Emily's devastated.

Until a letter arrives. A letter with 13 to-dos that challenge Emily to step outside her carefully drawn boundaries and push her self to get "out there". At first, she hesitates which I can totally understand. It's hard for us introverts to leave their comfort zone, especially when there's no one there to back them up. But Emily isn't the type to cry for long. Sure, she misses Sloane but she also doesn't want to be stuck in the hot house while her parents ignore everything around them as they write a new play (writers. *shakes head*). As Emily crosses things off her list, she also meets new people, overcomes fears and pushes far past that little comfort zone into a great summer experience.

Emily's such a normal character. (I almost hate to say that because "normal" is considered by some to be, well, not such a great thing.) She's like the everyteen, someone who's feeling her way in the world, trying new things even if they're scary, and figuring out who she really is when she isn't attached at the hip to a huge personality like Sloane. I liked the really good people she found to hang out with. So often, YA authors hang stereotypes around characters' necks and that's good enough for them. These people that Emily befriends are more than the Perfect Student, the Best Friend, or the Wingman. They're so much more and that genuineness rings true throughout the story.

SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE is one of those pitch perfect summer reads that will have you wishing for long summer nights spent lying outside and counting the stars while sipping Diet Coke through red Twizzlers and giggling with your best friend. Fabulous.

My one quibble? I sing that darned song every time I read the title. Grr. Earworm. *headdesk*

I'M FINALLY FINISHED!! It took me a bit of trouble to finish it cause I was so busy, but now I am :D I'm gonna give it a 4.5 cause their was some stuff I didn't like, but most of the book was wonderful. It's an awesome crazy adventure during the summer and it's just so fun to read. You just always want to know what happens next with the things that she will check next on the list and that's really cool. I love that Emily got to experience a bunch of new things in her life that made her different and a lot more happy. This was overall really an awesome book and I recommend it to anyone that has issues with there best friend or boyfriend and that needs to recover or that you want a great summer read ;D

**SPOILER SECTION :D**
Wow! That Emily girl is way to dependent of that Sloane girl, seriously! That's depressing! All her life is centred on one thing and it's Sloane. She was clearly not at her place with that girl and her new friends made her feel a lot better about herself and she deserved that. I know that she's best friends with Sloane and all, but like seriously, come on, get a life girl. She even had to have a boyfriend that was friends with Sloane's boyfriend, and she was so mean about getting in that bar without Emily and to not tell that she was leaving and all. Like she could have gave a little bit of truth on the whole story with her parents! Anyway, I can't believe that she did that to her best friend... I love how Emily changed so much without her doe! It was really nice. When she started talking with Frank and Collins, and finally Dawn, everything seemed good, and i was happy for her. I was a bit sad of Dawns reaction in the ending but I totally understand her at the same time, because of her stupid boyfriend that schemed on her with her best friend... I do really hope that Dawn and Collins will be happy with each other and that Emily will be friends again with Dawn cause they where great together :D

Let's go to FRANK... I think I sorta fell in love with him. I love nerdy guys cause I'm a bit of a nerd too, but that's cool ;) I love his character, his looks, the way he is, the way he cares (cause that doesn't happen all the time), the way he likes to go running with Emily,... he's great! I would date him ;) But of course, he had to be fictional... I hate that. For the ending, it was so obvious that he wanted to tell her that he broke up with his girlfriend to be with her, but she just HAD to ruin it all with her bloody mouth and runaway from him!!! What is her problem... She loves him OH MY GOD!!! Why doesn't she understand that... I taught that Gideon was cute too, maybe cause I just felt bad about him... But Frank is better. Anyway, if I was Emily, I would have let the road trip go and not go and see Sloane, but I actually really like how the ending turned out to be, it was pretty nice. I loved that kiss in the ending witch made me feel like I wanted more haha..

Now I'm gonna write HONESTLY about how I would feel about the thing that would be written on the list and if I would do them;
-Kiss a Stranger
ARE U CRAZY?! I never kissed anyone yet!
-Go Skinny-Dipping
Why not? I would go at my pool late at night and whatever...
-Steal Something
Ya, Sure, nothing I never did
-Break Something
haha, does breaking a plate or glass while doing the dishes count, cause I've done plenty of those
-Penelope
I don't think I would do this one at all, I'm too scared about this one.
-Ride a fern horse, ya cowpoke
I have horses at hose, and I've been riding since I'm 6 years old, of course I would ride a horse. But I know what is the fear of doing something and I would be scared too to face my fears like that.
-55 s. AVE. Ask for Mona
I would love to get a job that easily...
-The Blackness dress and somewhere to wear it
I love buying dresses and I would probably go to my cousins wedding with a beautiful dress like that
-Dance until dawn
That would be awesome, I would do that with my cousin (that is sort of my best friend) and it would be just like an awesome drunk night while dancing in one of our rooms aahahah
-Share some secrets in the dark
I always do that with my cousin, cause we are awesome like that hahaha, but if she meant a guy... I don't know, I'm not really friends with a lot of guys and I wouldn't want to share secrets with any of them in the dark...
-Hug a Jamie
I don't know any James or Jamie's so I have a problem...
-Apple piking at night
That seems awesome! I would do that with my best friend, Catherine, and we would go to some place that she loves to go and adventure.
-Sleep Under the stars
I always wanted to do this, but I am the best food for bugs... But one day I will go to some camping place with some family and I would talk with someone special all night <3

So that was it :D Thanks and have an amazing day!!!
-Steph

Theme song: Since You've been Gone by Kelly Clarkson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7UrFYvl5TE

I thought of a bucket list without the death as I was reading this book. Sloane has disappeared for
the summer, without telling Emily where she went or when she is coming back. Emily is devastated, all their summer plans hinged on the two of them being together and Emily doesn't really know how to be by herself. Sloane mails a list of things for Emily to accomplish over the summer. Things that push her boundaries, things that make her look at herself and who she really is. Things that make her question her willingness to stay in Sloane's shadow, envying Sloane's easy confidence, independence, and seeming effortlessness. Of course, things aren't always the way they seem; and Emily makes new friends, learns to see outside of herself and Sloane's bubble, her world expands.

I've had girls already reading and recommending this one to each other enough that the hold list will carry over to next school year. I bought a kindle version for myself when it went on sale, so I wouldn't have to compete with the girls and could read along with one of them. We had fun as we discussed it together.

Morgan Matson, the author of AMY AND ROGER'S EPIC DETOUR, is back with another perfect slice of summer. Best friends Emily and Sloane have been planning an epic summer. But Sloane and her family are gone, packed up and left with nary a forwarding address, and Emily is left on her own. All she has is a list from Sloane of things to do. Maybe if she does them, she'll find Sloane.

The setup of SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE is a little far-fetched when you think about it. Emily, in the age of Twitter and Facebook, can't find a way to contact Sloane? But it's best just to go with it, because this book is so much fun. Emily is a bit uptight and reserved, and accomplishing the list pushes her out of her comfort zone. Yet, as she stretches her limits, her comfort zone stretches too. She also manages to make new friends and figure out who she is when she isn't overshadowed by her more dynamic friend.

I liked that SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE offers flashbacks to when Emily and Sloane were together. It shows just how far Emily's come. At the same time, it shows just how deep their friendship was and why Sloane meant so much to Emily. She doesn't seem like the best friend at the beginning of the book; however, the flashbacks show just how much Sloane trusted Emily. At the same time, Emily really needed the shove that came from being suddenly on her own.

There is a very slow-burning romance, but the main focus of SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE is friendships. Good ones, bad ones, old ones, new ones. I loved the people Emily bonded with: Frank, Collins, and Dawn. I also liked Emily's family - playwright mom and dad, daredevil brother. They're sometimes frustrating to her, but she realizes how good she has it as she gets to see some more of her new friends' parents. Also, SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE has one of the most hilarious post-makeout scenes I've ever read.

If you're looking for a funny contemporary that puts friendship - especially female friendship - front and center, then pick up a copy of SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE. If you like it, do yourself a favor and pick up Matson's short but terrific backlist.

Holy, freaking good! I never imaged this could be so good. This friendship so intense after only two years, I wanted one. Sloan and Emily had everything planned for the summer and then Sloan disappears, no letter, no calls, she just vanished. The activities they had planned were priceless; the pizza crawl, the drive-ins, the flea-markets, the concerts and then jobs. Sloan had other things planned but she was gone. I was lost too, where was she? Then came the list. Sloan was good at making up lists, I think Sloan and I came from the same mold but this list was going to be a challenge for Em. These items would test Em and push her to her limit but she thought if were to get Sloan back she needed to do them. The list did push Em: pushed her to her limit on some, pushed her into making new friends and pushed her out of her comfort zone. Her summer was quite the adventure and I treasured every moment with her. The sunroof on her car, the bear tattoo, camping with her brother and the Living Room Theatre were highlights that I shared with her. As the author flashes back to the moments that Sloan and Em shared together, I felt the commitment and love that they shared. Sitting for hours outside McKenzie’s in her car, dressed to kill, Em’s remark, “I’m not leaving” spoke volumes and made me feel giddy inside. All these flashbacks were like the Kodak moments, just priceless and showed that their relationship was built on commitment, fun and drive. I kept picturing Sloan would show up and their summer activities would begin, the list something they both would work on but I also loved Em’s new journey. It was creating Em; Sloan was shaping her from somewhere distant. This book, yeah, definitely a keeper and a great summer read.

Emily has the perfect summer planned... Until her best friend Sloane disappears without any sort of good-bye, just a bucket list of sorts for Emily to follow that summer. Emily makes it her mission to figure out where Sloane went and begins working on the bucket list as hope for inspiration. Emily finds a little help along the way in the most unexpected of companions--handsome and all-around good guy, Frank Porter.

This was my first Morgan Matson read, and I am looking forward to reading the rest of her books. I enjoyed how Emily slowly came out of her shell without really even realizing it. Matson does a nice job developing the plot and themes with a slow build to the end. If you're looking for a book both about friendship and figuring out your independence, Since You've Been Gone is a good go-to.

"Since You've Been Gone" was a surprisingly sweet read with a gorgeous bunch of characters that I found myself slowly falling in love with. There hasn't been much good to say about this book from my fellow readers and I really didn't have my hopes set high which made even more surprised when I found myself speedily finishing.

I know one of the main problems with this is was said to be too long. It is over 450 pages which is extraordinary long for a contemporary romance, but I cannot criticise that as I honestly didn't have a problem with it. Not at a single point during the book did I need to get up for a break - a rarity for me because of my very short attention span!! - and I didn't find myself bored in the slightest. There always seemed to be something going on and I never felt it dragged on unnecessary.

The other problem that readers seem to be having is that Emily is said to be too young for them to relate to. For me this wasn't a problem at all. I could easily relate to Emily, not only because she is close to my age, but because I understood her on a more personal level. I loved how she tackled the list and learnt to overcome certain fears. Her character was wonderfully developed across the book and I came to love her - always a important element in reading.

Overall, while this book seems to disappoint a lot of readers, it didn't disappoint me. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will certainly be picking up more of this author's work.

I would recommend this book for ages twelve and up.

This book follows a girl named Emily. Emily is a timid girl, who tries to stay away from anything involving socializing, until she meets Sloane. Sloane is an outgoing girl, who is desperate for attention, and becomes best friends with Emily. After years of being together, Sloane suddenly disappears without a trace. For weeks, Emily wonders what happened to her best friend, and with no way to contact her, all she can do is wait. Then she gets a letter in the mail from Sloane. Emily hopes that the letter will tell her where Sloane ran off to, but instead Sloane sends her a list. The list has a large number of things that Sloane wants Emily to do before the summer ends, and everything on the list is way outside of Emily’s comfort zone. Emily immediately assumes that if she completes this absurd list, then she will be led to where Sloane is. This list soon becomes Emily’s obsessions, as she is desperate to find out where her best friend is. The only problem is that some of the things on the list require meeting some new people, which Emily is not too happy about. Why would Sloane want her to make new friends when they have had each other for so long and will completing this list really lead her to Sloane?

I absolutely loved this book and really enjoyed the writing style. The thing I loved most about Morgan Matson’s new book was the themes behind it. This entire story was about friendship, and overcoming things that you were afraid of, and that was a really nice change from most of the books in the young adult genre.

My favorite character was Emily, because she reminded me of myself, and I think a lot of people could relate to her.

This book had no violence, and medium romance. This book also had occasional and infrequent moments of stronger language.

Even though I'm 68 years old, I really like YA literature, and Since You've Been Gone is a touching novel about a shy girl locked inside herself, who matures after her best friend moves away without warning, only sending Emily a list of wild things to do. Desperately hoping that fulfilling the tasks on the list will somehow re-unite her with her lost friend, Emily starts out on a journey that ultimately leads to self-acceptance and the courage to truly engage other people. On the way she meets new people, some of whom reject her, but she does not let their rejection stop her from becoming the butterfly that is emerging from her chrysalis.
This type of book used to be called a "coming of age" novel. As such, it is relevant to all of us, regardless of our age. It is hard to take a good look at yourself, recognize things you don't like, and struggle to change them. It is a task we never really complete or outgrow. That is the enduring appeal of Since You've Been Gone.

This book... I LOVED this book. I was smiling the entire time I was reading it. It was just so cute and exactly what I was in the mood to read. I absolutely loved all of the characters, and being an introvert constantly surrounded by extroverts, I related to Emily's character 100%. I felt like this book was made for me. I just absolutely loved how Emily went from being a girl who could barely hold eye contact with people to being a girl that suggests skinny dipping and hugs random people in gas stations. This book absolutely spoke to my soul. It's my second Morgan Matson book, and she is officially an auto-buy author for me. This is how a contemporary about finding yourself and about friendship should be. I don't think I could say enough positive things about Since You've Been Gone. GO READ IT NOW!!!

This was a very good read for me. Emily who is spending her first summer without her best friend. And has no if a where she is. But she gets a list of things to do. And has Emily is scared to do some of these things she meets new friends along the way who help her complete the list. I used all the characters in this story. But can’t believe it took me so long to get finished with it. But again it started out slow for me and really enjoyed this book. Do things that you normally would never do. Recommend this book.

With the high rating I expected to immediately love the book but was surprised that I found myself out off by Emily, the main character, in the beginning. She is so super shy, dependent on her friend Sloane for her own identity, and seems scared to do anything by herself. As the story progresses, her character develops and reveals are more complex personality, finds friends with other people, and starts expressing her own opinions and thoughts. I enjoyed her relationship with Frank and how it isn't an instant love. Also I loved the fact the author allows her to make mistakes that she had to learn from.

Summary:
Emily is ready for the best summer ever, but everything changes when her best friend, Sloane, disappears. She's lost. Sloane was the one that made everything happen and the one that made all of their friends. Then, Emily gets a letter from Sloane detailing what Emily's tasks are for the summer. These leads Emily to begin gaining confidence all the while following Sloane's instructions. Will it be a good summer after all?

My thoughts:
Much like P.S. I love You, or 13 blue envelopes, this book draws the reader into two major parts of the story. The first is the mystery of what happened to the letter writer and what the tasks mean. The second is about the discovery of the strengths in the main character. Emily finds out more about herself than she really expected. I enjoy this type of character development. We get to know Emily superficially at first, but then everything is slowly revealed. This story focuses on friendship, trust, and courage. I really enjoyed it even if some of the pacing was a little awkward.

I seriously adored this book. A few chapters in, I suddenly found myself unable to put it down, and finished it in a marathon session. I had to know what happened to Sloane, and was Emily really going to finish the entire list? What was up with Frank?

I saw a few people complaining that the list was "tame" and too "vanilla". Maybe it was because I wasn't the most popular girl in school, I was the "good girl" but I wouldn't have done most of the things on the list in high school. Some people look at it and go "bah, I have done that/do that all the time!" But for those of us a little more like Emily, it was a small victory to see her overcome her fears and conquer the list.

Overall, it was a great story of friendship and finding out who you really are. My only complaint was that I was a little dissatisfied with how things between Emily and Dawn and Emily and Collins were left, but not enough to say the book wasn't amazing. I highly recommend it, and I will most definitely be picking up Morgan Matson's back list.

I was definitely Emily back in the day and I only wish that I had a Sloane in my life. I think the list did just what Sloane intended it to do. It broke Emily out of her shell and her comfort zone. Sloane wanted Emily to move on and make new friends and through the list Emily accomplished just that.

I found the characters to be quite relatable. The story flowed well and was well written. My favorite character was Collins. Why? Because he was despicable and endearing at the same time. He put on this macho façade but he all he really wanted a girlfriend who loved him for him. Who didn't want that in HS.

Since You've Been Gone is a fun, feel good novel about a girl learning to stand on her own. Morgan Matson wove a sort of magic in her words that made it impossible for me to put this down! It's not often I come across a contemporary that I like as much as I liked this one. Morgan Matson has secured a spot on my "Authors I Must Read" list.

The characters in this book were amazing! They completely stole my heart. I related so much with Emily. She was in the shadow of her best friend, always tagging along and never making the plans. She was comfortable that way. I went through a similar situation when I was younger so I knew exactly what she was feeling. Seeing the way she slowly began to hold her own in her life and gain more confidence was awesome. You could tell that Sloane never meant to overshadow Emily, it was just the way their personalities reacted to each other. We didn't see a lot of first hand Sloane but from what we did see, she seemed so fun loving. The list that she left for Emily to do showed how well she knew Emily and how she challenged her to push her boundaries.

We also had Frank. I love this guy so much. He was just a genuinely good person. It was refreshing to see a love interest in YA that wasn't brooding, dangerous, or intimidating. He was smart, caring, and helpful. It was hilarious seeing him try to help Emily with the list, especially with things like kiss a stranger and skinny dipping. He complimented her perfectly and they worked wonderfully together. I loved that they became friends before anything even slightly romantic happened. Also, their runs were the best!

The list added structure to the plot and helped it move along. However, when things weren't playing out with the list, things became a little slow. I was never bored but I was anxious to see Emily move along and complete things on the list.

Since You've Been Gone is a book worth reading! If you like fun, hilarious, and heart-warming novels, you're not going to want to miss this one! I'm definitely going to be looking out for more books by this author.

This is a sweet book about growing up, making friends, losing friends and figuring out who you really are. The story centers around Emily whose best friend Sloane has moved with her family, and who left without saying goodbye or without letting Emily know where she'd be moving to. Emily feels lost without Sloane around and so when she receives a letter from Sloane containing a list of challenges to complete (like "hug a Jamie" and "dance all night") she decides that she will complete them all and see if it will help her figure out where her best friend is. Along the way, Emily acquires some new friends including the sweet Frank Porter, and surprises herself time after time with her bravery and courage.

I loved this book. It's sweet and funny with just the right amount of romance. Perfect for teen readers (there is a few references to drinking, so maybe best for older teens) and adult readers alike.

This was the first Morgan Matson book I ever read and I will definitely pick up some of her other books in the coming years.

I was expecting a cute contemporary about friendship and that's exactly what I got. With the added bonus of a girl discovering who she is without her best friend there to guide and support her.

This story was just so enjoyable and fun! It made me want to make a list of my own. It just seems like so much fun -although skinnydipping probably won't be on mine, at all.

EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS.

I can't tell you how many times this story made me smile and laugh out loud. I was waiting until after my wedding to read it so I could give it the attention I knew it deserved. Although this book surely had its cute moments, it wasn't fluff. It had substance and even a mystery element as readers quickly learn that Sloan has disappeared and Emily hasn't a clue why. Emily is without her best friend, her other half. This hit me on a personal level because sometimes your best friend isn't within arms reach anymore, due to college, a job location, or other situations. The best friend that was just down the street, or across town, isn't now. Just like Emily, you're having to navigate through your days without your sidekick. Emily's experience seemed totally accurate. I enjoyed Emily's transformation throughout the summer, the romance aspect, and especially the friendship. The last few scenes really proved this to be a 5 star read.

SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE by Morgan Matson hits that sweet spot in my heart that I reserve for authors like Sarah Dessen and Katie McGarry. This is the first book I've read by Morgan Matson, and I know that I'll be reading her previous titles soon.

I admit I expected to be disappointed in Sloane as a character. In the back of my mind, I kept wondering if everything about her friendship would be as fake as her house. (Which is exactly what I should have been thinking, because Matson knows what she's doing. Minor spoiler incoming... Emily couldn't see that she was as important to Sloane as Sloane was to her, and neither could I. Not because I'm an idjit... I still maintain it's because Matson is a genius.)

I really enjoyed watching Emily come out of her shell and grow as a character. I loved Frank and Collins and Dawn (kind of a plot thread left dangling there at the end with Dawn and Emily, though). And I loved Emily's family. But mostly, I love finding another YA author whose work I am unashamed to read, even at the ripe old age of 35 (apparently that Slade article touched a nerve...)

Emily commits to finishing each task on the list Sloane leaves her, sure that it will somehow lead her to Sloane. Instead, the list leads Emily to herself.

Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson is the story of how Emily spent her summer. Her best friend Sloane has disappeared. Emily has been searching for her for two weeks but there have been no signs of her or her family. Then one day Emily receives a letter in the mail with a list of 13 things to do during the summer. Some she understands right away and some takes time before she realizes what they mean. Many items on the list take Emily out of her comfort zone. Emily begins working her way through the list believing that if she finishes the list it will lead her to Sloane.

She begins the list with no friends (except Sloane who is still nowhere to be found) and finds herself with a new job because of the list, and now new friends who try to help her complete the items on the list. She learns a lot about herself and finds out how dependent she really was on Sloane to get her through every situation. The list really helped Emily to open up to new experiences and to break out of her shell a bit.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I felt the characters were believable and the plot was enjoyable. You are caught from the beginning wanting to read more to find out what really happened to Sloane and what was her motivation for sending Emily the list and those specific items that were on the list.

Great read!!!

This was very exciting! I wish I would have read it during the summer since it's a summer book.
I thought it was very adorable and I really liked the main character. She was kind of quiet and anxious at the beginning, but the whole point of the book is that she's given a list of tasks that are well out of her comfort zone, so the book wouldn't be as exciting if it were about a rebellious risk-taker.
I really loved the friendships that developed and the dialogue that went on. There were a lot of funny parts that I loved.
It made me kind of sad though, since it's a reminder of how incredibly lame my own summer is going to be, but that's just a personal thing.
I think this would've been great to read at the beach, instead of 2nd period like I did.

The premise of this book wasn't as emphasised as I had predicted it would be. While Sloane's absence jumpstarted the book, it was really the list she left that gave rise to the story's actions.

I really enjoyed seeing how Emily gained her own group of friends after Sloane left. There were two scenes, one early on and one later, that contrasted how she had grown and changed.

I was very satisfied with the ending. It was a happy ending, which would normally mean that I don't like it; however, I thought that it neatly tied up all loose ends in a satisfying way.

I honestly don't know why I picked this book... I'm not really into books with heavy themes of friendship and completing someone elses lists.

But I have to admit I did enjoy this read. The supporting characters were fantastic and the journey that Emily goes through to complete the things that Sloane should be doing supported growth with Emily. Trying to break out of your shell is hard enough, having to complete a list of things you normally really really would not do might just be the trick to break out. Even if some things seem a little.... you know.... questionable lol. This is a summer she definitely wouldn't forget!

This is a fabulously fun read about a girl who is finally moving away from the shadow of her best friend and is becoming her own person.

Emily is immediately relatable, as are all the kids in this book. As you read, you just want to be best friends with all of them. This is also an adventure as Emily checks off the things on her list. The romances in the book are sweet and not insta-love.

The book had me laughing and smiling all the way through. This is a feel good read through and through!

Mom's note:
You'll find sneaking out, drinking, skinny dipping, etc, but these are all good kids with good hearts. Honestly, if my kid grew up to be any of these kids, I'd be thrilled.

I absolutely loved this book and felt that it was incredibly relatable especially for teenagers who have had to move a lot or have experienced a friend that has moved. This book offers easily understood insight as you watch the main character grow and mature throughout the book. I will definitely read it again.

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers hits a grand slam this summer with the release of "Since You've Been Gone," a novel by Morgan Matson. (ISBN-10 1442435011, ISBN-13: 978-144235018).

The story revolves around the friendship of teenagers - Sloane and Emily. Sloane was not the introvert of the pair - Emily was. That is until Sloane motivated Emily to step outside of her comfort zones and live life.

But then something happened before what was expected to be a pivotal summer for both girls - Sloane disappears. We didn't say die - we said disappear.

While Emily wonders where her friend went, she comes across a list - a bucket list without a dying person. Emily ponders the list like most of us would - all 13 items. Apple picking at night, kiss a stranger, dance until dawn ... go skinny-dipping.

Emily dives into the list and sets out to perform each activity.
Matson gives the tale a twist or two, spices it up with humor, a little bit of drama and even a few surprising revelations that makes "Since You've Been Gone," a book that even old adults would enjoy reading this summer.

The novel Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson is a young adult novel about two best friends being separated for the summer. The main characters of this novel are Emily Hughes and her family, Sloane Williams, and Frank Porter. Sloane Williams is Emily Hughes’s best friend who leaves her the summer before senior year, without telling Emily that she was leaving. The only thing Sloane leaves behind is a to-do list of uncomfortable things that Emily would never do without her. Throughout the novel, Emily finds ways to accomplish each event on the list, in hoping to find Slone once the whole list is complete. Emily found herself doing things way out of her comfort zone such as going to the orchard by herself, hugging a random person, getting a job at the ice cream shop, and making new friends, which was something she’s never done before without Sloane. The entire plot line is an adventure. Sloane is Emily’s best friend who she does everything with. They planned a huge list of things to do over the summer; however, Sloane disappears without telling Emily and only leaves her behind with a to-do list. My favorite character was Emily Hughes because she reminded me of myself. I do not like doing things outside of my comfort zone and normally don’t, and usually let other people take control. As the novel progressed, Emily Hughes found her way and started doing things that she never imagined herself doing. With that being said, she did all those things in hopes of finding her best friend. Overall she became a more comfortable person in her own shoes, which is primarily, the lesson of the story. It was very easy to relate to the characters in the story because Morgan Matson made it feel like the reader was part of the story. Many of the characters did things that I’ve never done, but I have stepped out of my comfort zone and became a more confident person, which helps relate to the novel. It was also very relatable to high school experiences which made me want to keep reading. My favorite part of the book wasn’t really one part. It was how determined Emily Hughes was to finding Sloane Williams, and how she thought the only way to do so, was completing the list. My least favorite part of the book was the opening. It wasn’t very descriptive, it just told the reader that Sloane had disappeared and that is all we knew about her. I would have liked to know a little bit more about Sloane Williams. In saying that, I would change the beginning of the novel, in order for the reader to know more about Sloane. I would give more detail about where Emily was when Sloane left, and would say more about why Sloane was leaving. Nothing about her whereabouts because that’s the overall mystery of the book; but, just more detail about Sloane as an individual. This book was a good book that I really enjoyed reading. There were some personal changes that I would make, but overall, the novel was enjoyable and I would recommend this book to others. I would recommend this book to young teenage girls in high school because the novel is placed in the summer going into senior year.

I was really looking forward to this novel not only because I've heard great things about it but also because I had the privilege to meet Morgan Matson at BookCon last May! She was so sweet and inviting that I knew I had to give her work a try. While I really did enjoy reading this novel and will definitely pick up more of her work, to me this was more of a feel-good read than an all=time favorite.

Since You've Been Gone is filled with many convenient coincidences which make the novel quirky and interesting. Honestly, if I only had one friend and she abandoned me spontaneously, not only would I be too depressed by that but I know I'd end up spending that summer alone because people who've known me my entire life but never paid any attention to me wouldn't spontaneously become my best friends. And I know that's because I'm a shy person and don't go outside of my element. But Emily's whole characterization is based around her shyness and unwillingness to go outside of herself more than she absolutely has to, or unless there's an extrovert like Sloane around to draw her out of her shell. Honestly, most of the time Emily didn't seem shy to me at all, just a little awkward and very afraid of horses.

The romance was sweet. At first I didn't think I was going to like it at all but in the end it really grew on me. I think it was well-done, and wasn't pushed to the forefront of the story which was really refreshing to see in a YA contemporary novel. The bulk of the story was about Sloan and Emily, like it should have been, and it was great to read about their friendship--even though if someone pulled a Sloan and up and left on me I'm not sure I'd take it as well as Emily did.

If you like YA books that are summer-y, full of fun adventures, and are a quick read, this is definitely a book for you. It's a good story with some heart thrown into it and this will definitely keep your interest while you read it. While it might not be the best book you've read, it's a good book to reach for when you're feeling low, are on vacation, or need a break between emotionally draining novels.

I'd been told a few times that Since You've Been Gone was different than Matson two other novels, and it certainly was. There was still the well-written romantic relationships, great humor, and family relationships, but friendships took center stage in this one. I loved every character (except Sloane kind of), and desperately want a companion novel. Desperately. I feel like the checklist of challenges could have gone somewhere I wouldn't have liked it--like a scavenger hunt, or a hurried thing, but the list was written into the story so well. I really liked this book.

It was a sweet teen story, it made me laugh and it had the swooniest romance ever!! These two didn't know it was a romance in the beginning and that's part of what makes it incredible. The natural build-up, and believe me, it felt natural.
Every book I read by this author I feel is relatable and well written. She takes you through your emotions, with the story, and I do love those. Mostly, it was a quick and fun read.
YA fans, and fans of her previous books will love this too.

4.5/5

Emily is basically Sloan's Best Friend. I don't just mean that as her introduction. That is pretty much her entire identity. I mean she has a family and interests and stuff, but that doesn't define her. She is defined by Sloane. And Emily is 100% absolutely okay with that. Until Sloane is gone and Emily is lost and has no idea what to do with her life. It sucks. A lot. But then Emily is forced to meet new people and things suck a little less and eventually she finds her way to herself while searching for Sloane.

Morgan Matson just has this way of writing the most genuine characters in YA. When I was reading, it felt like I could actually hear Emily's voice in my head and completely resonated with her fear of loneliness and her tentative opening up to new people and even the reluctant excitement when she realized that she could have a life beyond Sloane and she defined herself on her own terms. YES MORE COMING OF AGE PLEASE IN ALL BOOKS EVER.

And of course, what would a Morgan Matson book be without an non-traditionally swoony guy? I mean the guy's name is FRANK for goodness sake but Morgan - once again - creates a genuine character that you want to hang out with and learn from and get just a bit of his spark for life and adventure and playlists preferences. And Emily does all of those things which is great because girl needs a loving, supportive friend in her life.

While this was a chunker of a contemporary book, I was thrilled with every single sentence and didn't want it to end. I loved our main characters and the supporting cast. I loved the list that Emily had to work on as a driving force behind the narrative. (I love lists in general so it was an added bonus!) I love that the characters grow and change and develop before our very eyes and you root for them and cringe for them and just want to be with them.

TL;DR

Morgan Matson nails the contemporary read again with her genuine characters and addictive narrative. Fans of Morgan Matson's other works or other such well written, character focused contemporaries will love this one! It just leaves you feeling happy and loving and with hearts in your eyes. I cried happy tears because FRIENDSHIP and NEW FRIENDS and just LOTS OF FEELS, OKAY?

4.5 stars. Do you know what I love about Morgan Matson's books? Her characters always change. They learn something about themselves and those around them, and it's not just the main characters. Since You've Been Gone reminds the reader that no matter how much you think you know someone, there is always something new to learn. And if life isn't what you want it to be, change it. It's a great story, a great lesson for life.

3.5, really. This was a cute read, I just didn't feel any urgency to keep reading. It was a nice summer read with fun characters, but none of the items on the list were particularly shocking. That said, I did like the growth of the main character, and super loved how the mystery with Sloane was handled and wrapped up. Fun read, nothing entirely special. If I were to recommend a Matson book, it would be The Unexpected Everything.

I loved this book. Emily's best friend Sloane is just gone one day at the beginning of summer vacation, and she leaves Emily a list of things she wants her to do. Emily is upset and confused and doesn't know what else to do, so she follows Sloane's list. Through this we get to know Emily, some new friends, an adorable love interest, and tidbits about Emily's family. Nothing to complicated, just a fast paced enjoyable read. I like that we do find out what happened to Sloane. I would definitely recommend this as a fun beach read. I am looking forward to trying this author's other books.

"Since You've Been Gone" by Morgan Matson was a really cute book. Morgan Matson is a very good author, and I liked how the story built up steam the longer I read it; this book was a bit hardier than most Chick Lit reads that I have experienced. I had fun watching Emily grow as a person, and some of the situations Morgan put her character in were interesting, and they kind of made you wonder what you would do if you were in Emily's shoes.

Besides it being a really great light summer read, I liked "Since You've Been Gone" because of Morgan Matson's secondary characters. Usually the secondary characters in Chick Lit books fall flat (except in Katie McGarry's and Ally Carter's books), but in this one I found myself enjoying everyone, and I was especially happy to see Emily help out her brother a lot more nearing the end; I always enjoy it when siblings look at for each other in books. One of the other things I liked was that each of the characters were pretty average, but in a good way. They were real people, not perfect, gorgeous, and unrealistic like a lot of books characters I've read. They were all endearingly average and I really liked that.

Overall, I really liked this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a light, well written summer read. It was clean and cute, and I am very happy to have purchased it!

This is a great book for those who are into family portraits. It's rightfully labelled a young adult novel, but this old guy was surprisingly able to relate to it. Morgan Matson is a suprerior writer although I myself haven't read that much of her earlier work.

This is especially good for teen girls to read with good values. It's an easy and enjoyable read and one which will leave the reader, young or old, feeling good. Highly recommended.

This book was a good read just not something spectacular like I thought it was going to be when reading what the book was about in the description. The beginning was a bit boring to me until I got more into the middle of the book and it had super long chapters that went on for 20-30 pages and just in my reading taste I hate super long chapters as I just feel like I want to move onto the next and make progress if that makes sense LOL (Just a weird pet peeve of reading I have) I am glad I read this book as it was on my summer reading list and I have been wanting to read it,but It sadly it just did not live up to what I thought it would be but never the less it was good, its just not a book that I got super into where it really left an impression on me and made me jump up and want to recommend it to everyone I know.

I am on a roll. This is the third ya book I have read this month and it did not disappoint. It was such a lovely story. What a summer should be like for all teenagers. Fun, exciting, and adventurous.

I loved this book! It gave me the same vibe as a Sarah Dessen book does. I love that there is a great family dynamic as well as different friendships and relationships. Every character is unique and flawed yet very charming with their own quirks. I love Emily's friendship turned romance with Frank, and I especially love that it's not a flat and boring progression to the relationship but it's a real and honest portrayal of what love is like. At first awkward and clumsy but blossoms into something beautiful. But my favorite relationship in this book is the friendship and sisterhood between Emily and Sloane. Their bond is a beautiful one with flaws and real issues like any normal relationship but I think that's what I loved so much about it. The whole time when I was reading the book I kept thinking to myself, "oh well I can relate to that" or " wow that happens to me all the time". Morgan Matson is an incredible author and I cannot wait until she publishes more!!

In the beginning this was a hard book to get into. I was starting to doubt all the good reviews, but then it all turned for the great! Yes the beginning is slow and almost frustrating with the main character's shyness but it ends great. It's a super sweet story about friendship, finding friends and young love. A great coming of age/ summertime novel.

The narrator spends the first half of this novel acting in an extremely odd, silent and awkward manner during any conversation she has. the author drags out her internal monologue for often up to a page between each section of a conversation, yet Emily never manages more than monosyllabic responses before considering crying and running away.

I understand the narrative is driving towards a personal growth for Emily that allows her to be more capable of normal human interaction, but the author seems to go too far in making her seem unlikeable and strange at first. It goes past the point of being able to view these interactions happening in your mind. The second half of the novel is better, but by that point I disliked the main character.

A great fun novel with interesting characters. Perfect to read in the summer or at the beach. Unexpected twists and turns too. It would be perfect for a high schooler to read but great for we older girls who are reminded of high school days.

I usually never read books like this. Im into distopian, not teen romance books. Ive heard good reviews about this book from multiple people, i was at Target and saw that this book was on sale, so i decided to give it a try.. I fell in love with it instantly!! I could deffinatly relate with Emily, i too am shy and hide behind a popular friend.. All of the characters were repeatable and I read this book in one sitting.. Frank was my favorite character. I love the authors writing style

Since You've been gone is a book I related to. The first part at least. I once hid behind the shadow of my fearless best friend too. I made her life into MY life. Whatever she did, I did. But that is until she moved to Kansas and I was left to figure out how to navigate high school without her. One day I want to try adventurous stuff like Emily did. If you love romance and adventures, THIS IS THE BOOK for you! If you love fictional characters, betrayals and heart breaks, this is the book for you.

I picked up this book wanting to save it to read while I was on vacation. I gave in the day before I went on vacation promising myself I'd only read 1 chapter. Or maybe 2. 3? 4! Before I knew it I finished the whole book that day. It was that good. Morgan Matson has simply outdone herself yet again in the contemporary world. Picking up this book I was a bit nervous because it seemed kinda long for a contemporary novel. I feared it would drag on. I was pleasantly surprised. The whole book was perfectly paced with completely relatable characters. Plus I LOVE the music playlists Matson intertwined in the story. This book makes you want to go out into the world with your friends and really just live life to the fullest. 5 out of 5 starts! You won't regret reading this book!

This book is so gentle and touching and real. Matson writes beautifully in a way that almost everyone can relate to, and you never feel like the characters are out of place, unrealistic, or artificial. It's cute and is the perfect summer read - the one you pick up between hefty novels to finish in a week and feel really good when you put it back down. I look forward to reading more of Matson's stuff - this is what I wanted when I picked it up, and I got exactly the experience I was looking for, which was a quick, touching, fun read.

INKlets: Supah Short Review

4.5/5 Stars
I REALLY REALLY liked this book. What shy, insecure or introverted-type person hasn’t hidden behind their more outgoing best friend? Who hasn’t wished they didn’t have to? This is a terrific book about taking chances and trusting (with my favorite, a list).

I loved the way this book portrayed friendship between girls. I love reading romance arcs, but sometimes I feel like there's a lack of friends in my YA. Even though Sloane was generally absent, she still felt like a character who was there the whole time, based on her influence on Emily and the things she set up in her list. Loved the way Matson did that.

This book made me cry. Everything about it is real. There's so much life in this book, character's that experience friendship and love the way life often has it. This book really captures what true friendship is, and how even the seemingly perfect ones have their imperfections. And of course, finding yourself when maybe you've been hiding behind someone else. There's so much truth in this book. And one truth is, I loved this book.

I really enjoyed this book. I found the characters likable and I am not afraid to recommend this book to one of my middle school students. I enjoyed that each character was able to grow and that we learned about both of them. I found this book to be enjoyable and would highly recommend it anyone.

This wasn't as amazing as I was expecting based on the reviews, but I did enjoy reading it. I just think it was a little over-hyped. Besides that, this was a really fun read, and I'm glad that I took the time to read it!

I liked this story. I agree with another review that stated the first 30% of the book was pretty slow, but once things started to fall into place, i couldnt put the book down. I think this story hits a great point for teenagers/young adults, teaching you that its ok to come out of your shell becuase you never know what might come from it. :)

This book embraced me like a hug until I was swamped, immersed in warmth and friendship. Feeling simultaneously blown away and totally absorbed, I flew through the book, devouring chunks until I reluctantly had to work or sleep.

This book is so gentle and touching and real. Matson writes beautifully in a way that almost everyone can relate to, and you never feel like the characters are out of place, unrealistic, or artificial. It's cute and is the perfect summer read - the one you pick up between hefty novels to finish in a week and feel really good when you put it back down. I look forward to reading more of Matson's stuff - this is what I wanted when I picked it up, and I got exactly the experience I was looking for, which was a quick, touching, fun read.

INKlets: Supah Short Review

4.5/5 Stars
I REALLY REALLY liked this book. What shy, insecure or introverted-type person hasn’t hidden behind their more outgoing best friend? Who hasn’t wished they didn’t have to? This is a terrific book about taking chances and trusting (with my favorite, a list).

I loved the way this book portrayed friendship between girls. I love reading romance arcs, but sometimes I feel like there's a lack of friends in my YA. Even though Sloane was generally absent, she still felt like a character who was there the whole time, based on her influence on Emily and the things she set up in her list. Loved the way Matson did that.

This book made me cry. Everything about it is real. There's so much life in this book, character's that experience friendship and love the way life often has it. This book really captures what true friendship is, and how even the seemingly perfect ones have their imperfections. And of course, finding yourself when maybe you've been hiding behind someone else. There's so much truth in this book. And one truth is, I loved this book.

This was the first book I read by Morgan Matson, and I then read two more and loved them almost as much and am waiting for the third to come in the mail. I was not a big reader, until this book. My absolute favorite of all time. It's everything you could hope for in a book. I love love love love love LOVE this book

I really enjoyed this book. I found the characters likable and I am not afraid to recommend this book to one of my middle school students. I enjoyed that each character was able to grow and that we learned about both of them. I found this book to be enjoyable and would highly recommend it anyone.

This wasn't as amazing as I was expecting based on the reviews, but I did enjoy reading it. I just think it was a little over-hyped. Besides that, this was a really fun read, and I'm glad that I took the time to read it!

I liked this story. I agree with another review that stated the first 30% of the book was pretty slow, but once things started to fall into place, i couldnt put the book down. I think this story hits a great point for teenagers/young adults, teaching you that its ok to come out of your shell becuase you never know what might come from it. :)

This book embraced me like a hug until I was swamped, immersed in warmth and friendship. Feeling simultaneously blown away and totally absorbed, I flew through the book, devouring chunks until I reluctantly had to work or sleep.

Matson always writes such great stories about extending yourself outside your comfort zone and living life to the fullest. Although their YA, as an adult, I find them to be inspirational and fun, filled with friendships and yes, a touch of romance.

She should be required to release a new book every summer. Since You've Been Gone is an emotional, bittersweet story that is a worthy follow up to Amy & Roger's Epic Detour and Second Chance Summer.

This book has such great characters! Although I relate more with Sloane than Emily, I found myself really enjoying Emily's POV, laughing out loud and grinning as I read this book. A quick, enjoyable read!

The writing was excellent, there were no errors at all, and the story was unpredictable. It's very realistic and I'm glad Morgan Matson made the characters real, relatable, and likable. This is my favorite story so far from this author and I can't wait to read another story by her.

As someone a few years older than Emily, I found this book to be somewhat relatable. We've all had that friend at some point that seems to make our light dim when we should be shining bright. The book was slow to start, the romance builds, but by the end I found myself cheering for Emily's personal growth.

I loved this book. The author did a really good job. I finished it in one day, I couldn't put it down. It has a familiar Paper Town kind of vibe, but way better, like a 101% better. I think is a most read for everyone looking for a good-summer-book and some kind of a meaning.

This is a fantastic coming of age tale that reaches its YA adult audience as well as those a little older( mid twenties) We all have a friend who pushes us to do things out of our comfort zone and this book explores what happens when that friend is no longer there. It's a great little read and worth your time

So close to being great.

While Since You've Been Gone has a great plot line, it's pretty obvious pretty quickly what is going to happen. The start of the book was attention grabbing, but it seems like this book could have been a little shorter.

"Since You've Been Gone" by Morgan Matson was a really cute book. Morgan Matson is a very good author, and I liked how the story built up steam the longer I read it; this book was a bit hardier than most Chick Lit reads that I have experienced. I had fun watching Emily grow as a person, and some of the situations Morgan put her character in were interesting, and they kind of made you wonder what you would do if you were in Emily's shoes.

Besides it being a really great light summer read, I liked "Since You've Been Gone" because of Morgan Matson's secondary characters. Usually the secondary characters in Chick Lit books fall flat (except in Katie McGarry's and Ally Carter's books), but in this one I found myself enjoying everyone, and I was especially happy to see Emily help out her brother a lot more nearing the end; I always enjoy it when siblings look at for each other in books. One of the other things I liked was that each of the characters were pretty average, but in a good way. They were real people, not perfect, gorgeous, and unrealistic like a lot of books characters I've read. They were all endearingly average and I really liked that.

Overall, I really liked this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a light, well written summer read. It was clean and cute, and I am very happy to have purchased it!

Although predictable in its ending, SYBG is a feel good story about the unpredictability of our lives and the possibilities it holds for us. Reading how Emily grows and realizes her own particular contribution to her world engages the reader into reflecting on his or her own "Emily" moments. Definitely worth the time to read and feel good about it.

The book starts of in dragged out, boring manner that feels incongruent with the age of the characters. The heroine is a whiney kid who you want to smack for having #FirstWorldProblems. And yet, if you can force yourself to keep reading, the book becomes better. Maybe I have forgotten what it's like to be a teenager, maybe it's different now. But I couldn't really relate to the characters although I did stick with this book till the end.

I haven't even read the book, but judging by the summary, it sounds too much like Nerve and Never Sometimes Always. It's too cliche, and yes, maybe I'm judging this book by its cover/summary, but it just looks like several books I have wasted my time on before.
"Shy girl gets a list of some sorts and starts putting herself out there. Falls in love with a popular kid, who finally sees what he's been missing. Blablablablabla."

I'm going to admit something very crazy. I had never read a book by Morgan Matson before Since You've Been Gone. I don't have any good excuses. Since You've Been Gone has been sitting on my shelf for well over a year. I'm just happy I finally read it.

Since You've Been Gone is a coming of age novel about finding yourself. Emily has lived in her best friend Sloane's shadow for the past two years. That's been fine with Emily. She was more than happy to be the sidekick. But when Sloane suddenly disappears at the beginning of summer break, Emily's distraught. Not only is she concerned about and missing Sloane, she's suddenly all alone. The only thing Emily has left of Sloane is a random and scandalous list of things Sloane wants her to do. As Emily begins to work on completing the list, she find herself making friends with a guy from school, Frank Porter. Frank surprisingly offers to help Emily complete her list. As the summer goes on, Emily discovers more about herself and the world around her.

My love for Since You've Been Gone wasn't immediate. To be honest, Emily really annoyed me at the beginning of the book. Her continued whining over Sloane and her absence drove me nuts. I know it was because I hadn't gotten to know her before Sloane's disappearance, but it grated on me for a bit. It wasn't until she started working on the list and all of the supporting characters started showing up that I started to fall in love with the story.

Once I got past the beginning, I absolutely loved Since You've Been Gone. I was surprised to see a lot of my younger self in Emily. I, too, had a friend whose shadow I was content to live under in my school days. I empathized with Emily's discomfort when she had to figure out how to be without Sloane, and make new friends. I can remember going through that and how tough it was. But, just like Emily, once I had been through it I was a stronger me. I loved the way Morgan Matson portrayed Emily's growth as a person throughout this story.

Another thing I loved about this story were the other characters. Every one of them was so vivid and entertaining. I loved Collins and his absurdity. Frank was my favorite, though. His friendship with Emily was really sweet. He was a stand up guy. I loved their running program and the playlists they shared.

Since You've Been Gone may not have started strong, but it definitely ended that way. It had a great message and was beautifully written. It's a book that I would highly recommend to teenagers (and adults!). I loved it.

** spoiler alert ** I loved how the chapters were separated by the tasks on the list Sloan gave Emily. But things really got good when Frank came into the picture and helped Emily out with the different activities. You could tell from the start that things weren't going to work out with him and Lissa, and I'm actually really glad (sorry, Lis) because Emily needs Frank. And I think Frank needs her some too. Things dragged a bit during some of the chapters, but overall it was a great and fresh storyline. And I especially liked the "deleted scene" with the sunset bedroom. That's one sweet bedroom view!

My best friend was much more everything than I was and then there was a car accident and she was gone. In the wink of an eye I too had no one blazing the trail before me and I had to get to know myself. I had the opportunity to read a couple of YA books so far this summer that really blew me away. If I had read this one first maybe I would have given it one more star.

This was the first book I read by Morgan Matson, and I then read two more and loved them almost as much and am waiting for the third to come in the mail. I was not a big reader, until this book. My absolute favorite of all time. It's everything you could hope for in a book. I love love love love love LOVE this book