Review: Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

Title: Since You've Been Gone
Author: Morgan Matson
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: May 6th, 2014
Genre: Young Adult, Fiction, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:

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? Ok, 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...

In a well-ordered universe everyone would have read and loved Since You've Been Gone just as much as I have and we'd all be able to fangirl together. This book. I don't even know where to start. This book was an incredibly heart-warming journey from start to finish. You when you finish a book and you stomach feels fluttery and bubbly and your face is all smiley? That was what this book did to me.

The strongest part of the book for me was the characters. Morgan Matson writes her characters in such a genuine way, and they are ones that young people, like myself, can easily relate to. You understand them, relate to them, root for them and learn to love them. Emily was an incredibly genuine protagonist, and I felt that I connected with her on so many levels. Just like Emily, I know what it feels like to be the timid friend, or the one that stands in the shadows of their more outgoing and outspoken counterpart. But this wasn't a story about how Emily learnt to outshine Sloane, it's a story about how Sloane's presence and then absence forced Emily out of her shell. How the list Sloane left threw Emily into a field of new and exciting experiences that essentially made her stronger, braver and most importantly, happier. The character development in this book is astounding. I absolutely adored the relationships that were built between Emily, Dawn, Collins and Frank. I mean, what wasn't there to love about this group?

Can we talk about Frank Porter for a second? No spoilers or anything, but.... aaaahhhhhhh. I could go on and on about Emily and Frank's friendship and how realistically paced it was. Let's just say that there were many moments that had me giggling or goofily smiling into the book.

Morgan Matson's writing is simply incredible and she is extremely effective when it comes to capturing the teenager's thoughts and voice. Emily's voice was just so genuine, and incredibly accurate to that of a teenage girl. I think alot like Emily does, I know what it feels like to be a little bit shy, and a little bit of a loner. But reading Since You've Been Gone made me aware that I am not alone. Reading about Emily was like reading about myself, and it was so incredibly heartwarming. 

I am filled to the top with love for this book! It left my heart incredibly happy, and it was on my mind for days. Since You've Been Gone is an incredibly heartwarming, fun and addictive read. The ambiance of this story will stick with you long after you've put it down and the characters will remain in your heart forever. I definitely recommend this for fans of contemporary or anybody looking for the perfect summer read. 

Have you read this book? Did you love it as much as I did?