Since You’ve Been Gone

Review:

Title: Since You’ve Been Gone

Author: Morgan Matson

Publication: May 6th 2014 by Simon & Schuster

Format: Hardcover

Source: Gift (From my aunt! Love her xx)

Genre: YA; contemporary; mystery; romance

Blurb:

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…

Thoughts:

I was so afraid to read this book!  Other than We Were Liars this was one of the most hyped books of the summer.  So, I promptly avoided it all summer.

But I did get it as a gift for Christmas, and in my lovely reading endeavor over winter break devoured this book.  In one sitting.  Which is saying something, considering that it is 449 pages, I checked!

Since You’ve Been Gone has that sort of typical intriguing contemporary vibe that a lot of books have now a days.  However, very quickly into the book I discovered that I had this weirdly strong connection to the protagonist Emily.  Even though we were different in a lot of ways, I saw myself in her too, and that made Emily all the more fun to read about.  I also feel like Emily is the sort of character that lots of different types of people can relate to, for different reasons.  She was sort of the sidekick character but with out being Mary-Sueish.  Emily had her own personality, she was fleshed out, she had a backstory, and I ADORED HER.

Matson’s plot was intricate and surprising, making this mystery exciting and fun to read.  The characters lives all spun around in this tornado of overlapping details that somehow was all figured out in the end.

As many of you know, a book is ruined for me if the secondary characters aren’t well developed.  BUT THESE CHARACTERS ROCKED! I haven’t felt this much joy and love for secondary characters since reading The Ghosts of Ashbury High.  Every single one of them was unique, but not overly unique, and incredibly entertaining.  I loved the way that they involved themselves into the story and into Emily’s life.  None of the relationships felt forced or awkward, everything sort of fit together in a genuine way.  No insta-love!

Maton’s various lists and playlists were an absolute treat to go along with the book.  All of the playlists are great for running (I can vouch) and perfectly fit Emily as a character.  Even though its hard to properly describe and review this book, I think that I’ve done my best! :)))

Final Thoughts:

Since You’ve Been Gone was my favorite book of 2014, completely blowing everything else out of the water and demanding to be heard!   Fans of contemporary, mysteries, and good old stories about friendship will adore this book.  Those who loved Matson’s Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour will not be disappointed by Since You’ve Been Gone.  It’s not one to miss!

Cover Ramblings:

I love this cover! I LOVE THIS COVER!  IT FITS THE BOOK PERFECTLY!  The emphasis on Gone and the typography and ugh.  Its just beautiful.  (If you buy the hardcover copy be sure to take your dust jacket off, there is a surprise inside…)