Since You’ve Been Gone
by Morgan Matson
Publisher – Simon & Schuster
Release Date – May 6th 2014
Buy – Amazon | Book Depository
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…
The Reader’s Lounge first book of the year, is a amazing rendition of friendship, love, and loss; from the highly acclaimed author of
Second Chance Summer and
Amy & Rodger Epic Detour. I’ve been meaning to read this for ages and when it came up as our first book by vote, I was very excited to get started.
Emily is a girl living in the shadows, invisible to the social eye as it were, until she meets a very loud and characteristically vintage girl named Sloane. They first met on one of Em’s running route, Sloane had locked herself out and was in desperate need to wash her hair before it turned green. Your probably thinking, what a weird girl, Em thought that and so did I! Sloane and Emily have been inseparable ever since. Until, out of the blue, Sloane has just…gone. Emily is completely at a loss what to do, she’s phoned, left messages and gone round her house. It’s only when a letter arrives that she knows what she has to do… complete the list in hope to find Sloane.
Since You’ve Been Gone is a novel about finding yourself, going through the motions but also going outside your comfort zone. You are completely surrounded by a world you are unable to identify with because the person who helped you in no longer there. At first I felt like Emily as quite moany to a point, she was so narrow-minded when you think about her character overall. But to be honest it is totally relatable, if you think about it. There is always someone who is the heart of the group of friends that make you a part of them. Now Emily’s tie to her and to society as they both know it is broken. What I find is that we see a depth of friendship like no other, where Emily will travel to the world until she finds her best friend.
Emily has met a very unique persona of a friend, so she is used to seeing the world through a different pair of eyes. When she starts to tick off the list, she builds new friendships and new relationships which you see such a difference in Emily, starting with and most importantly with Frank Porter, her romantic interest. Frank is shown as the guy who the most popular, has a beautiful, yet he finds himself stuck for the summer at home. Their first meet was rather adorable as they seem so awkward with each other, but I felt it as if Frank really showed his true self. Frank doesn’t push being her friend, but its as if they are meant to be together as they naturally grow and towards each other. With Frank comes Collins, you could say he’s the funny guy of the group, always making things light and interesting when it comes to certain points of the list. Finally there is Dawn, a drama-queen none-the-less whilst I wasn’t overly keen with her in the beginning purely because I didn’t want her to replace Sloane so much either.
As one of Miss Morgan’s first books I’ve read, I believe that this is only the beginning for me and her written prose. Her style, is so easy to connect with and I loved how she incorporates various music Mix’s and little snippets of parchment in the book, it really gives a different feel to a contemporary that I wouldn’t usually read. Since You’ve Been Gone stands out from all the rest! A friendship like no other, you really would want to read this!
Rating – 4
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You have no idea how happy I'm that everything worked out in the best way in The Reader's Lounge, even though I wasn't part of this read-a-long. But I'm also happy to see that people generally enjoyed this one. I chatted with Glass about it and she agrees with you. It's a really good read. I hope that soon I'll enjoy one of the reads with you 😉 Great review, Em 😉
Aw thank you so much for your comment Tanja. I know our not a fond reader of contemporary. But I hope we pick something that you can read in March! 🙂
Ahhh i'm so happy you enjoyed this one Em! I loved this one so so much and all it's themes of friendships and finding one's self. This one is easily Morgan Matson's strongest work. Great review!
I couldn't agree more with you. I can't wait to read some of her books as well. Loved the friendship and Frank Porter, it so good. Thank you, Lily!
Great review Em!
I'm really glad that I gave this one a chance since I had wanted to read it but wasn't entirely sure!
I found the book to be a great story of growing into yourself and stepping out of your comfort zone, and it had so many funny and adorable moments!
What a great pick for our first Readers Lounge club! I cannot wait to continue with the books to come! =D
It was such a great book for our first month and I really loved it. I find that I love the finding yourself and growing as a person contemporaries as one of my favourites. I can't wait to read what to come next.
I haven't read Matson's books either but I'm so glad you enjoyed this one! I can't wait to read it–it's been on my TBR for waaay too long! Wonderful review, Emma! 🙂
Same, I wanted to read for such a long time and loved that I finally got to read it. I need to read her others now. Hope you get to read it soon, Keertana! 🙂
I have seen a ton of great reviews for this and I am definitely curious about it!
Me too when I first saw it and I'm so glad I got to read it. Hope you get to read it soon.
It's always so great to have a book so intense and emotional mainly when it's about friendship. I'm glad it was a great discovery for you, I should try as well one day! great review!
It really was and loved discovering a new author and written style too that I connected so well with. I hope you get to read it soon, Melliane! 🙂
I read Amy and Roger's Epic Detour and it made me want to go on a road trip, it was fun and I definitely recommend the hardcopy because there's receipts and lists that make you feel part of the trip. I hear they have a cameo in this one. Wonderful review, Emma! 🙂
I got a hardcopy Rachel and I just saw what you mean, I love when they add that sort of thing, it really adds texture to the book. Thank you, Rachel! 🙂
I didn't know that this was your first read by Morgan Emma! But I'm so glad that you loved this. I read Amy & Roger's Epic Detour a few years back, but fell in love with Morgan's writing straight away. I also loved the characters that Morgan created too. Here's hoping that we enjoy next months read just as much! Lovely review! 🙂
Yes it was and I can't wait to read more of her novels to come that's for sure. I really love the characters and how relatable and loveable they are to connect with, especially Frank. I can't wait for next month's book too. Thank you, Jasprit! 🙂
I wasn't particularly interested in this when I first saw it around, but the more I read about it, the more I want to read it. I'm pretty sure I'll give it a try. Great review!
I hope you give it a try Christy. It definitely is worth it. You feel things you wouldn't usually feel with any other contemporary. Thank you!
What a beautiful review!! ^_^ This one has been sitting idly on my kindle, but I know for a fact that this book has touched a lot of blogger and reader's hearts. I really love it when friendship is extensively and intimately touched upon in a contemporary. Most of them right now are more about romance and love. We need more frienship stories here!
Faye at The Social Potato
We certainly need more friendship stories, I can really only count on one hand which I've read and each of them have impacted me in some way. I hope you get to read this one soon, Faye.
Since You've Been Gone has been on my wishlist since it first came out and I so badly want to get me a copy but it's really expensive over here! Glad you enjoyed this and fantastic review! 🙂
Oh that's a shame you couldn't join us but I hope you get to read this one soon, Kyra!
Hi Emma- thanks for visiting my blog! yours is too cute.
I do want to read this one. I've only read Amy & Roger by the author, but I really loved it, and I hear good things about this one and Second Chance Summer.
-Lauren
Aw thank you, Lauren! I really need to read Amy & Roger as I recently acquired a copy of it after loving this book. Can't wait to read it. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
This definitely sounds like a book I want to read over the summer, it's now on my wishlist!!
Kirsty Fox
I'm glad you enjoyed this! I've been sceptical about reading it, but I think you've finally swayed me. It definitely sounds like the perfect summer read. Nows a good a time as any!
Great review – I enjoyed the fact you elaborated without giving too much away, and made me want to read the book 🙂
Hmm sounds good. A little like Paper Towns maybe. I'll put this one on my TBR. 🙂