Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

Publication Date:

Publisher:  Simon & Schuster

Series:  Stand Alone

Pages:  449

Genre:  Contemporary

Synopsis:  It was Sloane who yanked Emily out of her shell and made life 100% interesting. But right before what should have been the most epic summer, Sloane just…disappears. All she leaves behind is a to-do list.

On it, thirteen Sloane-inspired tasks that Emily would normally never try. But what if they could bring her best friend back?

Apple picking at night? Okay, easy enough.

Dance until dawn? Sure. Why not?

Kiss a stranger? Um... 

Emily now has this unexpected summer, and the help of Frank Porter (totally unexpected), to check things off Sloane's list. Who knows what she’ll find?

Go skinny-dipping? Wait...what?

Review:  This is not the typical kind of book I would read.  There is a serious lack of demons and sadness.  I liked it anyway.  My brain must be broken.  Someone order a brain MRI!

This book is the equivalent of a Disney Channel movie you would watch as a kid (and probably still watch, if you're like me).  It is easy and entertaining and wholeheartedly sweet, if not the most profound thing in the entire universe.  It's no We Were Liars, but the writing is solid and absorbing.  I would it suggest for a lazy weekend.

The plot is predictable, although that should be fairly expected.  It's a book about growth and coming out of your shell (reference the Disney movies).  Everything falls into place perfectly in the end, despite the many (and I do mean many) mishaps that happen along the way.  The focus is on friendship and learning to come out of your shell, which is a nice change from the usual contemporary reads with angst and fluffy romance.

Real friends are the ones you can count on no matter what.

The ones who go into the forest to find you and bring you home.  And real friends never have to tell you that they’re your friends.

Emily is shy, there is no doubt about that.  I'm not exactly the most outgoing person in the world, but I just can't see stressing about the littlest of things like she does.  She used Sloane, her best friend, as a crutch, and it was more of a thank god moment to see her learning to stand on her own two feet.  Watching all these new friendships unfold as Emily connects with others is so heart warming.  

Sloane is a Manic Pixie Dream Girl.  She's the less annoying version of Margo Roth Spiegelman from Paper Towns.  She is extroverted, confident, and practically worshiped by Emily.  As a pair, they are unbelievably cute.  But Sloane happens to be a pretty sucky friend, and I did wonder why Emily had such an attachment to someone who treated her rather poorly.

But yay for new friends!  Frank, Dawn, and Collins make the funniest group of weirdos ever.  They bond as they attempt to help Emily finish her list (which is equally as hilarious).  It's all so adorable and makes me think of ice cream and kittens.  The romance is pleasant and thankfully not terribly sappy (again, with the Disney movie-ness). 

In a well-ordered universe...camping would take place indoors.

The ending, although a little abrupt and doesn't tie up all the loose ends, fits the book perfectly and I couldn't imagine a better way to close off the book that didn't feel staged. 

Since You've Been Gone is a light, charming summer read--one that a thoroughly enjoyed.  It isn't one for the ages and I won't remember it in twenty years time, but it's still a fun book that I am glad I made the time to read. 

3.5 Keys