Blog tour: SeaRISE; Character book review of The time machine

The Time Machine by H G Wells

Review by Donald Ferguson, St Kilda, Scotland, 8th December 1918



It was H G Wells and not Jules Vernes who wrote The Time Machine in 1895, just over a decade before I was born. For some reason I get those two authors mixed up. It’s a story about a man who builds a machine that can take him to the future. I was in the middle of reading it when something very strange happened, so strange in fact, that it’s taken me quite a while to get round to finishing the book.
The Time Traveller in Wells’ story goes to a distant time in the future when there are two kinds of odd-looking humans on the Earth – the Eloi and the Morlocks. He rescues an Eloi girl called Weena, but as they are escaping they get caught up in a forest fire. Later when he gets back to his house in Richmond in Surrey in his own time, he proves to his friends he has been gone for ages in the future (even though he was only missing for 3 hours) by showing them two flowers that Weena had put in his pocket. But if you think that’s strange, then my story is even stranger.

One day in May this year, when the war was still raging, I spotted two girls down on the beach. They seemed to emerge from a large black cube that I’d never seen before. It turned out the younger girl was called Alice, who said she was also from St Kilda, but 100 years into the future, and the older girl was actually a lady called Karla Ingermann, who is the Seabean’s (that’s the name of the black cube) inventor from Germany. They had a blue parrot with them too. My mum, Dora Ferguson, who is our teacher, was worried about it all, but I was very excited to meet some people from the future. Alice wore very strange clothes – Wellington boots with flowers on them, and a sweater that was made of a strange material patterned with rainbow-coloured stripes. She showed us inside the Seabean, and told us that she could command it to go anywhere. It was just bright white inside until Alice started singing an old Scottish sea shanty and then the Seabean started to display moving pictures of a sea voyage and you could hear the seagulls crying and everything. It was incredible! I persuaded my mother to let us go back in time like Alice had done, and in just a few moments we found ourselves at the Great Exhibition in London in 1851! There were elm trees growing inside a vast glass building, and the parrot who was called Spix flew up into the branches and then Alice picked up a seed that had dropped from one of the trees. We accidentally left the parrot behind, which was a shame, but Alice still had the seed in her pocket, just like the Time Traveller in Wells’ story.

When we arrived back on St Kilda, at first it was the right place but the wrong time – instead of 1918 it was still 1851, and Alice realized she had made a mistake. However, when we finally arrived in 1918, our island was being attacked by a German U-boat. It was all very frightening. Alice and Karla were taken prisoner because the islanders thought they were spies. It’s a long story, but eventually I helped Alice to escape back to her time in the Seabean and she gave me the elm seed as a goodbye present. Now Karla has disappeared too. I still don’t know if she managed to find another Seabean, but now I wish that instead of going to the past I had gone with Alice to the future, like the time traveller in The Time Machine. I’d like to know what the future is like in 2018
where she came from, and be able to tell her I planted the elm tree seed and that it’s started to grow.



Donald Ferguson features in SeaWAR, the prequel to SeaRISE by Sarah Holding.

SeaRISE by Sarah Holding

SeaBEAN Book three

In the thrilling final part of The SeaBEAN Trilogy, Alice and her five classmates are - for reasons they have yet to discover - abducted to 2118 in the C-Bean, their time-travel device, only to find the world is a difficult and alienating place. 

How will they survive their terrifying ordeal? Who can help them figure out a way to get back to their own time? Will they escape before their captor Commander Hadron catches up with them? Who is he anyway and what's his connection to the mysterious Dr Foster? 

Unsettled by the devastation they find everywhere in the future and armed with new knowledge about the C-Bean's ultimate purpose, Alice and Co scour the planet, confronting many challenges in pursuit of answers to their questions. But can they figure out a way to restore the Earth's delicate ecological balance for good?

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I was here - Review

I was here by Gayle Forman

Available 29th Jan 2014

simonandschuster.co.uk 

What's it about?

When her best friend Meg drinks a bottle of industrial-strength cleaner alone in a motel room, Cody is understandably shocked and devastated. She and Meg shared everything - so how was there no warning?

But when Cody travels to Meg’s college town to pack up the belongings left behind, she discovers that there’s a lot that Meg never told her. About her old roommates, the sort of people Cody never would have met in her dead-end small town in Washington.

About Ben McAllister, the boy with a guitar and a sneer, who broke Meg’s heart. And about an encrypted computer file that Cody can’t open - until she does, and suddenly everything Cody thought she knew about her best friend’s death gets thrown into question.

My review

I was here is a sometimes sad but overall heartening story. While it explores the delicate subject of suicide, its just as much about Cody's journey in discovering just who she is and finding love in a very unexpected place.

As Cody follows the trail to find out just what was going on with her best friend in the time leading up to her suicide she feels a range of emotions which are bought forth really well in Forman's wonderful writing.

She's understandably shocked to find out just how Meg was feeling and the things she never told her that she ends up forced to question her own feelings towards life and even thinks about suicide in ways she never imagined she would have before her best friend did it.

Cody also feels a lot of confusion as she tries to match up her memories of Meg to the person she is hearing about from people she's never met before and even from people she's known a long time. It's definitely a hard time for Cody as she blames herself, blames others for what happened until coming to an eventual acceptance and some kind of closure.

Not only is this a wonderful story, it feels truthful and would be thought provoking to anyone who knows little about suicide not to mention creating a little awareness to the dark side of the internet.

Just like previous novels from Gayle Forman, I was here did not disappoint me and I don't think it will disappoint other fans of her books.

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Antigoddess - Review

Anitgoddess by Kendare Blake

Goddess war book one

Available now

bookswithbite.co.uk 

What's it about?

He was Apollo, the sun, and he'd burn down anything that tried to hurt her... Cassandra and Aidan are just your average high-school couple. Or so Cassandra believes. Blissfully unaware that she was once a powerful prophetess, Cassandra doesn't even know thats god exist... Until now.

Because the gods are dying - and Cassandra could hold the answer to their survival. But Aidan has a secret of his own. He is really Apollo, god of the sun, and he will do anything to protect the girl he loves from the danger that's coming for her. Even if it means war against his immortal family...

Sexy, irresistible characters; romantic and mythological intrigue; relentless action and suspense - ANTIGODDESS is the YA novel you've been waiting for.

My review

While my review for Antigoddess is positive it does come with a but. The book is well written, exciting, with interesting characters (Athena kicked butt.) BUT I was so disappointed by the end when nothing about the main plot gets explained.

The Gods are dying but they don't know why, they''re all fighting each other to stay alive but how do they know that will work when they don't know what's happening and how do they know if they're on the 'right' side. No effort is put in to finding a reason why, which I found incredibly frustrating.

Other than this though, the rest of the book was really good, there's a lot of action and plenty of references to Greek mythology stories, though it mainly focuses on the battle of Troy there are subtle references to other tales and each characters origin. As a lover of Greek mythology I was happy to see how well researched that side of the book had been and it was woven in well to the main story.

The book follows two perspectives in alternate chapters, firstly Athena and Hermes in a quest to find Cassandra and then Cassandra herself and her friends. I much preferred the chapters with Athena and Hermes over Cassandra, they had more action to them and I just preferred the characters, they were more complex and interesting. Cassandra and co just didn't have the same spark for me and I found myself rooting for Athena even though she does some questionable things.

The writing was pretty spot on too, I immediately felt engaged in the story and characters and was wrapped up in the world fairly quickly and despite feeling disappointed by the end that I had raced to get to, I know I'll be reading book two looking for more of the same and hoping for some answers.

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The 100 society - Review

The 100 society by Carla Spradbery

Available now

www.bookswithbite.co.uk 

What's it about?

For sixth-form student Grace Becker, The 100 Society is more than just a game; it's an obsession.

Having convinced her five friends at Clifton Academy to see it through to the end, Grace will stop at nothing to carry out the rules of the game: tagging 100 locations around the city. With each step closer to the 100-mark they get, the higher the stakes become. But when the group catches the attention of a menacing stalker - the Reaper - he seems intent on exposing their illegal game, tormenting Grace with anonymous threats and branding their dormitory doors with his ominous tag. 

As the once tight-knit group slowly unravels, torn apart by doubt and the death of a student, they no longer know who to trust. 

With time running out, Grace must unmask the Reaper before he destroys everything she cares about for ever...

My review

The 100 society was is a difficult one to review for me because I both liked it and didn't. There's a good bit of mystery and some exciting twists but there also parts that didn't make any sense. Like the whole fact of the 100 society for instance, I mean I know its a secret society so there should be some mystery to it but we aren't given any clues as to who they are, how they work or what it means to join.
And it doesn't make sense how you join, okay tagging 100 locations is simple enough but since Grace and her friends keep it secret and try to keep it out of the media, how are the society supposed to know its her and how come she's never approached by anyone? And I can't see why she's so determined to join anyway, her only reason is that they can get her into a good college, no promise of riches, future job security or even a prominent place in society, just something she could do herself by working hard in school instead of risking her life on graffiti.
To me it just didn't make enough sense but I enjoyed the rest. Trying to figure out who the bad guy was and wondering what they might do next helped save this book but some of the timing was off, without giving too much away, at the end Grace leaves someone behind locked in a room, yet when she races off somewhere, they're there before her and there were other times when people managed to get somewhere or do something quicker than the time that seems to pass, it took away part of the believability of the story as a whole.
However I did make it to the final page so that says something about the book too because if it had been terrible I wouldn't have made if far through before giving up and reading something else.

So I'd say read it if your looking for a quick mystery where you don't have to think too much or if the finer details are not something that bother you.

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Black ice - Review

Black ice by Becca Fitzpatrick

Available October 7th 2014

kids.simonandschuster.co.uk 

What's it about?

Britt Pfeiffer has never been that adventurous, but that's about to change. Wanting to impress her ex-boyfriend, Britt convinces best friend, Korbie, to take a trekking trip with her. But when a freak storm leaves the girls stranded they seek shelter in a cabin, where they find two knights in shining armour. Or so they think.

Britt quickly realises that the girls need to get off the mountain, fast. In exchange for her life, she is forced to guide the boys down, and as they set out on a harrowing journey through the cold and snow, Britt realises the only way to escape with her life is to pretend she is on their side. But is gorgeous, sexy Mason an enemy or an ally? Tension mounts, and it's only a matter of time before things turn deadly . . .

My review

I have to admit I was a little apprehensive about reading Black ice, the little I'd heard about it was particularly positive and while I have read Becca's Hush, hush series, its not one of my favourites. That being said, I am SO glad I picked up Black ice because I absolutely loved it! I was hooked pretty early on, even though Korbie got on my nerves pretty badly I was still intrigued and when she was gone I couldn't stop reading, I had to know how it ended.

It's one of those books where you can't guess the end but once you get there, you realise just how many little clues were laid out for you along the way making it a very clever book.

Black ice is filled with twists and turns that will surprise you and keep you guessing and flying through the pages until you find out exactly what the hell is going on.

I found the story to be believable, including the ending and even the romance was done well. Going into the book all I could think was how can anyone fall for their captor? No matter the circumstances, how can you see someone who has kidnapped you, for what ever reason in a romantic way? But it was all handled really well and at a good pace so we weren't rushed into an unbelievable insta-love which would have ruined it completely.

I'm not usually one for thrillers but Black ice is definitely an exception for me, one that I will be recommending to others looking for a thriller within the YA genre and I hope Becca writes more more books like it as I will be first in the queue for my copy when that happens.

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The winner's curse - Review

The winner's curse by Marie Rutkoski

The winner's trilogy book one

Available now

bloomsbury.co.uk 

What's it about?

Winning what you want may cost you everything you love.

As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions. One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction.

Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin. But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined. 

Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

My review

The winner's curse was a perfect mix of intrigue, politics and romance in a beautiful setting. It's everything a fantasy book should be and I really enjoyed it. I particularly liked that it was told from both of the main characters so that we really get to see both sides of the story here, as the General's daughter, Kestrel is in the social elite and as a slave, Arin is on the very bottom of the chain. It's your classic Romeo and Juliet forbidden love story but then it's also so much more than that and very well written. Although Kestrel is high in society, she's not the elitist princess you may be imagining, she's strong willed, passionate and independent, I liked her a lot, she's very smart and the kind of person you'd want as an ally, not an enemy. I liked Arin too and getting to understand the kind of hidden rage he has, something I don't think we'd have got to see at all had he been a secondary character in Kestrel's story, he has his own story to tell, something I hope to see more of in future books.
The story itself is woven together extremely well, its not all as simple as it all seems at the start and as we burrow deeper into the world and the learn more about both the past and present, the plot thickens and you'll find yourself torn between two sides. It wasn't rushed and the end will leave you begging for more.
Rutkoski writes a brilliant story with intriguing characters while simultaneously building a believable and complex world complete with a well described backdrop, a social hierarchy and a history.
I really can't wait for book two and I can't guess at all what will happen next but I'm excited to find out.

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Dylan's amazing dinosaurs: The Stegosaurus - Review

Dylan's amazing dinosaurs: The Stegosaurus by E.T. Harper 

Published by Simon and Schuster.

What's it about?

Join Dylan on his amazing dinosaur mission

Dylan loves exploring and learning all about dinosaurs. In his amazing treehouse he has a magic journal. Every time he opens it awesome things happen - even his toy pterodactyl comes to life! They fly off on dinosaur discovery missions to the Land of Living Dinosaurs. This time they are he has to discover what secret weapon a stegosaurus has.

Review

If your little one is a fan of dinosaurs then they're going to love this book. Its full of facts about the Stegosaurus, lovely illustrations and a nice little story to showcase the facts given about this particular dinosaur, plus it solves one little mystery about the creature at the end. It's a fun book, worth adding to your little ones collection and follows in a similar series, each book focused on a different dinosaur, I haven't seen those ones for myself but judging by this one, I'd guess they're just as good.

It's lovely and colourful and comes with a pop up dinosaur for them to play with, creating extra fun, I will definitely be looking out for the other books in this series for my little boy who really enjoyed listening to me read this one to him and pointing out the pictures.

Better than perfect - Review

Better than perfect by Simone Elkeles

Wild cards book one

Available now

bloomsbury.co.uk 

What's it about?

Ashtyn's life just got complicated. Her boyfriend is being distant and her sister's back at home after ten years - with a stepson in tow!

Derek has a perfect body, THE sexiest smile and a car - Ashtyn's only way to escape from her crazy life. But Derek likes to play by his own rules and is keen to take Ashtyn on a ride she'll never forget. As they spend more and more time alone together, will Derek's flirty games drive Ashtyn wild?

My review

While Better than perfect was a perfectly good read I didn't find that it held the same kind of tension as the Perfect chemistry series, the only other other series by this author that I've read. I was completely hooked to those books so of course was excited when I had the chance to read her new book and admit the bar was set pretty high for me after reading some of her previous work. But anyway, perhaps I shouldn't be comparing it to her other books and just review it for what it is.
Better than perfect was a fun read with a believable, imperfect love story. I've read many stories where the characters start off hating each other only to realise that they're actually in love and were confusing their emotions. It can get annoying and sometimes it doesn't work but in this case it did, I appreciate that Elkeles was trying to build up a tension with the two characters arguing a lot but sometimes it did feel a little flat and I didn't feel the sexual tension between them. But I enjoyed the story and read through the book quickly and will certainly be reading more in the series as they become available.
I really liked Ashtyn, she wasn't a typical heroine, she plays (American) football and can hold her own which is always something I admire in female characters, I'm not one for damsels in distress and Ashtyn certainly wasn't one of them, she has a strong head and is dedicated to her sport, not to mention how she faces the struggle of being a girl in a boys world, for example, when she goes to football camp, she is literally the only girl there, the boys don't want her and she spends a lot of the book being told football is not for girls, which just isn't true. I'm glad she was strong enough to stand up for herself and continues to keep trying.
Derek was a good protag too but I was definitely more team Ashtyn in this one.
The writing was just the quality that you'd expect from Simone Elkeles, she knows how to get to the heart of a characters emotions and I always felt like I knew what everyone was feeling which sometimes had me near screaming at the book when they were both trying to deny their emotions to themselves when it was clear as day.
I'd recommend this to any fans of the other or anyone just looking for a summer read, its a perfect beach book for your holidays.

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Mr Brown can moo! Can you? - Review

Mr. Brown can moo! Can you? by Dr Seuss

Moo moo! Hoo hoo! Cock-a-doodle-doo! Oh, the wonderful sounds Mr. Brown can do. Now see if you can do them too! This fabulous book is ideal for teaching young children all about noises!

Review

This may be an old one but that doesn't make it any less fun. Me and the kids had fun making all the animal and other noises, doing them in the order they are in the book and trying to do them quickly and with silly voices. You can do so much more with this book than just read it, there's lots of fun to be had and I think its a perfect example of why Dr Suess' books have stood the test of time and are loved by many.
Although this is a new edition, I like that the original artwork has been kept as its a big part of what makes it recognisable as a Dr Seuss book and I couldn't imagine the artwork being any different.
This is one to add to your children's collection, both for them and yourself.

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Divergent official illustrated movie companion - Review

Divergent: Official illustrated movie companion by Kate Egan

Available now

harpercollins.co.uk 

What's it about?

With never-before-seen photos; personal interviews with the directors, actors, and writers; and exclusive extras, this lush, oversize volume is a true behind-the-scenes look at the filming of Divergent.

Review

The illustrated movie companion for the Divergent movie is full of beautiful images from the movie and behind the scenes. It also has some really interesting insight into what went into making the movie, like building the sets and even how much difficulty they had casting Four, I for one can say I'm glad they waited until the found the perfect actor because I couldn't imagine anyone other than Theo James playing him.
I definitely think this book would make the perfect little extra for fans of the movie and/or books who want to know a little more of how making Divergent into a movie became a reality and its amazing to see just how dedicated the whole team were in being true to the book and the lengths they went to, to make sure the sets were perfect. It makes you realise that they didn't just make the movie for themselves but for the fans too whom they also used as extras in some scenes, something I didn't know.
So, if you're looking for something to tide you over while you're waiting for the DVD release so you can watch Divergent again, I 'd recommend picking this up, if for no more reason than there are full page pictures of Four in it!

Inside Divergent; The intiate's world - Review

Inside Divergent: The intitate's world by Cecilia Bernard

Available now

www.harpercollins.co.uk 

What's it about?

This eye-catching volume takes you inside the film version of Divergent. With more than 100 photographs—many never before seen—Inside Divergent will immerse you in the thrilling dystopian world of futuristic Chicago, where you'll meet the initiates and discover the factions.

Review

This is a nice little extra for fans of the movie, although if you've read the books then don't expect to learn anything new as it only covers the basics about the factions and main characters. But it comes with some lovely glossy pictures from the movie and is still worth a look through. I particularly liked the pictures in the last section which is about Dauntless because you get to see up close some of the extra little details that went into the set for the movie and its all as I imagined. I liked the little character profiles and what's not to like about a full page picture of Four?
So I'd certainly say give this a peruse even if you're a huge fan and know all the details, it won't take long to read and will sit pretty next to your collection of the books. Its also a great intro into the world if your not familiar with it or if you need reminding of  a few facts if you haven't read the book in a while and want to brush up before watching the movie.

Trust games - Review

Trust games by Simon Packham
Available now
piccadillypress.co.uk 

What's it about?When kind, charismatic new drama teacher, Mr Moore, arrives at school, Beth s life starts to look up. She s cast as the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet, and as she grows close to super-popular Hannah (Juliet), Beth finally has the female friend she s been yearning for. Meanwhile it seems that all the girls including Beth are in love with Mr Moore. And when a scandal breaks, Beth must make a decision that can only have dire consequences for everyone involved.

My review

I've got to be honest, when I first started Trust games I wasn't really into it, there's no particular depth to the writing and I didn't like Beth at all. But I continued because I wanted to see how it handled such a sensitive subject and its pretty short so I knew I'd read it quickly.

After turning the last pages I feel myself conflicted, see, I kept turning the pages, the story felt true to life and I wanted to see what happened but at the same time I wish the book had more to it, that it was written better. I just felt like everything could've been explored more and that the dialogue left something to be desired, but then maybe I'm just too used to reading American books because even when I read British books by British authors, the slang always sounds off to me because I know me and my friends don't talk like that in reality. Either way it makes it hard to figure out if that's just a personal problem for me, who knows.

Anyway, I mentioned before I wasn't a fan of Beth, there was something so pathetic about her and she was so sullen, I'm not sure why Grunt was friends with her at all, even if they'd known each other since they were kids. I also wish we'd got to know Mr Moore better because I couldn't see the attraction to him at all except that he was young and good looking, all Beth knows about him is that he likes poetry and The cure. Becuase of this, the characters and their actions didn't always ring true but the story itself did, it was really something that could happen exactly like that in reality. And Beth's final action at the end of the book did something towards redeeming her character and I liked that she at least went a way to fixing the other relationships in her life that she seemed pretty blind to, and selfish about, at the start of the book.

What I did like about this book was how it explored the content, obviously its about a teacher and student relationship of the forbidden kind. I was glad it, at least briefly, explored a difference of opinion between the characters outside of the relationship, everyone was trying to find somewhere to place the blame but the ultimate message of the book was that no matter if the young girl said yes and thought she was in love, Mr Moore was completely in the wrong, as the adult, he was taking advantage of a young girl and should have been the one to stop it from happening, something I agree with whole heartedly.

So all in all, I'd recommend this for a quick read but don't expect it to change your life, well unless you're thinking about sleeping with your teacher, then it'll show you why not to!

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Love monster and the last chocolate - Review

Love monster and the last chocolate by Rachel Bright. 

A delicious new story about Love Monster, the only monster in Cutesville, from phenomenal, award-winning picture book talent Rachel Bright! When Love Monster finds a mystery box of chocolates at his door, he can't believe his luck. But he's soon thrown into a whirlwind of turmoil. Should he keep the chocolates for himself? Or risk the perils of sharing his good fortune with his friends? This super-funny-rumbly-tummy-sherbert-explosion of a story shows that when faced with the selection box of life, following your heart will bring you the best treats of all.

Review

Children and adults alike can relate to this cute little story, who doesn't get a box of chocolates and want to eat them all to themselves? When Love monster arrives home from holiday to find a box of chocolates on his doorstep, this is the dilemma he faces, he knows he should share, but what if there aren't enough to go round? Will he do the right thing and share with his friends or will he sneak away to eat them by himself? Its a good message for children that's handled well in this story because it recognises that sometimes we don't want to share rather than just telling kids that they should, the book shows that sharing makes Love monster feels good about himself in the end, which is worth more than a box of chocolates, and in doing so he finds a surprise himself.
The illustrations are lovely too, I love the eye catching gold cover and all the pictures within which focus on what's happening with little background scenery but bright colours.
This is one to check out, it makes a nice bed time story with a message of sharing and friendship.

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Since you've been gone - Review

Since you've been gone by Morgan Matson

Available now

simonandschuster.co.uk 

What's it about?

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...

My review

Since you've been gone is a heart warming book about a young girl who spends a summer challenging herself and discovering who she really is, and falling in love along the way. It was a really enjoyable book, full of the fun of summer.

I liked Emily a lot and taking her journey with her, I felt her become braver as she continued to complete Sloane's list and I fell in love with Frank alongside her, but then its hard not to fall for such a good guy.

I think what I liked best about this book was the slow build up in the romance, I've been reading so many books with a case of instalove lately that this was such a refreshing change. It happened so slowly that Emily didn't even realise it was happening, I was eventually screaming internally at her 'Kiss him you idiot!' and when they did, it was full of the right tension.

The book wasn't all about the romance though, don't get me wrong, there was plenty more filling up the pages whilst that happened in the background. It was a lot of fun seeing how Emily fulfilled the items on her little list of dares as they became more outrageous and wondering if she'd really do them all. Then there was the big mystery of where Sloane had disappeared to and if Emily would find her, I've never had a friendship as close as hers with Sloane but I felt her heartache at missing her best friend, but it was nice that she made a new circle of friends too. Since you've been gone is definitely about friendship at its core and how important those friendships are, its nice to have a boyfriend but the relationship with a best friend takes the same amount of work to keep going if you want to keep that friend around. Its beautifully written and, being my first read by this author, has made me want to read the rest of her books right away.

So, if you're looking for a perfect beach read with the feel of summer and the message of friendship and a dash of romance, then put Since you've been gone in your TBR immediately because this book is for you.

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