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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