Book Review: Since You've Been Gone - Morgan Matson

Title: Since You've Been Gone
Author: Morgan Matson
Pub Date: May 6th, 2014
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Page Count: 449

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...

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Since You've Been Gone is a pretty good "summery" read that gave me cutesy feels.

At first I had my problems with this book because I felt the main character was very...needy. Her friend left her and MC falls like she can't do anything. In a sense, it was like New Moon all over again. I typically act very judgemental when I first start reading and open to the idea that the book might be worth reading. The beginning of this book did not impress as I felt I was info-dumped about Emily (main character)'s past. I kept reading and honestly, I'm glad I kept reading.

I really liked Emily's development. The first reason I didn't like her in the beginning was because I couldn't connect to her. She was so dependant on her outgoing best friend that it made me uncomfortable. She also seemed lost without direction. But as the novel progressed I sensed some development in Emily and how she carried herself. She was convinced that all she was doing was for her friend, but I think that she also found herself through the actions. In a way, I was pretty proud of her.

I found the story to be interesting as it progressed. Though it was contemporary, I enjoyed the slice of realism. I really liked Frank. I felt he was such a sweet character and I was shipping him and Emily by his second chapter appearance. He had perfect lines because the dialogue was written believably and fluidly. His exchanges with Emily left me with cute feels but I felt like his whole "popular" thing was unnecessary because it wasn't really brought to attention. Him being popular and her being socially quiet seemed almost like a cliche, but it would've been, had their contrast in status been emphasized. (blech)

This book was really fluffy and nice. I liked it as a light read. It didn't really have anything that was nerve-wracking or high thrill and I enjoyed that. I also enjoyed how I kept singing the song of the same name (Kelly Clarkson) while I was reading, even though the themes are nothing alike.
So all in all, it was a lot of fun to read but I'm typically someone who likes hard hitting novels. This book drew me in afterwards, which is why it didn't get a higher rating. I didn't agree with the MC until after.

 

 

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Morgan Matson grew up in New York City and Greenwich, Connecticut. She attended Occidental College in Los Angeles but halfway though a theater degree, she started working in the children's department of Vroman's Bookstore and fell in love with YA literature.

Following college graduation (and the proud bearer of an incredibly useful theater/English degree) she moved back East to attend the New School, where she received her M.F.A in Writing for Children.
Amy & Roger's Epic Detour, inspired by Morgan's three cross-country road trips, was published in May 2010. It was named an ALA Top Ten Best Book, a PW "Flying Start" book, and was shortlisted for the Waterstone's Book Prize. It has since been published in five different languages and six different countries.

In the meantime, Morgan moved back to California, went back to school again and in 2011 received an M.F.A. in Screenwriting from the University of Southern California.

Her second book, Second Chance Summer, was published in May 2012 and draws largely on her experiences spending summers growing up in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania.

Morgan currently lives in Los Angeles, though she loves to travel and does it whenever she can. She is currently writing another book, to be published in 2014.