Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson (3-Jul-2014) Paperback Paperback – January 1, 1600

Morgan Matson writes the most adorable stories!As with most things, I was late to the Morgan Matson party. I’m working my way through her backlist, though — slowly but surely.Since You’ve Been Gone is a complete delight! This is an incredible story about friendship and becoming your own. I absolutely adored it!THE LIST! What a fun plotline! I really enjoyed how the list helps Emily to step out of her comfort zone and brings new friends into her life while she struggles with missing her best friend, Sloane.I also really loved what develops between Emily and Frank. I wasn’t expecting to like Frank as much as I did, but he completely won me over!The highlight of the book for me is Emily’s character development. She begins so unsure of herself and is ridiculously awkward. She seems so dependent on Sloane! But, Emily has a fantastic arc, and really comes into her own by the end!Overall, I loved Since You’ve Been Gone and YA Contemporary fans who enjoy friendship and family at the forefront of stories will too! It’s light and fun and perfect for the summertime — I definitely recommend it!

I've heard so many good things about this and it sounded interesting enough, so I picked it up. And i'm so glad I did! I related to Emily so much with how shy she is. Painfully shy and just everything about her, except the running part. Basically I went "Emily is me, I am Emily, we are one". I really didn't like Sloane at first, but I loved getting flashbacks and learning more about her as time went on and this book, for both Emily and Sloane, screams character development! And I loved every bit of it! Anytime I got worried about something, it did end up being addressed! The pacing was steady, it was readable and still made me think. It made me laugh out loud as well cry and even hug the book!I don't want to spoil anything and this book is already very hyped, and now I understand why! If you like contemporaries i'd highly recommend checking this book out!

I love the cover of Since You’ve Been Gone and I have read quite a few raving reviews, so I had to get my hands on it. I had a $5 gift card from my Bing Rewards, so I think it was the perfect investment. I didn’t really have any idea what the story was about, but I was quickly addicted to finding out.Likes:This book is a neat little package wrapped up in a bow. You slowly pull it apart and cannot wait to see what is inside, but the wrapping is so pretty you want to do it delicately. I love this whole book. I didn’t want to go to sleep, I wanted to read. I wanted to hide away with this book and keep it a secret from the world.The book was so well-paced, all the sudden I looked down and an hour had past and I was over halfway done with the book. I was sucked into the world-building and Emily’s life. I wanted to be part of the list and wished that my friends and I would have done something like that with each other. I especially love the lists Sloane would write for Emily when she was going on vacation.I know I say I can relate with so many characters, but Emily and I were so on the same page. I had a friend like Sloane and I was her shadow. She was a bright bulb and people really just new me as her friend. I was along for the ride, not enjoying the ride. Once my parents divorced and I had to start at a new school, I had to force myself out of my comfort zone like Emily did.Sloane was so neat, I can’t help but wish we got more of her in this story. I think Morgan Matson should write this story, but from Sloane’s POV.I have a new book boyfriend! I have the hugest book crush on Frank. Oh boy, I think he is at the top of my list now!Gripes:The only thing would be wanting more Sloane, as I have already mentioned.Favorite Quote:“I knew the answer to that immediately. It was like swimming under the stars, like sleeping outside, like climbing a tree in the dark, and seeing the view. It was scary and safe and peaceful and exciting all at the same time. It was the way I felt when I was with him. Like a well-ordered universe.”

Ok so I'm pretty sure you won't see this but, let me just say I love your book! I myself am writing a book and given I'm only thirteen that doesn't mean much. I am that girl who WILL NOT stop reading unless....... well nothing. I don't have any dislikes at all which is coming from a girl who reads high school college and above books. The only 'request' I have is that you DON'T make a sequel to this book. It just wouldn't feel right I'm sure if you did however it would be phenomenal!Thanks so much for writing this book and well being a role model for me,Isabella 'Bella' RamosP.S. it would be SUPER cool if you came to my school to maybe talk about your books.......... (Annunciation Catholic Academy, Florida, Altamonte Springs, I don't know the Zip code. ✌️😁😂

Such a cute, fun, and summer-y read. I really enjoyed Emily's story and her progression throughout the story. I loved seeing her break out of her shell and go out of her comfort zone. It's something any young person can relate to. I also loved the romance between Emily and Frank. It's the kind of slowburn you crave during the summer, and I really loved their interactions with each other. It felt real. I also love the friendship Emily has with Collins and Dawn; I thought it was beautifully done in this book and really entertaining to read. I also really love the friendship between Emily and Sloane; it felt real and the ending is beautiful and heartwarming. Matson created such a fantastic cast of characters who were all so different from each other. This is the perfect summer read for anyone who's looking for a YA contemporary with plot and character development.

I’m sure I can’t be the only sexagenarian grandma with a secret passion for young adult fiction. And this delightful book is as good a reason why as any. We were all teenagers once, so it’s very easy to relate to the angst and insecurities of that awkward age. The advantage we oldies have is that we’ve been through it and come out the other side, a little bit bruised perhaps, but certainly wiser, and with some great stories to tell the grandchildren. This means we can read wonderful novels like this from a more relaxed perspective than the targeted teenage audience and, dare I say, enjoy them all the more.‘Since You’ve Been Gone’ bears all the hallmarks of a great YA read. There’s eminently relatable heroine, Emily, who’s shy, insecure and more than a little in awe of her BFF, Sloane, whom she relies on for guidance on absolutely everything. Where Sloane goes, Emily follows, so when Sloane mysteriously disappears at the beginning of the summer - a summer they’d planned down to the last detail - Emily is bereft. Without Sloane, she’s nobody.The story of Emily’s ‘coming-of-age’ summer is charming, funny and real. Every woman over the age of 16 will identify with her angst, fears, confusion and lack of confidence, and loudly cheer her transformation, as she emerges from her shell, discovers and accepts who she is, and blossoms in her new skin. All with a little help from unexpected running buddy and school valedictorian-in-waiting, the lovely Frank.The message, of course, is that we all have to conquer our fears, find ourselves and ultimately be ourselves, without using others as a crutch. You can be best friends and still be individuals, be alike but different. It’s called growing up.I urge all YAs reading this review to share ‘Since You’ve Been Gone’ with their mums and grandmas, then ask them to tell you the story of their own coming-of-age summer. We’ve all got one, and theirs might just surprise you!Thanks for reading my review. I hope you found it helpful. You can find more candid book reviews on my Amazon profile page.

Morgan Matson has been one of my favorite authors for a really long time. I first fell in love with her writing when I read Amy & Roger's Epic Detour, then I read Second Chance Summer, which quickly became on of my favorite books, so I was really excited when I heard about this new book.I was so excited when I got my copy and I wanted to start reading it right away. I was definitely not disappointed.One of the things I loved so much about this book, was the use of both the present moment and the flashbacks. I felt like they were definitely needed, because it allowed us to get to know Sloane and understand Emily's friendship with her. I really loved how the flashbacks tied in with things that were happening to Emily in the present moment.Another fantastic aspect of this book was the inclusion of playlists. I loved that in Amy & Rogers and I loved it here.The characters in this novel were also all fantastic. From main to supporting, I loved everyone and everyone played an interesting role.I especially loved the relationship between Emily and Frank. I liked how this was played out subtly, and it didn't overshadow the list and everything connected with that.The list itself was great, there were some interesting things on there, and I really liked that each chapter dealt with a different part of that list.I also loved how by working on the list, and making new friends with Sloane out of the picture, Emily was able to make a lot of really great character growth.All in all this is a fantastic read, and I highly recommend not only this book, but Morgan Matson's other work as well.

I did enjoy this book however, I only started to really get into it in the last third or so where I felt the climax had really been reached. A book need a beginning, rising action, the climax and an end. By the time I was halfway through there still wasn't a big climax happening so I got slightly bored with it. The ending was really great though

I bought this when I first purchased my kindle and as it was 99p, was the only thing I could afford! I have read other novels by this author and found that I enjoyed this more than the others I had read. I found that the characters were well developed and I loved the development of Emily though Frank's intervention and Sloane's list. The only thing I felt about the novel could have been a little bit shorter as I felt it dragged in places, but overall a delightful read that proved 99p books are most definitely worth a go!

I loved this. I loved Emily, I loved THE LIST - I really want someone to do a list for me!And Frank Porter you make me swoon. Frank is sweet, he's funny, he's handsome, he's summer and he makes me giggly all in equal measures.Most of all I LOVED the relationship between Sloane and Emily - I love a book with a REAL friendship in it, and this friendship just spoke to me - I could relate to it SO MUCH.BRILLIANT.