Title: Since You've Been Gone
Author: Morgan Matson
Series: Standalone
Genre: YA Contemporary
Format: Hardcover, 448 pages
Release Date: May 6th 2014
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Source: ARC provided from publisher in exchange for an honest review

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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...


What make me fall in love with a contemporary YA novel? Originality. And I honestly think that Since You've Been Gone is original in the fact that it dealt with many teenager type situations in a brand new way, and all of that is thanks to The List. The List was left by Sloane for Emily one summer when Sloane disappears without a trace. Emily is to do everything on that list, and to Emily that is her only connection to her best friend, and in her mind if she finished this list, maybe she will see her again.

I loved the list idea in this book, it was a great way for us to get to know Emily as well as Sloane, even though Sloane was never really in the book. I also loved that each thing on the list meant something to Emily and in each instance she had a memory of Sloane which was shared in a flashback. I loved flashbacks, to me they make an already amazing book, even better. They allow us to get to know a character without other influences, only Emily's version of her. The list itself was simple, with some exceptions along the way, but I think what made this book what it is are the characters that Emily meets along the way. This list allowed her to meet and create and new friendships, and that was the best part to read.

Frank Porter. Remember that name because when you read this book you will fall for him just as hard as Emily does. He was such a great catalyst for Emily's character. He was sweet and trusting, yet impulsive. What I think made this relationship work was that it was not insta-love. It was gradual and felt extremely real. They had their issues and obviously became friends before anything else, and that was very refreshing to read. Every character in this novel has a purpose, and withe each character came different back story and complicated relationships and that is what made this a great read.

Overall I loved this book, it had everything you would want in a novel, love, friendship and a little bit of mystery. The only issue I had with this book was the reveal of where Sloane really was all summer, I think I was expecting something more exciting than what it really was, but in the end it made so much sense. But other thank that I loved everything about this book and would recommend it to anyone who loves contemporary YA.