Title: Since You’ve Been Gone
Author: Morgan Matson
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Genre(s): Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Romance
Number of Pages: 480 pages
Price: $9.09 (Paperback)

Rating: 

I have never felt more motivated. After reading this book, I wanted to write myself my very own dare list. Since You’ve Been Gone is really a coming of age story of a young girl discovering her own identity.

Each task on Emily’s to-do list provides an eventful and entertaining story as the main character fights to over come everything she once thought she couldn’t. I loved the way the chapters were set-up to really up play the importance of the tasks that Sloane has given to her. The list was well thought out, adding to the plot of the story and really drawing me in. I found myself wanting to mark off which items of the list were completed as they were done.

Another piece that I truly love that added character to this novel were the running playlists. Two character’s in the novel share their music playlists various times through out the book. The music selection definitely add insight into the personality of each character. I absolutely loved this aspect of the book.

With regards to the characters, I found myself being able to really identify with Emily’s character. She is a shy girl, struggling to come out of the shadow of her best friend. She is the opposite of a risk taker, playing it safe and wanting to stay in her comfortable bubble. I also really enjoyed Frank’s character. Although he isn’t my latest book heartthrob, I did appreciate his chivalrous character.

Finally, the reason I did not give this book five stars was because I was not fond of Sloane’s character. In fact, I may even go as far to say that I hate her. I don’t want to give away to much, but…I just did not like her character. At all.

Have any of your read this book? What’d you think of it…let me know in the comments below.

xx Samantha