Emily is reserved and timid. Sloane is exciting and the life of every party. Without Sloane, Emily is nothing. And it's not until Sloane disappears leaving Emily alone with nothing but a list and a hanging question: Why did Sloane leave this list? Emily's only hope is that completing this list will lead her back to her best friend. And that's basically all I'm going to reveal for the non-spoiler part of this review!

** Spoiler-filled review beyond this point**

The character development of the main character Emily was phenomenal. I have read many cases in which the shy character becomes a blossoming and independent character, but none quite like this. Emily ended up being this confident and lively character, no longer dull and pretty much boring. She was pretty much confident enough to kiss a stranger or to go skinny dipping. It just showed how much potential her personality had without Sloane.

Ice Cube Good Day

The ending was... satisfying. And I'm not trying to be sarcastic in any way!! I really loved the ending. No cliffhangers, no surprises. The romance, however, was kind of something crazy for me. In the beginning of the story she meets Frank Porter, the (future) valedictorian of her school and, not to mention, priceless hottie. She also meets his best friend Collins and a girl named Dawn. The four become the bestest of friends, only to be split by some predicament. And that brings us into the romance part of this YA contemporary because you can't have a cutesy contemporary without a sparkling romance!

Emily and Frank. Frank and Emily. I totally ship the new shy girl and smart boy kind of thing going on in here. Now the sizzling realization of love took quite a while, but the book wasn't very generous in getting there either. As Frank helps Emily complete her list of... strange things... he sees the true Emily (fun and beautiful) and evidently falls in love with her at the same time. But a YA contemporary wouldn't be a YA contemporary without some type of love triangle as well. But apparently Frank already has a girlfriend in Princeton for the summer. So things get a little interesting there... And now, it's not my job to spoil it for you guys because I know a lot of you have been looking forward to reading this book.

I thought the plot was AMAAAMZEEBEANS!!! I can't even begin to comprehend how Morgan Matson came up with such compelling storylines. But I'm guessing she just had this well-planned summer in her head while writing the sketches for this story. I'm pretty sure there are more Morgan Matson books in my future... just wait and see!

All I can really sum up for this book was that it was a perfect summer read, and I don't know why I didn't start it earlier. The plot will have you gripped till the end. And let's not forget that I finished this 449 page book in ONE day. While, on the other hand, it took me quite a while to finish The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black, a 419 page book. And I was surprised by how much I liked this book since YA contemporaries lately haven't had me in the shock and awe moment. Without a doubt, this book deserves the highest of ratings.

Since You’ve Been Gone is a tale of self-discovery, and is one that I’m sure every teenage girl would be able to relate to in some way. Written in a simple, yet somewhat beautiful way, I highly recommend this book to anyone who is shy and is easily put out of their comfort zone.

Emily, our protagonist, is an introvert. She doesn’t like to draw attention to herself, she doesn’t know what to say to boys and she certainly doesn’t do anything to draw attention to herself. It was very easy to relate to Emily, and I saw a lot of myself in her. As the novel moves on, you see how much Emily has changed and grown into her own person, and, in all honest, I find that rather inspiring.

Emily’s best friend is Sloane. A girl who is the complete opposite of Emily. Sloane always knows what to say, what to wear and the best flea markets and consignment stores to go to. However, as Sloane is not physically present for the majority of the novel, she becomes an enigma.

Without Sloane, Emily doesn’t know what to do – her experiences don’t feel real until she tells Sloane about them – she’s lost without her. That is, until Emily receives a to-do list from Sloane.

Emily and Sloane were wonderful characters. I enjoyed their contradicting personalities and their pragmatism. I truly felt as though I was there with Emily, and that I knew her like a friend.

Emily’s new friends, Frank, Dawn and Collins were also very realistic and well-written – I think a lot of teenagers would be able to see parallels to their own lives in their personalities. I especially enjoyed Frank – he was such a good-hearted person and he truly wanted the best for Emily.

In Emily and Sloane’s parents, it is evident as to why Sloane and Emily are so different from each other, both having very different upbringing’s. While I don’t have any strong feelings towards their characters, they felt realistic and I’m glad of their presence within the novel. Too many YA novels don’t feature parents, and that’s quite unrealistic.

Emily’s brother Beckett was also a character I didn’t have any strong feelings towards but, once again, I am thankful for his inclusion.

As Emily works on completing her to-do list, the friendships she forms with Frank, Dawn and Collins are shared with the reader, and their adventures together make this the perfect sunny day read. Emily’s journey of learning to live without Sloane, and becoming a different version of herself, as well as forming a romantic relationship with Frank are all very realistic and enjoyable to read about.

Matson’s writing is fun, simple and effective. I loved all of the different playlists scattered throughout the novel. They definitely set the mood and atmosphere of the book and made me feel as though I really was there alongside the characters.

Overall, Since You’ve Been Gone is a contemporary that I think every teenager or young adult to read – Emily’s journey provides the message that growing up and changing isn’t anything to be afraid about. Since You’ve Been Gone was a very enjoyable read, and I can’t wait to read Morgan’s other books.