Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson | Book Review

TITLE: Since You've Been Gone
AUTHOR: Morgan Matson
PUBLISHER/YEAR: Simon & Schuster / 2014
SERIES: No
SOURCE: Purchased

Goodreads / Author's Website

Summary
It was Sloane who yanked Emily out of her shell and made life 100% interesting. But right before what should have been the most epic summer, Sloane just…disappears. All she leaves behind is a to-do list.

On it, thirteen Sloane-inspired tasks that Emily would normally never try. But what if they could bring her best friend back?

Apple picking at night? Okay, easy enough.

Dance until dawn? Sure. Why not?

Kiss a stranger? Um... 

Emily now has this unexpected summer, and the help of Frank Porter (totally unexpected), to check things off Sloane's list. Who knows what she’ll find?

Go skinny-dipping? Wait...what?

Thoughts and Reactions
Any day I can curl up with a Morgan Matson book is a good day. I put off reading Since You've Been Gone because my library seemed to be sorely lacking and missing it, but I came across it at my local bookstore at the beginning of the summer and couldn't resist. Just look at the cover. Perfect book to read on the deck with an iced coffee. I basically love everything Morgan Matson has written and Since You've Been Gone is no exception. I love the remarkably normal and wonderful characters Matson creates and I can barely collect my thoughts because of all the love. 

Okay let's start with the friendship aspect of the book. Emily is this totally normal teenage girl, into a couple of things, but not super popular and feels like she just kind of blends in, but her friend Sloane is all over the place, out there and lovable. When she disappears Emily feels completely lost, but slowly begins to find herself over the summer. It's a really wonderful journey to watch. Emily never discounts Sloane or their friendship and wants to find her, but she also begins to see herself as worthwhile. 

Emily's whole journey, finding not only herself, but a new group of friends who recognize just how wonderful she is is amazing. This new group of people slowly forms around her and supports her, just as she supports them. I like reading about the formation of new relationships (that's probably one of the reasons I love books with romance so much) and this just checked all the boxes. The tentative first steps, the getting to know yous, but for friends. It also helped give Emily perspective on her relationship with Sloane and herself.

I also just love reading about adventures and the list bit of the adventure just added to it. Dancing until dawn, skinny dipping? They kind of sound like a great time. They're these crazy things, but also totally doable, totally down to earth tell your friends the story the next day and remember for a lifetime kind of adventures. It made me want to be there with this group doing these things. It's the kind of I can't stop smiling even if I look like a crazy person on the bus kind of writing. 

Things on the side that made me love this book. Theatre is included! Emily's parents are playwrights and I think that's just so cool. Sure they're a little distracted by their new play, but anytime theatre is worked into a novel I am so there. The playlists included are also fantastic and I definitely added some of them to my spotify to listen to while reading. 

So there you have it, another absolutely wonderful engaging novel by Morgan Matson. I am so in love with this book and know that it's going to be one I revisit in the coming years. 

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson | Book Review

TITLE: Amy & Roger's Epic Detour
AUTHOR: Morgan Matson
PUBLISHER/YEAR: Simon & Schuster's Books for Young Readers / 2010
SERIES: No
SOURCE: Purchased

Goodreads / Author's Website

I read Amy & Roger's Epic Detour over the summer and while I wasn't exactly on a road trip it felt like the perfect time to read this particular book. Even though I was in the middle of doing some things that I really loved this book made me want to drop everything and tour Yosemite. It is just such a fantastic story; I was captivated. Matson basically won me over with her debut novel, between the descriptions that made it feel like I was on the road to the relationships that developed, I couldn't put it down.

Amy is left home alone after her father dies and her mother needs to move across the country for a better job. She's still reeling from her father's sudden death, but needs to drive the family car to her mother's new home. This is where Roger comes in. He's Amy's mom's friend's son, although the two haven't seen each other in years and he needs to travel to his dad's house for summer vacation. As they drive across country Amy tries to put her life back together as she develops a crush on this near stranger.

I've never actually taken a road trip; I think it has something to do with me not owning a car, but it's something I've always wanted to do. I want to get in the car, turn up the radio and roll the windows down. Public transit just isn't the same. Amy & Roger's Epic Detour kind of made me feel like I was right along with them and it kind of made me want to go and get a car with my limited funds. Luckily I thought better of that second part.

The road trip aspect of this novel, however, was secondary. The real driving force behind it was the emotional journey that Amy goes through. Her grief is palpable. She blames herself for her father's death, as he died in a car accident as she was present. It's heartbreaking to see her at the beginning. She feels isolated from her friends, her family and his barely getting by. It's painful, but moving to watch her struggle with her grief and come to terms with the accident. That's not to say that this book is all about sadness. There are some light-hearted moments that bring some much needed smiles with them. The loneliest road in the world is one of them, plus some interesting moments checking into hotels are just a couple of examples.

The thing with Amy is she's so likeable despite all of this. She's obviously and understandably depressed, but she's also caring and obviously a good person underneath her current demeanor. Roger is also this really great character. He's been hurt badly by this girl at school (super relateable problem) and he's a little obsessed, but it's almost endearing.

The romance between Amy and Roger is one of the best things about this  novel. They've each got their own trauma they're recovering from, but they connect. Like even before they really know each other, there's some sort of understanding that grows as their relationship builds. They clearly care about each other as people and want to help each other through the circumstances that have them travelling across the country together. They're just the kind of fictional couple you can't help but root for.

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour is the perfect read if you're looking for a contemporary that manages to balance heavy moments with lighter interludes. I was totally taken with it and look forward to reading Maton's second novel sometime soon. As a side note, you should really check out the bands that are listed throughout this book; the playlists are fantastic.