Review
Since You’ve Been Gone
by Morgan Matson
Since You’ve Been Gone is the perfect summer story: upbeat, fun, and filled with good vibes. The setting and plot were well-developed, with Matson’s writing style only adding to the readability of this book. Without becoming dark or heavy, the novel was still able to incorporate some great life lessons that gave this summer story a whole new level of depth.
A bright and happy read, perfect for keeping some of that summer sun with you all year long…
★★★★☆
Elements
A cute summer read.
Thoughts
First Impression
A cute cover with plenty of fun summer vibes.
The Bad
For whatever reason, there seems to be this trend lately, that books must carry a heavy message and reveal the deep inner truths of the universe. While books of that kind can be incredible and quite educational, the truth of the matter is that I don’t usually read for that reason alone. When I start a story, I want to go on an adventure and get lost in the world of its characters for a little while.
Since You’ve Been Gone was able to do that for me.
Though, I know some people like a heavier style of literature, personally, I don’t usually pick up a book in the hopes of having my soul crushed. So yes, maybe this story wasn’t about some great deep heavy topic, but that was exactly why I liked it. Reading Since You’ve Been Gone, was an easy and effortless experience that allowed me to join in on a fun adventure and get lost in a cute summer story.
For readers who need a level of excitement to stay interested in a story, this book may seem a bit boring. Personally, I didn’t mind, as it made the story gentler and more relaxing, but it all comes down to preference, really.
The Good
In my opinion, summer is a time to be happy and this book made me happy so, as whole, my feelings toward the story were positive. The entire atmosphere of the novel felt very fun and carefree, making this book seem uplifting. There’s really no better way for me to describe Since You’ve Been Gone, other than to say it’s the perfect novel to relax with on a hot summery day.
This book was an all-around solid story, with good writing, an interesting plot line, and compelling characters. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the characters grow and develop over the course of the book. (Actually, that was probably my favorite part of the novel).
Through the character’s journey, Matson was also able to incorporate several important messages about growth and self-discovery that I feel many YA readers (and readers in general) would benefit from hearing.
The Last Word
A fun, lighthearted adventure, with plenty of cute moments, Since You’ve Been Gone is exactly the kind of story, I’d want to start a sunny summer day with.
A perfect summer read…
Rating: ★★★★☆
Age Group: YA
Recommendation: Yes
Related Cause:
Summary: A summer of adventure.
Series: No