Since You've Been Gone (2014 original; edició 2014)

A cute read! ( )

Overall I liked it quite a lot. A shy girl has to figure out how to exist without her more outgoing best friend (after she moves away without notice or keeping in contact). The end felt a bit contrived and undeserved but the majority was quite entertaining. ( )

Rating: 95% (4.75 stars) ( )

A bucket list without the death. I really liked this one.

I thought of a bucket list without the death as I was reading this book. Sloane has disappeared for the summer, without telling Emily where she went or when she is coming back. Emily is devastated, all their summer plans hinged on the two of them being together and Emily doesn't really know how to be by herself. Sloane mails a list of things for Emily to accomplish over the summer. Things that push her boundaries, things that make her look at herself and who she really is. Things that make her question her willingness to stay in Sloane's shadow, envying Sloane's easy confidence, independence, and seeming effortlessness. Of course, things aren't always the way they seem; and Emily makes new friends, learns to see outside of herself and Sloane's bubble, her world expands.

I've had girls already reading and recommending this one to each other enough that the hold list will carry over to next school year. I bought a kindle version for myself when it went on sale, so I wouldn't have to compete with the girls and could read along with one of them. We had fun as we discussed it together. ( )

Meh. This one felt generic to me. Emily's best friend Sloane leaves with her parents for the summer. The unexpected departure changes Emily's plans and she has to try and make some new friends. Sloane has left her a list of fun tasks to try to accomplish. Emily's path crosses with a boy named Frank and a few others and they get to know each other. Her playwright parents are busy with a new project, leaving her free to do what she wants. I never cared much for the characters and it didn't make sense that her best friend just disappeared without a trace. Skip this one and read the author's other book, Amy & Roger's Epic Detour, instead. ( )