Initial Impressions 7/17/15: This is actually my first Morgan Matson book (yes, yes, I know) and I had purchased the audio when it was on sale a few weeks ago. I was definitely in need of a contemporary read and a new audio so it seemed like the perfect time to start SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE. 
 I thought I was going to be the black sheep on this book. I had a REALLY hard time with the beginning -- never thinking about DNFing or anything but Emily was just so awkward that it made me cringe and I wasn't too into the other characters either. (Except for maybe Frank.) The writing just didn't work well for me throughout the first half and scenes felt forced instead of just playing out naturally. 
 I finally found some cute moments between Emily and Frank about halfway through and really started to enjoy their friendship and whatever might be developing between them... then I started to enjoy their relationship even more and before I knew it, the whole book was finally taking shape. I was almost upset that I was enjoying it which sounds silly but going throughout the whole first half at about a three-star rating sets the tone for me so I was prepared to feel the same way throughout the ending. It finished out with a 4-4.5 star second-half so really that balances out at about a 4 for me. I'm not actually disappointed that I ended up liking it but I did feel like I wasted so much time being frustrated with the book and wished the whole thing could have felt so cohesive and natural and fun. 
 I did enjoy it at the end but I just wished I had been able to feel those things in the beginning! Not to mention a scene out of ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS (although it's not that like doesn't happen anywhere else... but I'm so ANNA-obsessed that I couldn't NOT see it) and a bit of a stunt there at the end that was totally insane for someone Emily's age and seemed a bit too far-fetched, but okay, I'll roll with it. 
 Full review as originally posted HERE on The Book Addict's Guide 7/20/15: SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE was actually my first Morgan Matson book (yes, yes, I know)! I had purchased the audio a few weeks prior to reading it and when it was time to for a new audiobook and I happened to be in a contemporary mood, the timing was right to start SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE! 
 I really wasn't sure what to expect. Having never read one of her books before, I was going in a little blind with no knowledge of Morgan Matson's writing style or what might pass for a typical character or concept. All I knew was that she's a fan-favorite and I felt a lot of pressure to enjoy the book (especially seeing it has a 4.21 rating on Goodreads which is pretty high), so when I started listening to the book and found myself struggling, I really started to worry. 
 I really thought I was going to be the black sheep on this book. I had a really hard time with the beginning, especially with the characters. I never made it to the point where I thought I would put the book down, but it was really just a middle-of-the-road contemporary read for about the entire first half. I really had a hard time with Emily and how awkward she was and I found her actions cringe-worthy to witness. Other characters didn't quite click for me either. Emily's parents seemed silly and like characterizations rather than real people. Collins was goofy and seemed like a bit too much for me and I really didn't care for him either. And even though Sloane wasn't physically present in the book at the time, the flashbacks to her interactions with Emily bothered me as well. The writing just didn't work well for me throughout the first half and scenes felt forced instead of just playing out naturally. BUT the good thing was that I had plenty of friends who had enjoyed the book and promised me it would get better so despite my hesitations, I was ready for the book to improve! 
 And those friends turned out to be right! I finally found some cute moments between Emily and Frank about halfway through and really started to enjoy their friendship and whatever might be developing between them... then I started to enjoy their relationship even more and before I knew it, the whole book was finally taking shape. Characters really started to feel real instead of just a collection of traits on a page. Relationships were really blossoming -- not just between Emily and Frank. I loved the new friendships that Emily was forming in Sloane's absence and really all of the characters grew quite a bit. I was really impressed with how much each one had changed and felt so much more realistic, but I was sad that I had felt so disconnected from them in beginning. I felt like the growth was exponential but I had that lingering memory of how much they had annoyed me in the first half of the book. 
 I did enjoy the second half of the book but I just wish I had been able to feel those things in the beginning! Not to mention I felt like one scene was directly out of ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS (although it's not that like scene hasn't happened anywhere else... but I'm so ANNA-obsessed that I couldn't NOT see it) and a bit of a stunt there at the end that was totally insane for someone Emily's age (I wonder if there were any consequences for that...) but I just let it go and rolled with it. 
 I was very on the fence with how I felt about Emily and Sloane's friendship. I honestly don't really think I've had a friendship like that. A lot of my close friendships were a group of three of us (or more) and I feel like I didn't have ONE best friend that I spent all of time with who was just MY best friend. Sometimes their friendship felt too clingy for me (mostly likely because I didn't have the same experience so I didn't quite relate) and I also didn't like how Sloane felt so much more dominant than Emily (although I totally understand that). I felt like their friendship has some great moments and other times, I didn't like it at all. 
 I guess you could say it was an interesting read for me! I actually kind of liked that my opinion on the book didn't seem to align with so many others because I was able to have my own take on the book. Sometimes when I love the same book that everyone else loves, it isn't that the book doesn't deserve it but sometimes I feel like my opinion isn't unique so it was fun to bounce my reactions off of other people and see how our feelings differed. I was hesitant in the beginning but upon finishing, I'm excited to read those other Matson books that I have on my shelves! I'm not sure they're high-priority or that I will love them like everyone else loves her work but I'm also open to leaving my expectations at the door and seeing where the books take me!