This review originally posted at More Than Just Magic 
 Emily is missing her best friend Sloane. She's disappeared without a trace leaving nothing but a to-do list for Emily behind. This entire novel is built around that list and the things Emily learns about friendship and herself along the way. 
 I loved the idea of female friendship being the focus of this novel rather than romance. But that focus came about in a way I didn't expect. To Emily, Sloane is her best friend, her everything. But to the reader Sloane isn't much more than the friendship version of the manic pixie dream girl. We only see her through Emily's eyes and she's nothing short of perfect - she's funny, well-travelled, teaches Emily about style, takes Emily to all the 'fun' places (The Orchard, clubs etc). She comes into Emily's life, turns everything upside down and helps Emily discover who she really is. 
 What was more interesting was Emily's friendship with Dawn, Frank & Collins. None of them are anything like Sloane but it was during her time with them that I found her personality really rose to the surface. I loved the way their friendship grew and blossomed throughout this story and the most heart warming moments came about when they were together. My FAVOURITE relationship however was with Beckett - Emily's younger brother. It's secondary to the other characters in the story but it really shone through and touched my heart. Particularly the scene where they go camping. I wish more books highlighted the great relationships you can have with your siblings. 
 There were a bunch of really adorable moments throughout Since You've Been Gone - especially with Frank. More than once I caught myself grinning stupidly in a public place. I loved that their relationship was a slow burn. Acquaintances at first and then great friends with the potential for something more underneath. It's a great foundation for a romance which is what really makes the reader route for them. (Although I didn't care for the way Frank's girlfriend felt like nothing more than a plot device to keep Frank and Emily apart). 
 Despite the adorable nature of Frank-Emily and the strong friendships built over the course of the novel the whole thing had this feeling of everything being too good to be true. Of course Emily's parents are playwright's who were busy (and therefore out-of-the-way) all summer, of course Sloane was stylish and funny and lived all over the world, of course people hold open job positions for teenagers they've never met etc. For some of it I could suspend by disbelief but sometimes I had to roll my eyes at the convenience of it all. 
 But despite all my issues where this novel really won me over was its emphasis on how friendship can change you. Before reading I thought it would do this via Emily-Sloane but it actually accomplished this goal via Emily-Collins-Frank-Dawn. Their foursome was such great example of how strong the bonds of friendship can be and how important it is to have people like that in your life. Since You've Been Gone will fill you with sugar sweet nostalgia for summer's past - A perfect read for lying out in the sun, imaging what would be on your summer bucket list.