Tomes Project

Playlists were such a big part of Amy and Roger and Since You've Been Gone that I was both glad for a break from the playlists while also missing them deeply so I was really happy that the Target edition of the book has "Andie's Summer Playlist" (missing a few songs, but it's the thought that counts, yes?) for me to obsess over*.

* But really, it's all I've listened to since I finished the book. It's an amazing playlist.

Also, if you haven't seen these two beautiful wallpapers from Pop! Goes the Reader, you have to check them out because they are super cute and one of them is already resting comfortably on my desktop background.

I absolutely adored this book. It's by far my favorite Morgan Matson book that I have read*, and it has my new favorite book boyfriend. His name is Clark, and he's the most adorable nerd you'll ever read. I promise.

Aside from the most perfect romance story, there are two main things that I absolutely loved about this story: the family aspect and the friendships. So many important things are brought up with both of these topics while still feeling realistic and incredibly well done. We see Andie going through ups and downs with both her father and her friends which I think is super important and great.

* I've just started Second Chance Summer!

It's also really funny (and also really sad?) and I genuinely appreciate the humor in this. We get so many amazing "dad" jokes in this book. (I put dad in quote marks because this my same sense of very dry, pun-driven humor.) We get all the emotional punches in this book, and even though I could see some of the plot points coming*, I was still hanging on to every word and seeing the journey Andie would take to get that point.

I'm usually not pleased with contemporaries because it's always boy meets girl but they can't be together because reasons or boy meets girl and they immediately fall in love, conflict happens, and then they overcome struggle (but then the book ends before you really see their relationship grow). We get the before and during of the relationship in this book so if you, like me, are constantly displeased by the amount of couple-ness happening then I honestly think you'll love this romance.

There are really important places that the friendship goes in this book, and while I won't tell you where it goes (because spoilers) it takes a really powerful turn. (And honestly I could read a whole other book about it.)

*especially if you've been around the YA contemporary block a few times

But honestly, if you haven't picked this book up, please do because I don't think you'll be disappointed.

(Also, this is a perfectly acceptable first Morgan Matson book, so don't feel super intimidated if this will have been your first Matson.)

The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson
Published: 3 May 2016 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Format - Length: Hardcover - 519
Source: Target
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary, Romance
Goodreads | My Goodreads Review

Andie had it all planned out.

When you are a politician’s daughter who’s pretty much raised yourself, you learn everything can be planned or spun, or both. Especially your future.

Important internship? Check.

Amazing friends? Check.

Guys? Check (as long as we’re talking no more than three weeks).

But that was before the scandal. Before having to be in the same house with her dad. Before walking an insane number of dogs. That was before Clark and those few months that might change her whole life.

Because here’s the thing—if everything’s planned out, you can never find the unexpected.

And where’s the fun in that?

Have you read this yet? What's your favorite summer contemporary? Tell me down in the comments!

I picked this up during the Bout of Books read a thon. Oh my goodness. So many feelings.

When I initially finished this book, I was so conflicted as to a rating. What did I think about the book? I mean, up until the last 90 pages, I was completely head over heels in love. Then the last 90 pages happened, and I threw the book across the room at one point.

Because I don't want to think about how much I didn't like that ending, let's talk about why (before the last 90 pages) I was sure that this was a 5 star book.*

*And we are going to do it in list form because lists are awesome. And that list is going to have thirteen items. Because, ya know.

1. Emily, while annoying at times, was relatable. Actually all of the characters were relatable, except for maybe Sloane, but she's not really present so it's okay. Also, I don't think Sloane is meant to be realistic. She's supposed to be this god-like figure to Emily. (And believe me, she is.)

2. It is just so much fun to read.

3. I became immersed into the story. I felt like I was in the living room theater, and that I was running alongside Porter and Emily.

4. Speaking of living room theater . . . there are so many fun, unexpected (but very much welcome) things that happen in this book.

5. FRANK PORTER. We're getting married.

6. Collins is a sweetheart. Yes, he's funny, and yes, he's the class clown. However, there is so much more to him, and it hit me right in the feels.

7. In a well ordered universe . . .

8. It made me want to go running again, but I live in the southern United States. Running outside in the summer may result in a heat stroke.

9. Dawn, while often absent, is a good friend. She's not the best (I'm going to get into that), but she's pretty darn good for a girl who came crying into an ice cream shop.

10. The playlists need to be online somewhere.

11. I can actually see the purpose of the flashbacks and the subplot. Even though they weren't my favorite.

12. The writing was light-hearted, but not dumb. We get a 1st person POV from Emily. She sounds like a high school girl, not a thirty-odd writer trying to be a high school girl.

13. Emily's car. But don't get me started on the rain.

Now to the part that I wasn't looking forward to, especially since I just listed 13 happy things about Since You've Been Gone.

Here's what I didn't like:

1. The ending. I don't want to spoil anything, but it kind of ruined the 5-star feeling that I had for the first 350 pages.

2. Emily's dependence on Sloane. I had heard from Kristina Horner that this was a major problem for her when reading this book. Starting it, I didn't understand. I mean, the first thing that happens in the book is that Sloane isn't at her house. But after finishing the book, I really just want Emily to move on with her life.

3. We don't know what happened with Collins, Dawn, and Emily's relationship. I don't want to say more because I don't want to spoil anything, but I really want to know.

4. Sadly, Frank Porter. Remember when I said at the beginning that I threw my book across my room? Yeah, it was the thing that happened in the car and the rain. I really loved Frank. But honestly, if I were away for the summer doing something I was really passionate about, and I came home to find my boyfriend doing everything that he did with Emily, I wouldn't be happy. If you've read the book, you're probably yelling things at me about the state of Porter and Lissy's relationship. Believe me, I get what you're saying. But that doesn't make what they did okay in my eyes.

Saying all of those negative things, I did love this book more than I didn't. Also, I recommend it overall to pretty much everyone. I think it's good for older YA just because of the characters, but there is nothing in this that isn't appropriate for younger YA.

Also, everyone loves it, and I'm kind of sad to say that I couldn't give this one 5 stars.

Content: PG

Language: None (Jumps for joy!)

Violence: None

Sex: None (Jumps for joy some more!)

Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson
Published: 6 May 2014
Format - Pages: Hardback - 464
Source: Book Outlet
Genre: Young Adult - Contemporary
Goodreads - My Goodreads Rating
Buy it! - Amazon, Kindle, Barnes and Noble

The Pre-Sloane Emily didn't go to parties, she barely talked to guys, she didn't do anything crazy. Enter Sloane, social tornado and the best kind of best friend—the one who yanks you out of your shell.

But right before what should have been an epic summer, Sloane just… disappears. No note. No calls. No texts. No Sloane. There’s just a random to-do list. On it, thirteen Sloane-selected-definitely-bizarre-tasks that Emily would never try… unless they could lead back to her best friend.

Apple Picking at Night? Okay, easy enough.

Dance until Dawn? Sure. Why not?

Kiss a Stranger? Um...

Getting through Sloane’s list would mean a lot of firsts. But Emily has this whole unexpected summer ahead of her, and the help of Frank Porter (totally unexpected) to check things off. Who knows what she’ll find?

Go Skinny Dipping? Wait ... what?