Book Club Review: Since You've Been Gone

Bookworms, assemble! Here is last month’s winning review for the Student Edge Book Club title, Since You’ve Been Gone, written by member Cindy Huynh.

Morgan Matson’s Since You’ve Been Gone is a rollercoaster ride from beginning to end.

It concerns BFFs Emily and Sloane. Sloane is an enthusiastic friend who makes heads turn when she walks through the door, whereas Emily likes to keep to herself.

One day, Sloane goes missing and all that’s left behind is a letter with 13 instructions on it. Emily thinks that by completing the 13 instructions, she will find Sloane. This leads to Emily going on quite the adventure.

Along the way she makes new friends and steps out of her comfort zone. Was this Sloane’s mission all along?

If I could only say just one thing about Since You’ve Been Gone, it’s that it made my heart happy. This book has shown me the many things we could achieve if only we all stepped out of our comfort zones on occasion.

Before I read Since You’ve Been Gone, I considered myself a very shy person, much like Emily. I would stay in the shadows of my own best friend, who is very brave and seemingly doesn’t have a care in the world. After finishing this book, however, I realised that by stepping out of my comfort zone, I’ll be able to bring about new, exciting things in my life.

Since You’ve Been Gone’s plot was full of surprises, which helped make it such an enjoyable read. I sincerely never knew what to expect.

Morgan Matson wrote this book in a way that made it enjoyable yet intriguing to YA readers, frequently relating to the audience with modern references (such as music) any teen would be able to pick up.

Since You’ve Been Gone will make your heart happy and show you the importance of friendship, love and family.

4/5

With the Student Edge Book Club, you can get 10% off the monthly title from Booktopia. Check out next month’s novel here. Then, send in your review to go in the running for a $200 book bundle from Simon & Schuster. Congrats to this month’s winner, Cindy.

Photo: Simon & Schuster.