13 - Since You've Been Gone - Morgan Matson

Audio read by Suzy Jackson

11 unabridged discs (12.75 hrs.)

2014, Recorded Books

449 pgs.

YA CRF

Finished 2/7/2015

Goodreads rating:  4.17

My rating:   4.5 Totally loved it- didn't want it to end

TPPL

Setting: contemporary coastal Connecticut, the summer before Senior year. 

My comments:  This book was so much fun to listen to!  Suzy Jackson did a terrific job as a reader, and although her voice for Emily was sweet and young, when she became Frank (especially) she added just enough male inflection to make it sound masculine and believable.  The story itself was great, watching a timid girl come into her own.  Such a nice change from the grizzlier YAs I've read recently.  And this book was totally and wonderfully real.  I think I was a lot like Emily when I was 17.....  So why not a five?  The last few chapters dragged a bit, at least compared to the rest of the book.

Goodreads book summary:  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? Wait… what?
          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? Um…