I picked up Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson because I’m in love with every book of hers I’ve ever read. Not to mention, books that contain lists that push characters out of their comfort zone are always fun to read. In fact, I’ve read many, reviewed some, and even written one. So, when I realized there was one by Matson I hadn’t sunk my teeth into yet, it felt like long, long, long overdue unfinished business. 

Alright, here goes. All Emily wanted was to spend summer with her best friend Sloane, feeling free as a bird. But a week or so into summer break Sloane’s house is empty, her phone has been disconnected, no goodbye. All she left behind is a list containing a serious of tasks for Emily to complete. So Emily embarks on a journey, hoping that each item she checks off will help her find a way to get back Sloane. Along the way she finds Dawn, a girl whose pizza delivery job may not help her complete a task as she intended, but helps her make a new friend, Collins, a boy on a never ending journey to get a girlfriend, and Frank, the smart as a whip guy from her school that is surprisingly easy to talk to…but unfortunately has a girlfriend. She’s determined to finish the list, but as she follows the long and winding road the tasks take her down, will the outcome be worth the hassle or will she wish she had just let it be? 

Do you want to know a secret? In my house music is a staple of life. We listen to it any time at all. Schedules and rotations for who gets to pick what we listen to when are necessary to save me from constant battles. Even with them, there are still heated arguments, but since in the end we always manage to come together, I like to think they’ve been minimized. We listen to every little thing: From Pink Floyd and The Beatles, Ben Folds and Ed Sheeran, Shinedown and the Arkells, to picks as random as the Shanghai Noon soundtrack. All across the universe, children are known for play acting as princesses and princes, cops and robbers, cowboys and Indians, my kids also throw musicians into the mix: Tyler Joseph, the lead singer of Twenty One Pilots and Matt Schulz, Cage the Elephant’s front man, among others. 

So, when Emily listens to Frank and Collins play a game that involves speaking in Beatles song titles, she may be thinking, “Help! What is happening?”, but I can totally relate. After all, as I put one of my children to sleep the other night it was a reverse lullaby situation as she recited the names of Cage the Elephant songs and, like dreamers do, I drifted to sleep. Luckily, Frank and Collins never made Emily take an impromptu snooze. They, however, do keep her on her toes, teaching her how to dig a pony, giving her an opportunity to twist and shout, allowing her to embrace the spontaneity of life as a day tripper, and even helping her make some memories in the rain. 

Okay, I’m thinking it must be clear what I’m doing by now. In honor of Frank and Collins, I’ve done my best to cram as many Beatles song titles into this post as possible. Can you find them all? 

There you have it. Do yourself a favor and read Since You’ve Been Gone. Don’t let me down. Embrace the music in your life. Give The Beatles a listen. Or maybe pick a group your family is collectively smitten with and play the song title game. For your sake I hope everyone can come to a consensus, but if I know group dynamics like I think I do, be ready to make an executive decision that leaves at least one person wallowing in misery for what is hopefully only a small amount of time. I’ll cross my fingers that the joy of music will give them some perspective and put a smile on their face!

If you haven’t already read  Since You’ve Been Gone what are you waiting for? If you already have, why not pick it up again? Either way, take my advice when you do—don’t just read it, experience it!  

Want information about purchasing this book from Neighborhood Reads, a local Washington, MO book store? Click the book cover above!