Goodreads Summary:
he 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?
Review:
Wow. I really did not expect to like this book. You might be thinking… Veronica what did you just say?! and I am rather surprised myself that I had those thoughts too. I am one of those people that LOVES Morgan Matson books. I tell people I don’t even know at the bookstore that they have to read one of her books. The thing is that when SYBG was released, I wasn’t too thrilled. Don’t get me wrong, I was excited, but the synopsis didn’t grab me. Kayla bought me the book because she is awesome and I started reading it and… it fell flat. I couldn’t get into it. It was boring. (Yes I know I committed blasphemy by saying that but keep reading please)
10 months later, I decide to give SYBG another chance because I HAVE to. I was at a different point in my life then and maybe my perceptive now will change since I am at a different stage in life. I decide to “read” the book a different way this time too. Once I received my credit on Audible, I choose to spend that credit on SYBG and listen to it on my commute to and from work. Let me jus tell you the wonders a good audiobook does to your overall experience of a book, it gave Emily a voice that I couldn’t have given her in my mind. I got so into the story that I regretted packing all of my books already, and not leaving SYBG out. As I was wallowing because I could only hear SYBG and not read it too, Ms. Matson tweeted that the kindle version of SYBG was on sale for 1.99. I snatched that baby up in no time and started reading it. A month of car rides and reading SYBG at night when I could muster enough energy to stay awake for 20 more minutes, I finished it and it ended up being exactly what I needed.
Emily is a very relatable character. I think my 17 year old self would have connected with Emily more, but nonetheless, I did too at 24. In February I started a new job and I had to be the new girl all over again and It’s easy to be the shadow of a new friend. I’ve done that my entire life, but an important lesson I’ve learned is that you need to have an identity all on your own and be proud of that identity. I came into my new job with this mentality and it has worked. I am my own person and I can also be somebody’s good friend without being their shadow.
This review is more of my journey and not information itself of the book because that is exactly how the book is. I recommend you read it at some point in your life. You may not be ready for it now (or you might be), but you will be ready for it at some point and it will leave you feeling good and content with life.
Before I close, let’s not forget about Frank. I’m not a fan of the name Frank, but this character has even made me like the name. He is the sweetest, most loyal, human character I’ve read in contemporary YA in a long time. Don’t get me wrong I am still in love with Isaiah from Crash Into You (that boy will be the death of me), but there is something so real and raw about Frank that I have to say Ms. Matson did a darn good job with her characters in SYBG.
The Talking Bookworm 
I completely agree with you! I loved this book 🙂
Yay someone agrees with me! 🙂
I am such a Morgan Matson fan too but I definitely had that same feeling as you when SYBG came out. I still rushed to the bookstore to get it but only because it was Morgan Matson and she’s amazing. If the synopsis had been applied to any other author, I definitely wouldn’t have made it such a high priority. But then I read it and loved it! While it’s not my favourite Morgan Matson, it was still so good. And I love what you said about Frank! It’s not a very attractive name is it? But after reading it, I had a total turnaround opinion of it (as I did with Roger) but in all seriousness, how could you not?
Anyway, great review! 🙂
I seriously thought I was the only one who felt this way. Glad to know I’m not the only one! It’s not my favorite either but like you said, it’s Morgan matson! Thanks for stopping by ❤
I still think that Amy & Roger is the best book so far, but SYBG is a close second for me! It’s one of the ones that I fell in love with the longer it had been since I read it. And now I really really need a reread ❤ But I'm so glad you connected to it!
Sadly, it’s not my favorite of the three but yeah. Still good! 🙂
What a steal getting the book at 1.99! I wish they’d do more deals like that in Australia- unfortunately we have a pretty narrow selection of books which become daily deals..
Anyway, I’m really glad you liked this book! I completely agree about how relatable Emily is. And yesss Frank. I loved how their relationship was both a friendship and a romance. The best kind!
I just book hauled this book, and I said, it really isn’t a book I would usually read. However, after reading your review, I’m really excited to pick it up! Just followed! Can’t wait to read future reviews!
Awww thank you! I hope you like it!!! Let me know what you think once you’re done! 😀
Loved this book too! Great review!
Thanks! 🙂