Review: Since You've Been Gone

Book: Since You've Been Gone
Author: Anouska Knight
Genre: Chick lit/ Romance
Published: July 27, 2014
Publisher: Harlequin HQ
Own or borrow?: ARC provided by publisher

How do you learn to love again? In one tragic moment, Holly Jefferson s life as she knows it changes for ever. Now to the external world, at least she is finally getting back on her feet, running her business, Cake. Then she meets Ciaran Argyll. His rich and charmed life feels a million miles from her own. However, there s more to Ciaran than the superficial world that surrounds him, and he too is wrestling with his own ghosts. Will Holly find the missing ingredient that allows her to live again and embrace an unknown and unexpected tomorrow? [Via Goodreads]

Netgalley provided me with this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was very cute. It was light and fun. There wasn't much that I didn't like about this book. It had the perfect blend of sadness, happiness, humor, romance, characters, plot, and everything else that makes me like or dislike a book. 

I live for tragic stories. The boyfriend has gotten so used to me saying "I loved this book!" and his response is "how many people died?" It's weird. It's probably not normal. But that's just how it is with me. In this book, Holly's husband died two years earlier and she's still trying to move on from it. She hasn't gone on dates or tried to find another boyfriend since then. She's been too focused on her work and trying to keep her late husband alive. Then in comes Ciaran Argyll. At first, I wasn't sure if I'd like him. He's the typical super rich guy that gets everything that he wants. He's also so much more than that.

I've come to realize that chick lit books that I've found rarely have insta-love and this is no different. I didn't feel like the relationship was forced. In fact, the one problem I had with the book was that it was at times a little slow getting to the romance. I was just like "KISS ALREADY" at least twice. But that's what made this book realistic. Holly was still heartbroken over the loss of her husband, so she didn't want to rush into anything. Ciaran didn't make her. 

When the romance did come in, it was adorable. It was fresh. I didn't feel like I was reading about the same couple but set in a different country. I felt like this was a couple I had never read about before. They were strong together. They are good together. I loved them together. I liked Holly and I liked Ciaran and I loved Holly and Ciaran.

I think the strongest part of this book was that Holly still kept her business a main focus even after she was with Ciaran. How often do women get into relationships in books and then you never hear about their career again? Holly was a strong character for so many reasons, but this is one that really stuck out to me.

Would I buy this book and read it again? I really think I would. It is a good, light read. It's cute and fluffy and just what I needed at the time. Plus, the cover is so cute. I love the light blue and I love the cake on the front. That's what made me interested in the book at first. I'm glad I read this and will be looking for it in stores.