Book Review: Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

Title: Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour

Author: Morgan Matson

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing

Publishing Date: May 2011

Length: 368 pages

Keywords: YA contemporary romanc, road trip

Source: Won

Amy Curry thinks her life sucks. Her mom decides to move from California to Connecticut to start anew—just in time for Amy's senior year. Her dad recently died in a car accident. So Amy embarks on a road trip to escape from it all, driving cross-country from the home she's always known toward her new life. Joining Amy on the road trip is Roger, the son of Amy's mother's old friend. Amy hasn’t seen him in years, and she is less than thrilled to be driving across the country with a guy she barely knows. So she's surprised to find that she is developing a crush on him. At the same time, she’s coming to terms with her father’s death and how to put her own life back together after the accident. Told in traditional narrative as well as scraps from the road—diner napkins, motel receipts, postcards—this is the story of one girl's journey to find herself.

Summary by Goodreads 

So Amy and Roger, the protagonists of Morgan Matson’s debut novel, happen to know each other from childhood. They haven’t seen each other for years and still they get to spend a cross country road trip together. It could be fun to meet an old friend. But to be honest, isn’t that the most awkward position to be put into?
Here starts Amy and Roger’s story, together, as friends, and maybe even more than friends.

The trip’s goal is to transport the family’s car from California to Connecticut. The stops and route are strictly planned by Amy’s mother. But Amy and Roger ditch all the rules and make stops where they want, do what they feel like. And I simply loved to see them break free. People should do that more often, break free and out of their routine.

Both Amy and Roger have a lot of thoughts occupying their minds and emotions weighing down their hearts. There are moments that make you laugh out loud. In other moments you simply grief with them. We also learn some details about their families and friends. Especially Amy’s relationships to her mother and brother are important. There's also a great loss that she has to cope with. 

The whole time you are rooting for Amy and Roger to fall in love. And I admired their personalities so much. The tension between them builds and their growing relationship with the variety of different feelings coming along on their road trip is just so enlightening. Amy and Roger meet many new people who are so much fun, but in the end it are the two of them who help each other find the right way. 

A really cool bonus are playlists and cute drawings and photos of their road trip. How fun that Morgan Matson  went on that road trip herself. I like that she also followed the way her characters take on their road trip. I immediately felt the need to pack a duffle bag, grab my camera and hit the road, too. AMY & ROGER’S EPIC DETOUR is a book you should totally read before you plan, or maybe not so consciously, plan to go on a road trip!  

1) we can’t get enough of road trips

2) we can’t live without mix CD’s

3) of overcoming your fears

4) of pretty comical adventures

5) of awesome bonus material like pictures and playlists 

5/5 ***** AMY & ROGER’S EPIC DETOUR – Detours have never been so much fun before. Morgan Matson wrote a book packed with LOL-worthy, sweet, adventurous and insightful moments!

A fun detour? Yes! It’s the contrast between doing the thing you are supposed to, following your heart and living the way you feel that makes AMY & ROGER’S EPIC DETOUR such a tempting read. This novel gifts you with the spirit of a fabulous road trip.

* Don’t forget to check out Morgan Matson’s second novel SECOND CHANCE SUMMER!

* Read an excerpt of AMY & ROGER’S EPIC DETOUR here. 

* For further information about Morgan and her books visit www.morganmatson.com