Amy and Roger's Epic Detour

Sep 26, 2011 Sita Sargeant rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Anyone

Shelves: own, favourites, teen-romance, young-adult, reviewed, nl

4.49 stars...

I loved this book it was really good, the characters were good, the writing was good, the plot was good. So why can’t I bring myself to give it five stars. I really don’t know. It is probably because there were a few small things that irked me, okay, this is going to sound really bad, but I think it dropped a star because of the romance. Actually, that doesn't sound so bad. Sure, the characters were good and they all had problems they were recovering from, but when I picked up this...more

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Jul 21, 2011 Nic rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, favourites, realistic-fiction, young-adult, romance-awww

But since I've been out here, on this trip...it is like I've started to remember what it is like. To feel alive. To feel anything. And all I'm saying it that you never know how much time you have."

I have being sitting here trying to think of what to say about this gorgeous book. I’m not sure why I am finding it so difficult because I LOVED EVERYTHING about it. The amazing characters, the travel journal entries, the play lists, the quotes at beginning of each chapter, the menus, photos and all th...more

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Oct 29, 2010 Tatiana rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of YA summer romances and playlists

Recommended to Tatiana by: Crystal

Shelves: 2010, chick-lit, ya, ala-ya-2011

I am not a big fan of formulaic, Sarah Dessen-type summer YA romances, but the reviews of Amy & Roger's Epic Detour were so glowing, I wanted to give it a try. I did enjoy it, as much as I can enjoy a story that employs such genre cliches as makeovers and two teens sleeping in the same bed because, oh my!, there are no other options available.

The book is cute and sweet, engaging and a very quick read. The main characters, albeit fairly superficially drawn, are nice, likable people. Although...more I am not a big fan of formulaic, Sarah Dessen-type summer YA romances, but the reviews of Amy & Roger's Epic Detour were so glowing, I wanted to give it a try. I did enjoy it, as much as I can enjoy a story that employs such genre cliches as makeovers and two teens sleeping in the same bed because, oh my!, there are no other options available.

The book is cute and sweet, engaging and a very quick read. The main characters, albeit fairly superficially drawn, are nice, likable people. Although Amy is in a state of grief over her father's death, her narration, to my relief, never becomes an overblown angstravaganza (like, let's say, Revolution - another YA novel about grief and guilt). Unhealthy, stalkerish and abusive relationships are not promoted here. The format is great too, it is sort of scrapbooky, with tons of notes, pictures, and receipts. I have to say, however, some of the scrapbook pages are not inserted into the narrative very well, they interrupt the flow of the story. But it's a minor flaw.

As for negatives, they are mostly genre-related - the story is fairly predictable, the characterization is basic and the dialog is not as interesting as it could have been. My major beef with the novel is (view spoiler) I wish this scene would never have been in the book, but I guess the genre requirements called for it?

Anyway, what I am trying to say, is that after reading YA authors like Melina Marchetta, it's hard for me to sing praises to this particular YA novel. But readers who enjoy sweet, inoffensive, wholesome stories written by Siobhan Vivian, Elizabeth Scott and Simone Elkeles, will definitely love this book.

If you are looking for another road trip type story, I recommend Paper Towns, which is much more fun and less cliche-ridden.(less)

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Nov 23, 2011 Lisa O. rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook, ya-lit, hot-musicians, swoooooon

So Amy and Roger's Epic Detour wasn't all that epic after all.

It starts off with Amy, living in a house alone in California. Her mother has already moved to Connecticut, her twin brother is in rehab and her father recently died in a car crash. She is the last one left behind, the house is about to be sold and she has to get the family car, a Liberty, from California to Connecticut, where her mother has decided to move after her husband's death. That's when Roger enters the scene. Amy doesn't wa...more So Amy and Roger's Epic Detour wasn't all that epic after all.

It starts off with Amy, living in a house alone in California. Her mother has already moved to Connecticut, her twin brother is in rehab and her father recently died in a car crash. She is the last one left behind, the house is about to be sold and she has to get the family car, a Liberty, from California to Connecticut, where her mother has decided to move after her husband's death. That's when Roger enters the scene. Amy doesn't want to drive across America or anywhere else and Roger, a family friend's son who has to go visit his father in Philadelphia, has been designated her chaffeur for the trip. The route is set, Amy's mom has planned it and booked the hotels. But. Neither Amy nor Roger intend to follow the plan, each for his/her own motives. The trip will turn out as a sort of catharsis for both of them, the first little (or huge, since it's across America) step toward moving on with their lives.

It sounds all pretty good, except my feelings for this book are.... tepid, to say the least.
The first part of the book was very underwhelming, I even got bored a little bit. The story is highly predictable and that would be ok, if I had felt the characters to be more real.
My main problem was Amy. I didn't buy her virginal prudery to sleep in the same bed with Roger because she is, in fact, not a virgin. I didn't buy her grief, it somehow felt contrived to me, her choking up, her chin-trembling and her sunglasses problem.
Roger was, of course, just too good to be true and even his change of heart along the trip didn't exactly come out as natural.

Fortunately, the story picked up quite nicely in the second part of the book and I have to say I was really charmed by all the little notes, pictures and addition to the story (a bit à la The Sky is Everywhere). They give a little something to the narration and certainly make the long trip more interesting for the reader.
I'm still not sure how I feel about the ending, which was also slightly underwhelming.... again, I was to say tepid. It was way more feasible than if it had ended with an unrealistic declarations of undying love, but still. It ended quite abruptly in my opinion, I wanted to see the conflict between Amy and her mom developed more.

All in all, a decent read but, as far as these "grief" books go, that deal with the death of a loved one OR/AND trips across America, I've read better this year. Amy and Roger's Epic Detour kind of felt like Saving June's ugly cousin.

For this review and more check out The Nocturnal Library (less)

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Sep 09, 2010 Arlene rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2010, ya-contemporary, favorites, cover-pda-fave, autographed, young-adult

Undeniably 5 Stars!!

I know what I want to do… I want to go on an Epic Detour… my final destination isn't clear but I have a pretty good idea of the places I want to see.

I want to travel to Yosemite and buy a Bear Essentials t-shirt, drive on the Loneliest Road in America and hike a pair of my sneakers on the tree along the way, go to Kentucky and eat a Hot Brown and derby pie, visit Graceland and graffiti the wall and get a pair of Elvis-style sunglasses gold-trim and all, I'll even eat a messy...more Undeniably 5 Stars!!

I know what I want to do… I want to go on an Epic Detour… my final destination isn't clear but I have a pretty good idea of the places I want to see.

I want to travel to Yosemite and buy a Bear Essentials t-shirt, drive on the Loneliest Road in America and hike a pair of my sneakers on the tree along the way, go to Kentucky and eat a Hot Brown and derby pie, visit Graceland and graffiti the wall and get a pair of Elvis-style sunglasses gold-trim and all, I'll even eat a messy burger and spicy fries in Kansas, all the while driving with the windows down and a root beer by my side. I shall call myself Hillary and my co-pilot will be Edmund. That is my plan... and it is a good one…

Wow I have a HUGE crush on this book. It was great and I loved every bit of detail found between pages 1 to 343! Everything that Morgan Matson included in her story was brilliant. The playlists not only have some great songs on them, but they will definitely blow my iTunes budget out of the water for the next few months. I plan on owning just about all of Roger's songs. The menu and food receipts were clever additions... whenever I see cream soda and rootbeer I'll remember Roger and Amy. The Big Bear itinerary made me want to go on a hike, and I don't even mountain hike, but I want to do that now. The scrapbook pages were priceless, and overall Amy & Roger's Epic Detour was absolute perfection!

This story has one of the best set of secondary characters I have ever read. They made Roger and Amy's detour inspiring, exciting and enjoyable. Bronwyn and her gift to Amy was endearing. I loved how she took away Amy's camouflage and gave her back a bit of confidence. Drew was spot on with his advice to Roger. Telling him There sometimes isn't' much of a difference between a knight's quest and a fool's errand was the turning point, I feel, for Roger's self-revelation. Leonard was the most aww-worthy video game geek I have ever met. His Make haste! You must save Princess Amy! had me sighing like a lurves-struck goof. Lucien and his decapitated moose head made me crack up! Don't ever stop hedging Lucien... NEVER! Walcott's demo??? I want it!!

So pretty much I loved this book. Can you tell??? I loved it to pieces! I suggest you stop what you're doing now and read this book. It's the best fictional journey I've been on in a long time.. so go on... go on a detour you won't regret it. :)

Morgan Matson, please write another book. You have an instant fan waiting to read more of your brilliance! (less)

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Sep 03, 2010 Janina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-fiction, romance, death-loss-grief, covers-i-love, read-in-2010, on-my-shelf, road-trip, contemporary, music, comfort-reads

I absolutely loved Amy & Roger's Epic Detour. It was one of those books I wished would never end but finished in a few hours.

Despite the serious issues it addresses, it is never downbeat, but bittersweet and also funny in exactly the right places.
Amy and Roger are authentic and likeable. I loved the people they met on their trip (especially Bronwyn, Drew and Lucien), the games they played in the car and how they slowly and almost without consciously noticing it began to get to know and trus...more

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Jan 18, 2012 Eunice rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit, contemporary, death-tragedy-suicide, favourites, realistic-fiction, ya-romance, young-adult

4.5 of 5 stars

Wow! I feel like I just had an epic road trip all over America and witnessed a very cute and sweet love story! Amy and Roger's Epic Detour was a very fun, sweet and easy read that offered me not just a heartwarming story but also an unforgettable trip which - from where I am now - is quite impossible to have (I'm technically on the other end of the earth from America. XD) but nevertheless I absolutely enjoyed it, like I was really seeing and discovering things too. And you see, I'm...more 4.5 of 5 stars

Wow! I feel like I just had an epic road trip all over America and witnessed a very cute and sweet love story! Amy and Roger's Epic Detour was a very fun, sweet and easy read that offered me not just a heartwarming story but also an unforgettable trip which - from where I am now - is quite impossible to have (I'm technically on the other end of the earth from America. XD) but nevertheless I absolutely enjoyed it, like I was really seeing and discovering things too. And you see, I'm actually majoring in tourism management so this is definitely my kind of book, it has two of my most favorite things in the world - a story and travel.

Amy was miserable. She thought her life sucks and she blamed herself from the car accident that cost her dad's life. Her mother decided to move from California to Connecticut and start all over again. So Amy embarks a road trip together with Roger - son of her mom's old friend which she barely knew - across the country. Through the trip, both Amy and Roger discovered, realized and learned a lot of things.

It was easy to connect and relate with Amy. The feelings she had - anger, sadness, and guilt - was very well pronounced that it was like you know exactly how she felt. I love how in every places they stopped by she learned and realized new things, about the place of course but also about her self. As their road trip went farther, Amy's character began to developed and started opening up. And also started having feelings for Roger. I loved the part when she was finally able to drive again and tell everything that happened during the accident to Roger.

Roger was a fun and easy-going character. I liked him in an instant (like I don't do that in all male lead characters. XD). Well, who wouldn't want a guy who would travel across the country just to get a girl back? Yes, that was his reason why he decided to join Amy with the road trip which was kind of Wow and Aww. But it did change as he, like Amy, discovered and learned things and started really caring for her and liking her too. And those moments between the two were definitely swoontastic! I loved loved loved every bits of it! Morgan Matson did a very great job in developing both characters and their relationship.

Other things I love about this book was by making it look like a scrap book. I loved the post-its and receipts, the photos, and of course, the mixes. It was easier to picture and imagine the things and places described in the book. It also adds to the feeling that you were like with them too, traveling. I laughed, teared-up a little, swoon and smiled a lot in this book. I wouldn't really mind if the book was longer, I definitely want more of Amy and Roger. This is an epic and fantastic read! I highly recommend this! :))

“The best discoveries always happened to the people who weren't looking for it. Columbus and America. Pinzon, who stumbled on Brazil while looking for the West Indies. Stanley happening on Victoria Falls. And you. Amy Curry, when I was least expecting her." -Roger Sullivan

Thanks to Karla Mae for letting me borrow her copy of this swoontastic book! Love ya girl!

This review is also posted at Book Overdose
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Nov 18, 2011 ♥Rachel♥ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, favorites, road-trip

This book is about finding the best thing when you least expect it. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I mean, who doesn’t want to go on a road trip? More than ever, and especially after reading this book, I want to go on a road trip!

Amy Curry has to get her Mom’s car to Connecticut from California. Her Mom sold the family house and has already moved there. Amy stayed to finish out her school year but that’s over and it’s time to move. Trouble is Amy can’t drive since she was in a car accident with her fa...more This book is about finding the best thing when you least expect it. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I mean, who doesn’t want to go on a road trip? More than ever, and especially after reading this book, I want to go on a road trip!

Amy Curry has to get her Mom’s car to Connecticut from California. Her Mom sold the family house and has already moved there. Amy stayed to finish out her school year but that’s over and it’s time to move. Trouble is Amy can’t drive since she was in a car accident with her father three months ago. Her father didn’t make it. So Amy’s mother arranges for the son of a family friend, Roger, to drive her. Her mother even plans out the itinerary, hotel reservations and all. Amy does not like this plan at all, the thought of being cooped up in a car with a stranger for five days does not appeal to her. She has become a pro at escaping people and human interaction since her father’s death, but it’s a little hard to get away from someone when you’re riding for hours in the car with them. Enter Roger, college student of Colorado College on summer break, who much to Amy’s surprise is really cute. He has his own reasons for agreeing to this road trip. I have to say I was a little annoyed when I found out what Roger’s reason was (view spoiler) but once I started reading more, that went away.

This road trip turned out to be the best thing for Amy and Roger. After the accident, Amy basically closed herself off from everyone. You see her gradually unthawing and coming to grips with what has happened in her life. You see her letting people and emotions back in, especially with Roger. Roger in spite of his goal in coming on this trip is a breath of fresh air. He’s always smiling and relaxed. As their trip progresses Roger starts to see that his initial reason for going is less and less important. Roger and Amy unexpectedly find feelings for each other creeping up on them. One of my favorite quotes:

Roger: “I mean, I should have known,” he said, leaning back a little and smiling at me. “It always happens this way.” Amy: “What does?” Roger: “The best discoveries always happened to the people who weren't looking for them. Columbus and America. Pinzón who stumbled on Brazil while looking for the West Indies. Stanley happening on Victoria Falls. And you. Amy Curry when I was least expecting her." I smiled back at him while feeling sharply just how much I was going to miss him. It was almost a physical pain. "I'm on that list?" "You're at the top of that list." He leaned over and kissed me and I kissed back.”

I loved that Morgan Matson put the details of the trip in sort of a scrap-book that we all get to see throughout the book. This gave us trivia for each state and receipts for every fast food, greasy diner and cheap motel they stayed at, which made you feel like you were taking this trip right along with them. This book was just such a feel good book. What can I say? You got to love a road trip! This is one I’ll be reading again. A definite recommend!
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Nov 16, 2012 Jennifer Wardrip rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: trt-posted-reviews, trt-gold-star-award-winner

Reviewed by John Jacobson aka "R.J. Jacobs" for TeensReadToo.com

I am proud to say this book is going on my keeper shelf. Road trip novels always held a special appeal to me, so this book was always going in my TBR. It was one of my most anticipated books of 2010. From the cover, to the first sentence, all the way to the ending - it held me in a way few books do. I am proud to say it both met and surpassed all expectations I had.

Amy is home alone in California, packing up to drive across the coun...more Reviewed by John Jacobson aka "R.J. Jacobs" for TeensReadToo.com

I am proud to say this book is going on my keeper shelf. Road trip novels always held a special appeal to me, so this book was always going in my TBR. It was one of my most anticipated books of 2010. From the cover, to the first sentence, all the way to the ending - it held me in a way few books do. I am proud to say it both met and surpassed all expectations I had.

Amy is home alone in California, packing up to drive across the country to her new home in Connecticut with her mother and her twin brother, Charlie. Roger is sent with her to supervise, drive, and hitch a ride to Philadelphia himself. They were old childhood playmates, but they hardly remembered each other. Amy is barely getting over her father's recent death, and Roger is dealing with the harsh break-up of someone he thought he loved. Needless to say, we are met with two needy and complex protagonists, and they give us one heck of a ride.

What mainly follows is a series of detours. Amy and Roger decide to ride through Yellowstone, bypassing her mother's preplanned route; hotel reservations and MapQuest directions included. With caution thrown to the wind, we see these two characters change and build a relationship unlike any other. Amy deals with fears and her inability to be adventurous, as well as with a not-so-smooth mother/daughter relationship. Roger deals with trying to move on from a relationship that was never quite right, and with his new experiences with Amy.

The writing and layout of this book was, in one word, perfect. It flowed and had the fun campy quality of Johnson's 13 LITTLE BLUE ENVELOPES and the depth of BECOMING CHLOE. Out of all the road trip novels I have read, this is so far the tops in terms of writing. The reader is also treated to the occasional email or music playlist. Though they don't show up constantly, but just enough to leave a lasting impact. Oh, and the rare receipt thrown in also had a lasting effect. Let me just say that this method ties into the ending in a way that left me utterly reeling with joy.

Characterization and plot are no strangers to the power of this simple yet complex writing. Amy and Roger grow so slowly, yet exponentially, that the reader is left with a sense of completion upon finishing each chapter. The actions and growth are so subtle, yet hit the reader like the impact of an ocean wave on a tiny plastic boat. Even the side characters are perfect; their formations are great, and they don't ever feel like they are dropped, which is usually the case with novels like this. Even stationary novels have trouble with wrapping up characters, yet Matson does it with an ease and clarity that is appreciated greatly.

Quotes begin every chapter section and fit together very well with the overall theme of the novel. This book is romantic and cute, but it manages to have several layers to it. The overall themes involving traveling and home and letting go are hit hard and in just the right spots to make the reader think without over-analyzing anything in the text. Even the references in theatre and song that dot the text have meaning aside from the obvious.

A spot on the keeper shelf is nothing to this book. Really, I could give it a whole wall and it would not be enough. I loved everything about it; plot, writing, characters, themes...This book has it all. Even at hardcover, I would not hesitate to pick this book up. I would tell anyone to read it, just for the sweet romance and the idea of learning more about yourself and the people you know and love.(less)

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Jan 28, 2011 Brooke rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-own-a-copy, favourites, swoon-worthy-males, roadtrips, tugged-the-heartstrings, lovey-mushy-stuff, realistic-fiction, cover-love

Love. Love. Lovelovelove.

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour was one of those books I started and had crazy high expectations for. I was not disappointed.

There's nothing better than a love story that leaves you feeling as though you could quite comfortably lie there in your bed and hug the book and feel complete. I couldn't wipe the grin off my face when I finished reading. I wanted more!

Both Amy and Roger were characters that had so many layers, and it was truly my pleasure to read page after page a...more

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Feb 11, 2011 Jillian -always aspiring- rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans of summer teen flicks

Shelves: realistic-fiction, could-have-been-better, should-have-loved-it-but-didn-t, 2011-reads, glad-i-gave-it-a-chance, reviewed

(Actual rating: 3.5 stars)

This ~~preview~~ review has been approved for all ~~audiences~~ readers by ~~The Motion Picture Association of America, Inc.~~ me and me alone

[Fade in on sunny California scenery with a catchy tune kicking up in the background. Camera pans in on the Golden Gate Bridge and other sights and sounds of California.]

[voiceover from the heroine's mother, played by Jamie Lee Curtis, as these sights are rolling on camera] "Hello, Amy. This is your mother. I'll be needing the car at the hou...more (Actual rating: 3.5 stars)

This ~~preview~~ review has been approved for all ~~audiences~~ readers by ~~The Motion Picture Association of America, Inc.~~ me and me alone

[Fade in on sunny California scenery with a catchy tune kicking up in the background. Camera pans in on the Golden Gate Bridge and other sights and sounds of California.]

[voiceover from the heroine's mother, played by Jamie Lee Curtis, as these sights are rolling on camera] "Hello, Amy. This is your mother. I'll be needing the car at the house sooner than I thought. Remember Roger Sullivan? Well, I was thinking. . ."

[Cue in on a red-haired girl snapping her cell phone shut and staring out the window of her house, her gaze gloomy and moody]

[letters pop onto a black screen] Meet Amy.

[Cue in on a shot of Dakota Blue Richards as Amy looking forlorn as she gazes around her family home, now a mere prop to be sold through a realtor. Her lip quivers slightly as she takes it all in before she drags a rolling suitcase out the door. The door closes with a finality, giving the audience the opportunity to realize that this young girl is leaving her house for good.]

[Camera then zooms in on a boy, played by William Moseley, standing awkwardly in front of a silver vehicle.]

[letters pop onto a black screen] Meet Roger.

[voiceover from Amy] "A road trip is the last thing I had expected when I thought of this summer."

[voiceover from Amy as scenes of driving through all kinds of landscapes, scenes of laughing and even past-sharing, scenes of people and places, flash by] "But I don't regret it. Not one bit."

[the title screen comes on just as Amy and Roger reach out to each other and grasp hands while facing a great long stretch of road] Amy and Roger's Epic Detour

Coming Soon

[fade to black]

I hope you get what I'm saying from the impromptu ~~trailer~~ strange interlude above. (Excuse my sucky script-writing skills. I didn't want to give too much of the plot away. Plus, I find that to be such a tease when movie trailers show you only the good bits, like kissing scenes and laugh-inducing scenes, in teen movies! Come on, don't give all the good parts away! So I refused to give you any ideas about what happens between Amy and Roger. All you know -- if you haven't read the book -- is that they eventually hold hands, as seen on the actual book cover.) This book reads like a summer movie. Not that that's a bad thing. Honestly, I think this book would be a great movie, the kind that makes you smile and laugh even despite its moments of dorkiness and/or sappiness. But, as a book, I felt that it was a bit overlong and sometimes clunky. A movie would cut down on a lot of the repetitive bits (such as Roger going ON AND ON about his ex and Amy being such a dead zone for the first half of the book). Was it cute? Yes. Was it sweet? Yes. Was it something that inspired me or made me think wow-worthy thoughts? No, it did not -- nor did I expect it to do so. It was just a light read for me.

There were some parts that annoyed me. They would all fall under 'spoiler' categories, though, so I'll refrain from sharing. What annoyed me would have worked in a movie -- even though it would have irritated me still -- but it annoyed the heck out of me in a book. (The same thing happened to me with Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, both the book and the movie, so you may know what I'm talking about with all my 'cryptic statements' if you have been exposed to either one.)

After all is said and done, I liked and enjoyed Amy and Roger's Epic Detour. . .but I just couldn't take it as seriously as I might have if I hadn't had 'Movie! Movie! Movie!' blaring in my head almost the entire time I was reading it. If my prediction is at all right, then I suppose you all can expect to see it playing at theatre near you in summer 2013 or 2014. If you can't wait to see if a movie comes about, then go on and read the book. You may enjoy it ~~more than I did~~.

(Note: While I know it's odd that I chose two English actors for the roles of Amy and Roger, the images of those two struck closest to how I imagine Amy and Roger would look. If there ever IS a movie deal -- well, all I have to say is that I think Dakota Blue Richards and William Moseley would really be good in the roles if they could smooth over their British accents!)(less)

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Oct 31, 2010 Jessica rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 0-faves, 27-contemporary-ya

Awwww, what a cute story!

You know how sometimes you meet new people and you feel connected to them right away? You don’t really know why but somehow you just click? From time to time, I feel like this about books and that’s exactly what’s happened with Roger’s and Amy’s Epic Detour. We just clicked.

I liked Amy instantly and could easily relate to her. And after she had made me laugh out loud on the first few pages already, I knew that I would be enjoying this book.
It's a beautifully told and he...more

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Oct 12, 2010 Kristy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-think-you-should-read-this, on-the-road-again

If you read this, be prepared... You are not going to want to put it down. I just spent 2.5 wasted, yet wonderful hours devouring this. What a fun book (although it does have some deeper, sad moments). Road trip books are not usually something I would imagine myself enjoying; Wrong. I loved this book. I enjoyed the playlists almost as much as the book. All of the little drawings and reciepts, like a scrapbook threw me off at first but I ended up eating it up!! I had no idea what this book was, I...more

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Sep 10, 2010 oliviasbooks rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-fiction, ya-contemporary, love-story-romance, read-2010, in-love-with-the-cover, debut, swapped-or-given-away, road-trips

I am really, really enchanted, but I am still contemplating if I would not have rated the book four stars only, if all my friends here hadn't wished to distribute six or more. I am looking forward to Morgan Matson's future writing.

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Aug 13, 2010 Andrea rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, fiction, to-reread

I could have gone on a MUCH longer road trip with Amy & Roger. I tried so hard not to finish this one as fast as I did, but it obviously didn't work. *here is where the IDEA of gushing goes so no one actually has to read it; about: visual extras! the trip! amy! roger!* Definitely in my top five of 2010. Morgan Matson, write more books soon, please?

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Jun 14, 2013 Alexa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, own, favorites, 2010-reads

My review can also be found on my blog Collections.

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour was such a cute and enjoyable book! It had it's sad and heartbreaking moments, but at the same time, there were many uplifting and happy moments. I loved Amy and Roger's journey together. They were great characters. I especially loved Roger! He was so nice and completely adorable. I also loved the romance that blossomed between them. Their relationship really helped them both develop and grow as people. It was gradu...more
My review can also be found on my blog Collections.

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour was such a cute and enjoyable book! It had it's sad and heartbreaking moments, but at the same time, there were many uplifting and happy moments. I loved Amy and Roger's journey together. They were great characters. I especially loved Roger! He was so nice and completely adorable. I also loved the romance that blossomed between them. Their relationship really helped them both develop and grow as people. It was gradual and sweet and made me smile. Honestly, the entire story just put a huge smile on my face!

This book featured a road trip across the US, starting in California and ending in Connecticut. I was actually on my way to Florida when I started reading this book, so I felt like I could relate to Amy and Roger in a way. The long hours in the car, taking food and restrooms breaks, listening to music, and watching the scenery pass by. Amy and Roger's trip sounded fun and exciting. I loved the pit stops they made along the way. Whenever I recognized something like a landmark, restaurant, song, or anything featured in this story, I couldn't help but to point it out to whoever was sitting beside me on the car ride. It was great!

I have to say I was extremely impressed with Roger's playlists that were scattered throughout the book. I didn't know all the musicians, but there were some that I was shocked and happy to see! St. Vincent, The Knife, Röyksopp, Passion Pit, and Animal Collective to name a few. I had a heart attack when I saw that the Röyksopp song mentioned was "What Else Is There?"! I love that song so much! It just surprised me that Roger (and the author, who has AWESOME taste, by the way) knew about these groups because sometimes I feel like my sisters and I are the only ones who listen to them.

So, my review seems to have focused mostly on certain random stuff mentioned in the book... I couldn't help it though! I just love it when authors include things readers can identify from their own lives. It's a nice feeling. Almost nostalgic. As for the actual story, Amy & Roger's Epic Detour had everything to make it a perfect summer read for me. The ending of the characters' journey was bittersweet and completely satisfying. I'm definitely keeping on eye out for any other books Morgan Matson writes.(less)

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Mar 25, 2011 Good Golly Miss Holly rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'm sure a lot of people have dreamt of going on a road-trip and maybe even enjoyed it a little but for the most part you'll have to agree, road-trips aren't always as exciting to experience as they seem from the outside and that's how I feel about Amy & Roger's Epic Detour.

Amy's life has been going downhill lately... her brother is in rehab, her father died in a car crash and now her mum has decided to uproot what's left of the family to Connecticut. The only problem is Amy refuses to drive...more I'm sure a lot of people have dreamt of going on a road-trip and maybe even enjoyed it a little but for the most part you'll have to agree, road-trips aren't always as exciting to experience as they seem from the outside and that's how I feel about Amy & Roger's Epic Detour.

Amy's life has been going downhill lately... her brother is in rehab, her father died in a car crash and now her mum has decided to uproot what's left of the family to Connecticut. The only problem is Amy refuses to drive after her fathers deathly incident, so her mum finds a local boy heading out in the same direction only he has a few bits and bobs of extra baggage to bring along of his own.

Before even cracking the spine, I'm sure you can guess that there will be a romantic tinge to this story-line and Morgan Matson really dangles the romance in-front of our eyes for almost the entire book but alas she sets things straight for us near the end but the connection between the two doesn't come across the pages as much as I'd usually like.

The background and settings play a major part in this book, as you'd expect with a road-trip but the descriptions of outback highways and gas stations were rather dry for me and a portion of the book i'd rather was left out. I guess it'd be more comforting to a local reader who hopes to one day take a similar route.

As a music fan, I really enjoyed seeing the lists of songs playing along the way in the car, I will definitely be downloading all of them as I love and recognize a few of these. I also really enjoyed seeing the pages featured from Amy's travel journal, I'd never expect a diner receipt or state motto could make the story feel more real to me but it did.

Overall, my expectations were raised quite high due to the many amazing reviews I saw of this book, if I'd gone into it unknowingly I'm sure I'd be giving it a much higher rating. I would've also liked to hear more about Amy's reconnection with every day life and even Roger's too, I guess a sequel wouldn't go astray here. Morgan Matson did her best documenting much more than a road-trip but I'd like to see her next attempt at YA as I feel she is very talented and I loved that she included more than just text in this book.(less)

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Dec 04, 2011 April rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: audio, for-review, ya

You know you love a book when you find yourself google mapping a trip to Graceland in the middle of reading it. YOU GUYS! The open road is SO transformative and I know I will forever love road trip book. Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson definitely holds a special place in my heart. Yes, I know I just read it, but it’s totally earned that spot.

Read the rest of my review here

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Aug 30, 2010 Morgan F rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: people who need to live vicariously

Shelves: young-adult, 2010, pulse-it, romance, favorites, its-a-girl, read-2010, debut, ive-got-issues, death-and-dying, medium-sized, realistic, e-book, travel, guilt, grief, family

Even though I have A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF HOMEWORK to get done, I knew I wasn't going to be able to focus on anything until I finished this book.

This book is about Amy Curry, who's life has recently went very much downhill. Her father died in a car accident, her mother packed up everything to go to Connecticut, and her twin brother is in rehab. Amy, who was left behind in California to finish her junior year, isn't too happy about having to go cross country in the family car, driven by a boy she's...more Even though I have A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF HOMEWORK to get done, I knew I wasn't going to be able to focus on anything until I finished this book.

This book is about Amy Curry, who's life has recently went very much downhill. Her father died in a car accident, her mother packed up everything to go to Connecticut, and her twin brother is in rehab. Amy, who was left behind in California to finish her junior year, isn't too happy about having to go cross country in the family car, driven by a boy she's never met. The aforementioned boy is Roger, a college kid who is still hung up on his ex. Although Amy's mother has the trip very carefully laid out, Roger and Amy can't help but make some very unexpected stops along the way. It turns out this trip might be exactly what they both need.

I was really surprised about how much I love this book. It seemed to be so unassuming but soon enough I was sucked in like this *makes whooshing noises*. I just couldn't put it down. I don't know what it was that made this book so absorbing. Was it the excellent writing? The spot-on characters? The quirky humor? The slow-building romance? Amy's travel journal and all the bits and scraps they pick up on the way? I would have to say all of it. I really can't think of anything I didn't like about it, which is rare because I'm usually such a whiner.

There is something appealing about spending a week or so with a stranger, going to places neither of you have ever been. This is now something I want to experience. I need to now find myself a cute college boy, and somehow convince him to go on a cross-country road trip. Shouldn't be too hard (TWSS).

Anyway, this book was cute, but not in a sappy gooey way, but a indie film kind of way. I really need to expand on my adjectives. I am rambling a bit, so I would suggest you abort reading this review now, if you haven't already. This is also one of those books where I want more (transcontinental road trip, anyone?), but I'm glad there is no sequel. A sequel would ruin it. And if I see one, I shall be very upset. But perhaps something similar from Ms. Matson would be nice.

Oh, and Ms. Matson, has very good taste in music, if I may say so, assuming Roger is anything to go by. Okay, I really should stop typing now, as I am afraid I shall embarrass myself if I don't cease shortly. I talk fancy-ish sometimes.

Amy is going to Connecticut! That's where I live! She is right, though. It really is quite pretty, although we don't have much to do. And we don't have any cool food chains. McDonald's and Dunkin Donuts is pretty much it. We have casinos though, and lots of cows, and our state insect is the praying mantis. Did you know they are the only insect who can turn their head? I learned that from a Snapple cap. And we have Benedict Arnold. He's a traitor, though, so we don't like to claim him much.

I'm done now. (less)

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Mar 14, 2013 Yasmine rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, young-adult

Ok, so wow, I was not expecting this.

I think I need to expand on Goodreads' Blurb a little, it's really not informative enough about this book:

Amy's Dad has passed away, her twin brother is in rehab, her Mom has decided to move across country. Her Mom needs her to transport the car from their old home to their new one, but Amy doesn't drive since her Dad was killed in a car crash.
Amy's Mom asks Roger (her old friend's son) to drive with Amy on his way to his Dad's house (which is 3hrs away from...more Ok, so wow, I was not expecting this.

I think I need to expand on Goodreads' Blurb a little, it's really not informative enough about this book:

Amy's Dad has passed away, her twin brother is in rehab, her Mom has decided to move across country. Her Mom needs her to transport the car from their old home to their new one, but Amy doesn't drive since her Dad was killed in a car crash.
Amy's Mom asks Roger (her old friend's son) to drive with Amy on his way to his Dad's house (which is 3hrs away from Amy's new home, and he's staying there for the summer), Roger has an obsession with famous explorers and is suffering from the aftermath of a romantic break-up.

Amy's Mom books them a few hotels for the trip which should take around four days and only allows them to see a few small parts of the country whilst travelling Amy and Roger both decide that they should take a detour.

Now, since the death of her father, Amy has lost herself; she's not sleeping and is withdrawn, she's not the same person anymore.
This book is about Amy finding her 'new-self'. It's not really about Amy crushing on Roger as the Blurb suggests. There is no insta-love and there's barely any romance. It also flips back in time several times; events that took place with her Dad and Brother before his death.

Amy and Roger visit different states along the way home, they tend to travel where their hearts take them and meet a few excellent characters on the way. Amy finds a new piece of herself in each person and place she visits. These events and conversations are the reason this book is so good. Amy is in abundance of fantastic life altering conversations and meets some inspiring people.

The book includes scrapbook momento's such as postcards, drawings, music playlists, photos of places, receipts etc... Amy also makes her own quirky notes on the places they visit. It's a nice little feature, I’m in the UK and sometimes I found little American-isms of things; like places and food, hard to follow, so things like photos are helpful.

Yeah, this is a pretty awesome book and I won't be forgetting for a long time.(less)

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Dec 12, 2011 Reynje rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2011, young-adult, playlists, contemp-or-realistic

3.5 stars

Okay, first things first:

I don’t mean to get all “that’s not a knife, this is a knife!”* on you, dear friends, but can I just say this? California is not a big state. Colorado is not a big state. Western Australia is a big state. Heck, even Queensland is a big state.

Seriously though (view spoiler), I liked this book. I admit that when I picked it up, I had a moment of trepidation. It seems I’ve been reading a lot of slight (size-w...more

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Oct 09, 2011 Aly (Fantasy4eva) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: crushing-on-the-cover, conflicted-thoughts, swap

AMY & ROGERS EPIC DETOUR is far from the book I expected. I gotta admit. For some reason I assumed I was in for a bit of a tear - jerker/ on the thought provoking side. Alas this was not that book.

Don't look too much into the romance. I didn't think there was much to it. I do think there were a few WTF - ery moments between the two. A certain moment comes to mind, is one that came from nowhere and made no sense.

I don't think the romance matters much anyway. This book is pretty much about t...more

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May 31, 2013 Heather (Bookables) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

This book was amazing. If you take away anything from this review please take away how amazing it really was.
Needless to say this is a great summer book. It's fun & it shows a story of a girl figuring out how to go on with her life and embrace herself after tragedy hits.
Amy & Roger are amazing characters and I loved watching them progress in this book.
Please go read this book....right now.

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Jan 06, 2011 Brittany rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, wishlist, road-trip

Amy's father died. Those words are too hard for her to think, let alone speak aloud. Her mother decides the family needs a new start. With her brother in rehab, and her mother make their new home ready in Connecticut, Amy is left alone in her Californian home. That is until school is over and her mom informs her there is not enough money for her to fly to Connecticut and ship the car too. Amy hasn't driven since the accident, and she doesn't even really like being in cars anymore. It comes as qu...more Amy's father died. Those words are too hard for her to think, let alone speak aloud. Her mother decides the family needs a new start. With her brother in rehab, and her mother make their new home ready in Connecticut, Amy is left alone in her Californian home. That is until school is over and her mom informs her there is not enough money for her to fly to Connecticut and ship the car too. Amy hasn't driven since the accident, and she doesn't even really like being in cars anymore. It comes as quite a shock when her mother informs her that she will be taking a roadtrip with a boy she hasn't seen in years in order to bring the car to her mother. Amy is totally against this idea, but finds she has no choice. Once in the car with Roger though Amy decides maybe this could be fun, if first they make a detour.

I feel so close to Amy and Roger, like I was in the backseat the whole time. Amy was struggling with the loss of her father, and Roger was struggling with the losing his girlfriend. Though these are certainly no completely comparable, I mean breaking up is not as bad as death, but they are still losses that tugged at the characters and pulled them apart. This novel made me want to hop in the car right away and go on an adventure. It was so hard to stay put while turning the pages. Every fiber in my being was screaming for excitement, adventure and the open road. I know that someday soon, I will have a roadtrip across America, albeit in the opposite direction of Roger and Amy, but hopefully at least half as epic. The relationship dynamic between Amy and Roger was very well written. The tension and the closeness that inevitably occurs when people spend a long time together in such a small space. Roger's ex, Hadley, sounded absolutely dreadful from the very second he spoke about her. I can't imagine him being able to say her name without anything but disgust on his tongue. She just sounded horrible. I loved the scrapbook pages, they added a lot to the story especially when paired with the playlists and Roger's sketches. If you have ever wanted to go on a roadtrip this is definitely the feel-good book to read. It's a fantastic book to read even if you like the comfort of your hometown. I was waiting and waiting to find out how Amy's father died. I felt like a rubbernecker at a traffic accident, I knew it was morbid, but I just had to know what happened and how. The contrast between the grief and the thrill of the trip was very fantastic, and kept the book from feeling too heavy. I think this might be a book I'll have to re-read often.

First Line of story:
"I sat on the front steps of my house and watched the beige Subaru station wagon swing too quickly around the cul-de-sac."

Favorite Line:
"The rain was light at first, just a few droplets, but then it was as though the endless sky above us opened, and bucketful after bucketful was being tossed down onto the car. (less)

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May 18, 2012 Noelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars

I've read enough YA road trip themed books lately to consider myself a bit of an expert on the subject. In fact I've noticed that there are a set of rules for the Road Trip Novel--rules that if followed can overcome the cliches to make something truly special. Rules that if ignored can bring down the whole book.

First things first, a Road Trip Novel needs a believable reason for a teenager to drive across the country with a complete (but extremely hot, natch) stranger. The catalyst for t...more

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Jul 14, 2011 Rachel (The Rest Is Still Unwritten) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: i-own, arc-s, simon-and-schuster-sent, publisher-sent

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
*Thanks to Simon & Schuster who provided me with this book*

In all honesty I never read these kinds of books. I’m not one for contemporary novels and my usual kinds of books tend to be laced with supernatural elements and are heavy on the paranormal. And yet I was captivated by this book from the very beginning.....I simply adored it! I’m not even quite sure if I can say how much.
Morgan Matson’s debut novel is fun and quirky, with a real honesty that flows throughout the entire book. It’s he...more
*Thanks to Simon & Schuster who provided me with this book*

In all honesty I never read these kinds of books. I’m not one for contemporary novels and my usual kinds of books tend to be laced with supernatural elements and are heavy on the paranormal. And yet I was captivated by this book from the very beginning.....I simply adored it! I’m not even quite sure if I can say how much.
Morgan Matson’s debut novel is fun and quirky, with a real honesty that flows throughout the entire book. It’s heart-warming and touchingly sweet and I found myself extremely invested in the two main characters as the book went on, especially Amy.

This book isn’t slow; rather it progresses at a nice relaxed, leisurely pace. There’s no crazy plotline involved or out there idea. It’s just two kids on a road trip getting to know one another and in Amy’s case, learning to let go of the past, as they travel across America. This story is fun and engaging, with the mementos and memorabilia throughout the book adding a real authenticity to the tale. The playlists, the photo’s the receipts and all the other bits and pieces included really add to the story. It makes it feel so much more real and at times I almost felt like I was on the journey with Amy and Roger. Honestly, I don’t think the book or the experience would have been the same without all of this included.

Amy has had a tough few months. Losing her father devastated her and then her family, in a lot of ways, fell apart. At the beginning of the book it’s easy to see how broken and sad she is; unable to let go and move on. One of the things I think that makes Amy’s situation, and the journey she undertakes, so powerful is that it really is plausible. She’s easy to emphasise with and you can see that what she’s feeling isn’t unwarranted or silly. It’s real and understandable and you can’t help but put yourself in Amy’s shoes. Well, I at least could. Family means the world to me and I could easily see myself reacting the way Amy did and retreating into myself if I faced a similar tragedy to the one she did. After everything she’s faced and was facing, it seemed like nothing was ever going to get her to enter the world again or start to heal. Enter Roger......

Roger was the last thing, err person, Amy was expecting and exactly what she needed. Personally I loved Roger. He’s wasn’t the perfect spunk or the hottest boy in town that seem to litter YA novels out there; rather he was believable and real. He was cute, and he was dorky. He was funny and he strong. He was just the perfect one to help Amy move on from her past and to begin to heal from her father’s death. The friendship, and then later relationship, Roger develops with Amy was very, very sweet. Their interactions constantly had me smiling, and at times laughing, and I was soooo happy with how things grew between them. It was just what I wanted to see.

One of the things that added so much colour to this novel and shone throughout it was the constant array of characters that Amy and Roger met along their journey. It made things constantly fun and exciting and you just never knew who they were going to meet next. There’s a real sense of healing throughout this book and you know as you read it that Amy is essentially healing with everything that happens. From Bronwyn and her very generous gift to Drew and his “Make haste! You must save Princess Amy!” to Walcott and his music and lawn mowing to Lucien and his garden sculpturing. Each and every one of these characters bring something to the journey and help Amy heal a little bit at a time.

I was sad to see this book end, yet the ending itself had me smiling and knowing that these two characters I’d come to love throughout the course of the book would be ok. The book doesn’t end overly cliché, instead with a sense of hope and the thought of where things may go.
This truly was an epic tale that I’m thrilled to have gone on. Its light-hearted while begin touching and fun the entire way though. I couldn’t put it down while reading, and even now that I’m finished, thoughts about it are still floating through my head.
This is a fantastic book that I’m pretty sure everyone who picks it up will love. Go ahead kiddies, add it to your to-read list---you won’t regret it!
(less)

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Nov 16, 2011 Misfit Mellow ~ rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: YA Lovers

Recommended to Misfit Mellow ~ by: Sita Sargeant

Shelves: funny, romance

This book was good.

SPOILERS AHEAD
Funny when it came to there 20 questions cream soda and root beer but i turned out to be a good book kinda got annoyed at the end when i they just ended it without them figuring out how to stay together. But atleast they got together somehow but yea i also wished that her borther got to go home but hey you can't have everything

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May 20, 2013 Mei rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Mei by: Included in the ALA-YA list

Shelves: young-adult, road-trips, realistic-fiction, romance, chick-lit, contemporary, hand-me-a-copy-please, on-my-ereader, underrated-book-project, 2013, favourite

In order to start fresh and new, Amy's mother, Pamela, insists they buy a new house and move to Connecticut, just in time for Amy's senior year. Instead of Amy, son of Pamela's old friend Roger will drive because Amy refuses to, due to an accident involving her father who passed away. Pamela gave Amy her route, which will take them 4 days to Connecticut. Apparently, Roger seems to have difficulty with her directions and Amy says they take other routes since it wouldn't hurt for a different route...more In order to start fresh and new, Amy's mother, Pamela, insists they buy a new house and move to Connecticut, just in time for Amy's senior year. Instead of Amy, son of Pamela's old friend Roger will drive because Amy refuses to, due to an accident involving her father who passed away. Pamela gave Amy her route, which will take them 4 days to Connecticut. Apparently, Roger seems to have difficulty with her directions and Amy says they take other routes since it wouldn't hurt for a different route. What they ended up with was a detour across different states of America.

Eventually, Amy knew that Roger's purpose of driving her was to see his ex-girlfriend named Hadley and get a clear explanation of their relationship. Hadley hasn't responded to any of Roger's texts, calls, and emails so after Amy and Roger went to Yosemite in California, they go to Colorado (where Roger stays) to find her. Instead, she wasn't there but she returned her call and told him to text her when they are in Kentucky, but again, she wasn't there. They went to Hadley's farm estates in Louisville and there they ended things. Here in their estates, they were invited by Lucien, Hadley's younger brother, to stay at the guest house. Before going to sleep, Amy went with Lucien in his Jeep and attempted to drive but smashed a moose type of shrubbery.

Among the other states Amy and Roger gone through are: Colorado, Nevada, Utah (In Highway 50, the Loneliest Road in America), Missouri, Kansas, Louisville, Kentucky, Tennessee (to visit Graceland in Memphis because Amy's father, Benjamin, is a big fan of Elvis Presley), North Carolina (to visit Amy's twin brother Charlie while he's in rehab), Virginia, Maryland, & Pennsylvania.

When Roger and Amy reached Missouri, they booked in a hotel and while Roger is sleeping, Amy called her mother to admit they didn't follow the route, that's why there were no check-ins from the hotels her mother reserved. Her mother got angry, and among the "consequences" she was telling, was disconnecting Amy's credit card from hers, causing them to be broke. Good thing that Amy stole the 400 bucks from her mother's drawer, but it was still not enough for the gas and the food and hotels since she & Roger are going to visit Hadley, and she, for Charlie and Graceland.

The story was more interesting because there are pictures of Amy's scrapbook: Amy's notes for each states, stating some facts/trivias and the state motto for each; pictures of landmarks and some signs; pictures of diners they ate at and the receipts of it; motel receipts; Roger and Amy's track playlist while driving; and other stuff about food and places. This makes the book more interesting. So, I suggest that if you read this book, go buy the physical book because it's more special. I just read this one on my reader :( And oh, I actually checked out Roger's playlist and downloaded some of them on my free time and actually liked almost all of them! Nice music taste, Roger!

I haven't gone to America so I really enjoyed this book because the author did well in describing those places, with the help of those pictures, too. And with this book, I just wanted to go on a road trip to America! A lot of awesome places to visit really :)

If you think that this is a romance book developed during the travel, you're wrong. This isn't a romance book. But yes, they did fall in love but it wasn't most of the point, really.

However, I did have one problem. The book didn't end with a cliffhanger, but it was so vague how things ended. I have so many questions that I wanted an answer for because the ending lacks something! It should be added more!
- Roger said he'll Amy a call and they'll work their relationship out. However, we didn't get to know if they did or how they did and what they talked about because it ended with just Amy finishing a call from her mom and driving home.
- And then, how are we going to know that she did okay? Driving alone? How did she feel that she was able to drive again?
- Aside from the call, what were her mother's reactions about her driving?
- And about the consequences, too? How did she get punished?

These are very minor points but I want answers to them so badly :(

Anyway if you want to have a lighter read, you should read Paper Towns by John Green.(less)

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Mar 22, 2013 Estelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Estelle by: Anna (AnnaReads.com)

Shelves: re-reads

Review originally posted on Rather Be Reading Blog

Just like The Gap Year, I can’t stop yakking my head off about how amazingly wonderful this book is. What is there not to love about a book featuring two people road tripping across the country with some awesome tunes on the radio. The book could have easily fallen into the realm of cliché, but Roger and Amy’s characters are both so well-developed and with every passing day in that car, the change in each of them is evident.

First of all, as a hug...more Review originally posted on Rather Be Reading Blog

Just like The Gap Year, I can’t stop yakking my head off about how amazingly wonderful this book is. What is there not to love about a book featuring two people road tripping across the country with some awesome tunes on the radio. The book could have easily fallen into the realm of cliché, but Roger and Amy’s characters are both so well-developed and with every passing day in that car, the change in each of them is evident.

First of all, as a huge fan of theatre myself, I loved that Amy was an aspiring actress and fan of Sondheim. (I love him too.) It’s also awesome that she loves a good diner. (Being originally from Jersey, I understand this.) Second, I love that she doesn’t feel the need to “make friends” with Roger at first. She’s dealing with so much, and I think Matson does an amazing job of creating this internal Anna. She’s down to earth. She’s honest. She’s hurting and her emotions are raw. The flashbacks are smoothly woven within the present day story and I feel with each chapter, we get a better grasp as to the blame Anna is placing on herself for the end of her family as she knew it, and also this rebirth of hope for the future.

Roger, at the same time, is trying to figure out why his relationship just ended. He’s also stuck in the car with a girl he hardly knows and who just went through some traumatic events. He is a trooper, he is a rock, and he never pushes. For a change, it’s nice (well, you know what I mean) to see a boy who is constantly calling a girl who won’t call him back and is giving him vague answers to questions.

In addition, every character they meet up with has a hand in helping these characters discover the truths about themselves and push them closer together. I’m not dense. Even from the cover, you realize somehow, someway, these two are going to end up together. (Even if Roger and Amy had no idea.) Whether for an evening, or for something more meaningful. They need each other. And when we finally reach that point, it’s perfect even though their future together remains unknown.

There are some lovely, touching moments in this book. Particularly when Amy reaches Graceland and visits her brother in a rehab facility. The experiences that unfold when they are trying to track down Roger’s ex are also very unexpected but genuine and important.

I can’t say enough fantastic things about this book. I was truly sad when it was over, knowing it was going to take something spellbinding and absolutely groundbreaking to make me feel as complete and as changed as Amy & Roger did. One more amazing detail: I love when books use other mediums to tell a story – like the travel scrapbook and the playlists I have printed out and are waiting for me to make them myself.

Do you get what I’m saying yet? READ THIS BOOK.
(less)

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Jun 01, 2012 E rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: loved, road-trippin, laugh-out-loud-as-in-lol, best-books-ever

Also Found On: A Book and A Record

I adored this book. I loved Amy, I loved Roger, I loved the layout. I felt like this book was written by my best friend. Honestly, I adored all of the pictures, I loved that Matson gives us an ending in the form of receipt, I loved that these character's weren't perfect. This book made me want to get in a Cherokee and drive across the country, I wanted to see The Loneliest Highway in America and Graceland. The perfect summer read. Honest and alive. To say that I...more Also Found On: A Book and A Record

I adored this book. I loved Amy, I loved Roger, I loved the layout. I felt like this book was written by my best friend. Honestly, I adored all of the pictures, I loved that Matson gives us an ending in the form of receipt, I loved that these character's weren't perfect. This book made me want to get in a Cherokee and drive across the country, I wanted to see The Loneliest Highway in America and Graceland. The perfect summer read. Honest and alive. To say that I loved Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour is a serious understatement, as a lover of the road and all things involving road-tripping Amy and Roger felt like my own personal travel companion. Of course all of the relationships are incredible, and solid. The story makes you feel like your sitting listening to old friends talk about how great their past vacations were. But the truly wonderful part of this book is the layout. Matson does an incredible job and literally writes a love letter to America. That is how I saw Amy and Roger. With photos, receipts, state mottos, and pages from a travel journal littering this book that held things like playlists, and hand draw pictures this book was practically a picture book for young adults.
I loved reading about how Amy and Roger come together on the road, and how it’s the nature of the road trip that brings them together. They are both such wonderful characters who seem to understand each other from the beginning. This is one of few stand alone’s where at the end I was wishing and hoping for a sequel. I want Amy and Roger to show up happy and healthy in another one of Matson’s books!
In all honestly, Amy and Roger was the book that I wish I could have written. It is quintessentially perfection. Simple and lovely. It hasn’t left my nightstand since I bought it last summer, and I’m not sure that it ever will. My copy is dog-eared and well loved. I hope that if you decide to pick it up you’ll love it as much as I did.(less)

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topics	posts	views	last activity
YA Buddy Readers'...: Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson / Start Date: May 18, 2013	15	13	May 22, 2013 06:37am
A Second Book!	33	350	Mar 17, 2013 02:57pm
Is there any other books similar to this book including the illustrations?	4	71	Jan 14, 2013 11:42am
Crazy for Young A...: October 2012: Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson	27	54	Oct 29, 2012 06:18am
Who went sock sliding after reading this book?	2	38	Sep 23, 2012 05:19am

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