REVIEW: AMY & ROGER'S EPIC DETOUR BY MORGAN MATSON.

Title: Amy & Roger's Epic Detour
Author: Morgan Matson
Series: StandAlone
Edition: Hardbound (signed)
Publication: May 4th 2010 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Source: Bought from National Bookstore
Pages: 344
Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult, Travel, Realistic Fiction, Romance

Synopsis:
Amy Curry is not looking forward to her summer. Her mother decided to move across the country and now it's Amy's responsibility to get their car from California to Connecticut. The only problem is, since her father died in a car accident, she isn't ready to get behind the wheel. Enter Roger. An old family friend, he also has to make the cross-country trip - and has plenty of baggage of his own. The road home may be unfamiliar - especially with their friendship venturing into uncharted territory - but together, Amy and Roger will figure out how to map their way.

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Amy and Roger's Epic Detour has been on my book radar ever since I laid my eyes on its glorious hardcover copy. It took a while (as always) for me to get a hold of one and I would just like to thank National Bookstore for not only getting copies but also for inviting Morgan Matson for a signing here! It was just one of the best moments ever!

This book is the first road trip themed novel I've read and I thoroughly enjoyed it! I loved the scrapbook entries so so much and how intricate the details of each place is! My wanderlust heart is suddenly so full because of this book and I can't help but be adventurous - like Amy - along the way. Definitely a book I would re-read and recommend.

Amy obviously is going through a hard time accepting such a huge loss and adjusting to the absence of her father. I felt her pain and how it is just so darn hard to miss someone that much. I also felt her regret and the self-blame I believe is understandable. I wish that her mother though helped her instead of going away to mend her own heart. Leaving her children like that is an act of selfishness - but somehow, still understandable from a different point of view. What felt a little off for me is the insta-romance and how romance-centered the plot turned out to be. (What was I expecting, a fantasy? This is a roadtrip romance story, silly!) I mean, there's gotta be other ways to develop romance. Even though Roger is cute and sweet, I find him too good to be true. (I might be biased here because I have a thing for villains). Can't they just get off as friends or whatever? The romance was just iffy to me.

Amy and Roger's Epic Detour is an epic story that made me giggle, cry, mad and happy. This one is a ride I would not hesitate to follow again!

"The best discoveries always happened to the people who weren't looking for them."

"It's not about the destination. It’s getting there that’s the good part. - Leonard"

"...You can do something extraordinary, and something that a lot of people can't do. And if you have the opportunity to work on your gifts, it seems like a crime not to. I mean, it's just weakness to quit because something becomes too hard.."