Amy & Roger's Epic Detour

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour
By: Morgan Matson
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Date: May 4, 2010
Pages: 352
Ages: 12 and Up

Synopsis -

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.

My Thoughts -


When a tragic car accident takes Amy's father and her mom decide's to start a new life on the East Coast instead of the West just in time for senior year Amy doesn't think life can get much worse. Then she finds out she'll be spending four days driving across country in a car with Roger, a friend of Amy's mother's son. Amy isn't happy about doing this to say the least. Until the car pulls up and she actually starts to think -- What if he's cute -- and he is! It wasn't long before Amy's mother's carefully planned trip complete itinerary and hotel reservations were soon all thrown away.  There were no rules, new boundaries were crossed, because that's what you do when you're teenagers. alone, and suddenly find yourself with a little crush situation that you don't know what to do with, but you're having the time of you're life!

Roger has the away of making Amy do things that she probably wouldn't do on her own. He takes her out of her shell so to speak and she shows off her unique side. They have the best time together and there is a little bit of everything mixed in this ride. My best advice? Buckle up and enjoy the ride because believe me, it doesn't last long enough! I wished that their trip lasted much longer than four days!

This story is sweet, endearing and one that I will never forget! I cried with Amy, and I laughed as well. I couldn't help but feel for her so many times as she felt the blame for the loss of her father. Every teenage girl dreams of a guy like Roger, and Amy was lucky enough to find him. You'll find romance, heartbreak and maybe a whole bunch of small pieces that take you back to your teens as well.

The best part of a road trip is always souvenirs and I think that's especially true for someone like Amy that's never really traveled without her parents or even beyond her state. This book is full of receipts, real pictures, drawings, play lists, notes about each state, things they've done and little scrapbook pages which made me feel like the journey was actually happening and I was a part of it. 

Debut novels are amazing because finding a new author to love is a great treasure! You better believe that I will be looking for more books by Morgan Matson! This book is not just a light, easy read. It's deep with meaning and it's filled with feeling that touched my heart. I really sat back and let the wind blow through my hair as I savored this book from cover to cover. My only complaint, the ride wasn't long enough.

Five Tiaras ALL THE WAY! 

Read the First Chapter HERE!

About the Author -


Morgan Matson received her MFA in Writing for Children from the New School. A road-trip veteran, she has driven cross-country three times...so far. She currently lives in Venice, California. Follow Morgan on Twitter at @morgan_m.
Learn more about Amy & Roger's Epic Detour!

This is one you don't want to miss!  Go out and pick this one up today!




KISSES & TOODLES!!