Book Review - Amy & Roger's EPIC Detour

Title: Amy & Roger's EPIC Detour
Author: Morgan Matson
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Childrens Books
Release Date: 7 July 2011
ISBN-13: 978-0857072689

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 Review
I saw a lot about this on the blog world when it first came out but I didn't pay too much attention, I hadn't noticed it in the bookshops and as I was only mildly curious I ignored it. But yesterday at work we had a box of YA books arrive, they were being transferred from another branch. As I am in charge of the YA section I got to process them which also meant I got to look through them, I pulled out three books I wanted to read and this was one of them, when I saw it in the box I had to pull it out. I'd heard so many good things about it and I love the cover design. The blurb is written on a postcard - it's a nice touch to the design. 
I finished my other book last night so decided I might as well read this one straight away today. I started it at about 10.00 this morning and i'd finished it by early evening. 
Amy has been left on her own at her house in California, her brother is in rehab (but no one is to know), her mum has moved to Connecticut adn expects Amy to join her at some point, and her dad, well he's not around and Amy thinks it's all her fault. Plagued with guilt and lonliness she begins to withdraw within herself. Then her mum says she needs Amy to bring the car to Connecticut, but Amy doesn't want to drive anymore, she cant. So she ends up going on a road trip with Roger, a guy she knew as a child. Four days in a car with a stranger, what could be worse. But as the pair begin to drive they discover there is more to life than following the straight roads, sometimes a detour is just what you need.
I liked Amy as a character, i could see some of myself in her and she was very well written, I could empathize with her and liked the spark of life that she has, it may be hidden at first but I could feel it. The mystery of what really happened to her dad pulled at me and I was desperate to know exactly what happened. 
Roger was great, a genuine nice guy, willing to talk and laugh, also sweet and caring, with a cheeky side. What I really liked about this book was that there was no 'insta-love' Over the course of the journey the pair have to face up to who and what they are, past, present and future. Their connection starts slowly and gradually builds, from travel buddies, to friends, to more. It was more realistic, it didn't happen overnight, it started with a seed and slowly grew. 
For each state they cross through Amy rights some facts and statements and photos, I really liked these pages, I learn t a bit about where they were and her comments were often funny. There are also travel playlists throughout and I've got some great song recommendations from it, I love book playlists.
The story is sweet and takes you on the journey with the characters, I've never been to America but I feel i know it a bit better, and I really want to go there even more, I want to see some of the things described in this book.
I laughed and even cried at a couple of parts, I really enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down. I can't believe I waited this long to read it. So good. ;D


My Rating