Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson Review

From Goodreads: 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.

Rating: 5/5

Plot: 5/5

Characters: 5/5

Ending: 5/5

Favorite line: Too many great pages to choose from!

This is one of new favorite books! And one of my favorite contemporary novels. I loved the idea of a road trip, even though it seems cliche, the whole story line made it unlike any other road trip. Amy has lost her father and can't/won't open up to her family or friends. Roger is just a normal, college guy who's recently had his heart broken. This was not exactly a coming-of-age story, but I did feel like both Amy and Roger grew. Their romance was sweet but not overwhelming. I'm glad, like some books I've read, Amy's problems didn't go away or become suddenly solved just because she falls for a guy.

Another great thing about this book was the traveling. I loved the descriptions of the diners, the people, and all the places they went to. I felt like I was actually with them on their trip. At the end of the book, I felt like it was days after I started reading! Actually, the day after I read the book, I started thinking about this one scene from the book. But I didn't realize it was from this book, I thought it was a whole other book! That's how story-filled it is.

I love that Matson wrote a contemporary YA novel that wasn't shallow. As soon as I opened up the book I knew it was going to be good. How you ask?? By the font. I know, weird. But the font was small and that meant a lot of writing. Good writing considering the reaction I've heard around the blogosphere before I read it.