Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

Title: Amy and Roger's Epic Detour

Author: Morgan Matson

Published: May 2010

Source: The Library

Synopsis 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.

So, I'm going to tell you straight up that this review is gush. Total, complete, unadulterated gush. It's books like these that make me want to add a whole new rating called "Best Books Ever," which I'm now considering. I don't even know what it is about this book that makes it so good, I just know that I couldn't put it down. When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it. When I was reading it, I couldn't focus on anything else.

The whole plot of the book is awesome. Amy and Roger, practically strangers, have to go from California to Conneticut together by car, following Amy's mothers four day plan. When they get started they decide to take a few detours, what could it hurt if they get there on time, right? Well, once they start they can't stop, and soon they're going all kinds of places that they didn't imagine.

Along the journey they learn so much about each other. Roger is still hung up on his ex-girlfriend and Amy is still grieving the loss of her father a few months back. Amy starts to realize that she can read Roger better as they go on, and sees that Roger can do the same for her. They get to know each other up close and personal, and it's so much fun to watch.

It's funny because though there are other characters in the book, none of them stick around very long. This doesn't mean that they're not memorable though, because they are. There are a few that especially stick out, and I wish that I could meet them. I really liked the little things like reciepts, drawings, and playlists thrown in too. It made the book more real, and so much fun. 

This book made me laugh, cry, and feel just plain good. I would definitely recommend it to anyone, anywhere, anytime.  If you're looking for a feel good, laugh out loud, yet heartfelt and touching book, this is definitely it.

Characters: 10/10

Writing: 10/10

Plot: 10/10

Originality: 10/10
Ending: 10/10

Overall: 50/50 A+/One of the Best Books Ever

Cover/Title: Love, absolute love. Everything is perfect. The way they're holding hands, the road, the font, the title, everything.