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.
Review:
I love road trips. Every year my best friends and I take a vacation and getting to the beach is half the fun. So the title of the book already pulled on my heartstrings. As soon as I delved into the book, I wasn't dissapointed. In fact I finished it in one sitting, something I rarely do. That said, I'll try my hardest not to gush in this review!
Amy and Roger were a dynamic duo. Finishing the book, it amazes me that they were practically strangers, but it was perfect that they were so. It gave both of them a practically clean slate, but also let us discover their past at the same time they did. Each state featured a character that helped us discover who Amy and Roger really were, even the playlists for the trip brought us closer to the essence of their characters, and I loved that. . It was so incredibly easy to connect with them. All in all, they are by far two of my favorite characters that I've read this summer.
Another feature in the book that I enjoyed was Amy's travel log. As they passed through each state, Amy featured the state's motto. It was a great way to foreshadow what was to come for the pair in the state. The travel log also made things feel more... real. The doodles and photos showed us the things that we weren't technically privy to. It almost made me feel like I was in the backseat!
Overall, this was a really fantastic read. It has a summer vibe in the sense that they're on a road trip and there are tons of funny moments, but this book is so much more that a quick summer read. The twists and turns, not to mention the deepness of the characters, makes this novel an unforgettable read. I couldn't recommend it more.
My ratings:
Plot:A
Truly original. I was hooked from the first few pages.
Characters: A
Smart and easy to connect with.
Cover:A
Love, love, love. Simple, but it captures the book well.
Length:A
No sagging moments, and ends complete.
A fantastic read that'll have you wanting to grab your iPod, keys, and go, I give Amy & Roger's Epic Detour:
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