Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour

By: Morgan Matson

Narrated by: Suzy Jackson

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.

©2010 Morgan Matson (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

This is a great book - it is a must read.

What did you love best about Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour?

The travel details - the foods, histories and creation of the landscapes. And the Characters: Amy - Broken, Roger - Feeling, and the supporting cast of Bronwyn, Walcott and Lucien that all gave extra heart to this story.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Bronwyn, Walcott and Lucien - love them all and they are all important to this story.

What does Suzy Jackson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The story is is the perfect rite of passage book.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The scene when Amy goes back to the golf course and annouces that her father is dead.

Any additional comments?

I like the book because I can really see the personality of each character and the was the story unfolds. I didn't want it to end, and wanted to see when else this story would take me, but it had to and it ended well.

Better as a physical book. Good for high schoolers.

I remember loving this book as a 14 year old but couldn’t remember much of the plot. I decided to re-read it now, at 24, and I can see why I loved it. The author is able to capture a lot of the truth of what it feels like to be young. The vivid descriptions of each state let you feel like you’ve also traveled across the country. It was good and nostalgic to listen to but if you’ve never read this book I strongly recommend starting with a physical copy. The story telling style involves various visuals that are better served on paper.

Oh great, now I want to take a summer road trip

If you could sum up Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour in three words, what would they be?

Fun, cute, adventure

Which scene was your favorite?

I loved the scene where Amy visits her brother in rehab! It was such a huge scene for her, and the narrator did an amazing job with it

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me tear up a bit at times. I was at work though, so I couldn't really let it all out

Any additional comments?

This narrator was so amazing and absolutely perfect for this cute, summer contemporary romance!

Excellent

Would you listen to Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour again? Why?

Yeah absolutely because it has a great plot and I really felt connected to it

What was one of the most memorable moments of Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour?

YEAH .. it is one of my top favorite books and it entered my heart easily .. breath-taking story

Have you listened to any of Suzy Jackson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no .. but she is very very talented and hope to listen to more performances for her

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

actually I listened to it in two sittings each part in one sitting and I finished it in the same day .. it was very special in my heart

Any additional comments?

thank you Morgan Matson can't wait to read your next book :)

The narrator saves the day

All I was hoping for was a nice, quick summer reading, however I found myself struggling to make some progress with this book since it was so dull.
Thank heavens I picked this audiobook up and ended up enjoying the story, otherwise I suspect I would have not finished it.

Hallie's review

I really liked this book! I am glad i didn't start on this one though. Although it was really good. I loved going along with Amy and Rodger on there road trip. I loved how she put Amy's POV like how she was scared of what Rodger would think of her like any 16 year old girl would.

A seriously fun adventure.

With people you can enjoy being with. Great story. This is the first of this authors books I have listened to, but will definitely try more. The audio performance was fantastic.

Love Morgan Matson

Love her books. just wish the love story would get a little more attention aftertheyfallinlove

I'm J E A L O U S!

I am supercalifragilistic jealous of their epic detour. MAN did I ever want to be on it. If you love America, travel, hot boys, unexpected "detours", full interesting characters, fun, laughter, music, love ECT. Then this is the book for you.

Its inspiring, fun, heavy, and lighthearted. I KNOW! Narrator was also great, not distracting and a good flow.

So what are you waiting for? Get to it!

Teen Road Trip

This story was a good idea that could have been done much better. The writing was weak in too many points, and needed some quality editing. (For example, sagebrush is not pluralized with an "es" ) The characters were not completely likable to me, and remained quite vapid and flat for most of the story. These young people seemed pretty self-absorbed and uniformed, even for their age and education level considering some of the experiences and hardships they (especially Amy) had been through. I did start to connect with them and like them a little better by the end of the story. There were some more touching scenes that did resonate and seem genuine (for example when Amy goes to see her brother). The fast-food and car-snack descriptions became a bit repetitive.

What I did like: The pace and the flow of the story was well done, even if the ending was a little bit (rushed?) or abrupt. I really enjoyed the unplanned stops and the people they met along the way. The idea of ditching the map and itinerary and "winging it" was a fun premise. I did like Roger's character, the way he was respectful toward Amy, just being friendly and not pushing anything. He seems like a good guy. I liked the way their friendship grew and their feelings for each other developed.

I would have liked more information and more of a resolution at the ending. However, the ending works for the most part ONLY because of the whole premise of this story about taking detours and not having an agenda mapped out.

Overall, I would recommend this for at least a one-time listen. The narrator did a good job with the story as is. IMHO I would just not consider it a "keeper" for the favorites shelf or re-listen.