I remember how this book was so hyped last summer, and almost everyone I knew was ranting and raving about Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson, meaning that I bought it thinking this would be an awesome summer read! I finally read it this summer and unfortunately I was disappointed.
I knew how popular this book is but I became so disconnected from the plot, characters and the book itself that I took almost a week to actually finish it. I am definitely in the minority of people which didn’t enjoy this book. I found it to be too much of a romantic cliché, and some parts were too drawn out while other parts were shortened way too much.
I thought that the format of the novel, with the collection of receipts, drawings, pictures and playlists, was a brilliant concept which perhaps helped this book received a two star rating. However, the description and the story itself let the novel down. The ‘instant love’ connection I found ridiculous, especially that someone with insomnia might be instantly cured just by sleeping next to a stranger after knowing them for a matter of hours. Perhaps if Amy and Roger had been friends prior to the accident or the trip then this would have created an interesting story, but I feel that Matson maybe focuses too much on the two characters getting together rather than the overall aspect of the novel. The lack of description of the adventure or what was happening meant that the novel eventually became a blur to be honest - just drive, hotel, food and repeat.
Amy as a character I found to be dry and dull and I honestly didn’t care about her or her life story at all. As for Roger, he was very self–centred and his obsession with his ex–girlfriend seemed to turn him into some type of stalker or something, which I found creepy and perhaps unrealistic. I just felt Roger was leaving one relationship and literally found the next girl and convinced her to be with him. These two characters just weren’t right for one another, I didn’t like them and found it was hard to see the connection between them since they rarely talked the whole trip!
Overall, I feel this book was a huge disappointment despite its great potential. However, once again I was in the minority of those who disliked the book – I just wished I enjoyed it.
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