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Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Characters In Road Trip Genre

February 19, 2013 by Sana

Despite my evergreen love for the road trip genre, I haven’t read that many books from it (this a great Goodreads list to get started). However, road trip books are so good that it’s pretty easy to fall in love with more than one character. So here’s my list:


Caleb and Maggie from Return to Paradise by Simone Elkeles 

Take two characters who have more than a rocky history together and put them together in a single bus on a summer trip. It only spells disaster and emotionally drained. I liked Caleb because of his intimidating yet gentle and reserved nature. Whereas despite Maggie having a lot to deal with, she is willing to forgive Caleb. I found this to be very intriguing and they get to open up to each other which gives a deeper meaning to their actions.

Dylan from Take Me There by Carolee Dean

I connected with Dylan; his restlessness, his failed attempts at trying to understand himself, his fate, his redemption. You know it in your heart that he is utterly genuine but trouble is only at arm’s length when it comes to him. It is so gut-wrenching to see him trying so hard to succumb to his fate and fighting it at the same time. It undoes you and spectacularly so.

Jordan and Courtney from Two-Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt

Two-Way Street is a fun book. It has two characters who are broken up but unable to escape the circumstances of their break up. They still have a trip to college to survive ’cause apparently you can’t break up and not have it come bite you in the ass the next day.

So it is hard not to love Jordan who is helplessly in love but his hands are tied and Courtney who is seething with jealousy over Jordan’s made up girlfriend. The jibes, jealousy and the hilarity of the two characters easily made them one of my favorites.

Colin and Hassan from An Abundance of Katherines from John Green

These two are a perfect pair unto each other. They can honestly live together happily ever after. Colin is awkward, socially inept but crazy smart and he knows facts! I totally related to him on that level. I love knowing and telling facts and statistics (not like Sheldon’s does) so it was awesome to see Colin do that.

And Hassan is comfortable in his skin which is what makes him so likable in my book. Also, it was great to read about a Muslim character and from John Green’s point of view. I just didn’t like the way Hassan kept calling Colin kafir; that is so not acceptable.

Kylie, Max and Will from From What I Remember… by Stacy Kramer and Valerie Thomas

I adore this book so it’s no wonder that out of the four main characters, three are my favorite. Kylie is a favorite ’cause she has that not-concerned-with-others look about her and she is damn smart! She likes to keep with herself or the people she is comfortable with which is so me.

Max was such an asshole at first but then I got to know him and the guy had depth he wasn’t showing! He almost did a complete one-eighty as the story progressed. I said almost because he gets confused in between and I wanted to shake him out of it. Generally, he is a milder Noah Hutchkins and hot.

Will is the coolest character ever (second to only Wesley Rush from The DUFF). He likes to party and could act like the laziest person ever when everyone else is panicking. I wouldn’t have minded reading the whole book from his point of view or even reading one of him only. The best gay character as yet (along with Cinna from The Hunger Games).

Link up your Top Ten Tuesday’s post below and I’ll be sure to visit!

Categories: road trip, top ten tuesday

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. rockyriverteenlibrarian says

    February 20, 2013

    I love road trip books too! Have you read Amy & Roger's Epic Detour? So much fun! An Abundance of Katherine's is my favorite John Green. Here's my list http://wp.me/pzUn5-1qt

  2. Jude Henderson says

    February 20, 2013

    I LOVED Take Me There by Carolee Dean, I read it a while ago but I remember that Dylan became one my favorite characters. Apart from that book I haven't read any of the other you featured – even though most of them are sitting in my shelf.

    I'm mentally kicking myself, I need to read them.

    Great picks!

  3. Katie says

    February 20, 2013

    Oh my gosh, great list!! Caleb & Maggie and Jordan & Courtney would be on my list too! I really need to read An Abundance of Katherines and Take Me There, I have both on my shelf, just need to get around to reading them!
    Awesome picks, Sana! 🙂

  4. Cecelia says

    February 20, 2013

    Road trip books! I haven't actually read that many either, which may be why I don't recognize these characters. I should really get around to reading John Green, eh? Someday soon. Thanks for sharing your list!

  5. Sana says

    February 20, 2013

    I haven't read Amy & Roger's Epic Detour but it seems to be the ultimate road trip book so I'll get to it. Soon.

  6. Sana says

    February 20, 2013

    Oh my God yes, Take Me There is so underrated, unknown and such a favorite of mine that I sometimes just tell people to go read it. Sigh.

    Go for From What I Remember… first, it's hilarious and oh so good.

  7. Vegan YA Nerds says

    February 20, 2013

    I've only read Two Way Street and didn't enjoy it but I do have Take Me There on my shelf so I'm glad to hear that you connected with MC, Dylan!

  8. Sandy says

    February 20, 2013

    I don't think I've read any road trip books. MUST RECTIFY THIS ASAP! New follower by the way!

    Check out my TTT.

    Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know

  9. Kimberly says

    February 20, 2013

    What a fantastic genre to pick! I LOVE road trip/wanderlust stories now you've given me a bunch to add to my to read list!

    New follower! Thanks for stopping by my blog earlier!

    Kimberly @ The Bookish Thespian

  10. Keerin says

    February 20, 2013

    This is a whole new Genre for me, I admit! Thanks for introducing me! I think this is a list of books I can get behind and read! Thanks for stopping by my TTT today!

  11. Maji Bookshelf says

    February 20, 2013

    I need to pick up Take Me There! I didn't know it was such a great road trip novel. I recommend you pick up Amy and roger's Epic Detour! That was a great road trip novel 🙂

    – Juhina @ Maji Bookshelf

  12. Shelver 506 says

    February 20, 2013

    Ooooh, road trip genre! I don't think I've come across anyone to pick that yet. Very nice.

    Thanks for visiting my blog!

    Shelver @ Bookshelvers Anon

  13. Samantha says

    February 20, 2013

    Nice genre choice. I really need to read some of these!

    Samantha @ Reading-AndCoffee

  14. Molli @ Once Upon a Prologue says

    February 21, 2013

    What an awesome list, Sana! I LOVE "road trip" books. I just added An Abundance of Katherine's to my TBR. Have you read Saving June, or Reunited? Both are awesome road trip books. I think I like them so much because I've always wanted to go on one!

  15. Bellas Bookshelf says

    February 21, 2013

    Road trip books are wonderful! I can get lost in one of them for hours. Whenever I need an escape book I reach for a road trip book. I think they should be in a sub genre with that name. You should patent it quick..lolz..

  16. Rachel says

    February 21, 2013

    So I loveeeeee road trip books and somehow I haven't read any of the ones you mentioned! Obviously I need to fix this 🙂 I've been meaning to read Two-Way Street and From What I Remember. I'll definitely have to pick these up soon! Great list.

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