Road Maps: A Novel

by Angela Youngers

336 pages, Paperback

Published November 11, 2025

About the author

Angela Youngers is a high school English and speech teacher in the Des Moines metro where she lives with her husband Jeremy and her two children, Tobias and Aubriana. She has her Bachelors of Education degree in Theatre and Communication Education from the University of Northern Iowa, an English endorsement, and her Masters in Education from Viterbo University. Angela has enjoyed having an audience, whether willing or captive, since singing in her father’s band at the age of five, performing in her first theatrical play as a freshman in high school, and teaching in the public school system since 2008. Angela has directed numerous plays; coached several events for IHSSA speech teams; written original ensembles and adapted several theatrical works for performance; encouraged and mentored students’ original writings; and worked to constantly foster a love of reading, writing, speaking, and performing in her students. She values communication, empathy, and creativity, and she believes the sharing of stories to be one of the most important human experiences.

Angela loves reading; singing and dancing in her kitchen; attending her son’s soccer games; jamming out to the car radio with her daughter; having late night tea and deep talks with her husband; sending exasperated yet comical texts and memes to her friends; and, of course, writing whenever she is not grading student work or taking care of her family.


My writing is a personal endeavor and is in no way affiliated with my school district of employment.

Reviews

[READER VIEWS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Angela Youngers’ Road Maps finds Logan Stirling in the midst of having her novel Iowa Nice turned into a movie. Logan’s book follows the story of her and her dying father driving across her home state of Iowa, trying their best to mend their broken relationship before he passes away. Logan meets with her long-time celebrity crush, Thomas Price, a handsome movie star looking to make his directorial debut with a keen interest in Logan’s story. Tom puts together a crew and hires Logan as the screenwriter, and together they set out to make their movie. In the process, Logan learns new things about herself through her experience, as she continues to grapple with her grief and her past.

This story is raw, honest, emotional, romantic, healing, and so much more. It is humorous, compelling, and full of gorgeous prose and words right from the heart. It plays around with different formats, ranging from screenplay to emails and text messages, and my personal favorite, snippets of Logan’s novel between the chapters. We get Logan’s present day as well as a glance into her tumultuous relationship with her father, woven into the threads of the story’s events. We see her blossoming friendships with the crew, her “adolescent crush” on Tom Price turn into something more, and most of all, we see her process her emotions through the making of the movie. All of this is topped off with a plot twist that is as shocking as it is heartbreaking.

Logan, as a character, is someone who is really special. She struggles with self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and some inner turmoil, shown to the reader through the first-person point of view. She feels incredibly real, so alive and relatable as a character and as a woman. I love how her sense of self develops, as well as her understanding of her own troubles. Her relationship with Tom grows her confidence without being the sole reason for her self-worth. As the reader, we can see that she is talented and worthy, but also struggling with very real, very human emotions.

Road Maps by Angela Youngers is a love letter to the state of Iowa, and to the art of storytelling. It’s also a testament to the pain of grief and the places it leads us. It takes Logan on a journey, and as the reader, we are along for the ride.

[KATIE MEYERS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Road Maps is a thoughtful and emotionally engaging novel that explores the unexpected turns life presents and the courage required to embrace change. Angela Youngers crafts a compelling story that blends heartfelt relationships, personal growth, and emotional resilience into a narrative that feels both authentic and deeply relatable.

One of the novel's greatest strengths is its focus on the journeys people take not only across physical landscapes but also through the emotional experiences that shape their identities. The characters are written with warmth, complexity, and authenticity, allowing readers to connect with their struggles, aspirations, and moments of personal transformation.

Youngers creates meaningful relationships that develop naturally throughout the story. Whether through friendship, family, or unexpected encounters, each connection contributes to the characters' evolving understanding of themselves and the world around them. These interactions add emotional richness while reinforcing the novel's themes of hope, healing, and resilience.

The pacing allows both the emotional and personal arcs to unfold organically, balancing reflective moments with engaging storytelling. Rather than relying on dramatic twists alone, Road Maps finds its greatest impact in the quiet, life changing decisions that ultimately define each character's path.

Underlying the novel is an uplifting message about embracing uncertainty, finding purpose through life's detours, and recognizing that even the most unexpected roads can lead to meaningful destinations. Youngers presents these themes with sincerity and compassion, making the story resonate long after the final chapter.

Beautifully written and emotionally rewarding, Road Maps is a memorable novel that will appeal to readers who enjoy character driven fiction filled with heartfelt relationships, self-discovery, resilience, and the enduring hope found in new beginnings.

[Gina Sedore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Angela loves to make us cry, then smile through tears. Let’s keep those tissue companies in business as we delve into the loss of a parent in Road Maps, while adding some adventure, humor, and romance along the way. These are all entertaining aspects of the book, but the true star is the state of Iowa itself. Angela describes various Iowa attractions and destinations with detail that only a native can truly know. The main character lives up to the “Iowa Nice” us locals are known for. Don’t believe it or understand it? Attend an Iowa/Iowa State game and you will see. Yes, we are rivals, but we friendly rivals that cheer each other on and lose in a joyous way that always ends with “We’ll get’m next year” while we help tear down your tailgate. We see Logan and her dad tour the state as they try to repair their strained relationship, with each stop closing that wound a little more. To further heal from his death, she writes it down which turns into a memoir, then a movie deal and a handsome actor/producer/director enters the picture.
Losing a loved one is the most terrible thing a person can go through. Losing them without closure is even worse. I have lost both parents, but with my mom I never questioned her love, nothing was left unsaid. I can’t say the same for my dad. For anyone that has lost a parent, this will tug at your heart, but I promise you will also smile and cheer. It is an emotional, yet fun and romantic read.
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[Elina Vaysbeyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Road Maps is a reflective and emotionally intelligent women’s fiction novel that explores how personal history, creative ambition, and desire intersect in complicated, often risky ways. By weaving together excerpts from Logan Sterling’s memoir with her present-day experience adapting it for film, the novel creates a layered narrative that feels both intimate and sharply observant.

Logan is a compelling protagonist self-aware yet uncertain, driven yet vulnerable. Her complicated relationship with her past, particularly her parents’ choices and her own fear of repeating them, grounds the story in emotional realism. The transition from author to screenwriter pulls Logan into a world filled with validation, temptation, and blurred boundaries, forcing her to confront how much of herself she’s willing to compromise for love or success.

What truly distinguishes Road Maps is its quiet examination of self-worth. The romance, the Hollywood intrigue, and the creative process all serve as mirrors reflecting Logan’s internal struggle to claim her own value. Thoughtful, well-paced, and emotionally resonant, this novel will strongly appeal to readers who enjoy character-driven stories about growth, reflection, and choosing oneself.

[Stacy Watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an emotional journey through the life of author Logan’s past and present. She is faced with comforting her terminal father and take him on a journey through their home state of Iowa. This trip is emotional due the years of estrangement. During the trip they make stops at Iowa landmarks, and eventually break down the walls of the past and start to build a new connection. Due to his terminal diagnosis, this makes the connection fulfilling yet hurtful knowing all the years she missed with her dad.

After the trip Logan writes a book on her experiences. The book is picked up for movie and she is overjoyed with the possibilities! To make this even more shocking the director is her teenage crush! Oh the nervous excitement she has! The film crew relive the trip across Iowa to film scenes and this time together builds new friendships and more!

This book is an excellent portrayal of the journeys we take in life past and present, and you will surely relate to something in this story!

[Ann Hanigan Kotz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Angela Youngers’s second book, Road Maps, delighted me as much as her first novel, Another Dance. Readers are taken through both a romantic journey as well as a journey through Iowa. Logan Sterling, the main character, travels through her home state with her estranged father, who is trying to rebuild their relationship before he dies. This storyline tugged at my heart as I thought about my own father-daughter bond. The romance storyline—a liaison between Logan and actor, heartthrob, Tom Price—pulled me in and had me cheering for their eventual hookup. The best part, though, was the twist. I audibly gasped. If you think you know where this book is going, you’re wrong. Loved the book and am looking forward to her next work.

[Mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are from Iowa, you will catch yourself smiling while reading- this novel has site specific details from all over the state that showcases the author traveled, did research, and had a reflective journey throughout Iowa landmarks. Playing with different forms of prose throughout, I was kept engaged and intrigued. The suspense of the story (and building of the love interest) kept me turning pages, and was emotionally satisfying with its realism. As someone who is also a member of the “dead dad club”, this novel helped me heal along the way.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is a love letter to Iowa, and I chuckled at so many of the references that almost every Iowan, transplant or native has heard. I enjoyed reading a midwestern voice too, it was like coming home to a book. I know some of these experiences and stories in the book are universal, but it seemed so personal to me. The story of the main characters great grandparents meeting and where they came from and the shock of marrying someone out of their community reminded me of my own grandparents, and extended family.

[Kellsey Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Road Maps by Angela Youngers! I’ve never read anything quite like it. The story deals with loss, grief, acceptance, lust, and romance in a way that felt real and honest.

The writing pulled me in right away, and I was genuinely surprised by a twist I did not see coming. Even with heavier topics, the book was very entertaining and hard to put down.

This was a beautiful, thoughtful read, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for something different and well written.

[Maddy Turpin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting twist! Also like that it’s based in Iowa

[Ann Swenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

2 story lines, romance, travel, a twist! I wasn’t expecting to love this as much as I did! So good!