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

[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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[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.

[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