Review : The Distance Between Us by Kasie West
The Distance Between Us by Kasie West
Pages : 312
Genre : YA, Contemporary fiction
Stand alone
My Rating : 3.5/5
About the Book :
So when Xander Spence walks into the store to pick up a doll for his grandmother, it only takes one glance for Caymen to figure out he’s oozing rich. Despite his charming ways and that he’s one of the first people who actually gets her, she’s smart enough to know his interest won’t last. Because if there’s one thing she’s learned from her mother’s warnings, it’s that the rich have a short attention span. But Xander keeps coming around, despite her best efforts to scare him off. And much to her dismay, she’s beginning to enjoy his company.
She knows her mom can’t find out—she wouldn’t approve. She’d much rather Caymen hang out with the local rocker who hasn’t been raised by money. But just when Xander’s attention and loyalty are about to convince Caymen that being rich isn’t a character flaw, she finds out that money is a much bigger part of their relationship than she’d ever realized. And that Xander’s not the only one she should’ve been worried about.
My Thoughts :
The Distance Between Us is definitely not a book I would have picked for myself. It looked a bit too “romancy” for my taste, but a flurry of highly positive reviews on some of my favorite blogs convinced me to give it a try.
And I am glad I did. The Distance Between Us was cute and entertaining, and a very quick read. Caymen’s voice was so easy to fall for, and she pulled off the humorous, sarcastic tone perfectly. Her chemistry with Xander Spence was undeniable from the start, and it wasn’t hard to guess these two were destined to be together.
I did get irritated with Caymen’s mother, and the precipitated ending certainly did not help me on that front. She was so judgemental, and unfairly so. And because the ending came too strong, too fast, I didn’t feel like I really got her motivation. I mean, we did get the Big Reason Why, but there was a certain depth lacking to it. Like wrapping things up in a neat little bow without too much thought about what’s inside the box. I also wish we could have spent more time with her best friend, whom we never really get to know.
Other than that, though, I greatly enjoyed reading Kasie West’s prose. Even though the book doesn’t take place during the school year, it felt very much like a fun summer read. And I just loved that Caymen and her mother worked in a doll store. It was different and the setting of some favorite moments.
If you’re looking for a cute teenage romance right out of the Young Adult shelf to brighten your day, don’t hesitate to give this one a chance; despite its somewhat shallow delivery, it is light and fluffy like the best cotton candy. Read it!
Similar Reading :
This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith
Two teenagers on opposite sides of the wealth spectrum, a girl living with her single mother, a family secret : This is What Happy Looks Like shares many similarities to The Distance Between Us, and I was constantly reminded of the former while reading the latter. Fortunately though, they both stand on their own and can be equally enjoyed.
For readers who feel like a little less humor and a little more depth though, I would say This is What Happy Looks Like might be the way to go. The characters still have an awesome chemistry and the last few chapters offer a realistic but satisfying ending. I have no qualms recommending it to fans of contemporary YA fiction who are in need of a little fictional romance!
I need a sweet book like this from time to time.
This one is cute, and I like the comparison to Jennifer E. Smith’s book. My reading has been heavy lately, so I like to find some fluffy books like these now and then.