Review: The Distance Between Us, Kasie West

contemporary, romance, , 58 Comments

With summer finally here, I think we all need a very cute book. Or a pick-me-up book when you’re feeling down. A book that will make you smile-well, you get my point, so I might as well stop there and tell you this: this was my first Kasie West book, and it definitely won’t be the last because CUTENESS everywhere..

A RICH BOY, A SHOP OF PORCELAIN DOLLS AND A BIT OF LOVE

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“ Growing up, I never felt deprived. I was always happy. It seems only lately I’ve started seeing everything I didn’t have.”

In The Distance Between Us, we follow 17-years-old Caymen as she’s struggling to figure out who she wants to be, and what she wants to do with her life. Living with her mother above the doll store they own, she spends her time between school and working at the store, basically spending all her time there to help her mother through rough finances and hoping for a better day where she doesn’t have to stare at dolls’ face all the time. Kind of creepy when I’m putting it like that, sorry, ahah. I think you can all see this coming, because this is a contemporary romance: cute guy enters, cute guy is loaded, and two worlds collide while she finds herself falling hard and fast for the guy she shouldn’t fall for. I think what surprised me, despite this whole predictability of the story, is how there was something MORE than just this romance between two characters, very Pride and Prejudice style. Because the story was also about Caymen and Xander –a.k.a very cute boy- figuring out what they want to do with their life once they graduate high school. There were family issues to deal with. Definitely more than just a fluffy contemporary, even if, well…it was very fluffy as well.

SARCASM AND A SLOW BURNING ROMANCE

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“Note to self: Caymen is very good at sarcasm.”
“If you’re recording notes for an official record, I’d like the word ‘very’ stricken and replaced with ‘exceptionally.”

Caymen is a bottle full of sarcasm from page one to the very end of the book. I found her voice as the main character of the story very good, and real, she reminded me of those teenagers growing up too fast because of everything that’s happening around them and with their families. Worries about finances, about her mother’s shop, worries about her future and most of all, the future of her family, cripples the book and it definitely shows something deeper than the fluffy romance we think we’re going to get. She feels like a teenager, though, one with a lot on her back but one anyways, and that’s all because –thanks to Xander. Even if he, and their romance, was a little cliché, it built slowly during the whole story, from strangers to friends, to more than that, and I really loved seeing their feelings grow during the whole story. Plus, Xander was way too cute.

FINDING YOURSELF AND WHO YOU WANT TO BE.

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“I wonder why some people seem to be born knowing what they want to do with their lives and others—mostly me—have no idea.”

More than just the average, slightly cliché romance I expected, The Distance Between Us gave me interesting characters, A LOT of sarcasm and lots of family moments as well. Caymen is only living with her mother, and there are lots she doesn’t know about her family, both from her dad’s and mom’s side. Without getting to much into it, it was great to see all of the struggles she could encounter, and the questions she constantly asked herself about this part of her she didn’t know. Because as a teenager, there’s a lot you’re trying to figure out, and that was an issue all thorough the story, with this family aspect, AND with the whole “what am I going to do once high school is over” aspect, as well. I think this book managed to handle these issues pretty well, and allows us to think that, it’s okay not to have it all figured out, because someday, you will know what’s right for you.

OVERALL

The Distance Between Us is perfect for marshmallows just like me, lovers of YA contemporary and just mostly everyone looking for a fast read under the sunshine. Or on a rainy day, it’s as you wish. What matters here is that Kasie West delivers a CUTE, cute, very cute book that’ll make you smile like an idiot most of the time. And who doesn’t love that?

Final rating:  4 drops!

Did you read The Distance Between US? Did you enjoy it? Do you want to read it?

If you’ve read some Kasie West before, which book of hers is your favorite? And if now, what authors would you recommend for the summer? Share your thoughts in comments!

 

Kasie West, The Distance Between Us,  Published by Harper Teen, July 2nd 2013.

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Seventeen-year-old Caymen Meyers studies the rich like her own personal science experiment, and after years of observation she’s pretty sure they’re only good for one thing—spending money on useless stuff, like the porcelain dolls in her mother’s shop.

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.

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Book blogger, travel blogger, writer. 📚 |🌍 | 💞 Writing & Communications Graduate. French. Living on love, wanderlust and ya books.

58 thoughts on “Review: The Distance Between Us, Kasie West”

  1. Totally love this book! Caymen is hilarious and I love her! I’m on board with all your thoughts because even if the story is so fluffy and way too cute, it deals with a real teenage issue : figuring out what to do with the future. That’s what I love most from this book. This is also the first Kasie West’s book that I read and it instantly made her my auto-read author! I love Split Second, the characters are so fun and relatable and the guy so swoon-worthy 😛 I’m currently waiting to read PS I Like You!

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  2. I love this review, by the way! And I have been meaning to pick up Kasie West’s book for some time now. THIS REVIEW OF YOURS had made me seal my decision in doing so.

    Great review!

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  3. You read and review all my favorites. 🙂 Book twins. 🤗 I loved loved loved this book. I’m a marshmallow too I guess. Haha! I was planning to review all of Kasie West’s books, but I still haven’t gotten around to it. I’m way behind on my reviews. I read 75 books so far this year and I think I only reviewed 30 of them. 🙈 Nice review, Marie!

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    1. Ohhh really?! Well I love it, yay, book twins! ❤ Haha well don't worry too much about it, I am so behind on my reviews as well, I feel like I will never get them all written down… I'll look forward to your reviews of one of her books though, I've been wondering if / and which one of hers I should read next. Maybe you can help? 🙂 Thank you! ❤

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  4. Love this review! This is basically me when I read the book and loved it. It was my first of Kasie West too but at this moment, I’ve read all of her contemporary novels and I don’t think any surpasses The distance between us yet. I really like The fill-in boyfriend tho 😁

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  6. I’m such a fan of Kasie West’s contemporaries, they are just perfect happy reads to chill out and relax with. I really liked this one too, The Fill In Boyfriend is my absolute favourite of hers though.

    I loved all the sarcasm too, i’m sarcastic 99% of the time so I was like oo relateable to me! haha!

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  7. Yay! So happy you liked this one. I love all of her books. My favorite is On the Fence, but that tends to be most people’s least favorite. She’s definitely my go-to fluffy author. I also like Miranda Kenneally, Ali Novak and Sarah Dessen.

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    1. Oh really? Well I have heard a lot of great things about The Fill-In Boyfriend and The Distance between us, though On The Fence seems good, I will have to try it out anyways! 🙂
      I have read Sarah Dessen recently and want to read more of her books as well, loved her! 🙂 Thank you so much!!

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  8. I have Kasie West on my to-read list, I get what you mean when you say with summer coming around you need a cute book, a pick-me-up read. I feel completely the same so hopefully before this summer is over I will have got through at least one of her books, if not more! 🙂
    The Distance Between Us sounds like an amazing book as well, I love how you described Caymen’s character, and I love the fact that she’s so sarcastic as well. Also I think their relationship sounds really sweet as well, Caymen’s and Xander’s; it sounds perfect for a fluffy contemporary read! ❤
    Great review! 😀

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      1. Now we’ve finally got some sun in England I am looking for some summer reads so Kasie West is definitely going on my summer to-read list. 🙂
        That’s actually one of my favourite things about contemporaries, it doesn’t take long to get into the story so before you know it you’re already halfway through!
        I hope I enjoy it as well, though I’m sure I will! 😀

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  12. YAY MY FOREVER CRAZY IM SO GLAD YOU ENJOYED ❤ Wonderful review! I LOVE Caymen and Xander! They were just too cute and the whole story was just too fun! I hope you enjoy any other Kasie West books you read! On the Fence is great and the Fill In Boyfriend is on its way 🙂 I heard that one of them releasing next year is about two people LOCKED IN A LIBRARY. CUTEEEE.

    I agree with this review! It's so cute and fluffy where it needs to be yet it delves in a deeper level as well and I love that!

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    1. THANK you so much my forever crazy, so glad you liked reading this! ❤ I heard about that new release, and it sounds SO GOOD, I mean, isn't it EVERYONE's DREAM to be stuck in a library with a cute guy? It is mine haha. I can't wait to read more of Kasie West books. Thank you so, so much!! ❤

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      1. It was so fun and great! One of my instant go-tos when I’m feeling a bit down. RIGHT?! Can you just imagine? *sighs* If only! That would be just the cutest! (Though you know, it would be lovely to be stuck there with YOU <3) I can't wait to read more either! I hope they all bring you the cutest boys and the best feelings! You're welcome my forever crazy! ❤

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  13. Ooh this sounds great! I’m glad that it doesn’t just focus on the romance, but on the characters and their struggles as well. And sarcasm? Yes please. Also you compared it to Pride and Prejudice so you got me hooked 😛

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  14. I read this a while ago and I totally agree that it was cute and fluffy and very enjoyable. Now I’m starting to have to figure out the whole end of high school things (aaaaa let’s not talk about it) maybe I should reread it. I like this king of review style 🙂

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  15. Great review, Marie! Never read a Kasie West book before, so I might have to give this one a go. Contemporaries that focus on other issues besides romance are the best kinds! After all, our lives are very rarely dominated by just one thing: we’re always going through so many things at one time. Juggling work, school, family, friends, love lives- it’s so pleasant to see that reflected in a book. Just makes it more realistic. 🙂

    Aimal @ Bookshelves & Paperbacks

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    1. Thank you so much Aimal! 🙂 You’re right, and I’m glad it wasn’t just a cheesy romance. Life is always filled with so many different things, and struggles happening all at once, I love when there’s all that represented in a contemporary book 🙂 Thank you! 🙂

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