The Distance Between Us by Kasie West
Saturday, May 03, 2014
Author : Kasie West
Genre : Contemporary
Published Date : July 2nd 2013
Publisher : Harper Teen
Pages : 320
Source : Bought
From Goodreads :
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.
Review
When I read contemporary, I usually searched for the deep and heavy one, and avoid the fluffy-cutey one. I devour book which talked about suicide, about self-hurting, about anorexia, about self-discovery, about bipolarity. But not in a million year, would I devour a book about just a teenager-ish romance. So when I saw this book, I definitely try to avoid it. But seeing all those hype in the blogosphere about this book, well, how could I not, in the end, join in the bandwagon?
"Anything worth having is worth the risk."
—Xander
But eventhough The Distance Between Us is indeed one of those cute-fluffy-teenageish contemporary romance, it's not a bad cute and fluffy. In fact, I actually enjoyed it.
It was realistic and not oh-so-romantic and raining flower everywhere. No, the character had their own problem, and their life was not so charmed either.
The pacing was also nice and move at an enjoyable and stable pace. And the story, which manages to tackle the issue between rich and poor, is also interesting. It wasn't, unfortunately, work that well, and it's not really believable for me.
The character, on the other side, was really interesting for me. Sure, they might not be the most perfect cast in the whole bookish universe, but they're still definitely something. Cayden and Xander as the main characters really shine here, as how a good characters on good contemporary romance novel should be.
Cayden was unique, witty, and interesting, not your typical giggly-cutie girl, and she definitely had her own charm which I totally fell for.
And the author also did a wonderful job with Xander, making him as those clueless spoiled naïve rich guy that was actually kinda stupid on some things, but didn't came across as annoying, aloof, or bratty.
And I also love that Kasie West managed to make Xander And Cayden came from a 180 degree different world and yet had a lots of common on each other.
But overall, if you love to read a fluffy contemporary like My Life Next Door or Anna and the Frech Kiss, you would definitely love this one. Completed with a main character with nice development, and a more realistic take on happily ever after, this one is a must try.
Cheers, x
NK
2 comments
I loved Pivot Point and On the Fence so I really want to read this one! Awesome review! :D
ReplyDeleteThe character development and realistic ending sound appealing. I'm like you with contemporaries though, so I'll pick this one up when I'm in a rare fluffy mood :)
ReplyDeleteA comment from readers make us happy, really!
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