The Distance Between Us

Author: Kasie West

Publish Date: 2013

Genre: romance, chic-lit, contemporary, ya

Rating: ★★★★

Synopsis:

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:
"Feelings can be the most costly thing in the universe"
Honestly, this book now belongs to my "favorites shelf". This is a very refreshing ya contemporary novel for everyone to read. I haven't read Pivot Point, but the author, Kasie West, beckoned me through this book to read more of her novels. This book won't make you sleep if you won't read it in one sitting. There is more than what the romance offers, this book has variety of moral lessons and real struggles in life.

The story starts off with a 17 year old Caymen, daughter of a doll shop, meeting an oozing hot but charming rich customer. Caymen has trust issues with rich people and drawing close to Xander isn't really what she planned for her life. Xander is different. Oh well, except for the fact that he is a total swoon-fest, he is a total rich ass who fears of failure. The common thing between them is that they don't know what really they want to do in the future. They help each other discover their true potential and passion. In between their fears and insecurities, they have to face a particular problem that made Caymen doubt Xander and let go of what she feels for him. Another thing that doesn't make things lighter is the secrets her mom is hiding from her. The rest is a freaking history(sorry I'm bad summarizing stories).

The characters are the highlight of this book. Caymen is the queen of sarcasm and humor. She is the strong-willed with exceptionally sarcastic attitude character, but a vulnerable daughter and a dainty teenager in love. I love her so much. I bet everyone will love her too. In spite of the challenges she still manages to joke around making things light. Xander is the oh so sweet guy, but sometimes his lack of response makes me iffy about his character. In the end he manages to make up for whatever mistake he made, and grow up to be a responsible but still irresistible, charming, swoon-fest guy. YEAH. There isn't a moment where I actually didn't laugh, but there was a scene that made tears pool in my eyes. ANGSTY!!! The witty banters among all the characters including the secondary characters are hilarious and very sarcastic. The dialogues aren't dull and boring.

"Let me guess, the dolls threatened to steal your soul if you didn't comply with their demands."
"No, they threatened to release the souls of past customers. We couldn't have that."
He laugh, which surprise me. I feel like I earned something not many others have, and I smile despite myself.

I felt like I was reading the storyline + script of a Korean drama, but this was better than I expected. One thing that really made me rate this 4.5, was the CRAVING part!! UGH!! The i-want-more-but-it's-just-a-stand-alone-book-so-sad feeling. I just feel like since it's only a stand alone book, the events are somehow crammed. SOMEHOW. Not entirely crammed. But over all, it's an awesome, refreshing, fun and captivating reading experience for me! A total worth recommending book!

This book will make you laugh, melt and fall in love all over again.