Review: The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

Title: The Distance Between Us
Author: Kasie West
Series: n/a
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: February 11, 2014
Source: Birthday gift from Jen
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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.

I’ve been wanting to try Kasie West for a while now. I’ve seen all kinds of good things, so when my birthday rolled around, I decided I was going to read a "me" book that weekend. Plus, it was a gift from Jen, so I pushed my other stuff aside and got to reading.

I really liked The Distance Between Us. I was sold immediately with all the porcelain doll talk. You see, Caymen's mom owns a doll shop. My grandmother collects dolls, at least she used to when I was young. I remember how excited she’d get when she saw a new one on the home shopping network. She’d look for dolls that looked like us grandkids and had our same names… and they were all on display around her living room. She even went as far as to have one custom made of me, as a baby. She crocheted the outfits for both baby me and the doll. ( I was born with Cleft Lip and Palate btw )

But back the story. Caymen is kinda poor folk, and her mom has this major grudge against rich people. Caymen has always agreed with her moms opinions until Xander Spence starts coming around.

I loved Xander. He’s a really great guy. I loved watching Caymen fight her feelings for him and I loved watching her lose. The banter between the two is great, and Caymen, I adore her sarcasm to no end. That girl is funny, and I often found myself laughing out loud at some of the shit she would say.

I was going to start with Pivot Point. That was going to be my first Kasie West book, but then I saw that Caymen and Xander make a cameo appearance in On the Fence, so I wanted to get this one done before I read that. I’m really glad I started with The Distance Between Us, it was a fun story and I’m looking forward to reading more from her!

About the author:

I write YA. I eat Junior Mints. Sometimes I go crazy and do both at the same time. My novels, published through Harper Teen are: PIVOT POINT, its sequel SPLIT SECOND (Feb 2014), and THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US (a contemporary novel). I also have two more contemporaries, ON THE FENCE coming out July 1, 2014, and THE FILL-IN BOYFRIEND coming out the summer of 2015. My agent is the talented and funny Michelle Wolfson.

Find Kasie:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Labels: harper-collins, kasie west, reviews, the distance between us

Judging a Book By Its Cover #30: A Kid's Perspective on The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

Okay, so I totally stole this idea from Sara at Forever 17 Books, who got the idea from an article on Babble called Judging a Book by Its Cover: A 6-year-old Guesses What Classic Novels Are All About.  I just discovered her lovely segment, and I immediately requested forced my own five-year-old daughter Katie to provide me with some of her own cover art artwork and then asked her what she thought the book was about.



This week, Katie gave me her take on the following book:

"A girl and a boy are riding in a car to a pretty place with a pretty pond.  And then they went to the river.  (Their swimsuits are in the car.)"

Cover Art

The Distance Between Us as envisioned by Katiebug

Even though the cover is kind of the opposite of the story, I still really enjoyed the book.  And I love Katie's version, too!  I can't believe she didn't comment on them holding hands or something, though.  That's not like her.  :P

Have you read this book or do you plan to?  What do you think of Katie's guess at the premise?  

Did your little darling create a work of art based on a book this week? If so, be sure to link up with Sara over at Forever 17 Books.

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Labels: beautiful covers, contemporary, cover art, judging a book by its cover, kasie west, katiebug, the distance between us

Review: The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

Title: The Distance Between Us
Author: Kasie West
Series: n/a
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: July 2, 2013
Source: purchased
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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.

I was so impressed with Kasie West's debut earlier this year that I knew I'd have to pick up any subsequent books she wrote.  And since Pivot Point had a distinctly contemporary feel, despite being a science fiction novel about parallel timelines, I knew that this new contemporary novel from her was a must-read.

That cover is gorgeous, right?  I'll admit, I bought a paperback, just so that beautiful cover could grace my shelves.  But it's a little disconcerting, considering the premise of the story because Caymen's the one who should be wearing jeans and tennis shoes, while Xander would be outfitted in his finest threads.  Still, it does make for a pretty cover, so I won't complain too much.  :)

Besides, I still really enjoy the author's writing style, and that's what matters most, right?  She didn't have to create a new world, or a world within a world like she did in Pivot Point, but she still painted quite the vivid picture of the old town shopping center that was home to Caymen's mother's doll shop, as well as their apartment.  And I've always thought porcelain dolls were a little creepy -- my mother liked to collect them when I was younger, though, she gave up the hobby rather quickly, thank goodness -- but imagining the walls lined with doll upon doll based on Caymen's descriptions?  Yeah, that's the stuff of nightmares right there.

“Is that your subtle way of saying you missed me last week?”
“I've missed my hot chocolate. I just think of you as the guy who brings it to me. Sometimes I forget your name and call you hot chocolate guy.”

And that's part of why I loved Caymen's character.  She's got this acerbic wit and sarcastic sense of humor that, well, reminds me of my own.  (People often don't get my jokes either.)  But that's apparently what caught Xander's fancy.  His fascination with Caymen is because she makes him feel normal...often by playfully berating him, but it is what it is.

I like that Xander doesn't outwardly chase Caymen, not while he thinks she has a boyfriend and not until he's sure she feels something for him, too.  Even so, he did try his best to woo her.  All those fancy "career" days.  The morning cup of pre-sipped hot chocolate.  But the witty repartee they had going....that was what sold me on their relationship.  I do love my banter.  ;0)

“Caymen?”
“Yes?”
“You look terrified. Does this scare you?”
“More than anything.”
“Why?”
“Because I didn’t bring my mints.”
“And now the real answer . . .”
“Because I’m afraid that once you catch me, the game’s over.”

This novel induced a riot of laughter from me at times, but it also hit upon some more serious issues for the couple.  Namely, how to bridge that social gap, even though that kind of ended up being a non-issue in the end.  But there were also issues of financial instability, physical health problems, and family secrets.  And it felt like these were all swept under the rug.  None of them were really dealt with.  The Distance Between Us ends on a happy note, as if everything has been magically fixed because, yay, true love conquers all!  I just wish those issues had been explored a little further before that abrupt ending.  I could've used another thirty pages or so of resolution.

Despite a couple of minor complaints, I had a lot of fun reading this novel, and I'm still definitely a huge fan of this author.  This novel was the epitome of adorable, and I definitely recommend that you add this entertaining novel to your summer reading list.  If you're a fan of fun contemporary reads, this book is for you!

Rating:  

About the author:

I write YA. I eat Junior Mints. Sometimes I go crazy and do both at the same time. My debut novel Pivot Point (HarperTeen) came out February 12, 2013, and will be followed by its sequel in 2014. I also have a contemporary The Distance Between Us coming out July 2, 2013, with HarperTeen. My agent is the talented and funny Michelle Wolfson.

Find Kasie:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Labels: beautiful covers, contemporary, harper-collins, kasie west, reviews, the distance between us

Teaser Tuesday #65: The Distance Between Us by Kasie West & Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here are the books we're teasing this week:

Title: The Distance Between Us
Author: Kasie West
Series: n/a
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: July 2, 2013
Source: purchased
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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.

     Xander opens the compartment above my knees and takes out a pair of leather gloves.  As he pulls them on, I can't help but laugh.
     "What?"
     "You have driving gloves."
     "And?"
     "And it's funny."
     "Funny adorable?"
     I shake my head. "If you say so."

-- p. 90

Heh.  I'd probably laugh, too, if some guy pulled out driving gloves when he picked me up for a date.

Title: Dirty Little Secret
Author: Jennifer Echols
Series: n/a
Publisher: MTV Books
Publication Date: July 16, 2013
Source: from publisher via Edelweiss
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

From the author of the “real page-turner” (Seventeen) Such a Rush comes an unforgettable new drama that follows friends-turned-lovers as they navigate the passions, heartbreaks, and intrigue of country music fame.

Bailey wasn’t always a wild child and the black sheep of her family. She used to play fiddle and tour the music circuit with her sister, Julie, who sang and played guitar. That ended when country music execs swooped in and signed Julie to a solo deal. Never mind that Julie and Bailey were a duet, or that Bailey was their songwriter. The music scouts wanted only Julie, and their parents were content to sit by and let her fulfill her dreams while Bailey’s were hushed away.

Bailey has tried to numb the pain and disappointment over what could have been. And as Julie’s debut album is set to hit the charts, her parents get fed up with Bailey’s antics and ship her off to granddad’s house in Nashville. Playing fiddle in washed-up tribute groups at the mall, Bailey meets Sam, a handsome and oh-so-persuasive guitarist with his own band. He knows Bailey’s fiddle playing is just the thing his band needs to break into the industry. But this life has broken Bailey’s heart once before. She isn’t sure she’s ready to let Sam take her there again…

"Five days?" Ace asked, exasperated.  His words moved me more than anything Sam had said.  Sam lived life in a constant state of near-exasperation, whereas Ace rarely showed any emotion at all.  If even he was exasperated with me, I deserved it.

-- 64% of galley

Hmmm...wonder what she did...or didn't do.  :P

What are you teasing this week?  Share it in the comments or leave a link so we can visit!

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Labels: beautiful covers, contemporary, dirty little secret, harper-collins, jennifer echols, kasie west, music, simon schuster, teaser tuesday, the distance between us

Waiting on Wednesday: The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's WoW selection is...

Title: The Distance Between Us
Author: Kasie West
Series: n/a
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: July 2, 2013

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.

Why I'm waiting:  I loved Kasie West's debut novel Pivot Point, which, despite being a science fiction novel, had a distinctly contemporary vibe.  And since I already know the author can rock the contemporary, as well as the sci-fi, I am sure this novel will be pretty awesome.  The star-crossed lovers/kids from opposite sides of the track kind of romance always appeals to me, too, so I can't wait to see how that plays out.

What are you waiting on this week?  Feel free to share it in the comments or leave a link so I can stop by!

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Labels: contemporary, harper-collins, kasie west, the distance between us, waiting on wednesday (wow)