Book Review: The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

Goodreads summary:

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.

My review:

My word, I love Kasie West's books.  After falling in love with Pivot Point earlier this year, I knew I'd have to read The Distance Between Us.  Luckily, West is every bit as good as writing contemporary as she is writing paranormal.

Oh, the sarcasm in this book.  It's so wonderfully witty.  This book has the some of the absolute best dialogue ever.  I can't even count the number of times I laughed hysterically at Caymen's lines, both her dialogue and her inner thoughts.  The Distance Between Us is one of those books that makes you flail and fangirl and go, "I can't even" at the utter adorkableness of it all.  There is just so much sass and clever sarcasm.  It really makes this book stick out.



The romance...oh goodness.  I loved the romance in this book so much that it inspired me to create a new Goodreads shelf for my favorite love stories. :) Xander and Caymen are so perfect together, and their love story was one that had me grinning and swooning nonstop.  I love how, as the story progresses, Caymen slowly realizes she completely misjudged Xander and that he's not at all like she thought he'd be.  It reminded me just a bit of Lizzie and Darcy in Pride & Prejudice.

I was giggling so much while reading this book that there's really nothing to complain about.  It was a perfect summer read in every way.  There wasn't anything I didn't like - if anything, I thought it was a little weird how Caymen's mom is so set against rich people and Caymen so easily agrees with her mother.  It seems strange that Caymen doesn't try to decide for herself and just goes with it without knowing the backstory.

However, that's the only thing that struck me as off, and I am totally in love with everything else about this book.  I can't recommend West's books enough - they're so very original, witty, and hilarious.  If you're looking for a heartwarming romance, this is definitely a book to check out.

My rating:  4.5 out of 5 stars

~ Kaitlyn