Title: The Distance Between Us
Author: Kasie West
Series: Standalone
Edition: Paperback
Publication: July 2nd 2013 by HarperTeen
Source: Bought from Fullybooked
Pages: 320
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
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.
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The Distance Between Us is my fairytale.
The story The Distance Between Us represented is a familiar one. I am sure I've heard of a-rich-guy-falling-for-the-poor-girl trope in the past but West pretty much nailed the twists. Though the story didn't give much of a punch-in-the-gut feeling, the characters did the job well. From a female protagonist who can be crowned The Queen of All Sarcasm to the literally Prince of Hotels, I basically have here a modern day fairytale with strawberry-pancake-topped-with-delicious-whipped-cream worth of a love story.
Caymen is totally hilarious. Her sarcasm? FOR THE WIN! I am always fascinated with characters with oozing sarcasm because they're funny! Her personality is so strong and I love that she always tries to debate with herself about whether her feelings are reasonable. The way she also respects her mother is a trait we all should be towards our own moms. I give her two thumbs up when her guilt eats her, her concern when her mother is looking gloomy and her ways of following what she was told. Some in her age might rebel but she remains a good kid even after she learned the truth. It is normal for her to feel angry and betrayed but her love for her mother overcame those negative feelings. She's a very good daughter in my opinion.
Our Prince of Hotels, Xander, is also trying to be a good son by exerting effort to follow what his dad wants him to do. It occured to him he can have Caymen do a 'career day' so they could figure out what they really wanted to pursue as a career. What's a surprising thing is, Xander doesn't really care what he does -- like dig a graveyard -- even if he's rich and never did any hard labor. It was really fascinating for someone like him to act normal and didn't even complain. Plus, he never once used his social status to take advantage of anyone. He expresses himself in his own little cute way that surely pumps more blood in my veins. He's a good man, a good person. And he will definitely land a spot on my Fictional Boyfriendssss post next Valentine's.
The Distance Between Us is a novel of betrayal, loss, coping and loving. It is exquisite in ways a reader would be surprised with -- the voice, the writing and the unconventional twists. With a love story so riveting, this novel seriously rocked my world.
"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."
"Sometimes it's the little things that bring that special someone back to us in some small way."
"Sometimes it's hard for me to start something because I'd rather not try at all than fail at it."
