Book Review | The Distance Between Us

The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

Paperback, 312 pages

Published July 2nd 2013

2.5/5 stars

This book was not the most horrific thing I have ever read … so there is that. I honestly enjoyed it … to an extent. But it was not without it’s problems.

This was my second attempt at a Kasie West book and I have to say … I was mildly disappointed yet again. On the one hand, I enjoyed this book a lot more than I enjoyed By Your Side (See Review HERE) but I did not LOVE this book by any stretch of the imagination. It was cute … I guess.

The Story

(Goodreads 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.”

 What I Liked

The relationship building was nice and slow but not boring or without merit, and I didn’t want to stab the MC in the eye. So all in all I count that as a moderate win.

I enjoyed Xander’s character a lot … he was precious and honestly deserves better … like I don’t see what it was that attracted him to Caymen … the romance makes no since because he has no reason to fall for her?

What I did not like

I recently ranted about how OVER the “rich people are the devil” trope I keep seeing and BAM … in my fucking FACE with it … oh fucking awesome!

On the one hand … this book felt more genuine than my last Kasie West attempt with By Your Side … but on the other hand … this book threw DOWN with the “rich people suck” trope. I mean honestly, that’s really all this book was … a poor girl hating on rich boy because rich people suck! AMIRIGHT?

The MC couldn’t have been more clear in her disdain for rich people if she tried … like seriously! This concept was literally the ONLY strife between these two! He’s rich and I’m now .. meh let me cry about it for 300+ pages! Yep … that’s the book … the whole book!

I really did not like Caymen … I didn’t hate her … but I would not be her friend IRL like ever. She seems like she might be an okay human … but Kasie West failed to explain to me WHY Caymen is a cool girl and worthy of Xander’s affections. The romance seemed ones sided because of this. Xander was all in from the moment he decided “this is the girl” but like … why? What building blocks were in place to make him feel this way? I can see why Caymen would like him … but she was the reluctant one. I just need more foundation!!

Again, I didn’t hate this book … but anytime you repeat something too much as an author … it becomes distracting AF! I could have done with a little less rich shaming and been happy. That’s all … that’s not too much to ask I think …

In Conclusion

Not terrible .. not great. Enjoyable but nothing to light a torch over. I am going to give West another try because I did enjoy this one more than my first West read.

 

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