The Distance Between Us: A YA Romance About Love That Bridges Class Divides

The Distance Between Us is a delightful read that is sure to capture your heart. Kasie West delivers a novel with charismatic characters, sharp dialogue, and a story that immediately sweeps you off your feet to leave you feeling good about everything. From the first few lines I was immediately captivated and wanted to immediately know what was in store for these characters. The Distance Between Us is a swoony romantic story centred on people who were raised in completely different situations. Caymen works in her mother's struggling doll store. She has always been told that the rich are people she should not associate with. One day she meets the incredibly charming and wealthy Xander who is on an errand to buy a doll for his grandmother. As they begin to spend more time together Caymen and Xander develop a meaningful relationship but as they fall in love, they have to overcome preconceived notions and expectations. The heart of the story was about the characters themselves and what they wanted in terms of love, family and career. The book explored family and the expectation they can have. The career days that Caymen and Xander participate in gave them a chance to figure out where they were going in their life and gave the characters more depth. The romance was pitch perfect. I really appreciated that Xander and Caymen didn't immediately jump into a relationship. Their relationship started as a friendship and they slowly evolved into a sweet romantic couple over time. This made their relationship feel more solid and rewarding when they finally got together. The inside jokes between the two added yet another layer to their relationship. Money and stereotypes of the rich were a few of the issues Caymen and Xander had to overcome however the most compelling part of this story for me was Caymen reconciling her beliefs about the rich with her growing attraction to Xander. Caymen and Xander were well defined individually and as a couple. Their chemistry leaped of the page and you couldn't help but want them to be together. Caymen had a very sarcastic sense of humour that made you want to laugh. She was also a character that was very relatable, practical and pragmatic. Xander on the other hand was the very epitome of cool and smooth and polished. He also had a very caring and loyal side. The dialogue Kasie wrote was sharp, witty and laugh out loud funny, often-making Caymen's banter with Xander and those around her a highlight. The secondary characters The Distance Between Us is a heart-warming tale that is a must read, if only for its humours snark, great characters and sharp writing.

First off, I just want to say this is my first Kasie West novel--I know! I own PIVOT POINT and need to start it--and I was pleasantly surprised! I'm a big plot lover but the characterization of Caymen is what truly impressed me. Caymen is your typical high school senior who is working way too hard to keep her little family afloat, never wanting to let her mom down. She works long shifts in her mother's doll shop, willing to risk her education and her own dreams. In walks Xander, the heir to a 500 hotel chain franchise. Caymen has had it drilled into her that people like Xander would never want someone poor like her. In this worlds colliding novel, the two characters start a quest to find a future for each other that does not involve their predestined ones. Filled with highs, lows, and witty, sarcastic humor, THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US is a great contemporary YA novel you can't help but devour. I'll start off with Caymen. I loved her attitude. You can immediately tell how much she hates working in that creepy doll shop. You can tell that she'd much rather be doing other things but is willing to sacrifice her own fun for her single mother who is just trying to make ends meet. I loved the devotion she had to her mom. Even though her life wasn't glamorous or her ideal version of fun, she still appreciated everything her mother did for her and never seemed to take anything for granted. But that certainly doesn't mean she doesn't have some of that teenage rebellion in her. Caymen is probably the most sarcastic person I have ever "met" in my life. She's so quick to make a comment, she doesn't miss a beat. I loved every remark that came out of her mouth. I'm very sarcastic and have the dry humor like she has but man, that girl is good. She comes up with the perfect thing to say at exactly the right moment. I usually think of good things, after the fact. (Fun fact: this is called "L'esprit de l'escalier"). Sometimes I did think that she got a bit whiny and jumped to conclusions way too soon but overall, she had a great head on her shoulders. This brings me to Xander. Xander is the kind of guy you wish would walk into your place of work and fall in love with you. I mean really. Caymen gives him all these rich boy stereotypes that he just completely shoots down. He's sweet, he's super thoughtful--I wish I had a guy to bring me coffee on my way to school everyday!--he fires away sarcastic comments right back at Caymen, and he's just the all around good guy you can't help but love. I love how he never once looked down at Caymen for being someone not in his social class. Besides beckoning at her when they first met, he treats her with the same sort of respect he would treat his mother. He takes her on all these elaborate "career days" and when she takes him to a graveyard, he doesn't even bat an eye. He enjoys spending time with her and could care less about the money issue. I do wish he would've stated his feelings for Caymen sooner. Although he did all the gestures that point exactly to that, girls can be silly and don't believe anything until they hear it come from your mouth. If he had said something sooner, I feel like a bunch of the drama that took place could have been avoided--see above mentioned jumping to conclusions part. As Jess said in her review of this book, we miss out on a lot of the relationship building between these two characters. She says it more eloquently than I could. Here's the gist: we know they have feelings for each other, it's super obvious, but we don't get to see those feelings evolve into something more. Again, check Jess' review for better explanation! I did love the plot of the story, though. I loved the idea of these two perfect strangers planning fun "career days" for each other. These showed just how much they paid attention to each other. Each day was unique and let their personalities shine. I think this is a great way to truly get to know someone! Aside from the great characters and plot, West teaches the readers a very important lesson. Firstly, don't judge a book by its cover. Always take the time to get to know somebody, they may surprise you. Next, take time for yourself. While it's nice to make others happy, you have to make yourself happy too. Do what you love and take some risks. And lastly, learn forgiveness. One of my all time favorite things about YA novels are the moral lessons that are in embedded in them. I adore authors who take the time to show true character growth and learning. It's what life is all about. Although I did have some slight issues with it, THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US was a highly enjoyable read that I would recommend to any YA contemporary fan!

Kasie West debuted earlier this year, and she's pretty much one of my favorite authors already. She excels at characters and romances. Basically, her books make my heart oh so happy. The Distance Between Us has a little bit in common with Pivot Point, but is largely a departure from the much more serious tone of that series. The Distance Between Us is fluffy good times of the highest order. To figure out if you would enjoy The Distance Between Us, ask yourself if you like the following things: Pretty in Pink and The Gilmore Girls. If you answered yes to one or both, then you should probably make reading this book a priority. If you haven't seen them, then you should probably rectify that AND THEN read this book. If you don't like either one, well, GOOD DAY SIR. Caymen, whose name is never explained, which is to me the biggest flaw of the book, is my girl. Seriously, she is acerbic and sarcastic like you would not even believe. I imagine that some readers will be rubbed the wrong way by her attitude, but it was like coming home. People never know if she's serious or joking, because she always says things with a straight face. Also, she cannot resist answering a stupid question with an especially sarcastic response, and, oh, how I love her for it. Here's where things get quirky. Caymen works in a doll store, owned by her mother. Dolls and More barely pays the bills, and Caymen has been raised to hate the privileged, like the man who left her mother. As such, Caymen is disgusted when this obviously rich guy comes into the store and beckons to her, as he talks on the phone. His outfit alone would probably pay expenses for her and her mom for a month. He also happens to be kind of cute, but, ugh, so stuch up and rich. Of course, that's not all there is to it, because cute, rich boy (Xander) comes back. The relationship between these two is super sweet, especially because all of their problems coming together are really internal aside from her mom being iffy on her dating a rich boy. However, otherwise, the only obstacle really is Caymen's trust issues, which are pretty mighty. Xander definitely becomes a candidate for best book boyfriends, because he is so considerate, doesn't overreact, and apologizes when he's been out of line. There's a lot of bonding and banter here, and, though they do get serious, it feels real and not like forever love; maybe it will last and maybe it won't. Social classes and economic disparity are central to The Distance Between Us, which is pretty great. Caymen's poor, like shops at thrift stores because she has to poor. There's an incredibly adorable moment where Caymen takes Xander there because his clothes are too nice for a particular outing. The treatment of some of it's a bit idealized, since most of the discomfort about her economic status comes from her. However, Caymen does have some insulting friends, like the ones that show up in Pretty in Pink. Anyway, I really appreciate that West chose a heroine who's not in the upper or middle classes. On top of that, West, like in Pivot Point, does a fantastic job building out the supporting cast. There's a healthy female best friendship depicted between Caymen and Skye, who couldn't be more different, but love and support each other endlessly. Skye's boyfriend, Henry, who initially is kind of weird and didn't mesh with Caymen or me, turns out to be a sweetie and hilarious. Xander and Caymen's families both are well built as well. I love that West doesn't skimp out on the supporting cast. I love it so much. When you find yourself in need of a fluffy, happy-making read, look no further than The Distance Between Us. With well-developed characters, snappy dialogue and abundant humor, Kasie West's novels are must reads for me.

Man. Considering this book was Kasie West's first foray into YA Contemporary Romance, she absolutely knocked it out of the park. I think it's proof that her pivoting (ba-dum-tsss) to this genre after PIVOT POINT and SPLIT SECOND was a great decision. This book is like an AU of GILMORE GIRLS. You have the smart, beautiful, snarky daughter. The mother who got pregnant young, ran away from her wealthy parents, and now eschews anything related to that world. The quirky cast of side characters. The rich, privileged heir courting the small-town girl, who seemingly sweeps him off his feet after their first meeting. Only, the rich, privileged heir in question is a lot more likable than Logan Huntzberger. (Sorry if I just offended all the Logan fans out there; I'm Team All-Rory's-Boyfriends-Kind-of-Suck, personally.) And the smart, beautiful, snarky daughter has a better head on her shoulders than later-seasons Rory. This book has less of a plot than some of Kasie West's other offerings, but Caymen's wit and palpable chemistry with Xander carry the story regardless. I must say (and do not intend this as a back-handed compliment): THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US is a bit more descriptive than some of Kasie West's other books. She did a fantastic job with the world building in this one, painting a portrait of a sleepy beach town and the two different classes that inhabit it. I'm such a sucker for the "poor girl, rich guy" trope, so I absolutely loved all the scenes that highlighted how different Caymen and Xander's worlds truly were. The banter in this one is absolutely top-notch, and considering that I think the dialogue in every Kasie West book is second to none, that's saying something. I loved all of Caymen's sarcastic remarks about her mother's doll shop, even if I'm a dyed-in-the-wool doll collector who has probably spent well over a thousand dollars on my hobby at this point. I adored her friendship with Skye, who's the sort of ride-or-die friend we all need in our lives. And Xander. Oh my goodness, Xander. Can we just take a moment to talk about how adorable he is? I absolutely love his devotion to Caymen. I love their easy chemistry that practically leaps off every page. I love how he could've come off like a walking rich-boy stereotype but instead proves both Caymen and the readers wrong about him. I just love Xander, okay? He's by far one of my favorite Kasie West love interests, and if I had written this book, I'd be wondering how on Earth I was supposed to write a love interest that outshined him. (For the record, Cade from P.S. I LIKE YOU did just that, and Hayden from THE FILL-IN BOYFRIEND also came close.) No, but really, I've never found a book that gives me so many GILMORE GIRLS feels while also being its own completely separate and unique thing. And while I think Kasie West's plots and pacing have gotten a lot better since her first attempt at this genre, it boggles my mind that she'd never written YA Contemporary Romance before this. Because THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US is fantastic, plain and simple. Better yet, it's completely wholesome and clean! Side note: I'm kind of sad she's never written another book in first-person, present-tense. Maybe it's just me who thinks this, but I feel like her voice shined even more than usual in this book. I can't help but wonder how it would look if a current-day Kasie West wrote another book in first-person, present-tense. Anyone else out there curious about this, too? Okay, random tangent over. Buy this book. I promise you won't regret it, particularly if you are as obsessed with GILMORE GIRLS as I am.

Actual rating 3.5 stars This is the third title from Kasie West that I have read so far in what has turned out to be a typically expected pleasant contemporary. Interesting characters and predicaments make for a lovely romantic escape, and ‘The Distance Between Us’ does not disappoint. Caymen was a lot like me growing up (except I had two parents with high expectations and rules like hers). Her hard work ethic masking a romantic, yet practical side gave Caymen a grounded edge that had me easily relating to her. It was a nice break from flighty and stubborn protagonists and lent our lead a realistic and mature edge. It was great to see a love interest that was just what he seemed. I lurved Xander. He was real, making no apologies for his lifestyle and the resources he has at hand. Yes, that can be a little entitled, but he wore it well. I was ready to tackle Caymen to the ground and claim Xander all for myself. One thing about this novel - the doll shop had me freaked out – porcelain dolls are scary little buggars. I can remember my cousin chasing me around the back yard with one when I was younger wanting to play… the only thing you’ll get out of me with those creepy things about is a scream and a cloud of dust in my wake. I do enjoy Kasie’s writing style, it’s very easy to read and lends to a fast paced afternoon read. Great to curl up on the lounge and while away a lazy weekend! The surprise ending was a little cliché, but with a romance, it’s mostly expected. Very after school special. Recommended for those who enjoy quick, light-hearted, contemporary reads.

Loved this YA contemporary. I have heard people call this a bit of Pride And Prejudice and the 80's movie Pretty In Pink. I see what they mean but I wouldn't have expected the book I got if I'd have gone in with that expectation ahead of time. In guessing what audience this book would most appeal to, I am thinking perhaps fans of YA contemporaries such as Huntley's Fitzpatrick's My Life Next Door. I loved the voice of the main character Cayman. She has a dry wit and uses sarcasm and humor as her shield and defense mechanisms. She has been raised by her single mom who was abandoned by a wealthy guy the minute she found out she was pregnant. This mom was "disowned" by her parents and left very bitter, especially towards anyone with money. Cayman was raised around this class bias her entire life. She even agrees by default until a guy named Xander enters her life. Now she has to decide if there really is more to him than what she has always been led to expect from someone from money or if he is just playing around with her. On top of all of this she is trying to decide whether to follow her own heart into a a career she loves or loyalty to her Mom in helping out with her mom's flailing business. Xander is a very interesting character. We see him through Cayman's eyes so it is hard to always know his intentions though there are things that are much more apparent to the reader than to Cayman. I enjoyed his character a lot. He is not written as a "perfect" boy. He could be quite ignorant of the way other people live due to his life of privilege. I found him to be very realistic to a guy who was raised the way he was. He also is feeling suffocated by his father's expectations to replace him in his family's business and is at the point in his life where he pushes back against this. It was done in a way that a boy of 17 really would do- with all the attitude you'd expect out of a teenager. Especially one that actually was a lot like the dad he was trying to rebel against being like. **warning**- slight spoilers here. Skip to paragraph below if you want to avoid it- Ultimately I fell for Xander right alongside Cayman. He wasn't perfect but he was pretty darn awesome. He wanted to grow. I loved how Cayman would call him on stuff and he'd let her. I don't think anyone else but she could have opened his eyes that way. Xander would also call Cayman out on things which is part of what I think made them work as a couple. Together they were both able to grow as people to became something much more than either was on their own. I also was glad to see the growth in Cayman, including her making her own assessments of people based on who they were rather than what/where they came from. I also enjoyed some of the side characters. Side characters are really hard to write in a way where they have enough presence to feel 3 dimensional while not overtaking the story. The side characters were well done here and there are several I'd enjoy reading more about. There are some issues lightly touched on such as class biases, pride, stubbornness and prejudices. All of this wrapped up with the romantic story that I really enjoyed. All in all it made for a great read. This author is definitely on my radar now and I am looking forward to reading more by her

Even a couple chapters into this book, I knew I was really going to enjoy it and I had to ask myself why in the world I waited so long to start it. I'm so glad my friend Jessica read it recently and reviewed it, because it reminded me how much I'd wanted to read it back before it was released last fall. I was in a bit of a slump, so I decided to buy the audiobook and start it at work. I'm so glad I did! I found Caymen both likable and relatable. I loved her dry sense of humor and sarcasm. She took on more responsibility than she probably should've had to at her age, but I didn't see that as a flaw. I know she was trying to do what was best for her mom and their doll shop, but I still wish she had been maybe just a little more selfish in going after what she wanted instead of putting herself behind the store's needs. Her relationship with her mom might not have been perfect, but I thought it was pretty believable. It was obvious how much her mom's opinion of rich people affected Caymen's own views in how fervently she fought against liking Xander. I'm also glad that was a battle she lost. Because really, I adored Xander. At my age I probably shouldn't be talking about the swoony factor of a teenage boy in a book, but I'm going to do it anyhow. I loved Xander from the beginning. I enjoyed his sense of humor and the banter between him and Caymen. He too was struggling to find his place in the world – and decide what the future held for him – so they connected pretty easily over that. Xander might have been from an incredibly wealthy family but he wasn't the kind of rich person Caymen's mom had warned her about. (Warnings which become rather ironic late in the book, but you'll have to read about that yourself.) Xander was pretty damn close to perfect, even if I spent a couple chapters wondering otherwise. I really enjoyed this story. There were some twists that took me a bit by surprise, but it wasn't too overly-dramatic or angsty. I loved Caymen and Xander together. Despite a small love triangle, it was always clear to me who belonged with whom. I swooning over the innocence of first love and Kasie West writes it so very well. I started reading this in audiobook format and read about 2/3 of the book this way before switching to Kindle because I couldn't wait for a good opportunity to listen to the audiobook. I had to find out what happened! I really liked the narrator of this book. I thought Jorjeana Marie did a great job of voicing Caymen, Xander and the rest of the crew. It was easy to imagine that I was listening to Caymen speak. Kasie West is two for two with contemporary books as far as I'm concerned. Of course, I'm already anxiously awaiting The Fill-In Boyfriend, but as much as I've enjoyed her contemporary stories, I'm considering taking a chance on her Pivot Point fantasy series.

I purchased this book yesterday because I was looking for some fun , light chick lit to occupy the lazy evening I was enjoying. The premise sounded cute and the sample I read was intriguing and well-written, so I decided to give it a shot, still not completely sure what to expect. What I got was an extremely enjoyable read that I wasn't able to put down until I reached the final sentence. For the first time in a long time, I found myself not only wanting to meet the main characters after I had finished the book, but also wanting to meet the author who created them and just have a cup of coffee and a long talk. This only further proves my point. This book was fantastic. Caymen, the main character, managed to be hilarious, bitingly sarcastic, and likable all at the same time. If you understand the art of sarcasm or come backs at all you will develop a deep appreciation for Caymen and the author that created her. The male lead, Xander, I was more hesitant about at first because of his whole schtick (rich, handsome, killer smile, and, almost from the very second he waltzes onto the page, devastatingly charming) but I warmed to him quickly as well. As someone who's family has also struggled with money problems, I could relate to Caymen and understand her general distrust and dislike of "rich" people, but the author managed to create in Xander a really wealthy character with all of the foibles of the rich's ignorance of how, as Caymen calls herself and those around her, "the common people" live, but still make him likable, give him real faults, and maintain a sincerity of character that I really admired. An addicting blend of sweet and sour, this book will make you smile and will brighten up any cloudy day. All in all, this book has a strong foundation, an understandable and real conflict, a strong sense of timing and humor, and an ending that will satisfy everyone who believes that even if we don't always know where we're going or what we want to do in life, we will find the truest version of ourselves reflected in the eyes of those who love us the most.

La trama può sembrare la classica storia tra un ragazzo ricco e una ragazza povera e in realtà è così ma allo stesso tempo la relazione tra questi due ragazzi è trattata in modo diverso dal solito, è originale. Caymen e Xander sono due adolescenti che stanno cercando di capire cosa fare in futuro, quale strada intraprendere e grazie a un'idea davvero carina di Xander si aiutano a vicenda. Ecco come inizia la loro amicizia...

Well made and tough enough to carry around. Covers are thicker then the pages. Should last a long time.

I really love this book! Kasie has a unique way of describing and delighting the reader, with the perfect touch of reality. Of six books I read by her, four became my favorites, I'll leave the names here in case anyone is interested: The fill in Boyfriend, By your side, P.S. I like you, and of course, The distance Between us ❤️ About the edition, it's light and smells great, I already have the Brazilian editions of her books, but I like it so much that I had to have the originals too!

Caymen is seventeen and lives with her mother in a tiny appartment above their porcelain-doll store where she helps her mother. Her mothers has issues with rich people as her father left her when she got pregnant and his parents paid her money to get rid of her. Caymen was raised to not trust people with money. One day changes all when rich Xander Spence walks in the store to pick up a doll his grandmother has ordered. He seems different but Caymen is sure she is just a novelty and he gets bored with her soon. But Xander seems to prove her wrong - or is he? What a charming story! I loved Caymen's sarcasm and her witty remarks which made me laugh out loud while reading this book. She is a tough cookie and had to deal with a lot. The story was nicely written and I enjoyed the read very much. The end was a bit abrupt and I would have loved to learn more about how it finally ended - I don't want to go into detail to avoid spoilers but some things are still open. Nevertheless, it was a great book and I will definitely recommend it to friends.

Protagonist Caymen expresses her feelings about the wealthy from the very beginning of the book. She also states that her father was from a wealthy family who abandoned her and her mother after paying them off. Obviously, she has issues because of this event and so I couldn't really blame her for her preconceptions. Caymen could be bitter but she isn't. She makes the most of what she has, even if she hates living above and working in her mother's doll shop. Dolls are bloody creepy so no wonder Caymen doesn't enjoy her job. As a character, I absolutely loved Caymen. She was funny and sweet although snarky and sarcastic at the same time. She gave as good as she could get and was so fun to read about. Then comes Xander aka Alex or Alexander. To begin with I had a bit of a problem with him because of his name. Now, Alexander is a normal name but I hate names being shortened. My fiancé and I have had a big thing over this particular name as an option for our own children because I would refuse to have it shortened to anything. So, because Alexander has two alternatives, this really bugged me. Name aside, I did like him. He comes from a world so completely different to Caymen's and the banter between the two was fantastic. Caymen has ideas about Xander from the very start whereas he doesn't judge her at all. He is from a very well off and successful family but he isn't what Caymen expects him to be at all. What I really enjoyed about this book was the relationship building between Caymen and Xander. There isn't any of this instantly falling in love stuff that we get in a lot of young adult books. Instead, the two form a friendship and build from there slowly. At the same time, West gives us a really fun plot about finding yourself and trying new things. Neither Caymen or Xander know what they want to do with their lives and a large part of the book is spent trying to figure that out together. As the characters spend quite a bit of time together, we get to know each of them individually and together which was a great thing. Throughout the book, we get to realise that even though their families have different incomes, Caymen and Xander really aren't that different in the end. So, not only is the plot great and the main characters fantastic, but there are other awesome things about this book too. The Distance Between Us is really funny. Caymen has this dry sense of humour which had me laughing out loud at times. Add her sarcasm into that and she's a definite winner. There are also some great twists in the plot which were quite exciting and they also broke up the romance between Caymen and Xander. Secondary characters were also great and all (especially Caymen's mum) brought something different to this book. Overall, I loved this book. Kasie West's writing is addictive, as is her plot. She writes great characters who are easy to relate to and also who I liked very much. I can't wait to read more from this author.