Review: The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

Published July 2nd, 2013
HarperTeen
320 pages (Paperback)

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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. (From Goodreads)

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I enjoyed The Distance Between Us, but I kind of had some issues with it.

As far as contemporary books go, it was a good read.  I sped through the first 80% of the book.  The story was easy to read and had a nice flow to it.  I always picture books as movies in my head as I read them, and this one in particular flowed wonderfully.  The relationship between Cayman and Xander built nicely.  I liked the sarcasm that Cayman used.  It was her way of separating herself from the real world, and many people, including myself, can relate to her feelings and doubts.

The first problem was that, with about 40 pages left, I sat the book down for almost a month.  I just lost interest.  If anything, the point I sat the book down at was the climax of the story.  There was no particular reason for this.  I just sat it down and went to something else.  When I finally did finish the book, I encountered the second issue.  The ending left so many questions open!  It felt like there should have been one or two more chapters, simply to tie up the loose ends.  The ending was simply to blunt for my liking, as if you reach a steep drop with no where to go.

I think fans of contemporary will really enjoy this one, with the exception of the ending.  I liked it, but wouldn't say that it was a favourite.