The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

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.

Review: I am surprised by how much I like this one! I've read Pivot Point and Split Second, so I wasn't actually expecting that much in terms of character development and plot, but after reading this one I might go read them again!

I LOVE that Caymen talks about her weird dry humor - and then actually displays a weird dry sense of humor! I would have known that about her even if she hadn't pointed it out constantly, and I appreciate that. I like that she doesn't change herself for Xander, despite how much she likes him.

I like that I (pretty much) remembered Caymen's name after reading this book. That's a bit of a pet peeve with me, when books are written in the first person and you can't remember the main character's name afterwards.

I also loved Caymen and Xander's quest to "discover themselves," as it were. I love that Caymen comes up with creative and interesting answers to Xander's "career days," even though she can't jet him off to Vegas or borrow a penthouse suite.

I wasn't too into the way Caymen was preoccupied with Xander's wealth, but considering her background and her mom's attitude towards it, it was understandable.

Also, because of how the town where they live is described as Haves vs. Have Nots, I kept wanting to picture it as Neptune, California.

You're welcome.

Goodreads Shelves: addictive, bechdel-test, fluffy, funny, is-or-would-be-a-good-movie, is-this-a-kissing-book, my-kind-of-woman, nook-ya

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