The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

The Distance Between Us

by Kasie West

Read: June 2013 

Published: July 2nd 2013 by Harper Teen

Source: Around the World Arc Tours

Category: Contemporary YA

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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The Distance Between Us has a cute cover and a cute concept. But I'm going to be honest and say that it wasn't for me, despite how much I really wanted to like the story. 

Caymen Meyers is 17 and poor. Her lack of money is her most defining characteristic. She lives above her mother's struggling porcelain doll shop and has resigned herself to a life of mediocrity. Caymen has decided that it's better to be content about the life that she has than have any ambition at all. Because Caymen's wealthy father ran out on her mother when he got her pregnant, Caymen's mother has ingrained in her that rich people are untrustworthy and have short attention spans. The only thing they're good for is buying the expensive dolls in her shop. Then Xander Spence comes into the doll shop to buy something for his grandmother. He is clearly very rich, so Caymen can't figure out why he seems to be interested in her. And though Caymen enjoys spending time with Xander, she won't let herself get too close, because she knows he won't be around for long. Except that, the more Caymen gets to know Xander, the harder it is for her to stay away. 

Caymen and Xander connect over the fact that they are stuck in similar situations, under parental expectations. Well, Xander connects to Caymen that way. Caymen never buys that she has anything in common with Xander. But despite Caymen's negativity and their extreme differences in wealth, both Caymen and Xander feel like they have no control over their futures. Because neither knows what they want out of life, except that it's definitely different from where they're headed, the two of them embarked on a series of career dates to determine what each other should do. I liked this set-up for the book and their initial connection. I also enjoyed watching Caymen slowly learn that not all rich are like her father, as well as seeing Caymen introduce Xander to her side of life. The salvation army scene was particularly fun for that.  However, I didn't really appreciate Caymen's constant contrasting her life with Xander's. A few times were plenty to get the point across. Yet, anytime they were together, and often when they weren't, she was thinking about how much wealthier he was than her. It was exhausting. 

I also wasn't all that excited about the characters in this story. I never really warmed up to Caymen. I found her dry sarcastic humor to be irritating (I know many people have enjoyed her wit), and was frustrated with her inability to believe that she could do anything with her life, because she was raised without a lot of money. I also think the villain in this story, if there was one, would be her mother. Despite how much Caymen told the reader how great her relationship with her mom was, her mom came across as a selfish, irresponsible, bitter person who heaped too much pressure on her daughter. Even before we found out that Caymen's mom was hiding something, I didn't care for her. Caymen's relationship with her read as uncomfortably co-dependent, instead of a fun single-mother/daughter bond. 

Then there was Mason, who was supposed to present an alternative choice to Xander, because he came from her side of the tracks. Unfortunately, Mason had not one compelling quality besides his singing voice. I just wanted him expunged from the book all together. I did like Xander, as well as Caymen's one quirky friend Skye, however, neither of them made a lasting impression on me.  

The best scene in the book was the one involving Skye and toilet paper. I laughed out loud at it, but also thought it signaled a positive turning point in Caymen's life. The scene after was equally good. I wish there'd been more moments like those in this story, and that the book hadn't ended as conveniently as it did. 

My major problem with this book is that I disagree with its message. I wanted to see Caymen allow herself to want things, and believe that she could make something out of her life, despite her lack of money. I also wish that Caymen's mother had encouraged her to live her own life, or that Caymen had figured that out for herself, despite her mother's feelings. I don't like that Caymen seemed to have no joy or future prospects just because she had no money. Then the ending was way too perfect, and actually made this message even worse.

In her review, my friend Heather @ The Flyleaf Review talks about how The Distance Between Us reminded her of Pretty in Pink, which I can definitely see. (She liked this book much better than I did, so you should check out her thoughts for a different opinion). However, I kept thinking about Gilmore Girls when I read The Distance Between Us. Although some of the themes are similar - a single mother and her daughter and a missing/wealthy father, this book isn't like that TV show, especially in the characterizations. But with Caymen and her mom living over a creepy doll shop, and having a rich dad not in the picture, I thought this story could have been fun and quirky, with a strong mother-daughter relationship. But I didn't get those things out of this story. 

I'm sorry this review is so negative. I know a lot of people liked The Distance Between Us, and I hope you do too. However this book didn't work for me character or message wise. Also, as cute as that cover is, it doesn't fit Caymen at all. No way could she afford to dress like that. 

Love Triangle Factor: Mild
Cliffhanger Scale: Standalone

SERIES CHALLENGE FRIDAYS: What is your favorite way to read a series?

The Summer Series Challenge has begun! 

Hosted by Asheley @ Into the Hall of Books

Heather @ The Flyleaf Review

Lauren @ Love is not a triangle

Follow #serieschallenge

My favorite way to read a series

A big factor in determining how much I like a series is...MOMENTUM. I know that's nebulous, and not something that an author can specifically strive for (although who doesn't want that?). But I love the feeling of getting totally immersed in a story and a world. Taking a big chunk out of a series is the best way for me to do that. I get such a rush when I embark on reading a completed series one book right after another. Usually the further in I get, the more frantic my reading becomes, and the more I live and breathe a story. I love it. 

Sometimes I lose momentum by spreading a series out over time, because I forget elements that happened previously, or I've just lost interest in the story. Though that usually proves that it isn't as compelling as I'd originally thought. Of course I could always re-read the previous book(s). But realistically I don't have time to reread every series each time a new book releases. Spreading a series out, also means that I have a lot of time to analyze what happened in the previous books, and then predict the future of the series. While this is always fun to do, especially with friends who are equally invested, sometimes overanalyzing a series can heighten my expectations, instead of just allowing me to experience organically where the story goes. 

Some series I read in a week or less: 

 A few of these are 5-6 book series. I don't think I could handle more than 6 in a week. 

(I only read the first 3 Mortal Instruments books together. The Iron Fey and Queen's Thief series, I read the first 3 books back to back and # 4 at a different time. Once I'm that invested, waiting for future books doesn't ruin momentum - it just makes me impatient.)

Clearly I should be tackling more series this way. But I'm impatient and like to read new books when they come out. It's also hard to read this way when I'm blogging, because I have more obligations. I tend to block out the world for the week that I'm reading a series and neglect everything. 

That's one reason why I'm so excited about the Summer Series Challenge, because it's an opportunity to go back to some fully published series that I've been dying to read and enjoy them all at once. 

What is your favorite way to read a series? 

Does the #serieschallenge compliment or challenge your series reading habits? 

What series have you read in a week?

Sign up for the Summer Series Challenge today!

Link up your June reviews! 

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Ink by Amanda Sun

Ink

by Amanda Sun

Read: June 8 - 10, 2013

Published: June 25, 2013 by Harlequin Teen 

Source: From publisher in exchange for an honest review

Category: Paranormal Romance, Japanese culture, YA

Series: Book 1 Paper gods 

On the heels of a family tragedy, the last thing Katie Greene wants to do is move halfway across the world. Stuck with her aunt in Shizuoka, Japan, Katie feels lost. Alone. She doesn’t know the language, she can barely hold a pair of chopsticks, and she can’t seem to get the hang of taking her shoes off whenever she enters a building.

Then there’s gorgeous but aloof Tomohiro, star of the school’s kendo team. How did he really get the scar on his arm? Katie isn’t prepared for the answer. But when she sees the things he draws start moving, there’s no denying the truth: Tomo has a connection to the ancient gods of Japan, and being near Katie is causing his abilities to spiral out of control. If the wrong people notice, they'll both be targets.Katie never wanted to move to Japan—now she may not make it out of the country alive. (From Goodreads)

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A personal connection 

Ink wasn't on my radar at all until I attended the Harlequin Teen breakfast during BEA. Instead of a panel discussion, the breakfast was set up as a round-robin. There was an empty spot at each of the tables where the authors rotated through one at a time. Amanda Sun was the first author to visit our table, and everything she said made me want to read and love her debut novel. She talked about her book's art themes that are based on Japan's rich artistic traditions. She discussed living in Japan in high school, visiting to do research and wanting her book to be as authentic as possible. All elements that are important to me when reading a book that takes place in a different country. She also purposefully chose to begin her story after its protagonist Katie has been in Japan for a few weeks, because she didn't want the story to be all about Katie's transition from America to her new Japanese school.  

The other tidbit of information that Ms. Sun imparted, which made my experience reading Ink better, was that she's written an ebook prequel to her novel. Shadow is FREE and available now. It tells the back story of Katie's journey to Japan, from her mother's funeral to her first day of school. Though this wasn't necessary to get to know Katie, I valued the greater connection I gained with her and her grief. 

However, what's best about Shadow is that Katie's perspective is alternated with Tomohiro's viewpoint. Because Ink is written entirely from Katie's POV, the novella provides valuable information about the boy whose drawings take on a life of their own  - the nature of his nightmares, what happened in his relationship with his ex-girlfriend and why he believes he's connected to Katie. Although it is not essential to understanding Ink, the story helped me know both characters better. And because I'd been inside of Tomo's head, I never saw him as a mysterious bad boy, but instead as a guy who's lost and tortured and dealing with a scary ability spiraling out of his control. I hope we get more of this series written from Tomo's viewpoint. 

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The ink

Ink combines Japan's rich traditions of paper arts and animation with Japanese mythology and history to create an enchanting story that is magical, thrilling and romantic. 

Ink is about a boy whose drawings come to life and the girl who discovers his secret. It's realizing that tragedy changes you and not being afraid to live your life even when it looks different than before. It's finding a home and friends in unexpected places. It's danger and betrayal, being part of something bigger than yourself and finding your own path in life even when it scares you. 

I love books that take place in different countries in the world, especially when it is clear that the author knows the place she's depicting. Amanda Sun brought Japan to life for me in Ink. Both the daily lives of students - their school slippers, infrared phones and confessions - to their recreational activities, catch phrases and spiritual beliefs. I ate up every single bit of the Japanese culture in this story. I could picture it all as Ms. Sun drew it with her words and now I want to visit even more. Although the book is in English (thankfully), the characters' conversations even felt like they'd been written in Japanese first and then translated to English for the book. What I mean, is that the cadence read differently to me when Katie spoke in Japanese versus English, making the story feel more authentic. There are also a lot of Japanese words and phrases interspersed throughout, giving the book even more of an authentic flair. If you're worried, there is a glossary at the end, but I didn't use it. 

Where Ink is weakest is in the beginning. Even knowing Katie and Tomohiro's backstory in the prequel, Katie latches onto Tomo a little too quickly. While I believe in instant attraction, the immediately high level of Katie's interest in Tomo and desire to figure him out, seemed overly sudden. However, I actually like how their romance develops throughout this story as a whole. If you have trouble with the start of their story, I urge you to keep reading. The second half is much stronger. I was personally so invested in reading about daily life in Japan in the beginning, and the thrilling evolution of Tomo's talent throughout the rest of the story that the slow start did not throw off my experience with the book. 

I am sad to see so many mixed reviews of Ink, and I hope that you'll give it a chance. By the end of the novel, I was completely captivated by a world where ink flows like blood and drawings come to life in beautiful and frightening ways. I am eager to find out the next part of Katie and Tomohiro's story. 

Love Triangle Factor: MILD: There is the hint that one could be coming at one point in the story, but it never goes in that direction. I don't foresee this other person being a romantic threat in the future. 

Cliffhanger Scale: LOW: The first chapter of book 2 was in the back of my ARC and it made me excited to continue the story, but I felt good about where this one ended.   

Awaken by Meg Cabot

Awaken
by Meg Cabot
Read: June 2 - 7, 2013
Published:  July 2, 2013 by Point (Scholastic) **UPCOMING**
Source: From publisher at BEA! 
Category: paranormal romance, myth retelling, YA
Series: Abandon trilogy, book 3 

NOTE: Awaken is the third book in a series. My thoughts on the first two books, Abandon and Underworld can be found on Goodreads. This review is safe if you've yet to start the series. 

Death has her in his clutches. She doesn’t want him to let go.

Seventeen-year-old Pierce Oliviera knew by accepting the love of John Hayden, she’d be forced to live forever in the one place she’s always dreaded most: the Underworld. The sacrifice seemed worth it, though, because it meant she could be with the boy she loves.

But now her happiness — and safety — are threatened, all because the Furies have discovered that John has broken one of their strictest rules: He revived a human soul.

If the balance between life and death isn’t fixed, both the Underworld and Pierce’s home back on earth will be wiped away. But there’s only one way to restore order. Someone has to die. (from Goodreads)
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Fates, Furies and ferry boats sum up Awaken. Oh and Death. Both the deity and actual bodies dropping, which make sense because a lot of it takes place in the Underworld. Awaken is the third book in the The Abandon trilogy, a modern day re-imagining of the Hades/Persephone myth, although none of these characters is actually Hades or Persephone. The mythology in this series is interesting and well written, especially as it connects to Isla Huesos (Island of Bones) where the story takes place. These three books are told as one continuing story arc, which means that each one felt a little incomplete without the others. Now that the third is about to release, it's the best time to read them. 

Awaken is definitely my favorite book of the series, mostly because I struggled a lot to connect with both Pierce and John in the first two books. John, because he sometimes read more like an over possessive stalker than a love interest, and Pierce because her mind bounces all over the place, making me nervous. Although I like that she is spunky and has a great sense of humor, I've had trouble following her at times. She and I just don't operate on the same wavelength*. Thankfully, I did like them both the best in this installment. I finally began to understand why Meg Cabot paired them up, and I saw more equality in their relationship, which is something that is very important for me when reading a love story. 

I think I struggled with John and Pierce's relationship at first because the beginning of their connection is told mostly in brief flash backs in the first book. This made the start their romance disjointed and rushed, without much of a build up between them. Then all of a sudden the were in love. There is a bit more to it than that, but it still read strangely to me. Also, John is more traditional in his perspective, and Pierce is a modern girl with ADHD, which explains much of both of their behaviors. However, the more time I've spent with them, the more I like them together. Cabot actually did a great job with their characterization, because who they are and how they behave actually makes a lot of sense. And despite their differences, or because of them, they are very good for each other. 

John especially became more relatable and less intense in this book, and he was even part of some amusing scenes. Pierce too steps it up even more and saves John this time around. She also knows exactly who John is and handles him well - while changing him in the process too. He can be very protective, which actually makes sense for where he comes from (I've really liked his progress from the first book), but Pierce is able to be her own person despite that. She rolls her eyes and does what she wants anyway, which I like a lot. Thankfully, John really appreciates and respects who she is. 

Like the other books in the Abandon trilogy, Awaken features an amusing secondary cast of characters, my favorite being Mr. Smith the cemetery sexton, but I also like his partner Patrick, Pierce's friend Kayla and her cousin Alex as well as John's 'co-workers.' John's horse Alastor is pretty awesome too. The southern Florida setting with the heat and the culture and hurricanes, all gives this book especially a great atmospheric feel.  

If you've enjoyed this series all along, I think you will be very happy with its conclusion. If like me, you've struggled with it, but stuck with the story for some unexplainable reason, I think you'll also be happy. Abandon is the only Meg Cabot series I've read, and while it's not my favorite, I can see why everyone likes her books. Despite her characters' flaws and annoying qualities, they are still endearing and fun. 

Love Triangle Factor: None
Cliffhanger Scale: Series Finale

Aren't these covers lovely together?

This is my second series finished for the Summer Series Challenge!

*On a very random side note, I felt like I understood Kiri from Hilary T. Smith's Wild Awake very well, despite the fact that her mind could also be a chaotic place. For some reason, Kiri made sense to me, but after 3 books with Pierce, her mind is still a stressful and confusing place for me to inhabit. 

Top Ten Memorable Beach Reads

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke & The Bookish

Top Ten Memorable Beach Reads 

Every summer my family rents a house at the beach for a week, and every year we follow the same routine. For at least 6 of those 7 days we plant ourselves on the sand at 9 am and stay there until after 4 pm. While we do spend time walking along the ocean or playing in the water, most of our days are filled with reading. On a blanket in the sun, under an umbrella, sitting by the water. It is the most relaxing week of my year...that was until I had children and now spend most of the time chasing them up and down the beach. Thankfully, I still manage to find some time to read. 

Not only do I read, but the beach I visit has an amazing little paperback bookstore in town, where you can trade in books to get discounts on used titles. I have many fond memories of perusing those shelves, and picking up titles to read. 

I have very vivid memories of all the books I've read during my yearly week at the shore, and I'm going to share some of them with you here. As you can see, I've not really stuck to any type of genre. Just whatever my interests are at the time. 

10 Memorable Beach Reads

1) Strong Poison by Dorothy Sayers - One summer I went through a mystery kick and read a bunch of Lord Peter Whimsey murder mysteries at the beach. Written in the 1920s, these books are sophisticated, clever and a lot of fun. Think Agatha Christie but with a clever but bored member of the aristocracy and his butler who keeps him grounded. Plus the later books have a sweet romance. **I have also read several Christie titles at the beach over the years.** 

2) The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain - This is the only Chamberlain book I've read, but I really enjoyed it. One of the best parts of going to the beach and reading with family is passing novels around. This is one that my mom, sisters and I all read one year. It's about an unsolved murder, a missing child and the woman at the center of it all. This book sucked us all in. 

3) Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire - Wicked was a beach reading FAIL.  The summer I chose this book, I had the clever plan to read it quickly and then tackle a bunch of other books I'd brought. Nope. It took me. All. Week. Long. to finish this one story. While I enjoy alternate histories, this one dragged out and got way too political for my tastes. However, I do LOVE this musical. You should definitely see that. 

4) Sophie Kinsella - One summer I read all of Sophie Kinsella's books. Including all the Shopaholics, though I'm still not sure how I managed them, because they stress me out. However, all of her others are so much fun. As I've mentioned before, my favorite is Can You Keep A Secret. I remember staying up late at the beach and laughing so hard while reading it.  

5) Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare - I finished this unexpectedly good love triangle series this year, but it all began for me at the beach a few years ago when I decided to read the first book in the series. Will, Tessa and Jem stole my heart from the beginning. 

6) Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness - Last year's beach read was the sequel to A Discovery of Witches. I loved the historical time travel in this story, and I think the series has become more and more addicting as I go along. I read this one along with Carrie @OneBookishMom and readalongs are always more fun!

7)  Such a Rush by Jennifer Echols - I also read Such a Rush last year at the beach, which was PERFECT, because it's about a girl who is a pilot for an aerial banner-advertising business, and while reading, I watch planes and banners go past all day long: 

8) Any Harry Potter - I LOVE HP as a beach read, especially when it's in audio format. I have many fond memories of listening to the books on our drives to the shore. 

9) Persuasion by Jane Austen - I even love to read classics on the beach. I picked up a copy of Persuasion one summer at the used bookstore. Besides Pride and Prejudice, this is my favorite Austen. 

10) I'm still trying to decide what to read this year! Because I'm also participating in the Summer Series Challenge, I'd like to read a series from start to finish at the beach, but I'm not sure which one I'll pick. Maybe Kate Daniels or Jessica Darling. Or I could choose something totally different. Thoughts?

What are your favorite books to read on the beach?