❤ The Distance Between Us by Kasie West | Book Review ❤

The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

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Publisher: HarperCollins (Harper Teen)

Released Date: July 2, 2013

Pages: 320

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Chick Lit

Format & Source: eBook from King County Library System

Kasie West is the author of Pivot Point, On The Fence, The Fill-In Boyfriend, etc.

SUMMARY: (cr. Goodreads)

Money can't buy a good first impression.

Seventeen-year-old Caymen Meyers learned early that the rich are not to be trusted. And after years of studying them from behind the cash register of her mom's porcelain-doll shop, she has seen nothing to prove otherwise. Enter Xander Spence—he's tall, handsome, and oozing rich. Despite his charming ways and the fact that he seems to be 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 just when Xander's loyalty and attentiveness 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. With so many obstacles standing in their way, can she close the distance between them?

Before Reading:

First of all, let me talk about the cover. I am a sucker for cute/girly covers, and this cover got my attention! Here's the thing, the cover has NOTHING to do with the story, AT ALL! I looked at the cover thinking this is a book about a poor boy and rich/spoiled girl, well not really spoiled but, you know~ In the book, Xander is a guy who most of the time, wear suits. And Caymen rarely wear dress, especially pink girly ones.. Also, the title got me thinking that this book must revolve around a long distance relationship, not the best title, but it does have meaning after you read the book!

While Reading:

I adore Caymen's wit and sarcasm! And their conversation got me smiling every time. :) And Xander, OH BOY XANDER, he is such a hottie! He is so full of himself in such a good way that I fell for him, gotta say one of my top Fictional Crush. I mean, who wouldn't want to have a Xander in front of their house every morning, give them a cup of hot chocolate, and share an indirect kiss! ;D

As much as I enjoy Xander and Cayme love story, the progress between Caymen and her mom keep me going. It was realistic! Parents always want to keep their children from experiencing what they themselves went through before, especially when the result is never good, but they don't know that each person's life is different!

Evaluation:

I give this book a 3.5 buns out of a 5 buns. 

It took me a week to finish this book, mostly because I had a lot of tests, but the book itself doesn't have any interesting twist and turn for me to anticipate.. 

I like this book, simple and cute! If you like one of those rich boy/poor girl, cheesy love stories, this book is for you!

Review by Tran Vo

✌ LAST POST: Right of Way by Lauren Barnholdt Review ✌

❤ Right of Way by Lauren Barnholdt | Book Review ❤

Right of Way by Lauren Barnholdt

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Publisher: Simon Pulse

Released Date: July 9th, 2013

Pages: 320

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Road Trip

Format & Source: eBook from King County Library System

Lauren Barnholdt wrote many great and famous Young Adult Chick Lit such as Two-Way Street, One Night That Changes Everything, Through To You, etc...

SUMMARY: (cr. Goodreads)

Can a road trip repair a romance gone wrong? Find out in this standalone companion to Lauren Barnholdt’s Two-way Street.

Here are Peyton and Jace, meeting on vacation. Click! It’s awesome, it’s easy, it’s romantic. This is the real deal.

Unless it isn’t. Because when you’re in love, you don’t just stop calling one day. And you don’t keep secrets. Or lie. And when your life starts falling apart, you’re supposed to have the other person to lean on.

Here are Peyton and Jace again, broken up but thrown together on a road trip. One of them is lying about the destination. One of them is pretending not to be leaving something behind. And neither of them is prepared for what’s coming on the road ahead…

Before Reading:

I found this book while browsing through my online Library eBook section! I thought the author name was really familiar. Knowing that Google is my best friend, I did some research, and found out that Lauren Barnholdt also wrote Two-Way Street, one of my favorite book in my Wishlist. I also found out that this was the 'Companion novel' to Two-Way Street, so I thought I should be familiar with all of the characters after I finish this book, Right of Way, and decided to check it out.

While Reading:

I cringe a lot at the cheesiness of the romance and all, but one thing I adore from this book is the 'playing hard to get' game between Peyton and Jace! Be honest, who think Hector is the cutest fictional dog ever raise your hand! *raise mine immediately*

The ending wasn't satisfying also.. So throughout the book, Peyton was being stubborn because her mom used her name to buy stuffs, but in the end, I still don't know how she fix that. So the main reason why she left because she's mad at her mom, was to end with her coming to Jace's house.. WHAT?

Here is one thing to keep in mind while reading this book, every 2 chapters, the present tense and past tense is going to switch. So it'll be like: Chapter 1 - Jace POV (flashback), then the date and the time. Chapter 2 - Peyton POV (flashback), Chapter 3 - Peyton POV (present), Chapter 4 - Jace POV (present), and it just goes on like that..

I found it annoying when she repeat their thought when it is exactly the same..

~~

I'm like "Okay! I got it, they still like each other! I can tell!!".

Evaluation:

I give this book 3.5 buns out of 5 buns.

I personally adore books that revolve around a road trips, because I think the romance is more 'adventurous' and challenging! Although, it was also disappointing when I finished the book and not a single road trip-adventure happened in the book.. The story line was about her running away because she was mad at her mom, but at the end of the book, it ends with her coming to Jace's house.. -.- I thought she would either end up at North Carolina with Jace or Jace would bring her home to Connecticut..

If you want to read this book because you like Road Trip fictions, don't! The ending is disappointing.. Anyway, if you just want to read Lauren Barnholdt's work, this book would be great to read in the summer!

Quote(s) I like:

(Lol, why is this so depressing.. xD)

Review by Tran Vo

✌ LAST POST: If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince? Review ✌

❤ If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince? by Melissa Kantor | Book Review ❤

If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince? by Melissa Kantor

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Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Released Date: September 1, 2005

Pages: 288

Target Audience: Teens, Young adults, Romance, Fairy tale

Format & Source: Hardcover from my Grandpa/Aunt

Melissa Kantor is the author of Confessions of a Not It Girl, which was chosen as the Booklist Top Ten Romance Novel for Youth in 2004.

SUMMARY: (cr. Goodread)

Wicked stepmother? Check. Evil stepsisters? Check. Miserable life? Check.

Lucy Norton’s life has all the makings of a Cinderella story. Her dad’s always away on business, leaving Lucy with her cruel stepmother and bratty stepsisters. She’s burdened with chores, and has a hard time fitting in at her new school. So when she sees Connor Pearson, the star player on the varsity basketball team, Lucy hopes her destiny has finally changed. With everything else going on in her life, doesn’t she at least deserve to get the handsome prince?

Before Reading:

Before I actually read the summary in the inside flap of the book, I thought this would be one of those 'old school' books with a plain and boring plot. The title was pretty clear to me that is book is a making of Cinderella. Even after when I finished the book, I still don't see a connection between the cover picture and the story line.. For those like me who judge books base on their cover, don't miss understand the black and white theme on the front!

While Reading:

My feels were all over the places and I cried a lot, especially the part when her dad gave Lucy her mother's painting for her, I felt as if somehow I can relates to that pain. My mom wasn't always by my side throughout my whole childhood, and I was going through a face of puberty, which left me thinking I was useless and no one cares about me, when in reality, I was the one who is pushing others away.

This book was written in the third person point of view. For me, I would pick this book as a Young Adult Romance Contemporary Chick Lit! I like a how from the beginning, she was a selfish and rude girl, and toward the end, she changed completely, she became way nicer and think of other people before herself. 

Evaluation:

I give this book 3 buns out of 5 buns!

This book contains a lot of emotional teen issues, but it also made me giggle like a little kids and shudder at the cheesy but cute romance. I don't know why a lot of people does not like this book, but this book was one of the first young adult romance book I've ever read, and it inspired me to read more books like this. Yes, the plot was predictable and the character wasn't really 'friendly', but I love the message that the author wants to leave for the readers. I'll definitely check out her other books too.

If you want a humorous but emotional YA Romance all in one, this would be PERFECT for you. I think age from 13 to 18 would like this book. 

Quote(s) I like:
- "After all, what did Prince Charming know about Cinderella besides her shoe size?"

Review by Tran Vo