Book: On The Fence by Kasie West

 ★★★★★/★★★★★

 “We can't let boys define how we feel about ourselves. You have to know who you are before you should let any boy worth anything in.”

Okay. So, On The Fence is officially my new favorite West book! Like her other books, this one is cute, sweet and everything is just so perfect! Few pages in and I knew I was going to love it. And West does not disappoint. If I enjoyed The Distance Between Us, The Fill-In Boyfriend and P.S. I Like You, I really truly dearly loved On The Fence!! ♥

On The Fence is the story of Charlie, a girl who grew up with a single father and three brothers, Jerom, Nathan and Gage, plus Braden, their neighbor who might as well be her fourth brother for always being with them. Right from the start it's always been Charlie, her father, her brothers and Braden. They're a family which everyone is comfortable with. Now Charlie is sixteen and growing up surrounded by her brothers and Braden, she has somehow became "one of the boys", acting and dressing like them which also became normal for her. All of them love sports; soccer, basketball, baseball, you name it, and they all get along so well when it comes to that. And being raised by all boys actually has its perks like in the field of sports and other boy stuff. But when Charlie suddenly takes a job at a boutique to pay off a speeding ticket, she has no clue what to do. Being a tomboy, it's like she's lost and needs someone to teach her the basics when it comes to dresses, makeup and other girly stuff. Fortunately, Linda, her boss, can read her and just knows what to do. And it doesn't really help that one night she and Braden just suddenly starts having their own alternate world by the fence, which eventually leads to realizing some hidden feelings inside her.

This book seriously gave me all the feels! It's adorable and sweet and I just love everything EVERYTHING about it, thus 5 shining stars! The story runs in a good pacing, the characters are all lovely, the family dynamic is present and Charlie is the kind of character you can easily connect with. The story is actually refreshing since I've been reading vampires and dystopia lately so it was really nice to read a fluffy contemporary!

Let me give you three reasons why I superfreakin'love this book! First, Charlie has more sides than meets the eye. She may not act girly but at one point she starts worrying about how she acts and how guys look at her. And I think we all came to that point where we worry about how we present ourselves and how other sees us just like her. We all have our insecurities and I think it's harder for Charlie since she thinks she's not "normal" because she doesn't wear a dress or sparkly tops, doesn't put on makeup and instead of being a cheerleader, she plays sports. Her brothers make it even harder by treating her like she's one of them, wrestling and throwing her around. But despite struggling to find her true self, Charlie eventually learns that the people who truly cares will love her for who she is whether she plays sports better than any other guys or wears makeup and beautiful clothes. 

“I could've killed you guys three times by now. Stop flirting with my sister and get your head in the game. I'll give you a ten-second head start.”

Second reason, Charlie's family. I freakin' love her goofy brothers! Each of them has their own personalities and they're adorably protective of Charlie. They love her and would punch anyone who messes with her. Especially guys! I personally love Gage the most since he's the craziest and closest to Charlie. But Jerom and Nathan are cool as well. I liked it everytime they tease and harass Charlie. Lol. We also see Charlie's father and his struggle on how to raise a daughter. It's obvious he doesn't have a clue how so he depends on a book by Carol which is really heartwarming. Then there's Charlie's mother who died when she was young and I think it plays a major role in her character development. Sometimes it makes Charlie wonder if things will be different if only her mother is around. Will she spend more time with her than with her brothers? Will she be more feminine? Will she not play sports but go shopping and learn make up? And now that she discovers that she actually likes putting on makeup and dressing up a little, she's afraid to let her dad and brothers know because she thinks they might not approve. She thinks it will disappoint them to see her a little girly because they're so used to seeing her in baggy clothes and playing sports with them.

“What are you doing and why did you have a goofy grin in your face when you came in here? You sneaking around? Is there some boy I need to beat up?”

This book actually made me want to have brothers because how cool and fun would it be to have brothers like them? But either way I got my three super girly and fun sisters and I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world. Well, maybe except for Braden? Lol. And that leads us to the third reason why I love this book. Braden. He's charming, sweet, kind, caring, athletic and he's perfect! He knew Charlie more than she knew herself and Charlie claims that she knew him more than he knew himself. They're actually perfect for each other! The romance in this book is slow but really sweet. Like ohemgeethey'resoadorable sweet! Charlie's interactions with Braden are my favorites and I so so love seeing them bantering with each other.

“If you can't be yourself around him, then you shouldn't be dating him.”

I think it's really sweet that Charlie and Braden started off as friends then eventually developed feelings for each other. They've known each other since they were kids so they knew everything about each other. They're comfortable goofing around and interacting with each other—sitting too close, holding each other, playing around—but when when Charlie starts realizing her real feelings for Braden, even looking at him becomes torture because she thought Braden only see her like a sister. Little does she know that Braden has been feeling the same way but only stopping himself because he doesn't want to ruin their friendship and I think he's afraid to face the wrath of Charlie's overprotective brothers, and father, in a way.

And, and! I really liked that scene when Charlie just came back from camp and everyone is watching a rom-com movie courtesy of Amber and Charlie wishes they're watching an A's game and then Braden just starts spelling something on her knee with his finger letting her know that he wants to watch the A's game too but can't do anything about it. That's a really sweet scene! And oh my god that soccer scene where Charlie bites Braden on the neck and Braden bites her back. All the feels, you guys!! :")

I also remember Skye from The Distance Between Us and if I liked her there, I  loved her in this book! She and Linda are charming and it's good to see that she gets along well with Charlie too. The other secondary characters are also amazing. Amber and Evan are both likeable and Evan is actually nice. And I like that Amber and Gage end up together.

Overall it's a very sweet, charming and fluffy read! A cute contemporary that will surely give you all the feels. Charlie and Braden are so good together but can I please have Braden? I don't play any sport but I'll learn just for him. Or I can be his cheerleader! ♥ It's my fourth book of Kasie West and now I can't wait to read her next book!

* * *

He stared at me for a long time, as if trying to read my sincerity. His breath touched my lips. It took everything in me not to close the distance between us. When his lips brushed against mine, I let out an involuntary gasp. Had I done that?

“Am I reading you wrong?” he asked.

I shook my head no. I couldn't find my voice, couldn't dare to believe this meant what I  thought it meant.

He let out a slow breath of air that smelled so familiar. “I was going to tell you that.”

“You were going to tell me that you wanted to kiss me?”

He nodded. “Is this going to change everything?”

“I sure hope so.”

He smiled and his gazed went from my eyes, to my mouth then up to my hair. He tucked a piece behind my ear. “You're so beautiful.”

Book: P.S. I Like You by Kasie West

★★★¹⁄₂/★★★★★

 

“The world sees you one way

And they listen to all you say

You crave their attention

To feed your addiction

You have to sides

Two faces

You're trying to hide 

In two places.”

[Warning: This review contains spoilers!]

Kasie West sure knows how to write cute contemporaries. A bit cheesy, sometimes cliché but books like this are always a fun read. I've read three of her books—The Distance Between Us was a so-so, The Fill-In Boyfriend was so far my favorite and this book was entertaining. And with Lily exchanging letters with a mysterious guy and the scene where Sasha reads Lily's notebook in front of the whole school, it actually reminded me a lot of the movie A Cinderella Story which I really really loved!

But while I liked that this book was light and cute, I also think it was too cliché. It was too mainstream that Lily is your typical unpopular-weird-looking-self-conscious girl who lacks confidence and Cade is your typical popular-arrogant-athletic-hot guy who everybody either loves or fears. But, but! That isn't exactly a bad thing because despite that, Kasie West has a way of keeping you read until the end. She makes it okay with her cheesy lines and swoon-worthy guys.

“So you think I'm hot?” 
“Doesn't every girl?”
 It surprised me when his cheeks turned a light shade of pink. I wasn't sure why that embarrassed him in any way. I was positive he already knew it. He ran one hand through his hair. Then he said, almost too quiet for me to hear, “You're not every girl.”

The story focuses on Lily Abbott who always spaces out during her Chemistry class because it's so boring. To make it bearable, she pretends to write down class notes in her special notebook when in fact she's writing song lyrics or just her thoughts. One day she gets caught not paying attention to class so her teacher warns and tells her to keep the notebook away and now she's only allowed to bring a piece of paper to class, no notebook to be seen with her. She agrees but now she has no space to write her song lyrics on which sucks. But no problem since she has her whole desk to write on. She then begins writing her favorite lyrics on her desk and the next day she's surprised to see that someone has continued it for her. Next thing she knew, she's exchanging letters with this someone and soon it makes her look forward to attend her Chemistry class since it's only then that she gets to read and reply to the letter.

It's a really cute story and though the concept isn't new to me, it was still entertaining. Lily isn't the best character either but you can relate with her in many ways. She loves music but she's not confident enough to let anyone read or hear her lyrics. She's not popular at school and she had her fair share of having hard times in the hands of popular ones and her quirkiness doesn't really help. She has a huge crush on Lucas who she thinks will never notice her and she has the best friend in the world, Isabel (I like her!) who is her biggest supporter. She also has this big-not-so-normal family and I can very well relate with her on this part because I also have a big family and you can't really say we are the normal type too. And then she has this conflicted feelings toward this pen pal of hers who later on turns out to be someone she knew and is so different when writing his letters and in real life. Anyway, Lily is a likeable character and I liked that she's weird.

Now let's get to Cade. He's Lily's archenemy, Isabel's ex-boyfriend, the one Lily will always hate. But of course he's also hot and athletic and every girl falls for him. Well, maybe all except Lily. The moment Cade was mentioned I knew. But it didn't stop me from reading because like I said, West has a way of making you read until the end. At first I was so intrigued with Cade and I somehow hated him for how jerk he is towards Lily but towards the end his image changes and well, you know, I kinda fell for him. Haha. 

“P.S.” He brushed a piece of hair off of my cheek. “I like you. A lot.”

Lily's family might be my favorite in this book. Jonah and Wyatt are so adorable and Ashley, as a big sister, isn't that bad at all. Lily's parents are actually cool and let's not forget Bugs Rabbit! I wouldn't mind a weird family like theirs because really, mine is the same. Lily writing song lyrics is also one I really loved. I love writing poems and lyrics myself so I like that there's a touch of that in this book.

It might be predictable and cliché but this book managed to make me giggle and sometimes roll my eyes for how cheesy it is which I didn't mind. Overall, P.S. I Like You is really adorable and sweet, just the kind I needed after a heavy novel that is A Monster Calls. A light, fun read which will surely entertain you.

Book: The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

★★★/★★★★★

"But like you said, anything worth having is worth the risk." 

The Distance Between Us was my second book of Kasie West. The first, The Fill-In Boyfriend, was simple and lighthearted which I loved! This one though, I have mixed feelings since I hated that Caymen was too sarcastic about everything. Sure it was funny but then I guess there are times when you have to be serious about some things.

The story centers around Caymen Meyers, a senior in high school who lives with her mother above their creepy doll shop. Initially, I didn't know what to make of her because she was just too sarcastic so I waited it out. She doesn't really like to inherit her mother's creepy business but having no choice and being less fortunate than the others, and because she loves her mother too much, she keeps her objection to herself. She and her mother also have issues regarding rich people, mocking and making fun of them, and Caymen's rich father who left them has something to do with it. So when Xander Spence walks into their shop, Caymen already knew what kind of a guy he is and immediately puts her walls up. But as Xander continues to show up in their shop, with a pre-sipped hot chocolate and his handsome face, Caymen starts to realize that maybe her mother's and her views of rich people could be different after all.

“Is that your subtle way of saying you missed me last week?"
"I've missed my hot chocolate. I just think of you as the guy who brings it to me. Sometimes I forget your name and call you hot chocolate guy.”
 
I've read, and seen a lot of movies, about poor-girl-rich-boy so this wasn't new to me. And I hate that Xander is rich AND handsome! (He's definitely a book boyfriend!) But isn't that's how it's supposed to be? A rich boy who's going to prove a poor girl that he loves her despite their social standing? That he doesn't care what other people thinks because HE loves HER? Oh, how I wish I have a love story like that! :)

But anyway, back to Caymen. Even though she has doubt towards Xander, thinking he's just using her to rebel against his parents, she still gives him a chance to prove her wrong. She goes along Xander's plan of doing a career day where they would each prepare something that would determine each other's possible career in the future. So they start hanging out, doing career days and having fun at the same time until Caymen sees a photo of Xander and some model-like girl in front of a magazine. And that's when Caymen realizes she's starting to like Xander.

“I hope I'm not turning into that girl, the one who daydreams about a guy she can never have.”

 I guess the reason why Caymen and Xander just clicked was because they both felt like their lives were not their own. Caymen felt obliged to run her mother's store (and to stop her studies for a year or two because of their status) even though she wanted to study science. Xander always had to follow his father's orders and eventually inherit their family business of chain hotels. And despite the difference in their social status, their little similarities have helped them open up and get to know each other better.

I'm giving this only 3 stars because like I said, I hated that Caymen was always sarcastic. She was actually funny, very, but I guess her sarcasm was too much for me. That and the plot was too average. And Xander? Too good to be true! But still, there are actual people like him so why not?

If you want a light and easy (and cheesy) read, give this one a try. :)