A Long Way from You is the charming companion book to Where I Belong, which was the story of high-society New York friend Corrinne's stint in Kitsy's small Texas town. It is not necessary to have read Where I Belong in order to enjoy A Long Way from You. Seventeen year old Kitsy is a small town girl who has had too much responsibility early in her life because her mother drinks too much and is ill-equipped to care for Kitsy's younger brother. She is a pure spirit who arrives in New York with stars in her eyes and, thanks to her wealthy friend Corrinne, has access to all of the glitz and glam that the city has to offer. As much as Kitsy thinks she wants to leave her old life behind to be a completely new person in New York, she finds herself unable to break away from the things that matter most to her. Her summer in the city turns out to be a revelatory exercise in self-discovery that will help her set important boundaries and goals going forward. This is a fairly wholesome read for teens, though it does contain some mature themes. Kitsy has a serious boyfriend back home but is tempted by a handsome New Yorker. In the end, she makes a mature decision about her relationship. Corrinne and her wealthy friends drink freely in bars and at parties, and Kitsy's mother seeks treatment for her drinking problems. Language is almost non-existent (a-shole). Art fans will delight in Kitsy's visits to famous museums, and her love for several noteworthy pieces. All told, this is a delightful, fast-paced read about discovering who you really are.
