A Long Way from You (Where I Belong) by Gwendolyn Heasley

Where I Belong #2

by Gwendolyn Heasley

For too long, Kitsy has had to satisfy her dreams of becoming a real artist by giving her friends makeovers before prom. So when her best friend Corrinne's family offers to sponsor her for a summer art course in New York City, Kitsy bids a temporary good-bye to Texas to say hello to the West Village.

Between navigating the subway and the New Yorkers—namely, the Art Boy who has a nice trick of getting under her skin—Kitsy knows that this summer is going to be about a lot more than figure drawing.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Summer, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Ebooks

Paperback

First published June 1, 2012

About the author

Gwendolyn Heasley is a graduate of Davidson College and the University of Missouri-Columbia where she earned her master’s degree in journalism. When she was a little girl, she desperately wanted to be the next Ann M. Martin- the author of the beloved The Baby-Sitter’s Club series. She’s incredibly grateful that the recession rendered her unemployed and made her chase her nearly forgotten dream. Her third novel Don't Call Me Baby comes out in April and her digital e-novella The Art of Goodbye (the sequel to Where I Belong) comes out in March.

She loves hearing from readers. Please email her at gwendolyn.heasley@gmail.com

She now lives in Florida with her husband and baby girl.

Reviews

[carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kitsy Kidd is adorable! Throughout the book I pictured her as a young Reese Witherspoon (from Sweet Home Alabama) with a cute Texas accent and fun style. Normally when I read Young Adult Contemporary books I look for a bit of romance, but in A Long Way from You Kitsy was all I needed; there are guys and plenty of sweet moments but Kitsy is definitely the star. Gwendolyn Heasley does a fantastic job creating a character that defies the rules of Upper East Side popularity and still comes up on top. All hail us Art Nerds :)

Gwendolyn also wrote Where I Belong about Corrinne (Kitsy's best friend) and in this companion to Where I Belong the reader is introduced to Kitsy's story. I haven't yet read Where I Belong, but after A Long Way from You I definitely plan on it. I didn't couldn't put this one down once I started it!

Kitsy is in New York for a summer art program. She makes all the touristy mistakes and does a great job being adorable. Her home life is anything but perfect, she's mature beyond her years and used to being the responsible one. This summer though, is her chance to be a teenager and have a memorable time.

My favorite secondary character is definitely Iona! Or, I-don't-want-to-know-ya Iona as Corrinne would call her. She's misunderstood (and likes it that way) and if I had to guess I'd say she's done with the glitzy NY crap; Iona's her own girl and ends up really being a great friend for Kitsy (think Kat from 10 Things I hate about You). Oh and I have to mention Art Boy. Totally drool worthy, and mysterious. But, Kitsy came to NY attached to someone. The question I kept asking myself while reading was; does she plan to keep it that way? This book is just an overall great read, it has all of the elements that I look for in a story.

Filled with genuine and down to earth characters (most of them), NY scenery, hilarious moments, music, and art; A Long Way from You completely stole my heart and there are parts that still have me cracking up. Kitsy is an amazing narrator and hearing her inner dialogue makes her story wonderful and fun. It's a must read for fans of Jennifer Echols, Sarah Dessen, and Stephanie Perkins.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

What drew me to this book was the advertisement that popped up on my goodreads,lol. There is something about this cover that just drew me in it is so real life, not staged (not that I don't like the beautifully staged ones too). You can feel the chemistry between these two models, and it worked, along with the synopsis on the back I had to have it. It just looked like a cute summer read. This is the companion story of Kitsy Kidd, Corrine's friend from Where I Belong. I had not read the first story and found I could still navigate my way through this story just fine.
I would actually give this story a 3.5 rating.
This story is about self discovery, Kitsy has always been in love with the concept of going to New York and following her dream of being an artist. When an opportunity arises she jumps at the chance. As Kitsy explores New York for the first time by herself, and with a few friends she meets along the way she learns that she doesn't know quite who she is. Is she New York Kitsy or Broken Spoke form Texas Kitsy, and who does she want to be. Kitsy meets some really interesting people in New York and her experiences help her grow and find the real Kitsy. She realizes there are things she needs to fix in her family life. Her mom is depressed and an alcoholic. Kitsy is the mom, and the caretaker in her home, which is a lot for a child to be responsible for. There are things that her and Hands need to discuss concerning what they both want out of life and their future. These things need said and dealt with in order for her to have a happy future. I was glad her experience opened her eyes to a world full of opportunities, and that he could follow her dreams if she desires too. I was glad she was mature enough to see that she needed to confront her family issues in a responsible way. Good job Kitsy!
This was an enjoyable to okay read for me. I enjoyed watching Kitsy experience New york for the first time, and the ah that she felt in the big Apple. Kitsy is a sweet hospitable southern girl, optimistic, naive, flawed, smart, kind and courageous. I really liked her character, her story is sweet,simple, and pretty predictable. Which was okay. Her all most love interest Tad was just that an all most. Which worked for the story, because I found that I didn't want her to be with him, and that I like Hands much better. I was hoping for some romance of some kind in this story but there isn't really any, just a very little with her and Hands that was it. I felt a little miss lead from the synopsis and photo cover. If you are looking for a coming of age/self discovery book that is light and fun this would fit the bill.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rather Be Reading YA

I want Kitsy Kidd to be my best friend! Seriously, she's adorable. She's outgoing and friendly, and she talks to so many strangers in New York City that I kept waiting for something bad to happen to her, like someone stealing her purse or kidnapping her and selling her into sex slavery. She does take the wrong subway train, once, and ends up in New Jersey.

This is a companion book to Where I Belong. At first I was a little disappointed that Corrine, the main character from Where I Belong, wasn't in NYC with Kitsy for more than a few days at the beginning and end of Kitsy's stay, but I soon got over that. I liked Corinne okay, but I loooooved Kitsy. A few characters tell Kitsy "this is something you have to do on your own," referring to going to an all-night diner and entering a secret garden area, and they're right. Kitsy needs to experience NYC (mostly) on her own, without Corinne guiding her everywhere.

And she does. She shows no fear, going to parties (with Corinne's friends) and museums and meeting people everywhere she goes. She's embarrassed but she takes it in stride when her art professor singles her out for criticism, and she learns from it. By the end of the book, she's a better artist than she was when she started. She struggles, she has fun, and she learns.

This book isn't the traditional romance you might expect from the cover; Kitsy already has a boyfriend back home in Broken Spoke, Texas. It's so much better than that. It's about Kitsy discovering who she is and where she wants to go in life.

This is a fast read. I finished it in one night. It's not necessary to read Where I Belong before you read this one. All you really have to know is that Kitsy and Corinne met when Corinne spent some time in Broken Spoke after her father lost his job and that Corinne's mother is originally from Broken Spoke. I do recommend Where You Belong, though. I didn't write a review, but I gave it four stars. Corinne loses a star because she's not as easy to like as Kitsy.

[Hana Bilqisthi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book with low expectation but inside Kitsy's head is really enjoyable.
Her worries, dreams, and aspiration are really relatable and I learn so much from her story.
About staying true to yourself ✨

My fav quotes:
Photography make us see the beauty in ordinary

“Just because you're from a small town doesn't mean that you're small. Don't ever think anyone's more important than you are or has more valid experiences.

You are right about guy thing but it did not end up being a waste time for me. Sometimes you have to point C to find point A again

“Vulnerability is a pretty scary thing. You can feel naked in a lot of different ways.

“Vulnerability is a pretty scary thing. You can feel naked in a lot of different ways.

[Jack Reynolds · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I did like Kitsy's arc and Heasley's easy-going writing style (not to mention some of her one-liners), A Long Way from You lagged the more the plot moved forward. The internal conflict felt very repetitive with Kitsy's inner monologues, the side characters were flat, I didn't buy Corrinne and Kitsy's friendship from the start, and parts of the ending felt abrupt. Heasley was brave in having the romantic subplot end the way it did (especially in 2012), but I was definitely expecting more Hallmark at the beginning than what I got in the end. This wasn't a bad YA novel, but ultimately a forgettable one.

[Justine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I randomly grabbed this book out of my giant TBR and didn’t pay attention that this was book two, but I didn’t notice and not sure if I missed anything. This was an easy and maybe directed more for younger readers. I liked the cutesy res of it and the go for your dreams moral.

[Felicia Chien · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book: A Long Way From You by Gwendolyn Heasley
Pages: 314
Genre: Young Adult, Romance
Source: Sent from Harper Teen


Short Synopsis: Kitsy receives a chance of a lifetime of attending an art school in New York. Kitsy is flown from Texas, the only place she's ever known, to the place of her dreams, to do what she loves to do.

My Thoughts: An interesting story about finding yourself, and realizing what you are finally meant to do.

All Kitsy has ever known is her life in Broken Spone, Texas. Every thing is about to change, as Kitsy's best friend, Corrine, and her parents offer Kitsy a chance to go to an art school for the summer in New York, all expenses paid.
Kitsy immediately jumps at the situation and can't wait to further her skills in art. But things tend to get in the way, with all the distractions of New York, and the loved ones of her friends and family in Broken Spone, including her mother, her brother, and her boyfriend, who all expect to be able to reach her. Kitsy is enthralled with what the city has to offer, as well as a handsome musician named Tad, whom she keeps bumping into everywhere.
And while Kitsy loves art, the school is very eclectic as she dabbles in drawing nudes, pottery, and photography. Before the course is over, Kitsy tries to learn where her strengths lie, and try to develop her skills.
And aside from all her art work, Kitsy figures out that she has been running away from her issues, and does what she can to try to fix it. But as things start falling apart on Kitsy, she must do everything she can to make things right, before things get worse.


Kitsy is all about adventure, as she tries new experiences, and is in absolute awe of New York City. A small town girl, living her dreams in New York is all Kitsy ever wanted. She meets new and interesting people, soaks up the culture, and starts to fall for the mysterious musicians.
I enjoyed reading Kitsy's latest unexpected turns as she tries to make sense of the art world. The relationship between Kitsy and Tad was great, but felt that Kitsy was a bit unreasonable to her friend Annika, when she discovered what they were up to, because Kitsy was already involved with someone else. I felt that Kitsy was neglecting her family back home, as well as her friends.
It was also interesting to read the different forms of art that Kitsy became involved in, and how one feeling for someone could alter Kitsy's entire frame of mind, as well as her final project for school.
A Long Way From you is a sweet story about finding your true self. Overall, an entertaining story, with colorful characters, and a story that will have you questioning the alternatives.

Would I recommend this book: yes

Rating: I give this book a 3/5.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Long Way From You was an impulse library ebook decision I made when I was bored and looking for a nice simple young-adult romance to read. Something simple and easy, not a lot of fighting off demons or time travel or any of that kind of thing, just a laid book about a boy and a girl. It never does work that way, does it?

That is not to say that A Long Way From You wasn’t a simple easy-going book, because for sure – it was. However, the romance was minimal (which is surprising considering the title), but that’s okay. Regardless, this book was pretty great. Kitsy, small-town Texas girl, is awarded a chance to spend a month in big –town New York on a sponsorship from her friend’s parents, as a thank you for being such a good friend to Corrine during her time in Broken Spoke. This sponsorship is for a prestigious summer art program – the entire concept is a dream come true for Kitsy. Except for the part where she has to leave her younger brother at home with her alcoholic mother, who doesn’t seem to understand the concept of taking care of her children.

So at first, I thought this book was going to be all big parties and super hot super models and that kind of craziness the entire way through. It started off that way, at least. Corrine seems to be really, really into her money and lifestyle, to a fault, and she seems to be trying to suck Kitsy into the scene as fast as she can. Thankfully, Kitsy sticks to her guns and really doesn’t lose herself to the high life. She does, however, lose herself in the big city life, literally and figuratively. Kitsy has almost always been the caregiver, and the one who just makes sure everything is running smoothly, and everyone is happy. But here, on her big adventure, I think she veers a little bit left of center when attempting to do something for herself. Thankfully, Kitsy is a strong character, and is able to find some perspective. Just at the moment where I was grabbing my head and screaming (mentally – can’t have everyone thinking I’m crazy) ‘What are you doing??? What about this perfectly good guy back home, and what about …..” Kitsy gets a clue, and drives her life back into an amenable, and quite honestly, a realistic place for a High School senior’s life to be.

In the end A Long Way From Home, though it has it’s share of craziness, wild parties, and a few heart thumping boy moments, this book was a very happy, satisfying book to read. I love how Kitsy is able to put her life into perspective, and find out who she really is. So while I may not have gotten the romance that I was looking for, I did get the feel-good happiness that comes with that kind of book anyway.

[Jess M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this review on my blog! --> A Long Way from You by Gwendolyn Heasley

So I may have fawned a little over Kitsy in my review of Where I Belong. She is just such a genuine, likeable character. She’s sweet and kind and embracing. I just adore her. And for those reasons and the promise of this mysterious “Art Boy,” I was completely excited to have her as the main character in A Long Way from You. We needed to get her out of The Spoke!

Kitsy meets a few people during her time in New York that really made this book pop. From Art Boy, to her new art school friends, all of their personalities were unique and interesting and what I would image true New Yorkers are like. Of course, I was completely smitten with Art Boy. He takes Kitsy on a whirlwind of New York staples and helps her experience New York Moments. Gwendolyn Heasley does a fabulous job describing it all so richly. I felt like I was the one walking around New York!

We get to see Corrinne and her family, which was really fun. Though, I was sad to discover a certain couple was a couple no longer. But I get why it didn’t work.

The “love” story in this book was really interesting. And complicated. I hate when a love interest disappoints me in a book. Especially when I was totally into him, as was our Kitsy. But then I get mad at myself for wanting our leading lady to develop something with said love interest when she has a boyfriend at home. It’s a double-edged sword and Gwendolyn Heasley has handled it expertly in A Long Way from You.

You see, this book isn’t really about a love triangle. I mean, yes, Kitsy may get a little confused there for a little while, but it’s mostly because of the overwhelming new experiences she’s going through in New York. A Long Way from You is really about a girl who’s never been able to put herself first or dream big. Someone who’s had to take on a lot more responsibility at her young age than is fair, and has done it with a smile. While in New York, she’s now able to glimpse at a life where her passion comes first.

So if you need a book that will certainly make you smile, full of art, friends, and New York, this is the perfect choice.

[Nschiefelbein · Rating 5 out of 5]

A "Long Way From You" is a heartwarming realistic fiction about a girl named Kitsy Kidd who goes to NYC for art school when Kitsy’s old friend Corinne volunteered to sponsor her. While in New York, she tries to hold on to who she was in her small town of Broken Spoke Texas, while changing to fit with her new friends. She also has to deal with her alcoholic mother, absent father, and a little brother she feels guilty about leaving. This book is about coming to terms with who you are and what it means to be your own person. Towards the end of the book, Kitsy is visiting Ellis Island and says “...you don’t have to leave who you are and where you’re from in the dust when you come here. New York is called the Melting Pot for a reason. I could live here for the rest of my life, but I hope I’d always keep my accent and still call all carbonated drinks cokes.” (281) I feel like this is important because Kitsy is realizing she can still be herself and change a bit at the same time.
Gwendolyn Heasley writes the book from a first person perspective, having Kitsy narrate her thoughts and actions to the reader as she goes. I liked this because I feel like I can get to know Kitsy. But even when it feels like you could predict her reaction to any given situation, she goes and surprises you. For me this makes the character seem alive, or more human. The book is geared towards pre-teens and teens, but I think an adult could enjoy this book too. This book was a lot of fun to read. It’s about three hundred pages, and the plot is alive enough to make you want to read it all. I hope you enjoy this book.

Citation:
Heasley, Gwendolyn. A Long Way From You. New York, NY: HarperTeen, 2012. Print.

[Jen Ryland (jenrylandreviews & yaallday)]

A really fun read! One of my absolute favorite characters in Where I Belong was chatterbox cheerleader and closet art aficionado Kitsy Kidd. In A Long Way From You, Kitsy gets her own story. She's accepted to a prestigious summer art program in New York City and, you guessed it, in this book, a simple country girl tackles life in the big city.

Review of A Long Way From You!

[Justine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book proves that you don't always have to go far from home to make your dreams come true. Just by being yourself you can go many places. No matter where you live (in New York, or texas) you can be loved and inspired to do what you dream of.

[Rachel Brand · Rating 4 out of 5]

GENRE: YOUNG ADULT
PUBLISHER: HARPERTEEN
PUBLICATION DATE: JUNE 05, 2012
RATING: 4 OUT OF 5 – VERY GOOD

PROS: Good character development; “fish out of water” coming of age story; total escapism

CONS: Open ending might disappoint some readers; not quite as compelling as her first novel

Kitsy Kidd has never been on a plane and doesn’t own a passport, but she’s spending this summer in New York City, attending a program at a prestigious art school. She’s always dreamed of becoming an artist, but the closest she’s got in the little town of Broken Spoke, Texas is doing her friends’ make-up before prom. This summer offers her the chance of a lifetime, but New York has plenty of temptations that often seem far more appealing than remaining safely within the walls of her art school and working on her pottery and drawings. Before she knows it, Kitsy’s wearing her friend Corinne’s outfits, attending parties with an aspiring actress and hanging out at the band practice of a boy who seems to appreciate art the way she does. At times, it’s easy to forget Broken Spoke, the stresses of her unconventional family and the stability of her boyfriend, Hands, even when she’s not immersed in her artwork. When she returns home after four weeks, will she still be the same Kitsy? Will she be able to look at Broken Spoke through the eyes of an enlightened New Yorker and still see the beauty in the small town she’s been running away from?

Kitsy Kidd was the enthusiastic, peppy cheerleader who befriended stuck-up Corinne in Gwendolyn’s debut novel, Where I Belong. I was a little sceptical of reading a book about Kitsy as, while she was nice, she didn’t seem to have a lot of depth in Where I Belong. But after the first few chapters of Kitsy’s story, I had to admit that I’d misjudged her and that there was far more to her than the pom-poms suggested. The hints that had been dropped about Kitsy’s family life in Where I Belong were expanded on, and it was heart-wrenching at times to see how Kitsy stretched herself between school, art, cheerleading, her boyfriend, holding down a part-time job and looking after her younger brother, all because her mother wasn’t terribly reliable. I was rooting for Kitsy to enjoying being a teenager during her time in New York, and although I enjoyed her character development, I didn’t want her to grow too much; it seemed like she’d already had to do too much growing up in Broken Spoke.

Like Corinne in Where I Belong, Kitsy is a total “fish out of water” in her situation. She’s come from a small town where she knows everyone to New York City. The complete reversal of Corinne’s situation was a lot of fun to read, and I could relate to Kitsy better that Corinne as I have a similar upbringing. I grew up in a village which has exactly two shops, and our school is so small that once you reach the age of eight, you have to get a bus to the next town. Moving to St Andrews was a culture shock to me, and it “only” has a population of 16,000, so I’m pretty sure I’d be just as bewildered as Kitsy was in Manhattan. And since I’ve never visited New York (or been outside Europe, for that matter) I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptions of all the places Kitsy visited. Gwendolyn really made Kitsy’s explorations of the city come to life, especially her trips to MOMA. Even if you’re not an artist or an art historian, I’m sure you’ll find it fun being inside Kitsy’s head and seeing how she interprets art. I can’t say I’m such a fan of modern art as Kitsy is, but both her visits to MOMA and her art classes piqued my interest. Perhaps those who grew up in New York might not be so interested in the descriptions of Central Park or Kitsy’s adventures on the subway, but I have a feeling that seeing the city through Kitsy’s eyes, rather than those of someone who grew up in a city, would make for an interesting read, even for a native New Yorker. Since I used to fantasise about visiting New York as a child – because that’s where my favourite author (and Gwendolyn’s!), Ann M. Martin, lived – A Long Way from You was blissful escapism.

While I thoroughly enjoyed A Long Way from You and will definitely be adding Gwendolyn to my list of “comfort read” authors, I was torn over the ending and the way Kitsy’s relationship with Hands was dealt with. Like Where I Belong, this novel had a fairly open ending. In a way, I appreciated that Gwendolyn doesn’t go down the route of neatly tying everything up in a bow, with the boy of your dreams tossed in for good measure. The endings to both her books have emphasised that your story does not end when you’re a teenager, and you still have a lot of growing up to do. As someone who read far too many romance novels as a teenager and had unrealistic expectations of meeting my perfect guy when I was fifteen, I could have done with some of Gwendolyn’s books back then. But as a romantic at heart, I did really like Hands, and I like to think that he and Kitsy stayed together despite their different dreams. Some readers might interpret their relationship differently, which is the good thing about the lack of conclusion to this book. I’m one of those people who like things to be tied up neatly, so I’m torn between wanting Kitsy to have her perfect ending and not wanting teenagers to have unrealistic expectations of high school and relationships.

Gwendolyn’s second novel is definitely a bit deeper than her first, dealing with a dysfunctional family and a teenager who has taken too much on in life and needs to escape for the summer and explore who she is. I didn’t find it quite as compelling as Where I Belong, but I definitely enjoyed it. Kitsy is an endearing character, and even if you’re familiar with Manhattan, you’re sure to enjoy seeing it through Kitsy’s eyes. While I felt quite torn over the open ending, I’m sure everyone will imagine the continuation of Kitsy’s life differently, and as such, take something different out of their experience of reading A Long Way from You. I still can’t decide if this novel had a specific message, and every time I think about it I come up with a different lesson. I’m not sure whether Gwendolyn’s next novel will follow up another reoccurring character from her first two books, or whether she’ll introduce someone entirely new, but either way, I’ll definitely be reading it.

Disclaimer: There were a few instances of underage drinking in this book, but Kitsy was very responsible with what she drank. A few of her friends smoked, but she did not partake. There are suggestions that one of the reasons that Kitsy’s mother is neglectful is because she drinks too much, but this situation is dealt with very tastefully. There is one brief illusion to a sexual situation between two secondary characters, but nothing graphic.

Review title provided by publicist.

[Cathy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I could not get passed the second chapter. I tried. But between her inability to understand why people could like non-coke products (which other people call "soda" HUH??) and her confusion at why the oxygen masks on airplanes have to be applied to yourself first, I just couldn't do it.

[Sajaina Santiago · Rating 4 out of 5]

Believe in yourself. You don’t need to change to shine.

[Timothy]

It was a really wonderful book with a very happy ending! Author did real excellent!

[Gothic004 · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was nice and light... If you want to read something which is light but brings a smile to your face... This book is perfect

[Kayla Plutzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book alot. I thought it was cute.

[Gabbie (Rampant Readers) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite Quote(s):
“'There’s nothing like Broken Spoke either, Kitsy. Just because you’re from a small town doesn’t mean that you’re small. Don’t ever think anyone’s more important than you are or has more valid experiences.’”
Favorite Character: Kitsy.
First Line:
“I remember where I was when I leaned about Santa Claus: in my parents’ closet.”
My Musings: A Long Way From You has been sitting on my shelves for a few months now. The reason I wanted to read it was its cover, in addition to the fact that I read and loved Heasley’s Where I Belong. A Long Way From You follows Kitsy Kidd as she travels to New York City to attend a selective summer art course. Kitsy has always lived in the small town of Broken Spoke, Texas, where the most exciting things were the football games at her high school. And although Kitsy was contented with the life that she was living there, she couldn’t help but wonder if there was more; and luckily, she found that there was, in New York.
I really enjoyed Kitsy’s character. She was a sweetheart who cared about others, to the point of somewhat neglecting herself. She developed a lot over the course of the novel. She grew up and matured, and she was able to come to terms with the life that she was living. And although she made some not-so-great decisions along the way, what matters was the end result. And in the end, Kitsy’s life took a turn for the better. She was a very relatable character in that she had small beginnings yet was able to make something of herself. Her love and passion for the art that she created was inspiring; and even though she may have lost touch with that passion in parts of the novel, she was able to gain it back.
The secondary characters also had great affects on Kitsy and her journey. Tad was a little sketchy to me. For some reason, I just couldn’t connect well with his character. But he did get Kitsy to put herself out there in the big city, and that’s what started her transformation. Annika was another character that I wasn’t sure about. She seemed really superficial for almost the entire novel, and we only saw a glimpse of her real character at the very end of the novel. Kiki was a favorite of mine. Although we didn’t read much about him directly, it was cute to see the way that he and Kitsy interacted with one another. Kitsy was truly a great big sister, and she really stepped up to the plate when necessary. Kiki’s love for his sister was super sweet, and it made the novel that much more realistic. Hands was a character that I wish I could have read more about. I feel as if he had more influence over who Kitsy was and why she went to New York than we were able to see. It would have been nice to learn more about their relationship and such, but alas, no such luck. And Corrinne. I really wish that there was more Corrinne in this novel. Although she and Kitsy are complete opposites, their dynamics were amazing. Their friendship seemed completely genuine, and I feel as if although Corrinne was a bit overbearing, she was just the type of friend that Kitsy needed. I wish we also heard more about Corrinne as well. For the little that we did see her, she was a very dynamic and deep character.
There wasn’t that much outright romance in this novel. Although there was an ongoing relationship between Kitsy and Hands, which had lasted for five years, the novel was more about Kitsy finding herself and doing what was good for her. So I can say that if you’re looking for a super romance filled novel, this one is not for you.
I also enjoyed the world building in this novel. This novel was mainly set in New York City, where dreams are realized. I think that this setting was an integral part of the novel. Kitsy came for the opportunities that the city held, and without the city, the novel wouldn’t have been the same. I loved that Heasley detailed different and unique parts of the city. It kept it personal and intimate instead of just describing main tourist parts on NYC that you would expect.
Healsey’s writing style is one that I fall in love with every time that I read one of her novels. It has a smooth flow; even with the typos that are common in ARCs, the novel flowed like silky smooth milk. The story progressed at just the right pace, with something every once in a while to stir up predictability. We definitely got to know the characters as the novel went on, giving the whole book a more personal feeling.
I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys coming of age novels. As stated, this novel wasn’t heavy on the romance, but it was a great novel about a girl realizing that she could be whoever she wanted to be. A Long Way From You was a warming, heartfelt novel about realizing and attaining dreams.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5 STARS

(Review originally posted here at Fictionally Inclined.)

I was very excited to read A Long Way from You after reading Heasley's debut and this book's companion novel, Where I Belong . Kitsy was my favorite character in that book, so I could not wait to hear her story! A Long Way from You was a very good book that I definitely enjoyed reading.

One of the best things about A Long Way from You was the emphasis on family. Kitsy loved her little brother, Kiki, fiercely, and it showed. The relationship between the two was so very touching; I often smiled and was occasionally moved to the brink of tears. Kitsy's family dynamic was messed up because her father was out of the picture, and her mother had a drinking problem. Kitsy had practically been acting as Kiki's mother for years. However, over the course of the book, the dynamic shifted in some ways, and it was interesting to see this progression.

This story was about Kitsy and her coming-of-age, getting-to-know-herself journey. Kitsy, a teenager from small town Texas, had no idea how New York City worked. In finding her way through this new adventure, Kitsy truly got to know herself for what was perhaps the first time. I really loved watching her develop through her interactions with others and her journey through her art. Kitsy's view of and passion for art was thought-provoking and moving.

Again, there were two boys in the picture in A Long Way from You. One was Kitsy's long-time boyfriend, Hands, and the other was a musician from New York, Tad, whom Kitsy met early on in the story. They were both good guys, but there were also negatives to both of them, as well. For the longest time, I was not sure which of the two I wanted Kitsy to wind up with at the end! I won't give it away, obviously, but I was satisfied with how it ended. One thing I loved was that we got to see Corrinne again! I really loved her friendship with Kitsy in Where I Belong, so it was nice to see a continuation of that. I was not a huge fan of Corrinne's story in this book, but now I am just crossing my fingers for another Heasley novel that will give me even more!

Also, as an endnote, because at the end of the day, I'll admit to being totally shallow when it comes to covers: May I address the fact that the cover for this book is absolutely gorgeous? Again! If all of Heasley's books continue to have covers like this, I don't think I'll ever be able to resist one. So lovely.

❝He’s like inspiration in a can.❞

❝You can feel naked in a lot of different ways. With each line of my pencil, I feel as if I too am disrobing.❞

❝Who you are depends on where you are.❞

❝I realize why everybody falls in love with New York City as I approach Union Square. On one block alone, there’s a cupcake and two Mister Softee ice cream trucks.❞

[Devan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though this is a companion novel and it's not necessary to read Where I Belong first, I am glad I did because it made for an overall better reading experience. I had enjoyed Kitsy's character even more than Corrinne and this gave me some background knowledge before I dove into the pages of A Long Way from You.

Due to the fact that I think Kitsy has had a more difficult life makes her more mature than Corrinne, and is probably why I liked her story of coming into her own better than Corrinne's. I was a bit upset, but not really surprised by the fact that it seemed like Corrinne had regressed a bit to her original self (pre-Broken Spoke). It was a good idea of Gwendolyn's to ship Corrinne off to horse camp so that Kitsy had to navigate New York and her journey on her own.

Kitsy's own family dynamics was interesting, and I liked how Gwendolyn handled the idea of physical and mental distance. Some of the things like relationships and some personalities of characters seem to change suddenly; this is especially true with the characters you don't see for awhile (Amber, Corrinne's mom, and Corrinne). It takes some adjusting to accept these changes and feels a bit unreal. Kitsy's emotions feel real and as a reader you go through them with her, which makes for a strong 1st person POV. One of my favorite things that Gwendolyn does is she makes the romance secondary and the MC's personal growth the center focus.

The ending was so open ended, which was frustrating not knowing, but if you think about it these YA characters are really just getting started with their journey to figuring out who they are and what they want for their adult lives. I do like the idea of having life at your finger tips and having so many possibilities to choose from, which is the feeling Gwendolyn left me with.

I wonder if her next book will be related to these characters and if we'll find out more about the futures of Corrinne and Kitsy. I'd kind of like to see Waverly (Corrinne's best friend) get a wake up call.

Cover Comments: I have to complement the people in charge of creating the covers for Gwendolyn's books because they always have models that are the epitome of what I imagine. I don't like this one as much as I do Where I Belong, but I do love the emotion captured by the model who is supposed to be Kitsy.

Quotable Quotes:
*"I think sometimes you've got to get out of a place to be able to take the whole thing in. When you're in it, you only see what's in front of you." pg. 174
*"Photography makes us see the beauty in the ordinary." pg. 230
*"Happily ever after is not a place: It's a state of being, and you have to work at it every day." pg 260

Teacher Notes: Like it's predecessor this book also has a coming of age theme.

[Estelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review originally posted on Rather Be Reading Blog:

Some of my favorite times in college were taking out-of-towners to NYC for the first time and seeing their eyes just bulge out of their head because 1) they had always dreamed of this moment and 2) it’s always bigger, crazier, louder than it seems on TV and in the movies. NYC is fabulous and even after spending years in close proximity to the Big Apple, I still get a huge kick out of reading books set in my city. It’s like discovering it all over again with new eyes.

Kitsy is probably the cutest Texan I’ve met since Magan. She’s friendly, enthusiastic, and considerate; she’s passionate about art and people, especially her little brother, Kiki, her boyfriend, Hands, and her best friend, Corrinne. Corrinne is actually the reason she lands the opportunity to spend a few weeks in NYC. Her parents offer to sponsor Kitsy in an art program at Parsons. (Kitsy and Corrine met in Heasley’s first book, Where I Belong, which I haven’t read yet but is sitting in my Nook library.)

Despite what the cover art leads you to believe, A Long Way From You focuses more on a girl falling in love with the city and discovering great things about herself, than finding a boy. (Even though, there is a cute musician boy…) Heasley is spot-on with Kitsy bumbling through the streets of NYC, catching the wrong PATH train, manuevering around with a huge umbrella (a big no-no), and getting too distracted by the city to go to class. Those pretty much all happened to me when I started going to school here too. (At least I can laugh about those moments now!) Kitsy has a genuine love for the city, and it’s contagious. I was desperately ready to visit the MOMA, take a boat ride in Central Park, or go to a big fancy event.

While things might fall together a bit too perfectly in Kitsy’s world (with some drama thrown in for good measure), A Long Way From You feels like the quintessential New York fairy tale. Kitsy meets new people, visits the landmarks, and tries to find her corner of this big world. I did like how Heasley had her juggle a long distance relationship with Hands back in Texas. I could relate to her struggles to balance everything sparkley and new in NYC with her commitments and feelings of things that she left at home. With Kitsy’s upbeat personality and how deeply she cares and connects with others, you want nothing but the best for her.

A Long Way From You is a delightful, light-hearted read that does show its serious side at times, even if it never dwells on it. By the end of the book, you’ll be ready to hang out with Kitsy during her next trip to New York and buy her a cupcake while seeing the sights.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kitsy is an aspiring artist from a small town in Texas, headed to New York City for the summer for an art program. She's never been out of Texas before, but she's excited to take in all the art there and spend a summer away from her less-than-stellar mom. Her small town ways leave her a little out of touch with others around her but also endear her to them, and as she takes in all that New York City has to offer, she's determined to not lose herself in the process.

This is definitely a book for art lovers. The author did a great job infusing everything with art. There were mentions of museums that Kitsy visited, techniques she used in her various art projects, and discussions of art between characters. It was fun to see all the interpretations of art in the book and how it influenced every facet of Kitsy's journey.

Kitsy was quite an endearing character. She came across as very sincere, yet naive, and this blend definitely led to situations that others should have seen coming, but they were just so unexpected for her. Everyone seemed to like Kitsy from the moment they met her, but it wasn't in an over-the-top manner. Instead, it seemed that others were simply charmed by how sweet and innocent she was and thus wanted to take her under their wing to mold into the person they wanted her to be. It was done in a believable manner, especially since everything didn't turn out perfectly as the book went on; there were no huge devastating moments (this was light reading overall), but there were definitely bumps in the road as the book went on.

I really enjoyed the blend between Kitsy's artistic journey in NYC and the changing relationships she had with others. Although she's trying to forget her home life while away from Texas, she can't completely ignore the fact that she cares about so many people there and wants to make things right with them while also exploring other parts of her personality in New York. This journey included Kitsy relating to her little brother, her mom, and her longtime boyfriend in Texas, plus new friends, old friends, and her professor in New York. Everything was really sweet, and although I wish there had been a slightly more concrete ending for a few of these relationships, it was a nice story overall.

Kitsy comes to some realizations throughout her summer, and my favorite realization of hers is in this very thoughtful quote:

...all memories are like paintings: They can be incredibly vivid and lifelike. But in the end, they both just remind us that we only get to live any particular moment once, even if we remember it forever.

[Ally · Rating 1 out of 5]

You know that feeling of clicking when you read a good book? Like that feeling, that good connection with City of Bones. Or the click with Harry Potter. Or Shatter Me/Legend/Vampire Academy.

I didn't feel it when I read A Long Way From You. Instead, I felt endlessly disappointed with the writing, the plot, the everything in A Long Way From You. I wasted precious days reading this book. If I had a time machine, I will...

Do something horrible to my younger self/rip the book/or something like that

The plot was so dreadful. I rolled my eyes at every page in this book. It's that horrible. Never, ever, ever read this book. Take it from me. I swear "I will never read this book again if I reincarnated into another book nerd girl." (Swear with me.) The writing faired a bit better than the plot, but was still as horrible as the plot.

Characters:

I hated Kitsy. I don't know how this girl could get under my skin within the first page, but she could. She irritated the good humor out of me. All I have left is bad humor, cruel jokes, sarcastic remarks, and the middle finger. It didn't help that her name Kitsy reminded me of Kristen Stewart, another name which could irk the good out of me and leave the dark, dark side behind. (Twilight was ruined because of her. All than blinking, more blinking, audible breaths, annoying gasps, and emotionless faces.) Kitsy was like a spoiled kid, who didn't care about her life. She just wanted to escape everything by running away to New York City. She didn't care about the boyfriend, friends, and family member she left behind in Texas. She was ignorant and just an annoying little kid.

The Art Boy. I liked him much more than Kitsy. I liked him in the same way I liked Tyler, who nearly ran over Bella in Twilight. (If his assassination attempt succeed, I wouldn't be tortured with Stewart's bad acting skills in the next few movies.)

Rating: One out of Five

-Alice of Wonderland

[Britta · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Long Way from You is the companion novel to Heasley's Where I Belong. Since the novels are companions, not a series, it is not necessary to read the first before diving into this one.


Kitsy has always dreamed of escaping her small Texan town and going to New York to find herself. When the opportunity arises to study art at a prestigious school over the summer, Kitsy has to go. See loves the experience of the city: seeing the sites and finding herself in her art. However, she soon discovers that the trip will change how she views a lot of things. How will this new outlook effect her life and her relationships? Will it be for the better?


My major problem that I had with this novel was that everything works out. I know I sound very pessimistic when I say that as a bad thing, but it is more an issue with being realistic. I have very little problems casting away the idea of being "realistic" with novels that have fantasy/sci-fi/etc. elements to the plot, but with a contemporary, I find myself being more particular. All the characters just become so... enlightened. They see the wrong that they've done, they are all apologetic or realize something huge that makes them reassess their lives. Sure, these things do happen, but not to every character in a plot.


That being said, sometimes you just want to read a book where everything works out. There were a lot of really great lines in this novel, if you can ignore the fact that teenagers wouldn't actually come up with them, you can really enjoy the story. It is a very quick read and the language and content could appear to a younger audience. It is very clean and polite but possesses some interesting views on art and life.


It definitely has that small town appeal. What I mean is, an essential part of the novel is Kitsy discovering New York and being wowed by everything she sees. I felt like her friend (not as obnoxious) because living in CT, I see those types of things all the time. Seeing NYC through Kitsy's point of view was interesting, but someone who has not really witnessed the city for themselves would appreciate it more than I did.


So if you are looking for a fun, quick contemporary, A Long Way from You would be a good choice.

[Kathy Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't read many young adult contemporaries but, if this is what is out there, I really need to start. A LONG WAY FROM YOU was a story with heart and has a main character I fell in love with. Kitsy Kidd is from a small town in Texas. Her mom smokes and drinks too much and leaves the responsibility for her little brother Kiki to Kitsy. She has long been the parent in their relationship. She is also captain of the cheerleading team and the girlfriend of the quarterback. They have have been dating since they were both in sixth grade. And Kitsy is also an artist who has the wonderful opportunity to attend a month-long summer class at Parsons in New York City. She will be living with the parents of her best friend Corrinne even though Corrinne will be away working as a camp counselor.

We get to experience Kitsy's culture shock as she learns her way around New York. Kitsy makes friends with a couple of the kids in her art class including Iona and Ford. Before she left town, Corrinne encouraged Kitsy to star away from Iona but Kitsy does her own judging of people. Kitsy also meets Tad who is a native New Yorker and who is in a band along with Rider, another person Kitsy knew from home. She also meets Annika who is now an actress but who is a small town girl from Fergus Falls, Minnesota.

Kitsy has a lot of deciding to do. The whole question of running away from something as opposed to running toward something is something she has to figure out. Annika and Rider are definitely running away. Kitsy is doing it differently. She has a really strong sense of who she is and where she wants to go. She did grow up some during her summer of art and meeting new people but she didn't change who she essentially was.

This was a great story about following dreams. I think fans of contemporaries will fall in love with Kitsy as I did and will love spending a month in New York with her. Readers who want to know more about how Corrinne and Kitsy became best friends should be on the lookout for WHERE I BELONG which tells the story of how the girls met. The writing style is engaging and the characters well-drawn in a few deft pen strokes that reveal them to us. This story is highly recommended and is immediately going on my next Media Center book order for my students to enjoy.

[Katie Shiner · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first thing that grabbed me about A Long Way from You was the killer summary. I loved that the main character, Kitsy Kidd, was from small town Broken Spoke and heads to the busy New York City to take a summer art class. I could easily connect with Kitsy because I'm from a tiny town and haven't really been exposed to any big cities, so Kitsy's reactions to NYC felt really honest and like how I'd react if I were in that situation.

I also adored all of the art in this book! Heasley gave us an awesome look inside NYC's Museum of Modern Art and reading about Kitsy's reaction to the beautiful paintings that surrounded her made me fall in love with art even more. It was really awesome to watch Kitsy grow, not only into her own person, but also as an artist. I loved how her art professor wasn't the most likable guy at times, but he still taught her a great lesson in the end.

The setting was flawless. It was amazingly described and I could really visualize myself waling the streets of New York with Kitsy, which is pretty awesome considering I've never been east of Ohio! I've never really thought about traveling until I read A Long Way for You, but like Kitsy, I learned that the world has so much to offer and I'm now dying to see it all!

Some unfortunate things happen in the book, but I felt they were necessary and very realistic. I found myself liking Kitsy even more after seeing how she handled the tough situations and loved how the negatives turn into positives.

The ending was beautiful. Thanks to Heasleys amazing descriptions of Kitsy's artwork and surroundings. I loved where all of the characters ended up and felt really lucky that I was able to go on this life-changing adventure with Kitsy.

Awesome Quote:
"Driving down the dirt road sounds like more than a familiar sound track. It feels like a lullaby."

Characters: 4/5
Creativity: 4/5
Voice: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Impact: 4.5/5
Overall: 4/5


I still haven't read Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley, which is about Kitsy's best friend Corrinne moving to Broken Spoke, but now after reading Along Way From You I'm will definitely be picking it up soon! This book had the perfect mixture of art, adventure and self discovery. I can't wait to see what Heasley comes out with next.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won a copy from Good Reads.

Kitsy Kidd loves art, and is thrilled when she gets accepted into a summer program at Parsons in New York. This will be one of the first times she’s doing something for herself. She’s always taking care of her little brother, Kiki, and her mother, Amber.

The program will give her the chance to really explore her love of art. She’s going to stay with her best-friend, Corinne, and Corinne’s family, who is paying for her tuition and plane ride. Corrine won’t be staying with Kitsy the whole time because she is going to be a counselor at a camp. This doesn’t stop Kitsy from having adventures on her own with people that she meets, including an older musician, Tad.

I’m glad that Kitsy finally did something for herself. I hate it when kids have to be the parents. I really liked Kitsy, but I didn’t like that she sometimes lied to her boyfriend, Hands. I loved that Hands pushed Kitsy to do something for herself, but I felt it was really hard for him to actually apply that when he only wanted to talk about football and dismissed her art. I still liked Hands and wished that he was more in the book.

I took art this past semester in college, and my teacher made us critique everybody’s work along with her critiques. Like Kitsy, I always dreaded critiques, especially since everybody heard them. Kitsy could only hear the negatives in her teacher’s, Picasso’s, critiques. It got her down at first, but with the help of two others in her class, she was able to grow as an artist. I liked the scenes where Kitsy explored New York and was able see that she was capable to do something for herself and outside of her hometown, Broken Spokes.

Overall, I really enjoyed this. The only thing I need to do is backtrack and read the first one!

[Gaby G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Posted at Oh My Books!

It has been a while since I read contemporary young adult novel, but I really enjoyed A Long Way from You by Gwendolyn Heasley.

Kitsy Kidd is a Texan girl who lives with her mother and her little brother Kiki. She's captain of the cheerleaders and has been dating the quarterback since sixth grade. She's very sweet, mature and likes art, so when she has the opportunity to spend one month in New York city and attend summer classes at Parsons, she can't miss it.

Kitsy was a great character, very realistic. She is experiencing a whole new world and meets a lot of new people, totally different from her. She wants to enjoy her trip, but her journey ended up being more a revelation to herself than she thought. She is a really nice girl and obviously New York tried to eat her, but she was stronger that anyone and managed to be true to herself after all.

I think I liked her more because she kind of reminded me at that age. Sometimes you don't know what to do when you face the world, but in the end if you follow your heart you will succeed. I devoured her story, it was easy to read and even when sometimes I wanted her to choose different, in the end it left me with a good feeling.

I definitely recommend A Long Way from You by Gwendolyn Heasley, specially for contemporary young adult readers, you will enjoy Kitsy's story and it's refreshing to find a young adult novel that concentrates on the character more than the romance. Obviously, if you already read about Kitsy's best friend Corrinne from the book Where I Belong, you can miss this one.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me start off by stating that I didn't like Kitsy in Where I Belong. I found her quite annoying, but still kind of tolerating.
With that said you're probably wondering why the heck I wanted to read this book. Well let me tell you that I seriously do not know. I guess because it got a lot of praise and because I thought maybe I'd like her after reading this.
And I can tell y'all that I liked her in the second half of the book, because of *sing song voice* character development!

The first half was freaking annoying as heck. Yes, yes it was great writing when it came to how she felt in the big apple or just being some place new and different, but Kitsy was so very ridiculous, especially with Tad. I wanted to punch her. Like yes I understand wanting time for herself and not to bring having distractions from home, but it didn't seem like her to all of a sudden be so selfish so soon and especially when it came to Hands.
After enough eye rolling and insults I had to, for the life of me, skim the rest of this book.

Don't get me wrong, it was a good read, especially the second part.... well only the second part, but yes many others will love this book. I simply just liked it.

It was refreshing having a loving sibling relationship.
Great morals.
Great art facts, history, and perspective.
I loved that we got a little insight into the history of J.J (Corinne's Mom) and Dusty.