Review: A Long Way From You by Gwendolyn Heasley

A Long Way From You by Gwendolyn Heasley

Publisher: HarperTeen 

Pages: 336 

Format: book 

Buy the Book: Amazon   

Goodreads:  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.





Kritters Thoughts:  Kitsy has never left the state of Texas and she is headed to New York City for the summer for art school.  She has always dreamed of leaving her small town and discovering what is out there beyond her home town and she is given the perfect opportunity to experience NYC for a summer.  Staying with her friend Corrine's parents, she has a home base, but she learns where to find trouble and what she is willing to do to concur her dream of becoming an artist.


The characters were flawlessly age appropriate, but not overwhelming for this adult.  I was completely taken in by the story from the first page and I wanted to know more about the adventures that Kitsy would endure while she was away from her family and friends.  I would love another book that took the reader inside these girls lives, I just wonder who would be the next lead.  


A quick YA read that was a perfect book to take to the pool for the weekend.  A light story that was entertaining and easy to follow - I was reminded how much I love YA contemporary. 


SIDE note - I did not know that the characters in this book appeared in her first book Where I Belong, so you may want to pick that one up first although it centers around a different character, there is a bit of backstory that I was definitely missing for this one.




Rating: the perfect YA read


Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Little Bird Publicity.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.