Money isn’t Everything or Is it?

Rating: 3.5/5

Summary: Caymen is a poor girl, who is doing her best to support her mother’s failing business and get herself into a decent college. When Xander Spence walks into her mother’s shop, there is an immediate connection between the two of them. They’re only friends, but the attraction is obvious. Caymen struggles with accepting the fact that Xander has money and she hides her friendship with Xander from her mother. In addition, not only are mysterious calls for her mother coming in, but he mother is always tired and seems to be running strange errands all times of day.

This book is really cute, but I had higher hopes for it. I think Caymen was too focused on money, which is a valid concern, but her focus became too all-consuming and kind of annoying. She was so focused on it that she let it take over her life and it became a prejudice. I hate those kinds of stories where the main character thinks that a magical sum of money will solve all their problems. It won’t, but maybe it will help.

One thing I loved about this book was Caymen’s sense of humor: she is very sarcastic and has dry humor. I loved it, because it’s similar to my sense of humor. Plus the way she would tease Xander was super adorable and reminds me of myself at times. I thought that the dynamic between Xander and Caymen was realistic without being cliché or annoying.

Overall, I did enjoy this book, though the doll shop was kind of creepy. If you’re a fan of realistic fiction, Sarah Dessen or Huntley Fitzpatrick, take a shot at this book. Otherwise try the author’s book On the Fence, I loved that one!