Book Review: The Distance from A to Z by Natalie Blitt

Posted January 18, 2016 by Melissa in Uncategorized / 7 Comments

Title: The Distance from A to Z

Author: Natalie Blitt

Genre: YA Contemporary
Publisher: Epic Reads
Publication Date:  January 12th, 2016
Page Count:  316 pages
Format:  Kindle eBook
Source: Purchased

Summary:
This full-length novel by debut author Natalie Blitt is a pitch-perfect blend of Stephanie Perkins and Miranda Kenneally that proves the age-old adage: opposites attract.

Seventeen-year-old Abby has only one goal for her summer: to make sure she is fluent in French—well, that, and to get as far away from baseball and her Cubs-obsessed family as possible. A summer of culture and language, with no sports in sight.

That turns out to be impossible, though, because her French partner is the exact kind of boy she was hoping to avoid. Eight weeks. 120 hours of class. 80 hours of conversation practice with someone who seems to wear baseball caps and jerseys every day.

But Zeke in French is a different person than Zeke in English. And Abby can’t help but fall for him, hard. As Abby begins to suspect that Zeke is hiding something, she has to decide if bridging the gap between who she is and who he is is worth the risk.

*The Reader’s Review*
My rating: 5/5 stars

Oh guys, this book has me soaring up in the sky! The Distance from A to Z is everything I wish for every time I open a new YA contemporary book. It gave me a cute boy to swoon over (HARD), a great side character that I adored, an MC that I felt connected to in some ways (not so much in others), awesome awesome KISSING scenes, and a super fun storyline. C’est magnifique!
At first I thought this book was going to be set in Paris because I heard “french” and “cute boy speaking french” and I had not read the blurb yet, so I was like I NEEDS IT since Paris = kissing and feels and swoons. But after realizing it was not, I was just a tad bit disappointed for like 3 secs because after reading the first few pages I soon realized that who needs the famous city of love when you have 8 weeks of French in a College campus with a boy like Zeke + a visit to imaginary Paris & Montreal?! No one, that’s right.
Like I already mentioned, The Distance Between A to Z has a really great cast of characters, from the main character to the French teacher, but the ones I feel we really got to meet were Abby, Zeke and Alice. They’re bright and colorful and interesting and totally realistic. By realistic I don’t refer to how Alice has anxiety problems (tho I loved how this girl kicked anxiety’s butt), but more on how each character has their own insecurities that are relatable and I found a bit of me in every single one of them.
Abby’s obsession on learning French is admirable yet intense. This girl tries to breathe, live and eat French just to get fluent. Like any obsession, it might come off as crazy and unhealthy, but totally understandable since that’s the way to go in order to get things done. Definitely makes me wish I had her dedication! *Takes out little foreign language pocket dictionary*.
Right from the get-go, I fell in love with Abby’s and Alice’s friendship. Seriously one of the coolest friendships ever and I wish I could be a part of their little group. But if I had to pick one of them, I’d totally go for Alice. This amazing girl despite having anxiety issues, is a fierce and extremely talented poet that work hards to not let that rule her life. I, alongside Abby, was also cheering her on with every little step she would take to brave crowds.
But the swoons guys, THE SWOONS. I think I reread like a bazillion times every scene were there was kissing or almost-kissing. It was glorious. I melted. I highlighted and I fangirled. Because Zeke. Mon dieu! Zeke is the kind of boy I love to read about. Sweet and caring. A talented kisser *wink*. There is the fact that we get the Zeke in French and the Zeke in English, and although he is kind of a jerk when in English mode, I still drooled over him because Zeke in French is 100% perfect. (Read the book to completely get him!!)
I don’t think I even covered an inch of what The Distance from A to Z is really about, so I must really emphasize that this book is really amazing and fun, but not the fluffy type at all. It is the perfect blend of every good contemporary romace book out there so I’m pretty sure many will enjoy falling in love with it!
P.S. Natalie Blitt, promised us extra scenes if we reached certain amounts of reviews on Amazon. YAY. I NEED THAT EPILOGUE YOU GUYS. I am not satisfied with the ending. I need MORE. More Zeke. More Abby. More kissing! (Can’t help it) And more Alice would rock as well though I hear we might get her story later, eep! 

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7 responses to “Book Review: The Distance from A to Z by Natalie Blitt”

  1. Irena BookDustMagic

    This sounds like something I would like! I'll add it to my TBR, I like cute contemporaries, plus I want to know how she managed with her ability to speak French fluently, since I am still learning English and all that jazz…
    It also doesn't hurt that you reviewed it really nicely. 🙂

  3. Erika E.

    OMG booknerd soulmate, I also love Paris!!! And even if this is not set in Paris, giving the same feel is enough. Love reading your review. I'm so curious, I want to read this too! 😀 Thanks for the great review, booknerdsoulmate! xo