Okay, I know I just posted a book review and was really only going to do that once a week, however, I just couldn’t ignore this book and posting this review.
Since reading and loving Rules of Attraction, the second novel is the Perfect Chemistry Series by Simone Elkeles well I just HAD to read the first book, Perfect Chemistry.
Now, I loved Carlos, I really did, and I loved the novel but *pushes Carlos and Perfect Attraction aside* HELLO Alex! He is now my new favourite Fuentes brother.
When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created “perfect” life is about to unravel before her eyes. She’s forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for—her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect. Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more. In a passionate story about looking beneath the surface, Simone Elkeles breaks through the stereotypes and barriers that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart. –Quoted from Goodreads
For me this book was just plain amazing, I read it start to finish in a day. I just couldn’t put it down—that’s how awesome-sauce it is.
Brittany Ellis on the outside is your “perfect” teenager. She’s got the looks, the grades, the pom-poms and boyfriend to prove to the world just that image, perfect, the one she’s strived to create. However, on the inside she’s complex, has real family issues and a life that just isn’t as glamorous and worth hiding.
Alejandro “Alex” Fuentes is more like Brittany than he ever thought possible. He too is determined to protect the image he’s created, the one that proves him to be a loyal Latino Blood gang member, a kid from the wrong side of town with nothing much to offer to the world besides protecting his family. On the inside Alex wishes for a different life, one where he doesn’t have to watch his back, where college is an option and falling in love with someone that just might be untouchable is possible.
When Brittany and Alex are partnered together in Chemistry class they both judge each other by what’s on the outside. Brittany assuming he’s the cold-hearted gangbanger he wants everyone to believe he is, and Alex thinking that the only thing that matters to Brittany is what clothes to buy and how much she can put on her parents credit card.
But after a rough start of harmless and quirky pranks, the two can’t fight their undeniable attraction for each other. Only Alex’s intentions might be slightly less admirable then he lets on. For him getting into Brittany’s pants has just as much to do with attraction as it does with a seemingly harmless bet.
However, even with the world against them, a bet and the fact that they are so different—yet similar—Alex and Brittany overcome the odds and fall hard and fast for each other. The only thing standing in their way is Alex’s dwindling loyalty to the Latino Blood and Brittany’s need to save Alex from himself and his surrogate family.
This novel truly has it all; fun pranks and dialogue that makes you laugh out loud, action and tension that has you biting your nails and love and loss that forces you to reach for the Kleenex. Ms. Elkeles knows how to grab the attention of the reader, reel them in and have them hooked all the way until the end—and then some. I’ve finished the novel two days ago, and yet it still has captured me in such away I can’t stop thinking about it, and of course has me desperate to get the final book in the series in my hands.
This isn’t just your typical love story between two very different characters. This is a novel that should prove to anyone that anything is possible.
I will definitely be recommending this novel as well as Rules of Attraction, not to mention I just can't wait to pick up Chain Reaction.
**Content warning, this has some Sexual, Drug and Alcohol, Course Language and Violent Content but don't be scared off, it's just a little :)**
29 August 2011 at 17:18
I love this whole series, but Perfect Chemistry will always be my favorite :) Great review!
29 August 2011 at 19:46
I'm just about done Perfect Chemistry as well. I can already tell that I will definitely be picking up Rules of Attraction and Chain Reaction. I'm really enjoying the book.
29 August 2011 at 21:32
@Linda I haven't read the last one, but yes Perfect Chemistry was a lot better than Rules of Attraction.
@Kathy Ann Coleman They are great! Books I'm glad you are enjoying them.