Swoon-worthy: Perfect Chemistry (Perfect Chemistry #1) by Simone Elkeles

Perfect Chemistry (Perfect Chemistry #1)

by Simone Elkeles

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary

Release Date: December 23, 2008

Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers

Source: Bought/Own Copy

Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Author's Blog

SYNOPSIS

A fresh, urban twist on the classic tale of star-crossed lovers.

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.

REVIEW

Oh, why did I just read this now? This book was beyond what I expected! Okay, the story maybe a bit cliche, but the way it was written. Elkeles did a GREAT job writing the story! Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down! What can I say? I was so engrossed with the story that I was so annoyed when I was asked to put the book down.

“We're actors in our lives, pretendin' to be who we want people to think we are.” 

First, we meet Brittany. She is a girl living the perfect life the north side of town, but in reality, she has her fair share of problems. At home, she is the one who takes care of her sister, Shelley, who has cerebral palsy, because her mother won't and her father is rarely at home. Alongside that, she also struggles keeping up her perfect image. Okay, enough about that! I like Brittany's character. A lot. From the beginning, I already felt connected to her. I felt her pain for being her parents' barbie doll, her struggle as she tries to make a stand for herself, and her anger towards her parents for using her sister against her. As you see, her life isn't really that perfect at all. She hides behind this false facade to make her parents and friends but as the story progress, we see this facade of her fall. We see her develop into a girl who hardly gives a crap about what people say about her.

And then there's Alex Fuentes, the town's bad boy who lives in the south side of town. He's a hot latino. He's very protective of his family after what happened to his dad who got killed because of a drug deal. Just like Brittany, he also hides behind this false facade of his. Despite the fact that he's in a gang, he's a really nice and intelligent guy. In fact, he doesn't really want to be part of the Latino Blood. He wants to leave the gang and study college, but he knows he can't because of its consequences.

“I'm losing control."

"Mamacita, I've already lost it."

There's no denying there's chemistry between those two. As cliche as it may be, they actually have this love-hate relationship. It was so cute watching them exchange banters. But of course, there's this something preventing them from dating each other. They can't date each other because they live in different sides of the town. If they date each other, Brittany would be judged not only by her friends, but also by her family. The question is will she risk losing her perfect reputation to have Alex by her side? You'll have to read the book to know the answer! *wink*

Basically, I highly recommend this book! The story and characters were greatly written. The plot maybe cliche, but it's really worth reading. I'm definitely looking forward to reading Carlos's book, Rules of Attraction!

REVIEW