Perfect Chemistry- Simone Elkeles 4.5 Stars
Perfect Chemistry - Simone Elkeles
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.
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.
First off, after seeing some of the other reviews on this book that kind of mock the usage of Spanish words placed in English conversation I have one comment, If you are Hispanic/Latino/Mexican American you probably do talk like this, it's called SPANGLISH. But ok, rant over review time.
Our MC's are Alex Fuentes, and Brittany Ellis who both attend Fairfield High in Illinois. Alex is a lower class Mexican American teenager, and Brittany a upper class white teenager. When Brittany meets Alex she is already in a relationship with Colin the high school quarterback, which they overly describe that relationship as necessary for the universe since Brittany is the head cheerleader.
Alex had also been in a relationship with Carmen, the attractive "chola" girl with the long fake nails. They have both heard of one another due to "reputations" that go around the school. Alex is a gang member with the local Latino Blood gang, which he is in to follow in his Father's footsteps in order to keep his family safe, and to keep his younger brothers out of it entirely.
Brittany on the other hand lives in an upper class neighborhood in the Chicago suburbs with her mother, father, and sister, Shelly who has cerebral palsy. Brittany has a difficult relationship with her mother because of Shelley's condition, and her never present father leads to Brittany feeling alone for most of the beginning.
The relationship between Alex and Brittany flows smoothly through the book in the sense that it doesn't feel rushed to make any points. After Colin pressures Brittany with sex, and then later tells her that he cheated, they finally break up, which makes her growing feelings for Alex come out. Because you always need a rebound love... LOL
There's more gang problems that Alex faces throughout the book and choices he feels are necessary to get back at people to choices to protect Brittany and his family. I will not reveal any major points that happen in the rest of the story because it really is so good.
I really liked this book, yes it is typical bad boy meets good girl and they fall in love, but the Author did an amazing job at really understanding and developing Alex to show how difficult and dangerous the gang life was for him and his family. There are stereotypical molds in this book for both characters and their families but I think it was necessary to the story line to show how different they both were and what they both overcame to be together.
I urge you to read this book, along with Rules of Attraction (Book 2) , and Chain Reaction (Book 3)* review coming!
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