Saturday, June 2, 2012

Book Review: Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles




This book should come with a warning label. Caution: Read only if you want to glare at your husband accusingly because he’s not a tattooed, leather-wearing, motorcycle-riding, Mexican gangbanger that calls you mamacita. 

Oh, Alex Fuentes. Muy sexy!

The blurb of Perfect Chemistry, from Goodreads:

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.

This book is so good! Like, seriously, people. I read it in one sitting. I literally did not get up from my couch except to make more tea three times and to pee (TMI?) from the moment I opened the first page until it was finished. I squealed too many times to count. I re-read passages because they were so sexy I couldn’t stand it. I put the book down because I felt I was rushing through it and should take a break and then instantly realized what a horrible mistake I’d made. Sure, this book has a few clichés, a few cheeseball moments, but you know what? When a book is this well done, this AMAZING, I just don’t give a shit. Not one single shit. I’m in love with this book. Here’s why.

Things I loved about Perfect Chemistry:

-All the things. All of them.

-The romance. God, it was so well done! You think the plotline of bad boy meets good girl, romance ensues, is tired and overdone? You’re wrong. Read this book and prepare to swoon.

-The humor. Alex and his buddies are muy divertido! (Thank you, Google Translate). Which brings me to my next point:

-Chichis? Mamacita? Nina? Why oh why isn’t someone catcalling me in Spanish right now?

-The dual points of view. I loved reading from both Brittany’s north-sider and Alex’s south-sider perspectives. Elkeles did a great job showing how different yet similar their lives were.

-Oh, I could go on forever—the supporting characters? Outstanding. The disabled sister plotline? Heartrending. The mystery surrounding Alex’s dad’s death? Intriguing. But I’ll just stop here. Because Rules of Atrraction by Simone Elkeles is calling my name and I’m a sucker for a good romance.  




21 comments:

  1. I've read all three books and I enjoyed them all! But Alex and Brittany's was by far my favorite.Their love is too cute :P

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    1. I'm almost done Rules of Attraction--it's awesome too, but yes, I still like Alex and Brittany better

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  2. Wow! You've definitely sold me on this one.

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  3. Sounds interesting! Oh, and the whole only putting it down to pee & totally isn't TMI at all. I have an entire group of books I will openly and willingly classify as the "sleep and pee" books because I only put them down to sleep and go to the bathroom. i should do a blog entry on it sometime.

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    1. Yes, yes you should! It really paints a picture, lol.

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  4. I'm all over this one, it sounds great! Especially the duel POV and romance. :-)

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  5. Oh, just wait til you read Rules of Attraction! I thought I loved Alex...but Carlos is probably the Fuentes boy for me!

    I also loved all the things about Perfect Chemistry, but the catcalling was definitely at the top of the list. The Paradise series is next on my list.

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  6. Yup, I'll definitely be reading this one!

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    1. I'd love to lend it to you but I was lent it myself! Which now makes me sad because I want to own it :(

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  7. I just read PC :D and am going to review it on my blog as well!

    If you like Simone's writing style....PLEASE check out her first trilogy 'HOW TO RUIN A SUMMER VACATION.' It is HILARIOUS!!! It's about a spoiled 16 year old from Chicago who goes with her dad (who she never really had a relationship with) to Israel because her dad's parents are dying.... It involves chasing a dog, NOT going to the mall for shopping trips like she thought and just...hilariousness in general.

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    1. Sounds awesome! I'll definitely check it out!

      Thanks, Rachel :)

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  8. I've considered reading this one a dozen times...think you just tipped the scales for me.

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  9. I heard this was really hot! :) Thanks for the review. Another one to add to my tottering TBR pile.

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  10. Hm, I have to admit to being critical, lol. I'm sick to death of bad boys, I mean really really sick to death. Not to mention, WHY is it always the lab partner? lol. Twilight and Hush, hush and now this one. All three books have good girls being forced to work with these bad boy lab partners.
    Hmmm, apparently I need to sign myself up for high school science class...haha.

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    1. Yeah I was thinking I could use a chemistry class myself :D

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  11. Alex F is amazing. SimOne E. fan forever.

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