Perfect Chemistry - Simone Elkeles
Synopsis: 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.
So many people rave about the Perfect Chemistry books, and while they don't send me into a frenzy, I really enjoy them. I actually read Rules of Attraction before I read Perfect Chemistry and I think that was pretty interesting. I already knew how Alex and Brittany were in their future, so it was fun to go back and read how they came together. These books remind me of a lot of things, although I can't quite put my finger on what. They just seem really familiar. Still, they're a guilty kind of pleasure, that you can't help but enjoy even if it's slightly embarrassing. Like the Bring it On movies.
I really liked seeing the two different sides of Alex. Watching him consciously put on a tough guy act was interesting because I think a lot of guys end up doing that. I'm glad that he had a voice in this novel, as that demonstration of his two sides was probably the best part of the book. I did, however, find myself wondering so many times what an actual gang member would think about this book - if they ever read it. Sometimes the whole gang involvement felt sugarcoated and way too soft.
But that's probably because it's a lovey-dovey, swoony kind of story. When you have a known gang member who loves to hang out with your mentally-handicapped sister, how do you not go weak at the knees? I did appreciate that Brittany's sister was her number one priority, and watching her put on a mask was pretty interesting as well, as she feels the need to act like she's perfect.
I think I like this first book better than the second, and I will eventually get around to reading the third book in the series, Chain Reaction, that features the third, youngest Fuentes brother. While they might be a bit of a glossed over representation, I think the characters that are given voices in these novels are really important. And I always love those couples that come together despite where they come from or the conventions that society dictates are acceptable.
Perfect Chemistry - Simone Elkeles
Synopsis: 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.
So many people rave about the Perfect Chemistry books, and while they don't send me into a frenzy, I really enjoy them. I actually read Rules of Attraction before I read Perfect Chemistry and I think that was pretty interesting. I already knew how Alex and Brittany were in their future, so it was fun to go back and read how they came together. These books remind me of a lot of things, although I can't quite put my finger on what. They just seem really familiar. Still, they're a guilty kind of pleasure, that you can't help but enjoy even if it's slightly embarrassing. Like the Bring it On movies.
I really liked seeing the two different sides of Alex. Watching him consciously put on a tough guy act was interesting because I think a lot of guys end up doing that. I'm glad that he had a voice in this novel, as that demonstration of his two sides was probably the best part of the book. I did, however, find myself wondering so many times what an actual gang member would think about this book - if they ever read it. Sometimes the whole gang involvement felt sugarcoated and way too soft.
But that's probably because it's a lovey-dovey, swoony kind of story. When you have a known gang member who loves to hang out with your mentally-handicapped sister, how do you not go weak at the knees? I did appreciate that Brittany's sister was her number one priority, and watching her put on a mask was pretty interesting as well, as she feels the need to act like she's perfect.
I think I like this first book better than the second, and I will eventually get around to reading the third book in the series, Chain Reaction, that features the third, youngest Fuentes brother. While they might be a bit of a glossed over representation, I think the characters that are given voices in these novels are really important. And I always love those couples that come together despite where they come from or the conventions that society dictates are acceptable.
But that's probably because it's a lovey-dovey, swoony kind of story. When you have a known gang member who loves to hang out with your mentally-handicapped sister, how do you not go weak at the knees? I did appreciate that Brittany's sister was her number one priority, and watching her put on a mask was pretty interesting as well, as she feels the need to act like she's perfect. 