Rating: 
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.
(Perfect Chemistry #1)
Literary Award: 2010 Romance Writers of America RITA award
*****
ELECTRIC. DELICIOUS. TEMPTING.
It is not hard to fall in love. It’s the admission, the acceptance that’s difficult.
I was never in Realistic Teen Fiction subgenre of YA, but wow, Simone Elkeles changed that. I read mainly to escape reality, so why would read stories that delve into that?
I did not just fall in love with Alex and Brittany. i was WHIPPED! and yeah, i’m proud of that.
amidst the flirting and attraction lies the reality of Alex’s and Brittany’s lives. One wants to escape, while the other wants to stay (stay perfect, stay still), but both puts up a facade. and yet, they see through each other’s masks and found comfort and strength in each other’s arms.
i have to say that i love Alex’s POV more. it’s raw, humorous, and well, goosebumps-worthy. i now have the hots for Alex. *fanning myself*
when the story got good, i have a sinking feeling that this might have a sh*tty ending, reality-fiction and all. Boy, was i wrong! It was rather an unexpected one, one that was very very much to my taste. 🙂
i liked that the author didn’t beat around the bush. halfway through, when Brittany’s feelings are starting to come out, she cuts to the chase and lay her feelings on the table. NICE! i’m impatient with stuff like this, so sue me.
Perfect Chemistry is a fun, spine-tingling, swoon-worthy read.
Feeling neglected by a loved one, lately? Then read this. teen romance, if not first love, doesn’t get any better than this.
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.: maria :.
“giving up is the ultimate tragedy.”
reading is the ultimate aphrodisiac. 