Review: Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Title: Perfect Chemistry (Perfect Chemistry #1)
Anthor: Simone Elkeles
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA/Walker
Pages: 368
Challenge: None

My 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. -summary from goodreads.com

a shout out to Haley over at YA-Aholic for recommending this book! THANK YOU!

This is probably the best YA contemporary book I've ever read. It was real, emotional, powerful, tender, romantic and sexy! I loved every single second of it! I seriously don’t know how to describe what I feel; everything about this book was just perfect.

I'll admit, in the beginning Brittany was a bit of a snob, but then you learn more about her family and background…. you cant help but feel sorry for her. Of course, her problems don’t compare to Alex’s, they’re on a completely different level. Speaking of Alex!... he easily made my top 10 book boyfriends! (Slight spoiler) I don’t care if everything started out because of a dumb bet, in the end Alex won me over! Throughout the whole book, you cant help but root for Alex and Brittany’s underdog love to succeed. Everyone wants them to fail, but they’re perfect for each other. I literally found myself screaming, “just kiss her already!”

This book is such an emotional roller coaster. Two very different realities clash in perfect chemistry. The characters were definitely well written and I felt that I really got to know them - inside and out. They both hid their identities to their friends for fear of being found out and together. I loved seeing their relationship grow and how both Brittany and Alex managed to uncover their own secrets and find their true selves. I really, really REALLY enjoyed this book.

I’ve heard that the second and third book won’t be based on Alex and Brittany (tear!). Instead they will focus on Alex’s brothers; Carlos and Luis… I’m still debating on whether or not I’ll read them. Anyone else read them? Should I pick them up right away? Let me know. Overall, you haven’t read this book I recommended you go do it NOW! You’ll be sorry if you wait as long as I did.

 How I pictured Alex. He's also the actor that plays him in the book trailers.

I enjoyed this book so much that I want to share a couple of my favorite Alex quotes:

"I want to know how to make this girl laugh. I want to know what makes her cry. I want to know what it feels like to have her look at me as if I’m her knight in shinning armor"

"This connection we have isn't going away, it's only getting stronger. Because the more I spend time with her, the closer I want to be." 

"There's a thin line between love and hate. Maybe you're confusing your emotions." 

Now excuse me while I go re-read the book :)