Book Review: Perfect Chemistry

Title: Perfect Chemistry
Author: Simone Elkeles

Publisher: Walker & Company
Pub. Date: December 2008
ISBN-13: 9780802798220
Age Range: Young Adult
368pp

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. 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.

What happens when a Northsider and a Southsider get together?
a rocky road and a lot of staring..

Northsider Brittany Ellis has everything any teenager wants: popularity, money, and good looks. On outside, she has a great life, but her perfect persona is just a cover-up for her troubled home life. She feel's She has to be in control and be perfect because her sister isn't.

Southsider Alex Fuentes has a bad-boy reputation, but all he wants is to get out of his gang and graduate.

So when they are partnered together in chemistry class, life starts to make more sense. Written from both Brittany and Alex's perspective, this story shows what's going on below the surface for each person as they break through stereotypes and expectations that threaten to keep them apart.

This is like a modernized Shakespeare story of Romeo and Juliet, story similar to R&J tend to get boring and too original. PERFECT CHEMISTRY is not one of those books. It was addicting and the story was vibrant. The characters came to life and it was like I was there watching the story unfold.

The way Simone Elkeles wrote the story was absolutely perfect. I absolutely love the story. There were some parts that I literally cried, laughed, and screamed because I was so frustrated.
Overall, it's an fantastic read and totally chick-lit. It's an stunning love story that will keep you turning the page to find out what happens. I will so definitely be re reading this one. This book was simply wonderful. I know some people might get annoyed with the whole star crossed lovers living on the opposite sides of town fall for each other. But really... this book totally changes the story by the details of the two main characters and that's what really did it for me.

rating 4/5 hearts
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥