Perfect Chemistry

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Product Description 
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.

Review:
I read this book because of MsM (Elizabeth Jules Mason) from Moonlight to Twilight Blog review.  I actually had been seeing this book everywhere, but when MsM said it was possibly the best YA book she ever read, I had to check it out for myself.

While I wouldn’t rate it as the best, I will say I really enjoyed this book as a sweet and enduing love story about a couple that had to fight against their comfort zones to be together.  Every stereotypical characteristic for gang banger Alex and cheerleader captain Brittany was present to be part of who they were, only to be debunked later when they are forced to work together on their chemistry project.  

I really appreciated the very realist way Alex’s life was portrayed, especially in relation to culture and tradition. I loved the inclusion of Spanish terms in Alex’s everyday way of talking, no matter who he is talking to; plus, he had some great laugh out loud lines! Also, the author was very honest in the way she approached sex, drugs and language among teens.  It felt very authentic without being overdone.  Teens think about having sex (or actually have sex), they curse, they struggle with their emotions, and occasionally they sneak around to drink and smoke and do things they shouldn’t.        

My rating may have been higher but two things really bothered me about this book.  The writing style and the epilogue.  I enjoyed the change of POVs from Alex to Brittany for each chapter. It was great to be able to evaluate their way of thinking, but I really didn’t enjoy reading this story in present tense.  Present tense is not my favorite, but if the story is well crafted, I hardly notice it, like in The Hunger Games.  But with Perfect Chemistry, it seemed too choppy and awkward at times.  I didn’t feel like there was an understandable flow in the prose.  And I’m sorry, but I really didn’t care for the epilogue.  It made me shake my head and ask, Why?  I’m all for HEAs but I don’t need it spelled out for me, especially since this one seemed so cheesy. Twenty-three years later… and Paco Fuentes is sitting in the same Chem class his mom and dad once shared.  Really?!?

After thoughts: You know… I did the whole high school science thing, too.  Four years!  Torturous for me because I hate science. And, I’m just wondering… what the heck it is about Chem and Bio that I missed?

Please! Someone help me understand.  Where was I the day they were passing out hot guys as lab partners?  I sure as heck don’t remember getting assigned seating next to Edward or Patch or even Alex!!!  I promise the only day I made my mom excuse me from school is the day we had to dissect a frog. Sorry, I just couldn’t do that to Kermit’s cousin!

Sophomore year, I do remember some jerk, totally not that cute, definitely not an Adonis, telling me he could make me see stars, then he told me to close my eyes, which, for some idiotic reason, I did.  Then he flicked my eyelids with his fingers! Asshat!  Totally blinded me for a while.  Plus, I cried.

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Posted at 4:02 pm  •  Labels: 2010, 4 stars, Book Review, Simone Elkeles, trailers, YA