Perfect Chemistry [Paperback]

Who says that southsiders and northsiders can't mix? Well, other than everyone at Fairfield High School on the outskirts of Chicago.

Northsider Brittany Ellis has everything any teenager wants: popularity, money, and good looks. On the surface, her life is wonderful, but her perfect persona is just a cover-up for her troubled home life.

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

When they are thrown together as chemistry partners, 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, and after reading hundreds of books with plots similar to Romeo and Juliet, some stories start to blur into each other. 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.

Reviewed by: Emily Ann

When I received Perfect Chemistry for review, I was pretty pleased. I heard a lot of people had good things to say about it, and so was intrigued, though I was particularly wowed by the blurb, but I thought I'd give it a go. I cannot tell you how amazing Perfect Chemistry is! I am not the fastest reader going, and Perfect Chemistry isn't exactly a skinny book, but it was so good, I couldn't put it down, and read the whole thing yesterday. I loved it!

This book is about so much more than just a love story. It's also about accepting yourself for who you are, being yourself, and not living by the social rules of your environment. It was fantastic to see how these two very different people - Brittany, who is little miss popular and Queen Bee of high school, and Alex, dangerous gang member who strikes fear into just about everyone - were so similar. How they are seen by the outside world is nothing compared to who they are inside, but a front they put on for reasons far more serious than social acceptance.

I love the way the story was structured, with mostly alternating chapters from both Brittany and Alex's points of view in first person. It was brilliant to really get inside their heads, to see what they were hiding, yet see their misconceptions of the other. It's not completely original, but it was brilliant.

It was great to see them struggle with their individual lives, having pretty much no-one to confide in about their issues, and then seeing them thrust together to, little by little, learn to trust, open up, and let the other in. They are both so much more complicated than the other thought; Brittany is a nice, good person, rather have superficial and arrogant, and Alex is fiercely loyal and protective of his family, and does what he must to keep them safe. Watching them fall in love as they realise they may have actually found someone who understands is just beautiful.

As I said before, Alex is a gang member, but the fact that this is a romance doesn't mean that Simone shies away from what that means to Alex. Everyone knows gangs are dangerous, but it was shocking to see just how much. Alex's pretence is not only for what others think of him, but for what his friends and his fellow gang members think of him. If the guys on top got even a whiff that he is anything but fiercely dedicated to the gang, not only his life would be at risk. There is violence, drugs, and extreme fear running throughout this book; it's dark and gritty, and there's no lack of suspense. It's hard not to admire Alex for what he has to live through, day in and day out, knowing if he takes his eye off the ball for one second, that could be it. It's thrilling for a book, but deeply disturbing to considering this is life for some people.

The issue of living with a disabled relative is also covered in this book. Brittany is carrying around so much guilt that she was born "normal" while her older sister wasn't, and is also having to deal with a mother who is perpetually on the edge of breaking down at the possibility of the slightest scandal - what would the neighbours think? Brittany has to deal with so much pressure, from in and outside school, it's admirable, though unfair, that she plays the worry free pampered princess so well.

This book is just incredible, and I finished it with the urge to cry at just how beautiful it is. Perfect Chemistry is far from a simple love story; it's complicated, it's dangerous, but it's completely wonderful. There really is no way for me to express how much I have been touched by this book, and I really look forward to reading more of Simone's novels. If you don't read this book, you're missing out on something completely unforgettable.

Anyone that know me, knows that this book is completely out of the norm for me. I always read Fantasy and Paranormal type books but after hearing so many good things about it, I thought I'd try it and my god, it did not disappointed me one bit.

Perfect Chemistry follows the lives of Brittnay and Alex. Brittnay is popular, beautiful and rich and Alex is your typical bad boy, a gang member and lives in the bad part of town. When senior year starts, they are partnered up for a Chemistry project and somehow there lives change, becoming very confusing, especially when they start falling for one another.

I'm quiet shocked with how much I loved this story, it kept me gripped from page one and I really didn't want it to end. Although, I did find it a little predictable at times, I still enjoyed it and loved how we were taken on the emotional rollercoster that was Brittnay & Alex's relationship.

Firstly, Brittnay is not how she seems. You would expect a typical blonde cheerleader but deep down she just hides her emotions from people and well as hiding her home life too. She's strong and determined and I loved that she fights for what she believes in. Secondly, Alex! Wow! Come on, what's not to like. A hot Hispanic bad boy! Even though Alex is a the ultimate bad boy, as you get to know him, you know that's not all he is. He's a guy who see's no other choice but to protect his family and the only way to that is to throw his life away and be dedicated to the Latino Bloods. I think both characters were absolutely fantastic and I loved how the author has brought these two characters to life.

This book is a must read. If you haven't read it, READ IT! Even if its not your type of book, READ IT. Once you've read it, it will stick in your head for hours and I promise you won't be disappointed.

P.S If you want something similar go and watch the film Crazy/Beautiful starring Kristen Dunst & Jay Hernandez. So similar in so many ways :)