Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Released: January 13th, 2009
Pages: 432
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Rating: 5/5


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.

I absolutely LOVED this novel, everything about it was just amazing. Honestly, it is one of the best Young Adult contemporary romance I've come across in a while.


The book changes from Alex's point of view to Brittany's point of view, which was nice, that way we get to know how both of them feel and think. I absolutely fancied Alex, he was a such and amazing guy, tough on the outside but soft on the inside. Considering he's part of a gang called the Latino Blood, he's never actually done anything wild. The one and only reason he's part of the LB is to protect his family. Brittany on the other hand is your typical girl, who puts of a perfect facade, even though her life isn't at perfect as it seems; its better than Alex's but still has it's own issues. In Brittany's life you get to see, that money can't buy you happiness, which is a great moral. I loved Alex and Brittany together, all though they're a far cry from each other, they complete each other as lovers.


Simone Elkeles's writing style is fresh and clean, even the most awkwardest moments seem so normal. I liked of the voice of Alex a bit more than Brittany's, its difficult to cast a man's voice if the author is a woman, but Elkeles did it flawlessly. 


Overall, I loved it. The whole aspect of this novel was extremely different and so much fun to read. This book has easily become one of my all time favorite novels. This a great bad boy falls for the good-girl love story. Highly recommended.