Book Review: Perfect Chemistry

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Released: January 1, 2008
Publisher: Walker Books
Pages: 360
Rating: 5 stars
At Fairfield High School, on the outskirts of Chicago, everyone knows that south-siders mixing with north-siders can be explosive. So when Brittany Ellis and Alejandro "Alex" Fuentes are forced to be lab partners in chemistry class,
this human experiment leads to unexpected revelations - that Brittany's Flawless reputation is a cover for her troubled home life, that Alex's bad-boy persona hides his desire to break free from gang ties, and that when they're together, life somehow makes more sense. Breaking through the stereotypes and expectations that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart, Perfect Chemistry takes readers to both sides of teh tracks in a passionate love story about looking beneath the surface.

This book just blew me away! It was amazing! I have read some great books, but this is now my favorite. After I finished it, I was so ready to start reading it again.

The characters were both well-developed and complex. Brittany felt so real, like some teens could actually relate to her. I know on some levels, I can. On the outside, her classmates see a person with a perfect life. But there is so much going on in her life - from her parents, her sister, and even her feelings. Alex is perceived as the bad boy who's a gang member, but just like Brittany there is more too him. There are some obvious differences between the two characters, yet they are more alike then I thought possible.

The writing was superb! It was so smooth that I flew right through the book. Hardly noticing how the pages were thinning and the book coming to the end. There was something about her writing that made me feel as though I was right there. The chapters alternate between Brittany and Alex's point of veiw. I loved this because I got to know the characters better. Being able to have glimps into each of their personal lives. This really helped Alex win me over, because I got to see through him and into the life he struggled with everyday - a life he doesn't want to live.

This was the first book I have read by Simone Elkeles and I must say I will be looking for more books by her. I highly recommend this book.




signature

1 comment:

Leslie said...

i abs loved this one! i love the alt pov in this novel! especially that scene with paco and the bathroom lmao!

Post a Comment

Thanks for taking the time to comment! I love hearing what you have to say!!

Blog Widget by LinkWithin