Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Book review #38
Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
Rating: Five stars (refer to the rating system on the right)

Summary: (taken from Goodreads)
  
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. 

Oh my goodness! Perfect Chemistry is talked about so much in the blogging community, but I never quite understood. I mean the summary sounds good, but not amazing. Let's just say it's pretty much beyond amazing. I'm in total awe, blown away, basically very happy with this book. I could describe Perfect Chemistry as having a unique twist on Romeo and Juliet added with that addictive heated romance from Twilight. I ripped through the pages, hungry for more. Never have a  read book without literally getting up for anything-not even a snack haha- until now! 

The tension between Brittany and Alex all began with a silly feud over  parking spot on the first day of school. Things start bubbling when the two discover they have to be lab partners for the next ten months. Things start out rocky with disputes and complete misunderstandings of each other. Brittany and Alex couldn't be more different, yet little do they know they share way more in common than anyone could imagine.

Brittany and Alex come from two different worlds, both having their own reputations. Brittany lives on the north side, she's rich, on the cheerleading squad, and dates the captain of the football team. She holds the reputation of being perfect, but that's all a show. Very few people know that in reality her family is messed up, she doesn't really like her boyfriend, and she lives trying to make up for her mentally ill sister. On the other hand there is Alex. He's poor, a member of the  gangs, and has the reputation of being the bad boy. Although he isn't a bad guy at all-he's smart, caring, and lives in the shadows of his dead father. To be together, Brittany would have to basically risk her life-disappointing her mother, risking her friendships, and losing her perfect image.

I actually really liked Brittany. I thought she was really sweet, espeically the way she cared about her sister. Yeah she had her issues, but I understood way she did the things she did. And Alex, I loved him! I wouldn't mind having Alex for myself. Together Brittany and Alex shared something extraordinary, perhaps something I've never seen before.  The romance, the chemistry between them was on fire! It was passionate, sizzling, and the best part about it was that the relationship wasn't even about that. The connection between them made this one of the best love stories I've ever read about.

The characters were amazing, the romance was powerful, but wait there's even more. The chapters alternate between Brittany and Alex giving you a male and female POV. I couldn't have been more grateful for this, it was so nice getting to go into both character's heads instead of just wondering what the other one was thinking. The mix of Spanish thrown into the mix, gave the book some spice, adding icing to the cake. Luckily I'm learning Spanish so I understood most of it.

Thinking about Perfect Chemistry makes me want to do a happy dance. It's just one of those books...that you completely fall in love with. I'm not really one to reread books, but immediately after finishing this one, I had a sudden urge to flip back to the beginning and devour it once again. Lucky for me I don't even have to wait for the sequel to come out. If you haven't read Perfect Chemistry yet and are wondering if it lives up to the hype...it most definitely does!