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.
This book had mixed chapters, the kind where you get two points of view. I enjoyed this book so much more because of this, if it was just from Brittney's point of view for example I don't think I would of rated the book at all. I loved the way you could see one event happen from two different people persectives and the different reactions they had to these events.
The characters made me laugh so much as well, the scene with Paco in the tolilet at the wedding had me in stitches, I think that is another aspect that makes this book work. The supporting cast are amazing. Even Brittney's mom is funny. You really get to see a different side to people who you would normally judge in real life, it shows that most people do have problems but are not open about them and put on a show to help cope.
Brittney is a funny character to judge, she has so much going on, she thinks that she has to be perfect because her sister is not. Alex is part of gang because it is the only way he can protect his family from the gangs around the area. People judge Brittney because she has the so called perfect life and judge Alex because they feel he likes being part of a gang.
This story highlights the issues I have talked about and as you learn about the characters you start to get an understanding about them, they also learn about eachother the same way you find out about them. They discover eachother, but also discover themselves at the same time. What turns out as a bet can lead to true love!
I would highly recommend this book, I loved it and cannot wait to read Rules of Attraction. Which I think has a January 2011 release date in the UK. Hopefully I'll be able to get my hands on a copy before that though. Rules of Attraction follows on from Perfect Chemistry and explores the life of Carlos, Alex's younger brother.
Beastly: I've wanted to read this for a long time, and with it not being released in the UK found it hard to come across. I was so happy when I finially saw it in WH Smiths, I grabbed it straight away!
