Customer Reviews

Perfect Chemistry

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is told from two perspectives. From the point of view of Brittany- the steriotypical blonde popular cheerleader and Alex- one of the hot shots in a Latino gang. All the characters in this novel are grouped based on where their from. The north side- where the rich popular kids live, and the sought side- where the poorer kids who are thought of as 'trouble' live and where gangs rule their lives.

So when Brittany gets partnered to Alex in chemistry class, you know that their at first crazily opposite personalities are going to end up cliquing. This is a cute story where what seems at first impossible happens. And I got to learn some pretty entertaining spanish slang from Alex. The characters are likeable and even though at times the outward actions of the characters were too different from their inner thoughts they generally stayed consisten throughout the novel. It's a really good summer read I highly recommend it.

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

I loved Perfect chemistry. It was so sweet! I don't really read YA contemporary romance since most of them are predictable but this one almost wasn't it. And what I mean about that? Well the ending. The author leads the story to an end most romance stories have but then something happens and you're not so sure.

Even though it was a YA book there was a sex scene in it and the author managed to describe it very well without being graphic at all. It was really a sweet scene and to my surprise it was from Alex's point of view. The book changes between Alex's POV and Brittany's POV. This way we get to know both of them how they feel and think.

I loved Alex. Such a nice guy even though he acted as a touch guy. Even though he is a gang member he had never actually done something pretty bad. And he tries to stay clean as possible. The only reason he's in it is to protect his family.

Brittany is you normal girl that tries to act perfect. Her life though isn't perfect as it looks like. It's better than Alex's but still, her family has big problems. You get to see that no matter how much money you have, money can't buy happiness. I love how this couple completed each other. They are so different and similar at the same time.

The writing was refreshing and I liked the voice of Alex the most. It's hard to capture a boy's voice when the author is woman but she managed well.

Overall I loved it. I had heard so much good things about this book that my expectations were high when I grabbed it and it didn't disappoint.
The only thing I didn't like and it's the reason why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is the ending. Not the final chapter but the conclusion in general. After a big event that changes both Alec and Brittany, the book felt rushed. I wish she could have taken it more slowly.

Brittany Ellis is from the north side of town. She's popular, a cheerleader and is dating the most popular boy in school. She has spent most of her life projecting that her beautiful and rich family is perfect and flawless, despite the secret they keep. Alex is from the south side of town, where he is a member of a dangerous gang. He's done everything he can to keep his family safe, but there are some lines he refuses to cross. When the two are put together in chemistry class, their worlds are blown open and they realize that together, anything is possible.

Perfect Chemistry was a very captivating read. Despite my wariness of such a romantic novel, I was hooked from the start and couldn't put it down. Elkeles does a beautiful job at creating captivating characters. Their shared narrative serves to fill out the story and connect readers. We see their shared insecurities, desires and the tenderness between them and are immediately pulled into their story. While the romantic relationship is the central part of the novel, the elements of Brittney's (her sister) and Alex's (his gang) lives make this story about so much more. This novel definitely has an audience beyond just those who enjoy romance.