Review: Perfect Chemistry (Perfect Chemistry #1) by Simone Elkeles

Title: Perfect Chemistry
Author: Simone Elkeles
Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers
Release Date: December 23rd 2008
Pages: 357
Series: Perfect Chemistry
Where I Got It: Library

Synopsis: 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.

Simone Elkeles
Simone Elkeles is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of novels for teens. Simone’s books have won many awards including being YALSA Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, being named to the YALSA Popular Paperbacks and Teens Top Ten lists, and added to the Illinois “Read for a Lifetime” Reading List. Simone also won the coveted RITA award from the Romance Writers of America for her book Perfect Chemistry. Simone is especially proud of the fact that the Illinois Association of Teachers of English named her Author of the Year. 

Simone was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, where she still lives today. Simone went to the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and received her Bachelor’s of Science there in Psychology in 1992. She continued her education at Loyola University-Chicago where she received her Master’s of Science degree in Industrial Relations while working for a manufacturing company creating diversity programs for their employees.
She loves animals (she has two dogs – a labradoodle and a German Shepherd), kids (she also has two of those) and her family. In her spare time she’s the Hockey Mom for her kids hockey teams and is an active Girl Scout leader specially trained in outdoor education. She also spends time mentoring other teen and adult authors. (She also loves sushi, which you can probably tell by reading her books.) Simone writes about teens because she was a teen in the 80’s (when spiked hair and blue eye shadow were “rad”) and she loves writing about those exciting teen relationships and romances.

Review

I read this book on November 3rd, 2013.

I loved this book from beginning to end. I couldn't put it down and adored the relationship that began to grow between Alex and Brittany throughout the novel.
Brittany is popular, quiet, and had to keep up her 'act' of perfect. What Brittany was trying to hide was her growing feelings for Alex. When she got paired with Alex, she began to freak out. She thought Alex didn't give a care about her or her grades.
Alex is in a gang and he wasn't one you would want to be fighting against in a one-on-one. He was incredibly rude and hard on the outside but, as his and Brittany's relationship grew, he let down the wall and showed her he really cared for her.
I liked that this book showed how two people can grow just with someone you love. I disliked the fact that this book seemed unrealistic. As much as I would love the fact that this happens in real life, I know better.
I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a Simone Elkeles book or is looking for a contemporary romance book.

Ages: 14+
Grades: 9 and up