Perfect Chemistry (Perfect Chemistry, #1)
By: Simone Elkeles

Paperback, 359 pages

Published December 23rd 2008 by Walker Books for Young Readers

ISBN: 0802798225 (ISBN13: 9780802798220)

Summary:
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.
 

4.75 Stars---->okay maybe 5

What I Think:

Okay fine. 5. I Loved it. I can't believe I waited so long to read it. It was pretty freaking perfect..that's kinda what made it so amazing.
Both Brittany and Alex are actors in their own lives. They live the life they need to lead at school but at home it's a completely different story. Brittany had the life everyone wants to have: the perfect boyfriend, captain of the cheer team and is the girl every guy wants.
Alex is her polar opposite. He's in a gang, the school bad boy.
“We're actors in our lives, pretendin' to be who we want people to think we are.” 
Both of them have a dream. They both want to escape the lives they have. To leave the gang, not have to pretend. 
Along the way they find each other. They lean to love, hope, dream and be themselves. They tear down the others barrier and find something neither of them ever even though they'd have: each other.


“You are the one girl that made me risk eveything for a future worth having.”
So yeah. Read it. 

If you loved this....


two*way street: a road trip with her ex? danger ahead...

There are two sides to every breakup.

This is Jordan and Courtney, totally in love. Sure, they were an unlikely high school couple. But they clicked; it worked. They're even going to the same college, and driving cross-country together for orientation.
Then Jordan dumps Courtney -- for a girl he met on the Internet.
It's too late to change plans, so the road trip is on. Courtney's heartbroken, but figures she can tough it out for a few days. La la la -- this is Courtney pretending not to care.
But in a strange twist, Jordan cares. A lot.
Turns out, he's got a secret or two that he's not telling Courtney. And it has everything to do with why they broke up, why they can't get back together, and how, in spite of it all, this couple is destined for each other.

My Status:To-Read


  The Other Two Books In The PERFECT CHEMISTRY Series:
 

#3 IN THE SERIESLike his brothers, Luis Fuentes is a risk taker; whether he's scaling the Rocky Mountains or dreaming of a future as an astronaut, Luis is always looking for the next thrill. Nikki Cruz lives her life by certain rules -, don't trust a boy who says "I love you", boys lie to get their own way and never date a boy from the south side of Fairfield. Then she meets Luis at his brother Alex's wedding and suddenly she's tempted to break all her rules. Getting Nikki to give him a chance is Luis's biggest challenge, until he finds himself targeted by the head of the gang that nearly destroyed his brothers' lives. Will Luis's feelings for Nikki be enough to stop him from entering a dark and violent world that could prove to be the ultimate risk?

#2 IN THE SERIES When Carlos Fuentes returns to America after living in Mexico for a year, he doesn’t want any part of the life his older brother, Alex, has laid out for him at a high school in Colorado. Carlos likes living his life on the edge and wants to carve his own path—just like Alex did. Then he meets Kiara Westford. She doesn’t talk much and is completely intimidated by Carlos’ wild ways. As they get to know one another, Carlos assumes Kiara thinks she’s too good for him, and refuses to admit that she might be getting to him. But he soon realizes that being himself is exactly what Kiara needs right now.

Jackie