Perfect Chemistry

Perfect Chemistry

by Simone Elkeles

 Brittany Ellis appears to have it all – she lives in an affluent neighbourhood, she’s captain of the cheer-leading squad at her local high-school and she is dating the star football player. She is excited for her senior year of high-school before she goes away to university to pursue her dream. However, her fantasy life soon comes crashing down. Her relationship with her long-time boyfriend is in trouble, her sister’s disease is becoming less manageable, and she ends up partnered with a scary gang member for chemistry class. If she does not do well in chemistry it will mean she will not get into the university program of her dreams. She keeps a strong exterior as she is determined not to let anyone else know that her perfect life is quickly falling apart.   

       

Alex Fuentes has had a tough life, but he will not let anyone else know that. When he was a child, Alex’s father was murdered right in front of him by a gang member. Now Alex’s mother has to raise three boys in a rough neighbourhood all by herself as most of their other family members still live in Mexico. Alex resorted to the gang life at an early age so that he could protect his younger brothers from the violence. He also has many secrets – including the fact that he is a straight ‘A’ student. Alex faces seemingly insurmountable obstacles every single day between staying loyal to the gang for survival, keeping his brothers away from trouble and gang life, and keeping up his grades so that he can one day have a brighter future… needless to say he has little patience for rich kids with no worries other than what shade of lipstick to wear.

Chemistry class will be interesting for the both of them.

Perfect Chemistry, by Simone Elkeles, is a modern-day twist on the traditional Romeo and Juliet theme where Alex and Brittany struggle to work together despite living in completely different worlds. Will they be able to over-come their differences and successfully complete their big chemistry project? Will they be able to become friends… or even more???

There are two follow-up novels in the series following each of the Fuentes brothers and their struggles to fit in. Rules of Attraction follows Carlos Fuentes, and Chain Reaction follows the story of the youngest brother, Luis Fuentes. I also loved the second novel but felt by the third story the plot was getting old and redundant. However, I really enjoyed the first two novels and could not put them down! The third novel would still be great as a stand-alone novel. A definite must-read in YA fiction!