When was perfect chemistry published

Each book focuses on one of the three brothers and their connection to a gang, the latino blood. The book I read was the first book in the series Perfect Chemistry.

Each side keeps to themselves and never wants to make the cross to the other side. The main characters of the story Brittany Ellis, a white uptown teenager, and Alejandro "Alex" Fuentes, a lower class Mexican teenager,must overcome Brittany's troubled home life and Alex's gang ties to have a their own happily ever after. Brittany Ellis is known throughout school as a perfect teenage girl who has worked to keep up appearances of her picture perfect image and Alex Fuentes's Spanish heritage and how his gang ties throughout the book cause his family chaos.

Each chapter of the book alternates from Brittany to Alex. My niece was reading this book and asked me what I thought of it. I read it last year and was so incensed at how horrible it was, this review which has undergone several revisions from the original pissed-off rant has been sitting in My Documents until now when the discussion of Perfect Chemistry came up again.

Seriously, I wondered if the author ever met a stereotype she didn't internalize in some fashion. To say that she h My niece was reading this book and asked me what I thought of it. To say that she has become an automatic never-buy-or-read-even-if-she-were-the-last-book-on-earth is an understatement. I never set out to just hate a book sight unseen and even though I had the feeling Perfect Chemistry was going to be a perfect disaster , I gave it a chance because some of my Goodreads friends recommended it since they know I love interracial romance.

Yes Virginia, I absolutely, positively HATED this book and it's only the second book I've ever read where I wished I believed in book burning because this one would be roasting hot dogs by now. Did I mention how stereotype-laden this dreck thinly disguised as a YA romance was?

Okay, try Mexican teenage boy who's poor and is in a gang meets pretty, White and rich teenage girl and they fall in love much to the consternation of the people around them. Mexican teenage boy in a gang?

Just as good as Mexican boy as gardener? Or Mexican teenage boy as car wash attendant? I guess Mexican teenage boy as geeky science student from a stable and loving family wouldn't have worked, right?

Don't tell me, readers wouldn't have bought it. I get it, this is supposedly a "Romeo and Juliet" type plot, but in that play both tragic characters are in the same socio-economic status, just from different families. Or both Alex and Brittany could have been working class. It's basically over-the-top gratuitous based on a little google research and some television shows which is all that's needed to portray 'realistic' gang life sans nuance.

The first thing I thought while reading about Alex was, why did he have to be in a gang? The story would have been just fine if he was just from the wrong side of the tracks, a poor kid with smarts trying to make good. And what was with the random high school-esque Spanish thrown in when Alex was talking with his family and his friends?

Next on the chopping block, Brittany. There are few female characters I've had the urge to slap silly, and she's right at the top of the list. Puddles have more depth than this girl. Oh yes, she struggles to be perfect, but everything's about her looks. We're constantly told how she's this Barbie Doll brought to life with her perfect hair, skin, body, makeup, boyfriend, etc.

Where's the rest of her? I'm sure she's smart but I never got that impression. I got the impression of a spoiled, self-centered little rich girl who tossed this Mexican gangbanger-gone-good named Alex at her upper-crust parents in order to piss them off. I just didn't see any indication that she really cared for Alex, nor he for her since she was part of a bet over a car.

Maybe it was the writing, which was just painfully bad. Unlike some readers, the sex and drugs aspect was probably the most accurate part of the book. Whether we want to deal with it or not, some teens are engaging in this behavior and we have to start dealing with it in an honest fashion. The sad fact that this book won so many awards is just mindboggling at best but also shows these groups need a serious shot of actual ownvoices on their panels.

There's no way a book this racially insulting should be winning anything save a Razzie, if they had them for books.

The sad thing is, there's a dearth of well-written YA interracial romances out there. View all 8 comments. Jun 07, Julie Kagawa rated it it was amazing. I adore this book. This is not a genre I read often. The genres I read often include dragons, faeries, werewolves I've sworn off vampires for awhile , wizards, magic, flying carpets, kings, queens, and talking pink rabbits.

In other words, I'm a big fantasy buff. And was so intrigued and amused, I had to go buy it. I could give a summary, but the trailer does a much better job, so all I'll say is th I adore this book. I could give a summary, but the trailer does a much better job, so all I'll say is that it was amazing. I thought I would despise the female lead, Brittney, but from the first chapter, she shows she's not the stuck-up ditz I thought she'd be and I really connected with her. Alex, ah Alex.

I always had a thing for stoic bad-boys with tragic pasts. And, what can I say, I'm a hopeless romantic after all. The chemistry pun intended between them was intense, and made me melt into a big happy puddle of goo. So to summarize: Story: A. A classic Romeo and Juliet story, only with gangs and cheerleaders. I've read a lot of YA where I couldn't stand the protag, especially if it's a female. Call me old fashioned, but being rude and condescending does not come off as "snarky" or "tough," just smack-worthy.

Alex and Brittney never got to the point where I wanted to slap them. They both acted like real, relatable teenagers, each with their own set of problems that they were dealing with in their own way. Writing: A. No flowery language or stunning descriptions here, but the writing is real and down-to-earth, yet executed in such a way that you really feel what the characters are going through.

And the ending left me grinning like an idiot. Overall, I can't say enough good things about this book. So, watch the trailer, and then go out and get this book. You won't be dissapointed. View 2 comments. Re-read: She has everything. She's beautiful, she's smart, she is dating the popular guy at school. Everyone want to be her and be with her. Her life is perfect. Brittany is the white chick from the rich side of town.

Alex is the bad boy. He's poor. He is in a gang. He Re-read: He is dangerous. He's hot, sexy, and in control. People expect him to follow his dad's footsteps or his people's footsteps.

Alex is an Mexican boy from the other side of town. Alex gets to see through Brittany's mask, sees the real Brittany without the attitude, without the facade. He just sees her for who she really is. They both thought they were so different But life has a way of showing you that you were are wrong.

We can actually learn a great deal of things from Brittany and Alex , specially with them being together, which is not common and looked down on from Brittany's "people". What's the use of having a reputation if you can't ruin it every now and then? She is so strong and loya l. I love how she is with her sister, Shelley.

So careful and dedicated to her. It's beautiful to see. Brittany has quite a pressure from her parents, specially from her mother who is kinda crazy from my pov. Brittany is beautiful, inside out. She puts quite a mask on her, pretending she is perfect, that her life is perfect, but really, nothing is perfect , specially not her family. No one saw through her mask, except Alex Boy do I love you! I love you!! Wait, didn't I just say that? Anyways, I love you, Alex!

I love how much respect he has for his mother, how much he loves his family and how much he tries to help them even though he have to give up his chance at having a good future. He didn't really need anything else in his life, didn't need the distraction and the want for more, didn't want the feeling of something missing, didn't need to want to be a good man until he got to know Brittany , until he saw through her mask and wanted to know her more. Wanted to know who she really was Wanted to give her everything This thing with Brittany is supposed to be about a bet, not falling for a north sider.

I have to keep in mind that I'm only interested in Brittany because of the bet, and I better ignore what I suspect are real feelings.

Feelings can't be a part of this game. Overall; Jesus, I cannot believe I waited so long before I re-read it :O We all need a little Alex and Brittany in our lives , just sayin' and I shouldn't have gone so long with out them Simone Elkeles is a brilliant writer and her books are awesome.

Though I haven't continued with this series, mainly because I really only want Alex , I have still read her other book 'Wild Cards' which was awesome, but 'Perfect Chemistry' is the best!

I'm pretty sure I'll re-read it yet again in the future because it's simply that amazing. And everyone should read this book! View all 31 comments. Quick synopsis: Brittany Ellis has a secret: even though she's got stunning good looks, a designer wardrobe, straight As, and a rockin' bod of which the reader will be reminded over and over again , her life is anything but perfect.

Her older sister is disabled and requires 'round the clock care, and her parents are laughably wretched. Alex Fuentes is a Mexican teen from the wrong side of the tracks. His father was murdered before his eyes when he was a child and he'll do an THIS.

His father was murdered before his eyes when he was a child and he'll do anything to protect his mother and younger brothers - including joining a deadly gang, The Latino Blood. So I'm sure you can see where things go from here. First of all, the tropes - the tropes! Perfect Chemistry is rampant with annoying YA tropes. Every irritating thing you've ever come across in a YA novel is in this book. Simone Elkeles's portrayal of Mexican American teens is abysmal.

I don't pretend to know the first thing about Latin American culture, but I refuse to believe that these kids would refer to girls as "mamacitas" every few sentences and bust out in a Spanish rant every time they were upset by something. And again, with the cliches - nearly everybody on the South side is connected to the Latino Blood, they're poor, they're tough Meanwhile everyone on the North side is white, obsessed with appearances, rich, snooty Even though Alex fiercely hates the idea of those who don't know him having an opinion of him, he has an opinion of everyone.

Yeah, you're black. Brittany Ellis is also a piece of work. She lets the reader know over and over again that she does everything in her power to keep people at arm's length and prevent them from getting glimpses of "the real" Brittany. It's so damaged and tragic and incredibly annoying. There isn't a real Brittany! There is only a Brittany that doesn't tell people about her disabled sister which is interesting to me because she loves to accuse her parents of being ashamed of Shelley but then, Brittany darling, why keep her a secret from your friends if you aren't also ashamed?

Lovingly feeding your disabled sister behind closed doors does not make you a saint, sweetheart. Shelley deserves a much better family if you ask me. Then there's the whole Brittany is a Virgin thing which I'm just too old to read about. Sex is a whole different ball game once you're an adult and it's hard for me to remember a time when people actually cared about if you were having it or not and how many people you were doing it with.

When she and Alex finally do it, it's hilarious. They play a weird striptease game during which Brittany asks Alex how many girls he's slept with and if he's been tested. Hot tip, kids: asking a guy if he's been tested for STIs mere minutes before you take your clothes off is a surefire way to NOT get an accurate answer. As if he even remembers the last time he was tested when your ta-tas are hanging out of your lacy bra.

What next? The whole love affair is sickening. Yes, I remember what it was like. I remember thinking my entire life revolved around a guy and that if I couldn't be with him I wouldn't be able to go on, but that's just called "teenage brain isn't fully formed" and it's not good to encourage this behaviour. I fully believe it's healthy to experience romantic relationships but it's also unhealthy to remain with the first person you met in highschool.

How will you ever grow as an individual? And there's no such thing as this desperate, dramatic love! It's such a poor example of what a relationship should be like.

In real life, after all the drama, Brittany and Alex would wake up and realise they have nothing in common.

God, the ending. The ending. If there was one positive aspect about this book it's that it was fucking readable. Until the last six or so chapters where Simone's writing just fell to pieces. It became choppy, disjointed and painfully cheesy.

What kind of terrible soap opera dialogue is that? Not to mention Simone seriously has a problem with transitions. One minute Alex and Brittany are fighting and the next paragraph they've been broken up for a while with no reference to time lines.

As for the epilogue, we just won't talk about it. View all 9 comments. I adored this book. This is the classic love story with a fresh new feel. Hmm let's see Certain parts cliche, certain parts stereotypical, certain parts predictable, but I was still able to enjoy this book for what it was: romantic and sweet.

Alex is a gang member, who doesn't want to be and Brittany is a cheerleader. When they first meet they don't hit it off. They think they know everything there is to know about one another just by what they see or may have heard. In time, they fall for each I adored this book.

In time, they fall for each other, and find out that they are each hiding some dark and painful secrets. Elkeles breathes new life into an old tale, and the writing is done in multiple POV, showing both Alex and Brittany's point of view, keeping Perfect Chemistry evenly paced.

What I loved about the most is that this book could make you feel good while reading, but at the same time it would make you feel sad about the life Alex is trying to get out of, and feel sorry for Brittany's sister. These two both have so much going on in the background of their lives, yet they can give themselves completely to each other.

There is also some great drama, gritty dialog and a couple of twists along the way to keep you excited. This little love story will warm your heart, and make you long for the days of first loves, when you could look into someone's eyes and although they have flaws you see them as simply perfect.

Even though Alex and Brittany's relationship does move at a fast pace, their thoughts, insecurities, hang-ups, and urges all ring true and are easy for nearly any teen to identify with. Recommended to all romance lovers. I don't read too much romance, but this book intrigued me, and I'm glad I gave it a shot. There are two other parts to this series, and I'm sure I will read them both eventually when I'm in the mood for more romance.

View all 6 comments. Nov 07, Neet rated it did not like it. I tend to judge books by their covers, so I understand why my sister might have bought this; but I assure you that the cover art is the only redeeming quality about this book. T I tend to judge books by their covers, so I understand why my sister might have bought this; but I assure you that the cover art is the only redeeming quality about this book.

I felt embarrassed for the character. It was like the author was trying too hard to connect the character to a stereotype. Dude, we get it.

How will these polar opposites ever reconcile their differences and fall in love? Will society allow them to be together? Dark matter? A black hole? Well this book gets 2 black holes. View all 5 comments. One true love. Every single fucking thing about this masterpiece. The story just flowed and the writing was fucking flawless!

I laughed, I cried, I swooned, I wanted to kick Brits mum in the muff gate - seriously I wouldn't piss on that woman if she was on fire! The way Brittany was to her sister Shelley warmed my heart. The way Alex protected his family made me love him even more. I can't believe it took me this long to pick this book up as I now can't imagine my life without it.

View all 4 comments. Sep 26, Elena R a. Genre: Young Adult Romance. Tangled Carolyn Mackler. Please email webmaster fantasticfiction. Smoldering doesn't quite do justice to the romantic banter.

Teens with a taste for romance will eat this up like ice cream on a hot day. Elkeles pens plenty of tasteful, hot scenes Elkeles once again delivers a steamy page-turner bound to make teens swoon. Related Titles. We Light Up the Sky. Lilliam Rivera. Never Look Back. Celia Rees. Cursebreaker Box Set. Defy the Night. Your Life Has Been Delayed.

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