Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Here’s a quick blurb from Ms. Elkeles’ website: A modern tale of star-crossed lovers with a fresh urban twist. At Fairfield High School, on the outskirts of Chicago , everyone knows that south-siders mixing with north-siders can be explosive. So when Brittany Ellis and Alejandro “Alex” Fuentes are forced to be lab partners in chemistry class, this human experiment leads to unexpected revelations – that Brittany ’s flawless reputation is a cover for her troubled home life, that Alex’s bad-boy persona hides his desire to break free from gang ties, and that when they’re together, life somehow makes more sense. Breaking through the stereotypes and expectations that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart, Perfect Chemistry takes readers to both sides of the tracks in a passionate love story about looking beneath the surface.

My Take

I appreciate the reality that this book was grounded in. Teens today come from diverse areas and I could see this scenario being quite real. I thought Brittany was a great character. She was completely likeable and I think fairly relatable. Alex was a great guy who was caught up in some pretty awful things. It was difficult for him to realize that it was okay to want more for himself as well. I did harbor a little resentment for his mother who, I felt, thought she had to sacrifice one of her children to save the others. I can admit, it would be a difficult situation to be faced with though.

It was nice to watch the evolution of their relationship and see where it would take them in the books conclusion. I loved that the person with disabilities represented in this book was not merely a fixture, but was a living, breathing person with a personality and wit all her own. I’m giving this one 4 ½ star-crossed kisses!