Title: Perfect Chemistry
Author: Simone Elkeles
Pages: 360
 

I don’t want to start any heavy plot driven books. So I decided to check some chick lit. And Perfect Chemistry seems to be a great choice. I really, really love it. Reading books about normal people is kinda strange (after the vampires, fallen angels books I’ve read). It’s quite a breather. At first I find it cliché; you know good girl meets bad boy (and some Romeo and Juliet resemblance). But because I really wanted some light book to read I decided to give it a shot. And oh boy, I didn’t see it coming, it is a great book. I love it. Alex Fuentes and Brittany Ellis falls in “American” high school stereotypes (yes, American, I really don’t remembered such groups exist here while I’m in high school, college etc. I went to public school so I don’t know the drama in private school. But I don’t have any problem or maybe I’m not really that observant). Alex is a gang member (no not the ordinary ones, they are really bad), which he is obviously have a bad rep (drug user, gang fight, see the picture?). Brit on the other hand is your typical popular chick (cheerleader, pretty, blond and rich). They represents two end of the spectrum (I mean literally, she is a north sider while Alex from south suburbs). They are, in a literal sense, polar opposite but when they were partnered in their chemistry class things started to get interesting.

What I loved about the book is that Alex and Brittany character is different (And it’s nice too that the book is narrated between Alex and Brittany. So you know what’s really in there mind), there is a story behind façade. It’s not the normal “I hide this because I don’t want to ruin my reputation”. It’s not that simple. There’s a solid story behind them. Brittany’s perfect life isn’t exactly perfect. With her dysfunctional family and physically disabled sister, life isn’t easy just because they have money. Beyond what money can fix is much more difficult to solve. Alex is very funny and sensitive guy. I was amazed by the fact that this gangster is so smart. I mean, Chemistry? I almost failed that subject (plus my teacher isn’t exactly teaching). Alex is a tough character alright but showing he have vulnerabilities makes him humane to me. More masculine because admitting your weakness and trying to make up for it makes you a “real” man. I swoon over with this Latino guy every time he did good things for Brittany. How sweet~

So it’s not just the romance between Alex and Brittany you’re rooting for but how will they able to change their lives that have been mold by their own circumstances. It was fun ride, a great read.