Perfect Chemistry (Perfect Chemistry Series) by Simone Elkeles

This book is one of the books that I got at the Teen Author Carnival during BEA.  I had heard of the series but hadn't read them yet.  I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to read this book and the Eve's Fan Garden Read Along was the perfect incentive to scoot this up to the top of my To Read List.  Here's the blurb from Goodreads:

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.

I really enjoyed this book.  It was one of those books that you hate to set down.  Alex and Brittany's journey is just so emotional.  You just want to see them make it.  You really do.  Alex is a wonderful guy even though he's supposedly this bad ass gang member.  He's smart and cares about his family and friends.  Alex is in the gang to keep his family safe and his little brothers out of the gang.  He's living a lie and sacrificing his future to save theirs.  Brittany is living a lie for her mother to keep her sister out of her mom's sights and home with her.  They both share that strong urge to protect the people they love even though they couldn't be more different on the outside.  The sexual tension between Alex and Brittany smolders from early on in their lab partner relationship.  Something draws them together against their wills and eventually the sparks between them ignite.  I really enjoyed the intense feelings that you can see in Alex and Brittany's relationship.  Sometimes, high school feels that way.  Super intense.  Overall this book is an amazing read.  There are some sexual scenes but nothing too graphic.  This is a must read for readers over 13 yrs old.

Perfect Chemistry gets 5 Fairies for the amazing story of love and redemption.

You can find out more about Simone Elkeles on her website.  The sequel, Rules of Attraction came out in paperback this week.  The last book in the series, Chain Reaction was also released this week.