Book Recommendation - Perfect Chemistry

Perfect Chemistry
By Simone Elkeles

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."

I loved this book. Let's just go ahead and establish that. I read it in one night -- could not put it down.

Behind Brittany's perfect exterior, life isn't so perfect. And bad boy Alex, well, he's not so bad after all.

This is a Romeo and Juliet for modern times, but also much more. I loved the development of the characters through the story. You go from these closed off stereotype kids and watch them morph through the book, proving that you can't always judge a book by it's cover.

But this book's cover? Love. It completely captures the essence of this story.

Every chapter switches back and forth between Alex and Brit, and it was very clear who was speaking when.  I really enjoyed seeing it through both of their eyes.

There is a fair amount of swearing, and a lot of Spanish that I, admittedly, didn't take the time to figure out what it meant. Hey, I took French in school. But it didn't bother me.

All in all, I loved it!