Cover Reveal: Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles

It's here! It's finally here!

I love the Perfect Chemistry series. I love Simone Elkeles. I will even swear my undying love for the Fuentes brothers (and Simone) if needed, to the whole wide world! So imagine how excited I was when I saw that the cover for the third book has been revealed! I guess Luis is following after his brother with that wet and sexy look, eh? It's a very steamy and very intriguing cover, if I may say so.

The third and last book of the series will be published on May 24th 2011 by Walker Books for Young Readers. I cannot wait for this!

Summary:

Luis Fuentes is a good boy who doesn't live with the angst that his big brothers, Alex and Carlos, have always lived with. Luis is smart, funny, and has big dreams of becoming an astronaut. But when he falls for the wrong girl, Luis enters a dark world he's never known, and just when he thinks he's got life all figured out, learns some disturbing news about his family that destroys his positive outlook on life. Will that Fuentes bad boy streak come out with a vengeance and lure Luis to live on the edge like his new girlfriend and his own father?

Continuing all the steamy romance of the first two books, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Simone Elkeles gives fans one more satisfying taste of the irresistible Fuentes boys.

So what do you guys think of the cover? Share your thoughts! (Or spazz with me XD)

Review: Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles

I was still reeling from reading Mockingjay, and I was looking for a perfect distraction (painful withdrawals from the series, I guess) to take my mind off it and I remembered this book.

I may have chosen a book a bit too serious for me, but this is a refreshing read, considering I just finished MJ. And very different.

Title: Leaving Paradise
Author: Simone Elkeles
Pages: 303

Summary:

Nothing has been the same since Caleb Becker left a party drunk, got behind the wheel, and hit Maggie Armstrong. Even after months of painful physical therapy, Maggie walks with a limp. Her social life is nil and a scholarship to study abroad—her chance to escape everyone and their pitying stares — has been canceled.

After a year in juvenile jail, Caleb’s free . . . if freedom means endless nagging from a transition coach and the prying eyes of the entire town. Coming home should feel good, but his family and ex-girlfriend seem like strangers.

Caleb and Maggie are outsiders, pigeon-holed as "criminal" and "freak." Then the truth emerges about what really happened the night of the accident and, once again, everything changes. It’s a bleak and tortuous journey for Caleb and Maggie, yet they end up finding comfort and strength from a surprising source: each other.

I can’t help but notice, since this is the third Simone Elkeles book I’ve read, but her books seem to be almost always dealing with kids who are having a rough time growing up, with their lives which they think (most of the time) was royally screwed up. I am not complaining with that, but I think I see a theme here.

I just can’t help but be fascinated. These books might have a central theme to it, but it doesn’t get boring. It’s not predictable. It’s not the same as the two other books I’ve read.

Maggie Armstrong has not been the same girl she was the moment Caleb Becker run her over while he was driving drunk. Caleb got sentenced to juvie jail, but Maggie has to live her life dealing with the accident, dealing with the aftermath. She went from popular to unknown, hot to weird, star tennis player to the girl with a limp who couldn’t do anything. Her home life was as messed up as her knee, her parents got divorced and she misses her father so much.

Caleb’s life wasn’t any better as well. Being released early from juvie jail, all he wanted was to prove to everyone that being locked up didn’t mean he’s a convict. That it didn’t messed him up. But the truth is, everything changed the moment he was locked up. His parents tried their best to pretend everything was fine. His twin sister, who was once best friends with Maggie was now someone Caleb couldn’t even recognize. Every one in his family treats him like a stranger, and everyone in school thinks he’s a piece of trash.

Caleb, however was protecting a secret. A secret that he’ll take to the grave. And it was this secret that locked him up in juvie. That things aren’t as simple as it seems.

These two people, confused and desperately yearning for someone to understand them, and in some twist of fate, ended up comforting each other, getting through their messed up lives with one another, and in the end, falling helplessly in love with each other.

But sometimes, love wasn’t enough.

I feel frustrated for Caleb. He’s a good kid who’s made some wrong choices in his life, and pays dearly for something he didn’t do. I feel sad for his family. I have a close-knit family who I know will be with me through thick and thin and it’s just devastating to know that your own family couldn’t even stand the sight of you when they were supposed to be the one who should be protecting you in the first place.

It was hard to connect with Maggie, but everything she felt was understandable. I felt frustrated when she struggled with everything, and I cheered her on when she felt it was time to change and finally accept the 'new.

Simone Elkeles has a knack for writing about complicated issues using simple words and conveying it effectively. She doesn’t fail to rouse emotions inside of me whenever I read her novels, and I think that’s just pure genius. However, for me, this book wasn't as stunning as the others I've read. I felt as if there was something lacking, something more I need to read.

However, I couldn’t stop myself, I’m starting Return to Paradise as soon as I finished this book, and I really want to know what happened between Caleb and Maggie. I didn’t really like the ending of this book, it felt like a lot has been left completely hanging, but I know the second book would fix all of that. I can’t wait!

Rating: ★★★★☆ : FANTASTIC! - This is a really nice book. I love it!

Review: Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles

Usually sequels don’t fair well with the book they’ve preceded. More often than not it falls short of the expectations of the readers, but let me tell you, this is an exception to that trend. Rules of Attraction doesn’t disappoint!

I love Rules of Attraction as much as I loved Perfect Chemistry.

Title: Rules of Attraction
Author: Simone Elkeles
Pages: 324

Summary:

When Carlos Fuentes returns to America after living in Mexico for a year, he doesn’t want any part of the life his older brother, Alex, has laid out for him at a high school in Colorado . Carlos likes living his life on the edge and wants to carve his own path—just like Alex did. Then he meets Kiara Westford. She doesn’t talk much and is completely intimidated by Carlos’ wild ways. As they get to know one another, Carlos assumes Kiara thinks she’s too good for him, and refuses to admit that she might be getting to him. But he soon realizes that being himself is exactly what Kiara needs right now.

The elements that gave birth to Perfect Chemistry were very much present in Rules of Attraction. We have our male protagonist, a boy from the slums, who has seen and lived on the harsher side of life, and we have a girl who was the exact opposite of this boy, one that seemed pampered and sheltered and different from all the girls this boy has ever met. Add that other “savior” that gives this boy a chance, one that gets this boy’s life inextricably tangled with the girl. Weave a beautiful tale about how love blossomed between these two unlikely people against all odds, despite the circumstances, and you have two wonderful novels.

Rules of Attraction have more hilarious moments than Perfect Chemistry. It was more laid lack, but not less serious than its predecessor. Less heavy plot, less intense emotions, but not less substance. Simone Elkeles was able to maintain that distinct feeling you get when you read about the Fuentes brothers, now Carlos, their family and friends, their lives, and that one girl they were willing to give everything up for, even at the cost of their lives. You’ll get to laugh, you’ll get to think, and you’ll get to feel and connect with the characters and hold your breath on emotionally intense moments. Which to me, is just brilliant!

Carlos comes off as a very cynical guy. He was cynical about a lot of things, his life as a whole, his future, uncertain and bleak at best, which he believes will be the same as the one his Papa had and the one Alex had before he decides to leave the gang. Carlos was careful not to let anyone get too close because of his fear that they’ll end up leaving him in the end. But deep down? Carlos is just the same as his older brother. Tough on the outside, but one who was capable of loving and cherishing and protecting those he holds dear. He's kind and righteous and fights for what he believes in, even though he doesn't want to admit it.

Kiara’s character is a refreshing change from Brittany. Kiara wasn’t close to perfect. Her number one problem was her stuttering, a habit that shows when she’s nervous, and one that makes her the receiving end of jokes of her classmates. She’s more flawed, which makes her character more convincing. Simone Elkeles was able to create an entirely new character out of Kiara. She wasn’t very feminine, heck she loves tinkering with her car and could care less about what she looks like, but its these unique qualities she possess that draws her to Carlos like moth to a flame.

So when these two character meet? Sparks are definitely guaranteed to fly. And once again, love will bloom!

One addition to the staple set of characters was Tuck, and I have to say I very much enjoyed his presence in the story. It's always nice having a gay friend, may it be in a novel or in real life. Having gay friends makes life more colorful and fun. Sometimes they're more loyal and loving than most female friends, trust me.

Mrs. P’s is to Alex as Westford is to Carlos. They were that one person apart from Brittany and Kiara who gave them a chance, saw something in them that other people don’t see. That one person who didn’t give up no matter how “bad-ass” and tough the Fuentes brother thought they were.

I have no words to express how much I adore this book. Like all books, it’s not perfect, but it’s… amazing. Even when I was just reading the first pages of the book, this quickly became one of my most favorite reads this year.

By the way, my most favorite scene is: *points at the cover* yep, you guessed it right, it was that moment when they kissed like that, in the middle of the rain.

Will there be a third book? I am curious to read about the life of the lesser known and the youngest of the Fuentes brothers, Luis.

Rating: ★★★★★ : AWESOMENESS! MORE! MORE! - I can't believe such a book exists!

Review: Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Yet again, I have proven that Good Girls love Bad Boys.

This book is the perfect example.

Title: Perfect Chemistry
Author: Simone Elkeles
Pages: 360

Summary:

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.

There's so many things I want to say about this book, but right now I can't find the words to express it.

Reading this was like riding an emotional roller coaster, at least for me. There were times I wanted to cry, and cry I did. There were times when I just want to laugh, times when I feel giddy and happy and warm inside and times when I think hard because what they say makes sense.

The reality in it is just too hard to ignore.

I understand Alex and Britanny's fear. They both have to keep appearances for the whole world to see. They're both afraid to take the first step and defy everyone's expectations. People expect you to behave a certain way, to fit into a certain mold, or a category and when you stray from it and behave differently, or maybe be someone else, most of the time the consequences aren't pretty.

People around them expects Alex to drop out of school and just waste his life being a member of the Latino Blood and maybe die early, while everyone expects Britanny to settle for the best looking guy in the school, because that's how its supposed to be. For them, a girl from the South side falling in love with a guy from the North is something that was unheard of. But when the bad boy and the perfect princess becomes partners in Chemistry, and they realize that what they have was something more than just a mere attraction, it was the start of something that would change both their lives forever.

It's a very poignant story, one that has moved me in more ways than one. Breaking the mold, defying expectations and trying to find the real you, what you are and who you really want to be, acceptance, loyalty, and loving your family. There's just so much this book has.

Britanny and Alex's love for each other was beautifully portrayed in this book. It amazes me how the author was able to write something so real, so complicated, so powerful and yet something you just can't stop reading. Theirs was a journey of trying to find who they are, of what their love could do for each other, and of how much they are willing to risk and give away for their love.

I just have to say this, I love Mrs. P. I consider her as Alex's other guardian angel (the other one being Britanny), though a very unconventional angel she was. Aside from Britanny, I think she was also one of those who were able to anchor and steer Alex into the path he wanted to take. If it wasn't for her, Alex and Britanny never would've met. I guess Mrs. P saw something nobody has in Alex and decided to give him the chance he needs.

This book had me mesmerized. I didn't want to stop even when I've reached the last page, the ending putting a small smile on my lips. But as they say, all good things must come to an end, and I didn't want it to end. I'm glad this is the first book off a trilogy. I can't get enough of Simone Elkeles' writing!

Rating: ★★★★★ : AWESOME! MORE! MORE! - I can't believe such a book exists!