Rules of AttractionSimone Elkeles
Young Adult - Contemporary
Published: 2011
Rules of Attraction is considered book #2 in the Perfect Chemistry series, but it's really more of a companion novel. Perfect Chemistry features gang-banger Alex Fuentes and his love/hate relationship with Brittany, a girl from a well-to-do family. Rules of Attraction involves Alex's younger brother Carlos who has his own story that reflects similar themes from the first book.
Carlos Fuentes is another great character who works best when he's devilishly smart-mouthed. I love reading his Spanglish wisecracks. Carlos' mother forces him to finish school in Colorado where Alex moved for college in order to keep him safe from gang activity in Mexico. He fights the change wishing he could stay in Mexico or move back to Chicago (where Perfect Chemistry takes place). Arrangements are made for Carlos to stay with the family of a professor Alex knows through his job fixing cars. This professor just happens to have a teenage daughter the same age as Carlos...
Like Perfect Chemistry, each chapter alternates point-of-view between the male and female leads. Kiara is a naive tomboy with a stutter that rears its ugly head when she's nervous. When Carlos enters her life, her stutter returns and they butt heads in pretty much every way possible. You can probably guess what happens from here.
When his former gang connections seek him out, Carlos is wrongly pegged for drug possession as a set-up. Because of this, he must enroll in an after school program for delinquent kids and figure out how to reject the gang's threats. Kiara struggles with her feelings for Carlos and tries to understand why he resists getting close to anyone. This is an enjoyable read if you liked Perfect Chemistry, the story is pretty similar. The author is at her best writing the Fuentes brothers who are the highlight of both books.
Carlos Fuentes is another great character who works best when he's devilishly smart-mouthed. I love reading his Spanglish wisecracks. Carlos' mother forces him to finish school in Colorado where Alex moved for college in order to keep him safe from gang activity in Mexico. He fights the change wishing he could stay in Mexico or move back to Chicago (where Perfect Chemistry takes place). Arrangements are made for Carlos to stay with the family of a professor Alex knows through his job fixing cars. This professor just happens to have a teenage daughter the same age as Carlos...
Like Perfect Chemistry, each chapter alternates point-of-view between the male and female leads. Kiara is a naive tomboy with a stutter that rears its ugly head when she's nervous. When Carlos enters her life, her stutter returns and they butt heads in pretty much every way possible. You can probably guess what happens from here.
When his former gang connections seek him out, Carlos is wrongly pegged for drug possession as a set-up. Because of this, he must enroll in an after school program for delinquent kids and figure out how to reject the gang's threats. Kiara struggles with her feelings for Carlos and tries to understand why he resists getting close to anyone. This is an enjoyable read if you liked Perfect Chemistry, the story is pretty similar. The author is at her best writing the Fuentes brothers who are the highlight of both books.
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I loved Perfect Chemistry and have had this one on my kindle for a while. I need to get to it!
ReplyDeleteI still haven't read these but they're both on my TBR list! Can't wait...thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteI've never gotten around to reading this, but every time I see the cover, I can't help but think how gorgeous the composition is. ;)
ReplyDeleteI loved this book and Perfect Chemistry! The third is on my tbr list:)
ReplyDeleteI never read the first one, but its on my list!
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