Review: Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles (and giveaway)

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
Published: Jan 1st, 2008
Details: 360 pages, paperback
Source: Amazon.com
Series: Yes (Book 1)
Rating: 5 out of 5!
Summary (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've put off writing this review for a few months now because I had so much to say and I didn't know how to say it... and now that I've put it off for too long, I don't remember what I wanted to say haha!

I'm going to try a new way of writing reviews, instead of summarizing it again for your guys, I'll just go into what I thought of the book, sound good? I mean, that is what you're here for, right? :)

I bought this from Amazon because it was on sale for $3, I've heard the hype around it but I never really had any desire to read it. So when I finished another book, I had my husband choose my next book, ironically, he picked Perfect Chemistry. I didn't think I would really get into it, the cover didn't appeal to me at all and I just didn't think this book would be for me.

I was wrong.

I was so very wrong.

Within the first few pages, I was hooked. I didn't want to leave the house because I wanted to finish this book so badly. I wanted to know what would happen in the end! 

I felt bad for Brittany, the things she had to deal with at home, how her parents didn't understand her sister and how her mother was so caught up in her social image (which I can totally relate to) really got to me. It just sucked having to witness. I felt bad for Alex too, how he had doubts if what he was doing was really protecting his family, of wanting to be more than what he was and his own struggle. I have friends who are in gangs and I would hate to imagine one of my friends feeling how he did... stuck.

I loved the humor in this book, I loved how Alex always mixed Spanish into his sentences (I failed Spanish twice so I don't understand much), I never knew Spanish could be so hot. Okay, and I guess like the majority of the people who've read this book, I have a slight crush on Alex as well. I liked the slow building of the friendship between Brittany and Alex. I applaud Brittany for doing what was right. I loved how real every scene felt, and the research that she did on gang lives. The twist towards the end of the book was shocking and the ending? Even more shocking, I'm not a fan of endings like that (I'm trying so hard not to spoil this) but I think this time I was actually satisfied with it!

Giveaway!!!

Perfect Chemistry was my book of the month for May, and so I was suppose to do this giveaway a month ago, but I couldn't write a review so here it is now! All you have to do is fill out the forum here.