Rules of Attraction By: Simone Elkeles

Title: Rules of Attraction
Author: Simone Elkeles
HARDBACK
Amount of Pages: 324
Release Date: April 13, 2010
Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers
Geared Towards: Older Teens
From: Library
Extra Information: Rules of Attraction is the sequal to Perfect Chemistry [Click HERE for review].

"'You're dangerous,' he says.

'Why?'

'Because you make me believe in the impossible" (P. 318).

Summary: Carlos Fuentes is very bitter after having to be forced from Mexico back to the States by his brother Alex. He can't even go back to their old home in Chicago, instead he has to go to Colorado. Carlos is disappointed in his brother for jumping out of being a member of the Latino Blood and is instead dating the very non-Mexican, very blonde Brittany.

The only thing that can be good about this situation are the girls that he can hook up with. These dreams are instensified after Carlos meets Madison, the girl who can satisfy his every desire, but then the dreams are quickly crushed when he meets Kiara. Kiara is the daughter of Alex's professor with whom Carlos is forced to stay with after a little run in with the law. Where as Madison is busty, blonde and brain-cell-lacking, Kiara is anything but. She covers herself up with oversized t-shirts, is intelligent, sporty and everything Carlos isn't interested in. He believes they will just have an uncomplicated relationship, one in which he lives in the house and they don't acknowledge each other much. He soon learns how wrong he is as he slowly begins to fall for the girl he never thought he would.

Wdebo's Review: I am not ashamed to admit that I am a Perfect Chemistry lover. So when I saw Rules of Attraction on my library shelf I nearly passed out in excitement. I began reading the novel as soon as I could and finished it in a single sitting.

Though at first, it took a bit to get into, it quickly became very addicting. As much as I enjoyed reading it, I found the chemistry between Carlos and Kiara to be lacking. It's not that there wasn't any, it's just that compared to Alex and Brittany's relationship in Pefect Chemistry it wasn't as heartpoundingly exciting. However, Rules of Attraction was much more passionate and physical than Perfect Chemistry. Which I was totally fine with. As the story progressed so did my love for Carlos and Kiara's bond, in the end, I was basically smitten, especially because Carlos is hot!

Another weakness that I can spot in the book is that the development of the relationship between Carlos and Kiara wasn't as defined as I would have liked. There was a wisp of a ladder between each stage of their relationship but nothing too defining, so I would be reading and then suddenly stop and think "Wait, when were they comfortable enough to say/think/do that?"

I loved how Brittany and Alex played a big role in the story and plot. Usually in books like these previous couples are just ghosts of characters in the whole plot, but in this novel, they didn't have a big role in the story, which was nice, because I love their relationship; however, they seemed so mature and old in the story, it seemed sort of weird. I love Carlos (As stated above See: "Hot") not only because of how he is so caliente, I just love his personality, it was very amusing to read. He's so cocky but has a sweet spot too, it's great. Kiara was a good character, at lest she wasn't Brittany "perfect." Finally, while reading I had mixed feelings for Tuck, Kiara's gay best friend, he was cute at some times and horribly annoying at others. At the end, I FINALLY realized it was because he cared about Kiara so much that he acted like that, but still, annoying at times.

Also, I wonder, why does it seem that all of the girls the Fuentes brothers are falling in love with all seem to be white? Aren't there any attractive girls of other races that they could be interested in? lol. But that isn't a big concern for me...as long as the story is cute, I am happy.

Cafe Cover Chat: I quite like this cover. It's cute, seriously, kissing in the rain = amazing. (A-)

All in all, Rules of Attraction is definitely a book any Perfect Chemistry lover should read. And if you haven't had the chance to read Perfect Chemistry or any Simone Elkeles book for that matter, go check some out now!

Grade: A-

Wdebo :)

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Other books by Simone Elkeles:

Perfect Chemistry [Click HERE for review]

How to Ruin a Summer Vacation [Click HERE for review]

How to Ruin My Teenage Life [Click HERE for review]

How to Ruin Your Boyfriend's Reputation [Click HERE for review]

"'I don't buy it for a second, 'cause if you were my girlfriend and a stud like me was livin' in your house, I'd kiss you in front of the guy every chance I got as a reminder.'

'A reminder of w-w-what?'

'That you were mine'"

(P. 165)