Author: Simone Elkeles
Published By: Walker Books for Young Readers (Dec. 23, 2008)
Genre: YA Chick Lit
My Rating: 5 Stars
Goodreads Description:
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.
My Review:
This is the first book I have read by Simone Elkeles and while I heard great things about it I still didn't quite know what to expect from it. You just never know if something will live up to its hype.
Let me tell you that this book certainly lived up to all the hype and then some. I had such a hard time putting it down, in fact I devoured it! I stayed up to read it because I was so close to finishing it that I just had to know how it ended. I wanted Brittany and Alex to have a happily ever after so badly.
I love how each chapter fluctuated between Alex's POV and Brittany's. Some books can't pull that off but this one was beautifully done. It was seamless and I loved getting both of their perspectives to the story.
I am a sucker for reading about star crossed lovers and I love how this one made their situations so real. I loved the diversity in it. Different races, status and circumstances but ultimately two very similar people that have a connection that can't be denied but both must overcome some very real, very hard obstacles in their lives if they want to be together and take a chance on love.
This story was beautifully written and I would recommend it to anyone who is an Echols or Dessen fan.
I guess the writing/characterisation has to be great, because to me big chunks of it sound cliched... lab partners? a bet? cmon
ReplyDeleteThere really isn't a lot of focus on the bet expect for a few times during the story. As for the class they shared, well, something had to bring them together in the first place otherwise two very different people from very different backgrounds probably wouldn't have gotten together on their own.
ReplyDeleteI think if you gave it a chance you would really enjoy it, cliches or not. ;)