Book Review: Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles

Title: Rules of Attraction
Series: Perfect Chemistry #2
Author: Simone Elkeles
Publisher: Walker and Company
Publication Date: 13th April 2010
Pages: 324
Special Features: N/A
Goodreads Average Rating: 4.34

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.

I had high expectation for this book, being the sequel to Perfect Chemistry it had allot to live up to, yet it didn't reach those extremely high expectations.
The book was really enjoyable, and instead of being a follow on book to Perfect Chemistry, it follows the story of Alex's younger brother Carlos. I liked the fact it didn't carry on because it is rare to find a book with this kind of storyline and for it to be good.

Despite having a similar kind of storyline, in some ways to Perfect Chemistry it also stands out as being different.
The book was quite humorous for me, for example the use of 'perky privates' to replace the word breasts, and other small thing's like this, which had the book not only enjoyable but also standout.

The characters:
The book is set in the perspective of two protagonist's: Kiara and Carlos.
Carlos is from Mexico and after getting in a bit of trouble at home, is moved to Columbus with his brother, Alex. He is portrayed as the typical bad-boy perfectly: stubborn, arrogant, good-looking and very egoist. He was a great and well developed character.
Kiara, is a school outcast with a half-cured stutter. She perfectly show's a large amount of traits from real-life outcasts. She tries to be unique, and ok with who she is, she doesn't care about her appearance, she gets nervous and develops a stutter, and most surprising of all has quite a skill of repairing cars.

The only character who annoyed me in the book, and did in fact cause me not to like the book is: Tuck, Kiara's gay bestfriend. Like many gay people who I have came across (BTW i am not being steroypical or in anyway homophobic) he is kind of in your face. He also is quite rude, and cruel towards Carlos, and I barely see a friendship between him and Kiara.

If this book wasn't the sqeul to Perfect Chemistry it may of been rated a five, but as I have said it had allot to live up to.


I give this book...