Rules of Attraction (Perfect Chemistry, #2)

by Simone Elkeles

Carlos Fuentes isn't happy about leaving Mexico to start the "new" life his older brother, Alex, has planned for him.Carlos liked his freedom; living life on the edge - just like Alex did.

Kiara Westford doesn't talk much; instead preferring to shut out the world. And when Carlos bounds into her life she struggles to understand him. Carlos is sure that Kiara thinks she's too good for him, which is just fine because he's not interested anyway, right? But when they finally open up to each other, the connection they feel shocks them both. Can they overcome their fears and realise that sometimes opposites really do attract?

'Elkeles once again delivers a steamy page-turner bound to make teens swoon' School Library Journal
'If Perfect Chemistry was good, Rules of Attraction is better! ...fans of Perfect Chemistry need to read this book, and those who haven't read Perfect Chemistry need to get their hands on both pronto!' Once Upon a Bookcase
'Elkeles has perfected the way she writes these novels, because like its predecessor, the writing is fast paced and make for easy reads because they never dwindle too much on unnecessary factors.' The Crooked Shelf
'A high recommendation for all fans of teen romance - and there's enough depth to it and action, coupled with a fairly gritty feel, that I can also see it appealing to many people who normally wouldn't look twice at this genre.' The Bookbag

• ISBN10: 0802722903
• ISBN13: 9780802722904
• Publish Date: 16 August 2011 (first published 1 April 2010)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 14 July 2021
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Walker & Co
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 326
• Language: English

Reviews

[kymmiejournals]

We fall in love for those who we least expect it.



Although the characters are brilliant and didn’t give Carlos a headache, it lacks that strong pull on the plot compared to the first book. The story focuses more on how Carlos is a rebellious teenager. It wasn’t really clear how he got out of his old gang or how he got in the first time. Meanwhile, Kiara is suffering from stuttering, although I don’t know what caused it, it was not explained why she has it or no psychological or deeper meaning as to why Kiara stutters. With or without it, it doesn’t have any impact on the story. It would be better if there’s a history to it – how she got it, was it from trauma, a bad childhood or dark past so that Carlos can help Kiara overcome it.





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[nitzan_schwarz]

2015 tbr challenge + cleaning my shelves 2015

3.5 stars
Originally posted on my blog. 

This book has been up on my TBR list for a while now, since I read the first book approximately two and a half years ago. And since it was a birthday gift from Megs, I thought it was high-time I read it!

I'm not sure how I feel about this book. I'm not disappointed in it, if that's what you might be wondering. I think it was about as good as the first in the series, which raises an awkward question - how can that possibly be true if you gave the first 5 stars and this one 3.5?!

Well, here's the deal. Perfect Chemistry was one of the first contemporaries I read, and maybe the first Mature YA I did. I didn't have much to compare it to, so it suitably impressed me. Truth is, I don't remember much of the book, aside for the whole sex scene, and I only remember that because I wasn't used to seeing that in YA. Today, I'll probably give Perfect Chemistry about 3.5 stars as well.

But enough about it's predecessor, let's talk about Rules of Attraction. Rules of Attraction is one of these books I think are perfect when you're in need of a story to suck you in and separate you from reality. While I wasn't head over heels in love with it, I definitely kept reading. And reading. And reading. In that aspect, it was perfect.

In this installment of the series, we follow Carlos and Kiara.

I didn't love Carlos, at first. By the end of the first chapter, I thought him a stupid brat that needs to grow up, and I just hopedhe gets better as the story goes. He did, but a bit too quickly for my taste. Elkeles rushed a bit to the "relax, he's not really like that" part, for example by letting Carlos tell us almost immediately the real reason he was fired. I feel like if you already made him seem like a total jerk, let us work a bit to get to the true him.

Still, I guess I can't really complain because I liked that Carlos a lot more than the one we met at first.

Then we have Kiara. Her, I loved. She really stood up for herself, all the time. She wasn't afraid to take shots. Well, she was, but she didn't let fear stop her. She wasn't scared of challenging Carlos - or standing up to him. All of which is in complete contrast to the shy girl everyone thinks she is because of the stutter she's been born with.

The part I felt the book lacked in was actually the romance. Yes, I just said that. I was actually on board until half way through. I thought it was decently building, and I liked them together. But if it was a steady climb the first half, it became a race in the second. Suddenly, there were declarations of love, and sappy words, and inability to be without one another, etc. It was too... rushed, to me.

I saw no reason they should be there so soon. This is something I find lacking in many books. Few actually execute the romance in a way I find perfect.

But, as House says above, this book is cute. Carlos and Kiara together are adorable, even if I thought they needed more time to get to the love stage. And it was fun, and it sucked me in, and I do think it's a good book. I just don't think it's A-mazing.

Originally posted on my blog. 

[KitsuneBae]

Le sigh. This book doesn't have the same magic as Perfect Chemistry. And some of the "scary events" were quite reminiscent of what happened in Perfect Chemistry.

[Leah]

Perfect Chemistry was one of my favourite novels last year. I really loved it so I was thrilled Simone Elkeles was continuing the series with Alex Fuentes’s younger brothers, Carlos and Luis. Rules of Attraction is the second novel with Chain Reaction being the third. Rules of Attraction wasn’t as good as Perfect Chemistry, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. It’s fairly similar to Perfect Chemistry – two people who are complete opposites find they might actually be attracted to each other despite their differences. Then come the difficulties which will put the couple to the test and to see if they can get past it all.

Carlos Fuentes is the middle Fuentes brother, 17 and can’t believe he’s being dragged back to America after a couple of years in his native Mexico with his family. When he goes to his new school in Colorado, Kiara Westford is his peer guide, but the two are like rubber and glue, constantly playing pranks on each other and driving each other crazy. I thought the rapport between Carlos and Kiara took a little while to really dig in – it wasn’t as fluent as that of Alex and Brittany in Perfect Chemistry, but it did eventually become a novel I found hard to put down. Carlos was the ultimate bad boy, though I’m still not entirely sure he beat Alex out, because well, Alex was the original bad boy… I did warm to Kiara really quickly, though, I loved her stutter and her being a bit of a geek and a loner. The banter between her and Carlos eventually gets going and I loved their interactions.

Gangs are again prevalent in the novel, though not as much in Perfect Chemistry, the gang stuff mainly occurs during the last quarter of the novel. Elkeles must have, again, done a lot of research into getting it all correct and I like that her novels are a bit different to most books on the market as not many novels have gangs in them. I think Elkeles has really found a bit of a niche with her novels and I’m looking forward to seeing if Chain Reaction also features gangs and things like that.

Rules of Attraction wasn’t perfect but it was an incredibly quick read. I eventually got so into it that I could barely put it down. I didn’t love it quite as much as I loved Perfect Chemistry, but it was still a fantastic read. I loved Carlos and Kiara and despite Carlos’s tendencies to be a bit too OTT with the bad-boyishness, I did eventually like seeing his softer side at certain turns. I loved how the whole Westford family took Carlos in and let Carlos into their family without a second thought. I loved seeing Alex and Brittany again, too, I loved their story and it’s always nice to catch up with past characters. I can’t wait to finish the “Perfect Chemistry” trilogy and see what happens in Luis’s story.

[Amber]

5/5.. but the darn epilogue strikes again!

[Jo]

Carlos Fuentes isn't happy about leaving Mexico to start the "new" life his older brother, Alex, has planned for him. Carlos liked his freedom; living life on the edge - just like Alex did. Kiara Westford doesn't talk much; instead preferring to shut out the world. And when Carlos bounds into her life she struggles to understand him. Carlos is sure that Kiara thinks she's too good for him, which is just fine because he's not interested anyway, right? But when they finally open up to each other, the connection they feel shocks them both. Can they overcome their fears and realise that sometimes opposites really do attract? From Amazon UK

Everyone who visits my blog often enough knows Perfect Chemistry, knows about the gorgeous Alex Fuentes, and knows he stole my heart earlier in the year. So you will all know how excited I was to receive the sequel Rules of Attraction thanks to Simon & Schuster UK and Sophie of So Many Books, So Little Time. I have put off reading it for whatever reason, but I am now kicking myself for not starting it as soon as it was in my hands. If Perfect Chemistry was good, Rules of Attraction is better!

This story is Carlos' story, Alex's younger brother. Where Perfect Chemistry was about there being more to people than what you think, Rules of Attraction is about there being more in the world if you just reach out and grab it, and it's such a sweet story!

In Alex's absence, Carlos followed in his older brother's and his father's footsteps; he became a member of a gang while in Mexico. His mother sends him to live with Alex in the hopes of keeping him safe, giving him a new life - which is the opposite of what Carlos wants. As far as he is concerned, this lifestyle is in his blood, and moving to Colorado isn't going to change that. Where Alex was the bad boy who wanted the better life, Carlos is happy to stay as he is. That is, until he meets Kiara.

Kiara is a quiet girl, a laughing stock to the popular girls at school because of a stutter she has trouble controlling when feeling extremes of emotion - quite the polar opposite to Brittany in Perfect Chemistry, who was the school's "It" girl. She'd rather be climbing mountains or fixing up her vintage car rather than bother with make-up and fashion. She has one friend, Tuck, and is quite happy to keep to herself. That is, until she meets Carlos.

They are both nothing like what the other is used to, initially not who they would normally go for, but after they are thrust together when Carlos gets set up for selling dryugs and is taken in by Kiara's father to try and help him, they get to know each other a little more and see glimmers that surprise them. You have no idea how many times I was "Aww"-ing at this book! They are just so sweet.

And, of course, Carlos is a Fuentes, so there is a lot to drool over. I know there are certain members of the blogosphere who might hate me for this (sorry!), but I think I prefer Carlos to Alex! The dangerous streak, the challenging flirting, the arrogance - it's ridiculously attractive. The guy is just smoking! I don't know how she does it, but Elkeles is a genius at getting into a guy's head and making him seem so real. This is another book that needs to be on screen! I think we should petition for both these books!

I can't really say much more without spoiling the plot, but it's just fantastic! I flew through it, and died at how hot and sweet it is. Really, fans of Perfect Chemistry need to read this book, and those who haven't read Perfect Chemistry need to get their hands on both pronto! The Fuentes brothers are ones to watch out for; you want them in your life. I really cannot wait to see what Elkeles gives us in Luis, the youngest brother's story!

From Once Upon a Bookcase - YA book blog