Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles

After I devoured Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles, I ran out to get book two, Rules of Attraction. And! It's also another for my Multi-Cultural Book Challenge hosted by Truly Bookish and One Page at a Time!

From Goodreads:

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'd heard that book two in this series was possibly even better than book one, and I've got to say, I was skeptical going into it. Alex was a bad boy that stole my heart, but Carlos... he's the real bad boy! His story is surprisingly fresh and different than that of his brother's, and I couldn't put it down.
Kiara's family is close (I was shocked at everything Kiara shared with her parents!) and they all eagerly take Carlos in as one of their own, no questions asked. Of course Carlos resists, but his walls slowly break down by the hand of this loving family and the journey is addictive. It's the characters, it's the writing, it's the will they or won't they already!
I can't wait for book three!

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

I'm only doing one reading challenge this year, hosted by Truly Bookish and One Page at a Time.

My first book for this challenge is Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles.

I'd heard chatter about this series for a while now, but hadn't picked it up... until now.

Here's the blurb from Goodreads:

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.

Holy schnikies this book was fantastic. I had no idea what I was missing. Why on EARTH did I wait so long to read it? The fast-paced writing had me flipping page after page. I liked how both Brittany and Alex were pretending to be someone they weren't, and managed to reveal this secret only to each other. I loved how Brittany was with her sister, and how Brittany felt such intense pressure from her mother. How Alex struggled with his place in the gang (yes an actual gang) and his devotion to his family. These characters all felt so real. I loved them and rooted for them the whole way. And the romance... hot. Sure, there's some cheesy dialogue, but it's worth it.

I snatched book two the other day and I can't wait to see what the next Fuentes brother is up to!