Rules of Attraction (A Perfect Chemistry Novel)

I read the first book in the Perfect Chemistry and loved it, so I was excited to read this book. So far the books in this series have been incredibly easy to fall into and read. I am instantly sucked into the story and engaged with these characters and their struggles. I always whip through these books very quickly. They are impossible to put down and very entertaining reads.

This book follows Alex’s younger brother, Carlos. Carlos is different from Alex in that he has some major attitude issues. Kiara is also an incredibly different female lead than the first book. They were both completely engaging as characters and I was immediately rooting for them. The have great chemistry together. I also really enjoyed some of the side characters in the story.

In this book Alex also had some struggles of his own that are followed in the background. I liked that this was included. It showed how Alex is growing and changing throughout time.

This book just pulled me right through the story and I enjoyed it a lot. I don’t read a ton of contemporary YA fiction/romance; but this is one of the better contemporary YA fiction/romance series I have read.

Overall this was an excellent continuation of the Perfect Chemistry series. If you are a fan of YA contemporary romance I would highly recommend this series. It is just such an easy read, so engaging, and so well written.

In Rules of Attraction, we meet Carlos Fuentes, younger brother of Alex -the main character in the previous novel, Perfect Chemistry. Carlos is definitely a lot angrier than Alex was, mainly because he didn't get to choose anything in his life. He was forced to return to America to live with Alex, even though he would've preferred to stay in Mexico. He is definitely a bad boy as well, and jut wants to choose his own way in life.

Then there's Kiara, a girl who's definitely not the popular-girl type and who only has one good friend, Tucker. Kiara is the more shy and timid kind of girl, but the part I loved most about her is that she still wasn't afraid to talk back to Carlos, even though it was with difficulty sometimes.

This romance felt just right: it wasn't rushed or instalove and it wasn't too much like a fairytale either. By this I mean that like every normal person in the world, they both struggled with aspects of their lives and had secrets. The characters felt real and this story seems like it could actually happen.

I loved this book, just as I loved Perfect Chemistry. Certainly recommend it!

I am really enjoying this series. I admit, I was confused when I got to the end of the first book and it had an epilogue that flashed forward many years. That's because this book doesn't pick up where the last one left off...it tells the story of Carlos, Alex's little brother.

Carlos is sent to live in Colorado with Alex and soon finds himself in some of the same trouble Alex had when he was younger. He also finds himself falling for a girl who is extremely different from him, but also just the thing he needs.

I really liked being able to see how Alex and Brittany were doing, in addition to meeting new characters like Kiara and her family. It was also nice to go back to the Fuentes family and see how Carlos was doing. Kiara's dad was probably one of my favorite characters and I think he really added to the story.

If you enjoy a good enemy to romance story, or stories where a couple ends up together in spite of being from different worlds, you're going to love this series. Keep in mind, that you certainly can read these as stand alones, I recommend reading them in order to get the full value of the story and family.

(Source: Purchased on kindle from the store.co.uk for £2.49)
Carlos is moving from Mexico to Colorado to live with his brother, and finish high school. He's got no time for a girlfriend, or any sort of complication to his life, and getting arrested for drug dealing is the last thing he wanted.
Intent on not revealing the name of the kid who planted the drugs on him, Carlos ends up living with professor Westford and his family, whose daughter Kiara seems to be getting slowly under his skin.
Carlos isn't boyfriend material though, he just wants a girl to screw around with, doesn't he?

This is the second book in the `Chemistry' series, but can be read as a stand-alone novel (I haven't read the first one.)
I liked this story, but for me it took a long time for the romance to kick in.

Carlos is a pretty rough male lead, he's obviously lived in some not-nice places, and although his mother has done her best, he's not had the best of starts in life. He was pretty stubborn about not revealing the name of the drug dealer who set him up, even though he wasn't actually anything to do with him, and this probably revealed quite a lot about the things he learned as a teen.
Underneath it all, quite a way underneath it all, Carlos was a good person, but in the beginning he was pretty rude to Kiara and her family, and probably didn't deserve the chance they gave him.

For me the romance took a long while to build up in this book. At the beginning Carlos was not very nice to Kiara at all, I totally got why she wanted to play a practical joke on him to pay him back for some of his comments. That being said, as they slowly got to know each other a little better, Carlos wasn't quite so mean, but I certainly didn't see why Kiara was falling for him either.
Things didn't really heat up between the pair until really late in the story; around the last10-15% of the book in fact, which was a little disappointing, but when they eventually got together things weren't even smooth sailing then.

Kiara was an okay character, but while she seemed to have problems with stuttering during stressful moments, she didn't seem to have the same problem when whispering dirty little teases in Carlos' ear, which personally would have made me a little nervous!

The ending of the book concerned Carlos and the drug ring he had somehow gotten caught up in, and this was unfortunately the least interesting part of the story for me. I didn't really appreciate the epilogue much either.
Overall; a YA contemporary romance, with quite a slow-to-love couple.
6.75 out of 10.

Rules of Attraction is the story of Carlos Fuentes and Kiara Westford. I don’t know if it’s simply because it was the first one I read, but this is my favorite! Carlos Fuentes is angry and frustrated and, for all intents and purposes, the typical bad boy at the start of this book. Though his brother Alex has fought to give him great opportunities, he doesn’t appear to care initially. His transformation into someone different, someone who embraces the good in life and his own talents, was incredible for me to witness. (This is also probably what made Carlos so dear to me!) I also really liked Kiara a lot, as I thought she was sassy, relatable and a good foil for Carlos. Obviously, I was rooting for them to get together. When they finally did, I pretty much just swooned all over the place at all the moments they shared, grieved when they had difficulties and misunderstandings and was overjoyed whenever they were given a reprieve. One other thing I really liked about this book? It was set in Colorado.

Another stellar job by Simone Elkeles as the story of the Fuentes brothers continues with story of the middle brother Carlos. Carlos is getting into trouble in Mexico and his family thinks it's a good idea for him to go live in Colorado with his older brother Alex. Carlos is rebellious and has other ideas about living with Alex like he wants to party and get high and just pass the time until he can leave and start his own life. Carlos also has a chip on his shoulder the size of Texas but he meets his match in Kiara who never backs down from a challenge.

Trouble seems to follow Carlos like a moth to a flame and soon he is framed and arrested for possession of drugs at school. In order to stay out of Juvie, Alex's ex professor and friend agrees to take him in and let Carlos live with them, who just happens to Kiara's father. Kiara doesn't hate the boy with the cocky attitude and stellar looks that make her studder every time he is near because she sees something in him. It's the same thing her father sees in Carlos that he may be more than meets the eye and there something worth fighting for. As they live together Kiara and Carlos become friends and then something more.

I really like this book and I love that characters feel real like they are everyday teenagers. Maybe their problems are more exacerbated for drama reasons but every teen faces drug use and sex issues. I like how Simone Elkeles doesn't sugar coat the issues because as Kiara parents show in the book is teens will be teens and all you can do is show them how to be responsible and hope they make good decisions. I like how this book shows the teens making responsible decisions about sex and not drinking and driving but with out getting too preachy.

I really liked the romance between Carlos and Kiara but I always have a soft spot when the curvy insecure girl gets the man of her dreams. I liked that in this book when Carlos was ready for something real he didn't want the superficial girl who was only after popularity. To quote a line from the classic movie Gidget, " To be a real woman is to bring out the best in a man." I think that is what most men are looking for a real girl who will challenge them and make them try to be a better man like Kiara does for Carlos. I recommend this book for older teens because it does deal with heavy issues. Overall, I really liked this book and give it four laser pistols. I can't wait to read the third book Chain Reaction.

Simone Elkeles' books are like crack.

In Perfect Chemistry, Brittney and Alex sucked me in, and it was no different of Kiara and Carlos in Rules of Attraction. The story itself was completely unique, as were the characters. Although, Carlos is most certainly related to Alex, in that he tends to act like a total JACKASS throughout a large part of the book.

But an entertaining jackass that you want to hug and smack in the face at the same time.

Kiara is a refreshing love interest, even more not Carlos' type than Brittney was for Alex. She is sporty, smart, and completely uninterested in flirting with Carlos. She would rather work on fixing up her car or climb a mountain (literally) than go shopping or put on makeup.

Carlos is also completely not Kiara's type. He is irresponsible, popular, and HOT. But this doesn't stop sparks from flying when they are forced to interact with each other.

I love how both Carlos and Kiara were able to help the other with their main issue or problem. This isn't to say that the issue is solved completely, but they are each given the support and help that is immediately needed at that time. You see both characters grow as they get to know each other.

This book is an incredibly exciting, fast-paced read, filled with all kinds of tension: tons of family tension and even more sexual tension. But not between the family members. Ew.

Elkeles did a great job at blending the serious aspects of each character's issues with the romance and lighthearted banter that makes you smile, laugh, and literally squeal uncontrollably at times.

If you're in the mood for an addicting, fun, and sometimes heart-breaking contemporary novel, than Simone Elkeles is your girl!!

I first picked up Rules of Attraction some time in the beginning of this year but I put it down. Why I put it down, you're wondering? Well I"m not a fan of books with characters who are self destructive. And that's what I got from Carlos, he's very self destructive and rude. So that really turned me off. But then lately, I've been in a reading slump. So I decided to change genres and picked Rules of Attraction back up. I finally got past Carlos' rudeness and self destructive behavior and enjoyed this read.

If you haven't read any of the Perfect Chemistry novels, then you are missing out. With every book she publishes, she only gets better. I'm glad I was able to finish reading this book, because it had everything in it. I love that she doesn't write about silly fan girl love. Kiara was a girl who didn't lose herself in Carlos. Though she felt the hots for him, she still had her head on straight. She was funny, straight forward and sarcastic. She care hard and loved harder. She was the perfect female protagonist.

And Carlos, he's so sexy. If only I can read about a character like him in an adult book, so I wouldn't feel so pervy about finding him so sexy. Carlos looks and acts like your typical street thug. He has an " I don't care" attitude and it gets him no where fast. But he's given a chance to redeem himself and that's where this book gets interesting. The struggles Carlos go through are some serious life threatening ones. Even with his messed up attitude, he deep down insides wants a better life.

I love the way Carlos affects Kiara and Kiara affects Carlos. Once their guards are down, they're both good for one another. The cover to this book is actually a scene in this book. I absolutely LOVED this scene. It was my favorite with Carlos. This is exactly where I fell in love with Carlos, that very scene. I think I may love Carlos better than Alex. A big 5/5 stars for this sequel. Rules of Attraction is a definite must buy and a definite Good Choice for Reading!!

"Rules of Attraction" follows Carlos Fuentes who is sent by his mother to live in Colorado with his older brother Alex. With Alex in college and working towards a brighter future, the hope is Carlos will follow suit. Carlos acts resentful towards his brother and feels that he has turned his back on his Mexican roots. Not liking to be told what to do, Carlos lashes out and defies at any opportunity he can, being a smart mouth to anyone who thinks they know best. When he finds himself arrested, after being set up on drug possession, he has no choice but to finally follow orders bestowed upon him by the judge. He moves in with Alex's collegue professor and finds himself face to face with the professor's daughter and his fellow student Kiara Westford. Having started on the wrong foot from school, living together proves to be a challenging experience for the both of them.
Being openly welcomed into the Westford family, Carlos is not initially receptive to his environment. As time progresses, Carlos finds himself playing older brother to Kiara's little brother Brandon, enjoying family nights with the Westford's and developing a real attraction to Kiara. In return Kiara begins to develop feelings for Carlos and when he asks her for a favour, she agrees on the proviso he escorts her to the Homecoming dance.
After discovering the name of the man who set him up for drug possession, Carlos confronts Wes Devlin who announces his intent of recruiting Carlos as his drug dealer. Having been beaten up by Devlin's men and the safety of the people around him is threatened, Carlos starts thinking his only option is to leave Colorado.
The night of the Homecoming dance arrives and Carlos makes it a special night for Kiara. They sleep together for the first time and declare their love for each other. Having fallen in love with Kiara has shaken Carlos's senses as he begins dreaming of a future with her. Unfortunately he knows he cannot have that future as long as Devlin wants him to become a gang member. After finally coming clean about Devlin, Carlos discovers that the man who has become his surrogate father is not only a college professor, but the one person who can prove to be a worthy opponent to Devlin and give Carlos the opportunity to live his dreams.
The storyline of "Rules of Attraction" is placed two years from where we left off with Alex and Brittany in "Perfect Chemistry". So whilst the story focuses on Carlos, we also get to see how Alex and Brittany's lives are tracking.
When Carlos is first introduced to us in this novel he is abbrasive and antagonising, acting like an angry teenager with a very big chip on his shoulder. At first you almost feel like slapping him silly, especially after Alex and Brittany try to help Carlos ease into his new life in Colorado and he responds by being rude and insulting at every opportunity. Then you begin to warm to Carlos as you see him living with his surrogate family and we begin to see a different side to him. The relationship between Carlos and Kiara felt a little sudden given they disliked each other at first, however their story was fun to read especially when Kiara stood her ground with Carlos.
As the novel was written from both Carlos and Kiara's points of view, it made the storyline more interesting to read as you understood the characters better, especially Carlos who was the dark and complicated character. I also enjoy how Simone Elkeles finishes each book in this series with a epilogue which in this novel brings us forward 26 years where we learn the fates of Carlos and Kiara.
I am really enjoying this series and if you are a fan of young adult novels, I would suggest you take the time to read this series. It is an easy read, yet the emotions and the characters have depth. The final installment in this series is "Chain Reaction" which follows the youngest Fuentes brother Luis.

Rules of Attraction is very different to Perfect Chemistry, so there's no need to worry about the same story being rehashed with a different brother. After the events of the first novel, where Carlos was sent to live in the safety of Mexico, he's now returning to America without any dreams or ambitions. He's perfectly content with his life in the gang, despite the disappointment of his older brother. Whereas Alex spends Perfect Chemistry attempting to distance himself from the Latino Blood gang, Carlos is someone who has to realise it's not good for him first. Here's where boy-hating Kiara comes in, bitter from past boyfriends and out for revenge. Can you say MEEOW?

Like in the first book, Carlos and Kiara don't hit it off immediately. While there's an instant physical attraction, it takes them both a while to like what they see on the inside. I adored these two characters! Kiara has a stutter, which she can usually control, but it all comes apart when she's nervous (hint: Carlos makes her very nervous). While we get to see her vulnerable side, she has a strong personality and is able to handle herself very well too. Did I mention that she can really think up devilish pranks? Stale cookies and magnets - that's all I'm going to say! Carlos is obviously troubled and isn't afraid of danger. After drugs are planted in his locker, he has to join a reach program to avoid jail and guess what? HE MOVES IN WITH KIARA. Oh the fun, intense times.

The best thing about Rules of Attraction is probably the character growth. As Carlos acclimates to Kiara's family, we see his sweet side as he befriends her younger brother and finds support in her parents. The two bring out the best in each other and it was heart-warming to see how they both changed for the better! Once again, the gangs won't just let them be a happy couple. There are complications. There is action. There are smart plans and maybe not so great outcomes. You'll have to see for yourself!

This was another great book by Elkeles and a great continuation of the series. She made us fall in love with new characters while still giving Alex and Brittany a few cameos! I really like how the sequels are written as if they're spin-offs. We're getting a new perspective and entirely different adventure in the same world with the characters we already know and love. A win-win situation!

I love the Fuentes brothers and the stories Elkeles tells about their lives. Unfortunately, my expectations were too high for Rules of Attraction. Unlike the two days it took me to finish the first in the series, this one took me more than ten. While this book has many similarities to Perfect Chemistry, there are quite some differences. I didn't feel as though I was reading the same story over and over again, which is always a plus. To be honest, I really didn't like Carlos at the beginning. Sure, he and Alex had the same mentality when they were teenagers, but for some reason, Alex was just more appealing.

Almost as soon as he moves to Colorado, Carlos finds himself in trouble with the law. Alex's professor takes him in as if he were his own in order to get him on the right track. He doesn't want to follow the rules and he'd definitely much rather be shipped back to Mexico, but his life takes an unexpected turn. The professor's daughter, Kiara, stood up to Carlos when most people would shy away. They pulled pranks on one another and tried to get under each other's skin. She made a name for herself and eventually, she's all Carlos could think about. When a popular girl shows unwanted interest in Carlos, Kiara agrees to having a fake relationship with him at school. In return, she wanted him to take her to Homecoming, because she'd never gone to a high school dance.

Somehow, the fake relationship turned into real feelings. Kiara saw something genuine in Carlos at certain times, like when he was around her 6 year old brother. It was like he was lowering the shield he kept up 24/7. Carlos, although he hated Kiara at first, felt like he needed to protect her. For me, the pacing was a little too fast when it came to the romance. Perfect Chemistry gave me butterflies. The romance between Carlos and Kiara felt nothing like it did between Alex and Brittany.

I did love seeing the development of the characters. In the beginning, Kiara was trying to find herself. Carlos thought he knew who he was and what he wanted, but all of that changed in just a few short months. The ending was very predictable but nice, nonetheless. I could have done without the epilogue, though. I think I would have preferred if the author just told us about their lives at the end of the series.

Review from The Hollow Cupboards- thehollowcupboards.blogspot.com

I loved Perfect Chemistry, but I wasn't sure whether I'd enjoy Rules of Attraction, since it's pretty much the same story. But Simone Elkeles managed to make these characters different, so I ended up really liking Rules of Attraction, too!

I thouhgt it would be hard to make Carlos different from Alex and Kiara different from Brittany, but that was not a problem - they both work as independent characters. At first I didn't like Carlos and was annoyed by his huge ego, but I grew to understand and love him. His cockyness is pretty funny, actually. When he got into trouble, I got frustrated with him and how he didn't want to let anyone help, but overall I liked him and think he's a good and entertaining character. Kiara, I loved from the start. She's different from the type of characters I usually relate to. She's athletic, loves hiking, knows how to repair cars, and is just generally a tomboy, which isn't me at all. But she's also shy and quiet and stutters, and that part of her made me really feel for her and like her.

Carlos and Kiara's relationship is great. Yes, it's predictable, but I loved how Carlos and Kiara interacted. Their fighting in the beginning is hilarious. I think the switch between hating each other and developing feelings for one another happened too quickly, but after that the ups and downs of their relationship are realistic again. The way they treat each other is just so much fun to read about.

The secondary characters are great too. I loved Kiara's family - Brandon is adorable, and Westford is the perfect dad, definitely the type of parent I'd like to see more of in YA. Tuck is a fun character, too - I loved every scene that included him. And then, of course, there's Brittany and Alex. I liked seeing what happened to them, and I really enjoyed reading about Carlos and Alex's relationship. Their fights are hilarious, but the way they care for one another is sweet. I especially liked seeing how Carlos and Alex influenced one another in their relationships with Kiara and Brittany.

My main problem is the same one I had with Perfect Chemistry - the way Simone Elkeles uses Spanish. It doesn't seem authentic, more like the author wanted to use some Spanish but was too focussed on making the reader understand it - she either said something in Spanish and immediately repeated it in English, or she said words everyone knows in Spanish but the rest in English. While I understand that she wanted to let everyone understand what the characters are saying, that just doesn't seem realistic to me - why would anyone in real life speak like that? I think I would have preferred it if either the whole sentence had been in Spanish (you can probably get what they're talking about from the context even if you don't know any Spanish), or if she'd written the sentence entirely in English and then written something like "...," Carlos said in Spanish. That lack of authenticity just really annoyed me.

Another thing I disliked is the ending - it seemed rushed and somewhat unrealistic, and I just generally hate epilogues.

While I think I still liked Perfect Chemistry better than Rules of Attraction - simply because the idea was new, and I liked Alex a little better than Carlos - Rules of Attraction is a great companion novel, and I'm excited for Luis's story, Chain Reaction!

Rules of Attraction begins when Carlos has to go live with his brother in Colorado to keep him out of trouble. But soon there he's getting into trouble by being set up by a drug lord.

So then he's sent to life with Kiara's family. The girl he loves to annoy. She's totally different from any girl he's ever know. She doesn't care about her appearance, she loves working on cars, and playing sports. And Kiara can't seem to stand Carlos very much either. But as she seems him around her little brother she gets glimpses of the real Carlos who isn't hiding behind the bad boy facade.

This book has romance, drama, and lots of bad boys. We get to see more of the characters from Perfect Chemistry, as well as new ones. I loved this book. I thought it was so much better than the first one. It was written very well, and I was in love with all of the characters.

The only thing I didn't like was what happened between Brittany and Alex. That just seemed sort of dumb, but I won't spoil it for you.
Over all the book was super awesome, and now I'm excited to read the next. I highly recommend this book!

Books like Rules of Attraction is bad for readers who have work, school and many other things to do in the morning. Rules of Attraction kept me up at night and I couldn't put it down, no matter how tired I was and just the fact that you're waiting for something romantic to happen between our amazing protagonists will definitely keep your eyes on these pages.

No matter how much I hated Carlos Fuentes in the beginning, he started warming up to me when his real side showed-up sometime later on. This Perfect Chemistry Novel isn't as gang related as the first book, but it was more real and surrounded around a not-so-normal teenage life as they try to get through senior year alive. Carlos, gets framed and arrested for drug possession in school and is put into a REACH program.

Like the novel before it. Rules of Attraction is an amazing and heart-warming romance thats all for the happy-endings! Though it ended rather quick, it was still extremely easy, fun, and sometimes funny read. The characters sarcasm and humor will light up whatever mood the reader is in and of course, a book is never a book without its plot. For sure it was there, though at times I forgot about it but Elkeles knows where to bring it in and when.

To sum it all up, Rules of Attraction is amazingly written, and a wonderful story that will satisfy our hopeless romantic side and our need to be entertained. 5/5 stars! I'm off to pick up the next Elkeles book I have.

Rules of Attraction tells a similar story to that of its predecessor, except instead of focusing on Alex and Brittany's post-high school relationship in Colorado, it zooms in on the budding romance between Carols and Kiara. Carlos, you might remember, is Alex's brother who has gotten himself into some trouble with gangs and drugs when living in Mexico with his mother. Kiara is the daughter of one of Alex's mentors and favorite teachers. This mentor, who is referred to as The Professor throughout, actually ends up playing a huge role in Carlos's life, as well, and Carlos adopts him as a personal mentor as well.

Elkeles writes a cross-cultural love story that is so reminiscent of West Side Story, with less singing and more sexual tension. It's sexy; it's compelling; and it's entirely (older) teen appropriate. There's just the right amount of trouble with Carlos -- which explains why he's even in Colorado with Alex -- and just enough intrigue with Kiara to make her much more than his puppet. The idea of the good girl with the bad boy doesn't feel stale in this one.

This is far from the perfect book, particularly when it came to the writing. I had a couple issues with improper Spanish, for one. It's been a few years since I've taken it, but I know "usted es estupido" is improper when Carlos is speaking to his brother (page 246). There was another example of improper Spanish, too, when Carlos first meets Kiara at Flatiron High (the strange use of some Italian - il - in one of his sentences). Hopefully, these sorts of issues will be hammered out by the final printing.

Likewise, I don't think the character development is particularly memorable, and I actually was sad we didn't get more of Alex and Brittany. There are attempts at creating some threads throughout, including the "Rules of Attraction" and Kiara's car skills, but they never become fully fleshed and thus, they almost seem silly to include at all. It felt like they were there to do something, but they never came to be more than extra furniture in the story.

What Rules of Attraction has going for it is pulse. It is a quick moving read with everything you want in a good love story: questioning, following the heart, denying oneself, then ultimately having a satisfactory conclusion. Oh, and the gorgeous cover is entirely fitting to the story, too. There is indeed some kissing in the rain.

Reading and loving books like this sometimes embarrasses me, if for no reason other than knowing the characters are quite a bit younger than me. I think Elkeles would have a fantastic market in the older young adult sector (your 20-somethings) if she were to expand outside teen books. Where many adult romances fall into carrying too much baggage, these books manage to avoid the baggage issue and maintain a real sense of innocence, exploration, and trepidation to them. Sure, it's a standard story trope, but she has a real pulse to her writing that has enough grittiness and enough innocence that just works for me.

I liked this book even more than Perfect Chemistry, and I loved that one!
I could not put this one down, just kept flipping the pages wanting more! If I could I would've read this in one sitting, it's just THAT good.

Carlos moves from Mexico to Colorado to live with his brother, Alex, who hopes he stays out of trouble. But Carlos couldn't care less about his brother's rules, he likes living on the edge and misses his dangerous old life.
And then there's Kiara. The quirky, geeky, good-girl. She's the kind of girl Carlos wouldn't even look at twice, but fate kind of brings them together when Alex can't have Carlos living with him anymore, due to campus dorm rules, and he moves in with the school's principle and his family- Kiara's family.
Guess what happens next? Opposites attract!

Carlos is drop-dead-gorgeous. He's the guy of your dreams! He's everything a male protagonist in a (YA)book should be like. His and Kiara's chemistry was just mind boggling. They were both big time teases, which built up a lot of frustration and when it all exploded it was awesome! The romance was good. There's no sexual content in this book but you could still sense the sexual tension going on between the two of them.

If you liked "Perfect Chemistry", you'll LOVE "Rules of Attraction". But make sure you read Perfect Chemistry before reading this one, as there were a lot of things in this book referring to the first one.

I highly recommend this one to YA readers who enjoy reading "normal" books once in while, other than the typical paranormal, dystopian, utopian stuff that are so popular these days.

About the Book: Carlos Fuentes has returned to the United States after living in Mexico for two years. His older brother Alex has a plan for him to get his act together and make a better life, but Carlos wants none of it. When Carlos meets Kiara, they immediately butt heads. Kiara is shy and keeps to herself, Carlos loves to party. But their lives keep intertwining and the two will learn that maybe they're better for each other than they both thought.

GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: I loved Perfect Chemistry, so I was somewhat nervous about reading this one. I'm happy to say I was not disappointed! Once again, Simone Elkeles writes a hot steamy romance that I quickly devoured. If you ever find yourself in a reading slump, pick these books up because they will get you back into your reading groove!

I did have some trouble connecting with Carlos more than I did Alex in Perfect Chemistry. Carlos is very hotheaded and while he knows he should stop acting like a party boy player, he enjoys that image and gets himself in trouble. I felt it took Carlos longer to really learn he was playing with fire, which was frustrating, but I also think it was true of his character.

I liked Kiara. She was a shy, but she could also stand up to Carlos, which I liked. I loved her cookie prank-brilliant!! I also liked the fact that she had a great family and enjoyed having family movie nights, hung out with her little brother, and didn't mind helping her mom at her shop. She was very down to earth and I liked that.

The romance took me a little bit to believe-at first I wasn't sure why these two would really be attracted to each other. But I warmed up to it and found it to be a fun (and hot!) romance. The ending got a little cheesy, but what's a good romance without a little cheese? And I actually liked the epilogue of this one better-I just found it more believable.

Fans of Perfect Chemistry will of course enjoy this one. There are some glimpses into Brittany and Alex's life, which is fun for fans. You don't have to have read the first book as Rules of Attraction stands on it's own very well. Again, this one is very steamy so I'm warning you if you blush easily! Overall this is a fun romance that's a quick read and will leave readers happily sighing.

After reading the first book in the series featuring Alex and Brittany, I quickly dove into the story featuring Carlos and Kiara. If you remember from the first book, Carlos is Alex's younger brother. The book starts out with Carlos on his way back to America after leaving his Mom in Mexico. He is suppose to come live with Alex because he has been getting in trouble and Mom is feeling afraid for him.

Right off the bat, you can see that Carlos has a big chip on his shoulders. He resents his brother for leaving his family in Mexico and he makes Alex aware that he doesn't intend to follow his rules. When Carlos is ordered by a judge to live with Alex's professor, he his finds himself fighting his attraction to Kiara. Of course, Kiara finds Carlos mysterious and sexy, but they both fight the chemistry that is brewing between them both.

I really liked this book. Usually sequels do not live up to my expectations, but this one held its own rather nicely. While I enjoyed the alternating point of views the author uses, I didn't feel the instant attraction between Kiara and Carlos. It felt rushed and forced at times. I wanted the slow build of attraction like we read about with Alex and Brittany. I understand that this was a different situation with different characters, but I wanted to see Carlos fall in love with Kiara at a reasonable pace. I felt that they were both pushed into it.

Overall a wonderful book that leaves me anxiously awaiting the third book in the series that will feature the youngest brother Luis. Forget the rules and bring on more attraction full of sexiness!

Rules of Attraction is the companion novel to Perfect Chemistry. The main characters in Perefect Chemestry are Alex and Brittany, the main characters in Rules of Attratction are Carlos (Alex's little brother) and Kiara. That being said, you don't necessarily have to read Perfect Chemistry first.

I loved Perfect Chemistry, there is something about it that is so very addictive, so when I heard that Elkeles was writing another novel about Alex's little brother, I knew I was in for a treat. Perfect Chemistry is still my favorite but Rules of Attraction was also fantastic!

I'm a complete sap for the bad a** guy with the good heart. I don't know what it is but ay dios mio, I can't get enough! And Carlos definitely knew how to play the bad a** guy card.

Both Carlos and Kiara are complex characters, Kiara might seem like the easier of the two to figure out, but she definitely has some hidden depths. Carlos seems like the bad guy on the outside, and he's made plenty of mistakes to get himself labeled as such, but his bad guy image isn't his problem. His problem is his pride. I loved getting to see that change throughout the novel.

I didn't think the relationship between Carlos and Kiara flowed as nicely as it had with Alex and Brittany in PC. It seemed a little abrupt and rushed, I never felt like I witnessed that "falling in love" moment. I was a little disappointed on that front, but nonetheless, I still reveled in seeing these two get together.

The ending might have came a little too fast and it was just a little unbelievable, not to mention there was another cheesy prologue (that I just ATE UP! I do love the cheese) but it just makes you feel all warm and tingly inside. And darn it, sometimes I just want to feel warm and tingly!

Overall Rules of Attraction was wonderfully written, with intriguing characters and a captivating love story. I'm ready for book three, please.

Rating: 4.5

When I first heard about Rules of Attraction I didn't know what to expect. Perfect Chemistry is one of my favorite books and I didn't think it needed a sequel. However, I was pleasantly happy with the outcome. The second book had great characters, interesting plot and yet again a badass who you can't help but swoon over. The only thing that annoyed me was the beginning. The epilogue of Perfect Chemistry does not continue with Rules of Attraction. So when you start reading the sequel, forget about the twenty-years later part (Perfect Chemistry fans will understand, readers that haven't read it yet, don't worry that wasn't a spoiler,) Brittany and Alex are still twenty years old. After I got over my little annoyance, I couldn't put the book down.

Carlos, our rebel, who is pretty much angry at the world for having to move to Colorado was a spinning image of Alex. Honestly, I thought he was worse than Alex. He didn't take authority very well. Kiara, was Brittany's total opposite, her wardrobe and persona never gave away that she was indeed wealthy. I really loved Kiara's attitude, she was down to earth and very likable. Also, Kiara's best friend is hilarious, I enjoyed their goofy relationship. I loved the blossoming relationship between Kiara and Carlos. Boy was it steamy at times, Simone really knows how to excite her readers hehe. Overall, in my eyes it's pretty much a second Perfect Chemistry but with other characters and glimpses of Alex and Brittany. I still am in love with Simone's writing, especially her sarcasm. I thoroughly enjoyed it, however Perfect Chemistry still remains my favorite. On the other hand, the cover of Rules of Attraction is so romantic, I love it!

I loved this book! I had already read Ms. Elkeles's first book, PERFECT CHEMISTRY, and noticed from other reviews here that it was available for the Vine program. At that point, I searched and searched until I found it, and I'm so glad I did.

For those of you who read the first book, you know that Ms. Elkeles really excels at writing characters who seem utterly different from each other, but who really complete each other. In this case, Kiara is the play-it-safe have-fun-by-the-rules kind of girl--the sort who goes hiking for fun, who does all her school work, and who can't think about anything except what college she should go to. Carlos, on the other hand, has been jerked around a great deal in his life--torn from Chicago, sent to Mexico, and then tossed back to stay with his brother in Colorado. He's a curious mixture of pride for who he is and what he has done, and shame--ashamed that he's not considered bigger, better, and that he can't keep his family and especially his beloved mother safe from the people who are preying on him. It's this mixture that makes him feel that life is transient, that he can't get close to anyone before he begins to shut down.

This book doesn't play safe--not with emotions, nor hearts, nor physical safety. Once I started reading, I could not put the book down. It was utterly engrossing, and I read it in a matter of hours--and then went back and read it again. I sometimes dislike when the author brings characters from a previous book back just to have them onscreen, but I thought that Alex and Brittany's role in this story was both organic and important.

If I had one quibble, it was that it felt that the ending came too suddenly, that we didn't get quite enough time to see and believe that Carlos had really banished his demons.

The language in this book is a little racy, and it covers a lot of hard teen issues--drugs, gangs, and sex--but it does so in a way that it neither belittles the problems associated with these things nor preaches about them.

Carlos Fuentes doesn't have any say in the matter when his mother sends him from Mexico to his older brother Alex in Boulder, Colorado. Carlos has already been displaced from his hometown of Chicago once before, and he wasn't happy about it, so he intends to break as many rules as possible in Colorado.

Kiara Westford is the good girl; she doesn't get in trouble, and she's always willing to help out, but Carlos's attitude annoys her. When those with connections to a Mexican gang plant drugs in Carlos's possession, Kiara's father vouches for him, and he is forced to move in with her family and abide by their rules. But rebellious Carlos will find that the only thing harder than following the Westfords' rules is fighting his feelings for Kiara.

Fans of Elkeles' Perfect Chemistry will be happy to read this sequel, featuring Alex's younger brother, now seventeen and now every bit as rebellious and then some. Carlos has a devil-may-care attitude, and he is rough and determined to go his own way. Though the reader may not always agree with his decisions and thoughts, Elkeles does an excellent job at getting into his head and revealing what makes him tick. Kiara, on the other hand, is much sweeter and a little naive, but she is smart and she has guts. She's not quite as interesting of a character as Carlos, but is admirable nonetheless.

The danger in Rules of Attraction isn't quite as palpable and immediate as it was in Perfect Chemistry, but the bit of mystery surrounding it keeps you in suspense, though the action at the climax is tense and a bit unexpected. At its heart, this book is more about Carlos' gradual change of mind concerning his attitude and behavior as he falls in love with Kiara. He changes quite a bit as a character, which is gratifying to see, and the actual romance is steamy and naughty in just the right amount--an excellent mix of humor and rebellion. Like in Perfect Chemistry, Elkeles includes an epilogue set far in the future that is a little cheesy, but cute, that will leave readers with a happy feeling and hopes for a novel about the third Fuentes brother, Luis.

I really enjoyed this book more than the first book in the series, Perfect Chemistry. The relationship between Kiara and Carlos was great and more believable than the relationship between Alex and Brittany in the first book. You could understand how she was drawn to the bad boy that comes to live with her family and when they finally start the relationship, you could see how much she cared for him and his situation. Carlos was a very hard character for me to like however. He had some redeeming qualities but I felt like he put himself in these bad situations and had no clue what to do about it. Of course, he had his brother and Kiara's dad to finally bail him out in the end. The chemistry between Kiara and Carlos was definitely hot, especially in the scene in the living room. The ending did seem rushed and highly unbelievable. I am looking forward to reading the last book in the series when it comes out.

RULES OF ATTRACTION is the sequel to PERFECT CHEMISTRY by Simone Elkeles. Having loved the first book so deeply, I was almost hesitant about getting this one. Even though Alex was such a dark, troubled character, I fell head-over-heels in love with his story. To my surprise, this sequel was much lighter and there were plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.

The story opens with Carlos Fuentes, Alex's younger brother, who is heading down a dangerous path. His mother intervenes by sending him to live with his brother, Alex, in Colorado for his last year in high school. Alex, once a member of Chicago's Latino Blood, a dangerous street gang, was able to turn his life around. His family is hoping Alex can help Carlos do the same. Unfortunately, it has the opposite effect. Not only does Carlos have trouble believing his older brother has changed, he feels betrayed. Alex use to say that he joined the street gang to protect his family so that Carlos and they younger brother, Luis, didn't have to. Now that Alex has walked away, Carlos believes family doesn't mean as much.

Carlos meets Kiara Westford after his older brother signs him up for a peer outreach program. Kiara is not the kind of girl Carlos finds attractive, yet that's exactly what happens. Before he can figure out this attraction, he finds himself in serious trouble with limited options. He tries to stay out of trouble, but trouble just seems to find him. Soon he'll come to realize he's not alone. There are people who accept him for the person he is and they have his back.

At the end or what I thought was the end, I was enjoying that "ah" feeling when I turned the page to see the words "Epilogue: Twenty-six years later." Dread quickly replaced my touchy-feel good attitude. I don't usually care for epilogues, but the last paragraph of this one was absolutely priceless. It left me chuckling. Oh how I love Carlos!

Rules of Attraction is the companion novel to Perfect Chemistry. While Perfect Chemistry is about Alex and Brittany, the main characters in Rules of Attraction are Carlos (Alex's little brother) and Kiara. You don't have to read Perfect Chemistry to read Rules of Attraction, but I would recommend that you do. Both stories are amazing!! Simone Elkeles writing is addicting and she had me falling in love with all the characters.

I loved Carlos even more then I loved Alex, which I didn't think was possible. I'm such a sucker for the bad-ass boy with a big heart. Carlos doesn't allow anyone to see the real him, whose actually very sweet and thoughtful. He acts like an ass hole to push people away before they can leave him. Carlos is also the kind of guy that would rather look bad then ask someone for help, adding to his bad-boy image.

I also enjoyed getting to know Kiara. I first thought that she was going to be a carbon copy of Brittany, but Kiara is what Brittany was when her guard was down. Kiara was overall a great person, and I think the perfect person to make Carlos feel that he is worth something and deserves better in his life.

It seemed that Kiara and Carlos' relationship didn't flow as well as Alex and Brittany's did. For me, it was BAM-they are so in love and can never be apart. It almost seemed forced because it was getting towards the end of the novel and something had to happen. Other then that, I absolutely loved this book and I can't wait to read it, as well as Perfect Chemistry all over again!

There was also another cheesy epilogue and I loved it!

Simone Elkeles third novel in the series, Chain Reaction, due out in the fall of 2011 and is about Luis (Alex and Carlos' younger brother), and of course, I can not wait to read it!

This is yet another great masterpeice from Simone. In the follow up to Perfect Chemistry, Rules of Attraction deals with Alex's younger brother Carlos. After being forced to move away from Mexico and in with his brother Alex, Carlos tries his best to push everyone away especially Kiara, the daughter of the man who takes him in after getting busted for drugs and is unable to live with his brother anymore.But no matter what he does Kiara isnt easy to push away. The more time he spends with her the more he realizes he just might like her. Once he realizes this he inadvertly gets involved with a rival gang and suddenly Kiara and her family are in danger. He struggles with doing whats right or doing what comes easily to him. This novel has alot of intense passion, and a little action and deals with the consequences of being involved in gangs and drugs. Simone Elkeles has made another Pageturner that will make you fall in love with the Fuentes brothers all over again.

This one has been out for awhile, and even though I enjoyed Perfect Chemistry, I never got around to reading the next book in the series until now. I am going to have to split my review into two parts ... why I think that many have loved and will love this book, and why I had a problem with it. I think that my problem with the story has everything to do with who I am and where I am in life. Not everyone will have this problem, so take my comments with a large grain of salt.

First of all, the story: This story focuses on Fuentes brother number two, Carlos. Carlos has been living in Mexico for a few years, and while there he was involved in the drug and gang culture there. Hoping to improve his life, he is sent to Colorado to live with big brother Alex who is there finishing college. Carlos is not happy to be there, and he has no desire to embrace the "gringo" lifestyle of his brother. When entering school he is forced to endure the company of Kiara, his guide for the week. Kiara is not his type. She dresses sort of like a slob. She isn't into hair and makeup. She doesn't flirt with him. She pushes against his attitude. After being framed with drugs in his locker, he is forced into a program for troubled youth and ends up being taken in by Kiara's family. Just as Alex found out in Perfect Chemistry, it is not so easy to turn your back on the gang culture, so Carlos struggles to figure out where he wants to be in life, if he can actually reach for his dreams, and if it is worth it to risk changing for another person.

First, the good: This is a quick read. I flew through the story as I read, always interested in what would happen next with these characters. Carlos was definitely a character. To be honest, he was truly a jerk for more than half of this story. It wasn't until close to the end that his softer side started to show through. But he did have a fierce love for his family that was wonderful to read. His real struggle to find some sort of footing in his unstable world was fascinating. He was a well-written character, because although he had an enormous ego, he never truly came across as mean-spirited. Even knowing Kiara's great weakness, her stuttering, he never mocked her for it. Kiara's father was great as well. He was well suited to take on a troubled guy like Carlos. And I still love Alex. He hasn't lost the fire he had in Perfect Chemistry. The chemistry between Carlos and Kiara is great, and I know that lots of people will love seeing this relationship blossom. This is a great example of the opposites attract young adult contemporary romance.

Now, the bad: I have to attribute my criticism of the story to "grumpy old woman" syndrome. I may not have felt this way if I had read this story when I was younger. But I read this story as a mother of teenagers, and as a mom there were some situations in this book that rubbed me totally the wrong way. First of all, I was a bit horrified that a father with a teenage daughter would take in a troubled boy the same age as her and put her in the room next door with very little supervision. Then, once he realizes that they are attracted to one another he just gives a big "I know how it feels to be young" sort of approval to the whole thing. Holy cow! I would never make that choice with my children. Seeing this situation gave me the creeps. But I totally realize that this is my own deal. Not everyone will feel that way. Unfortunately for me, it affected my enjoyment of the story overall.

The relationship in this one was well-written, and I was happy for the HEA ending. However, I felt as if the pacing of the feelings was off. Carlos was such a jerk for most of the first half of the book. I saw very little to show his softer side. And yet, Kiara goes from being angry and irritated with him all the time to "I think I'm falling in love with you" in about half a day. It wasn't an instalove story, but once the lovey feelings started, they came full force. It was a bit too abrupt for me. I wish there had been a more gradual introduction of those feelings so that as a reader I could fall in love with Carlos as Kiara was.

Kiara was a bit of a cardboard character for me. I loved that she had a disability and that Carlos accepted her just as she was. She had potential as a character. It seemed as if she was described as this spunky girl with independent fire who could fix cars and not worry so much about outward appearance, but not enough time was spent showing that inner fire. Carlos comments on her unique personality a lot, but I would have preferred it if I could have seen it for myself more often.

Still, overall this was an easy-to-read book that will thrill lots of readers. My issues with it may not bother most other people. If you have read my concerns and don't think you would mind those issues, then, by all means, grab this book. Simone Elkeles is a talented writer who can create amazing characters with deeper character traits than many other young adult characters. This is a well-written book that just didn't quite appeal to me. Three stars.

First off I must thank the publisher for sending me the review copy to this wonderful book. I was a little leery in the beginning, as to how Elkeles would ever be able to create a sequel that held a candle to the awesomeness of Perfect Chemistry. While, I was well aware that this was to be a spin off, and main character was to be that of Carlos instead of Alex I didn't know if the readers could love another character as much as the first. Ultimately, my concern was how she would create another novel about a Mexican troublemaker meeting a girl and turning his life around without sounding redundant or the reader feeling like they were rereading Perfect Chemisty. This feeling was quickly dismissed once I began this novel, and I never once had the feeling that I was back in the first novel.

The characters in this book are amazing. We all know Brittany and Alex, and might I add that they have a large part in this book as well. Carlos is just like Alex an ass to the core, but underneath he is just using a image to deflect attention to who he really is. Kiara is my favorite; I think I may be more partial to this character than I was to Brittany. Kiara is backward, shy, and intimated easily; but underneath her thin outside personality she can take control easily and knows what she wants. This character was so detailed and multi-layered that I felt like you are learning her all over again in the middle of the book. Kiara and Alex work so well together, and I was astounded by the intensity of this book.

I have to say Simone Elkeles is another amazing author. I love reading her novels for the witty sense of humor that she is able to put in the writing. There are very few authors that are able to create a scenario that will have you rolling in your chair. Elkeles is able to create every emotion on paper, and knows how to pull the reader in so that they can experience it as if it were their reality. I am happy to say that Simone Elkeles will have me following her publications for years to come.

Lastly, the cover of this book is awesome. I loved it long before I was able to discover its meaning. One of my greatest thrills in reading a book is to discover why it would be that they would choose a particular cover. Most times it is easily you don't even have to read to figure out why it would be chosen, but I find great pleasure in books that the meaning is a mystery until you read it. This mystery was amazing, and I think it is perfect. No if, and, or buts; this was the one and only cover this book should have. Good luck on your mystery!

This story involves Carlos, Alex's younger brother, and Kiara, a bookworm from Colorado. Carlos is sent to live with Alex because his mother fears for his life in Mexico. When Carlos arrives in Colorado he is not happy with this new environment. He sees how much Alex has changed and he doesn't want to follow in his footsteps. Then he meets Kiara and finds that although he doesn't feel he is attracted to her initially, he is drawn to her more and more each day. Being around Carlos helps Kiara break out of her shell and take chances with him. The more they are together the more they find that connection and break through the barriers they have carried with them for years.

I really enjoyed this story. I read Perfect Chemistry and absolutely loved the characters of Alex and Brittany. I was very pleased they make appearances in this book as well. We get to see how their relationship has progressed during the 2 years between these two books.

Carlos carries around a lot of the baggage we saw in Alex's character. He is struggling with the worries of his mother and the consequences of being involved with gangs. It all follows him to Colorado and puts him in a dangerous situation. This book alternates from the point of view of Carlos and Kiara. I really enjoy getting to know each character and understanding their reactions from different points of view.

Once the past comes back to haunt Carlos he finds out that it may be more than his life on the line. He is dealing with dangerous people and they know how to make him do what they want. He struggles with how to protect the ones he loves and help himself get away from a very powerful gang leader.
This book really brings in a lot of humor, romance, danger, and life issues. It all came together beautifully to create an amazing story of love and getting past your own expectations of life in order to dream bigger.

Characters: Kiara is sweet, smart, and funny. She isn't showy with her clothing and doesn't seem to put a lot of worry into her appearance. She doesn't try to change herself in order to fit a mold of who people think she should be. Carlos is a lot like Alex. He's cute, stubborn, and determined. I really enjoyed reading about Kiara's parents. They were very likable and that is a change from the typical parental figures in books.

Overall I would say this book, and Perfect Chemistry are a must read! They create a perfect balance of romance and serious situations. You will fall in love with these characters and enjoy finding out what will happen next.

Cover: This cover is highly relevant to the book and I really like when I can see the characters (and scene) play out in the book as it looks on the cover.

RULES OF ATTRACTION, the second novel in the PERFECT CHEMISTRY series, focuses on Carlos Fuentes, the middle child in the Fuentes family.

Even after his older brother, Alex, was jumped out of the Latino Blood so that he would not have to be a part of it, Carlos still wants to run his own life. Not one to be controlled by others or to follow rules, it's hard for Carlos to adjust to his new life, once he is sent to live with Alex. New school, new people... same old Carlos.

Soon after his arrival, Carlos gets wrapped up in the wrong crowd and finds himself in the middle of a drug bust at school. To prevent himself from going to juvie, Carlos must move in with Professor Westford, Alex's old professor and father of Kiara, the annoying good girl who was designated to show Alex around school. Before he knows it, Carlos has to live in a home with two authority figures who both think they can change him - Kiara's annoying little brother pestering him, and Kiara herself, who for some reason he just can't get out of his mind.

Even after the way Carlos first treated her when they met, Kiara really wants what is best for him, even if it means him living with her. It sure doesn't hurt seeing Carlos with his shirt off, but what worries Kiara the most is how he can cause her to stutter and have her heart flutter. Sure, Carlos can be a jerk sometimes, but in his most vulnerable moments, Kiara is able to see his softer, sweeter side. However, getting too close to Carlos can be a risk for total heartbreak, especially when Carlos himself does not want to let anyone close to him.

Before we know it, readers are on a roller coaster ride with Carlos and Kiara. As Carlos tries to figure out who this drug lord is that wants him to be a part of his business, he must also figure out his feelings for Kiara, the ones he never thought he could ever have with someone like her.

With alternating narrations and cameos from our favorite couple Brittany and Alex, Simone Elkeles does not disappoint with this newest installment. Readers are once again graced with a heartwarming love story that is accompanied with some action scenes that can give any guy an excuse to be reading this novel. Ms. Elkeles once again is able to capture the essence of teens and their emotions.

Carlos is just another Fuentes brother that the ladies will find irresistible, and Kiara is that kick-butt female character who can drive any guy crazy with her soccer skills and her talents for fixing up cars. Both characters are such opposites of one another... that they fit perfectly together!

Reviewed by: Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen

Simone Elkeles has yet to disappoint me with her books, so when Rules of Attraction showed up in my mailbox, it's obvious to say I had high hopes for it. Since not only was I hoping it would carry on the trend of spectacular books from Elkeles, but I was also hoping it would manage to be even better than it's prequel Perfect Chemistry, a book that rocked my world last year.

At first, I was worried, since it was only.....okay. Nothing amazing, not overly fun, just...boring, I hate to say, leaving it to take me what seemed like eons to get through the first 50 or so pages. Thankfully, after getting past that amount, give or take a bit, I was hooked because it had taken suddenly a 180 degree to become something amazing; something that I just couldn't for the life me put down for one second; something that proved be to be witty, fun, and romantic (Where can I find my Carlos?!).

Carlos and Kiara were both characters I really enjoyed reading about, even if I kind of preferred Brittany and Alex, since both were realistic. Kiara was a girl who was geeky yet had a heart of gold. Carlos was the typical swoon-worthy bad boy, who had a lot more heart than what appeared at the surface. And together they made one very cute couple that you couldn't help but wish you had something as great as they did.

Adding to this, I adored the side characters such as Kiara's brother Brandon, who always managed to make me laugh with his somewhat fake innocence, Kiara's friend Tucker, Ram, Brittany, and Alex.

The plot, as well, as the writing was pretty great and has left me to eager to read the final volume in this trilogy about the youngest Fuentes's brother because I'm sure it'll turn out to be amazing!

Overall, Rules of Attraction is a book I can't help but suggest you run out and buy because it's fun, amazing, and filled with a lot of heart, just like all of Elkeles's previous books. Oh, and with saying that, don't me discouraged by the slow beginning, I'm promise it'll get better!

Grade: A-

I loved Perfect Chemistry, so I had high expectations for this book. Honestly, it surpassed them. This book had killer characters, a swoon-worthy amount of romance, and the cultural infusion as seen in the first book. While Perfect Chemistry was about Alex and Brittany, Rules of Attraction follows Alex's little brother Carlos and the girl he ends up living with, Kiara. While Carlos and Brittany show up, you don't have to have read the first book before this one. (But I would definitely recommend it, as the first one is FABULOUS!)

As I've mentioned before, I don't usually like the bad boy, even if he does have a gooey center. Usually, they get on my nerves, but Simone Elkeles somehow makes me fall in love with them every time. Not only did she have me sympathizing with a former gang member turned drug dealer, but she had me wishing he would turn his life around and get the girl. That's hard to do.

There wasn't as much action in this book as in Perfect Chemistry. While the latter had a lot of details about Alex's life in the Latino Blood and his trying to get out, we find Carlos wishing he could get into a gang. He's tired of being the younger brother bossed around by his older sibling, and he wants to make a name for himself. When he's sent to Colorado to go to high school near Alex's college campus, he finds himself getting wrapped up in the drug scene and arrested. To stay out of trouble, he has to live with a university professor and his family - and Kiara, the girl from his school who wears hiking t-shirts and is obsessed with exercise.

While the two seem opposites at first, they find that amazing connection I've come to associate with Elkeles' books. I never really understood why Alex and Brittany liked each other so much, and I thought Rules of Attraction did a better job of explaining why Carlos and Kiara are interested in each other - they both have something to offer the other that they can't get anywhere else.

For anyone who's read Shiver, by Maggie Stiefvater, you'll know what I mean when I say "the bathtub scene." There are just some scenes in books that make you want to cry because they're so heartbreaking and you find yourself so sympathizing with these broken characters. Attraction has one such scene, near the end, after Carlos gets beaten up by a group of thugs trying to get him to deal drugs for them and Kiara takes care of him. Seriously, I almost cried.

While I loved Carlos, I actually had a hard time liking Kiara. For some reason, I just couldn't connect with her...which was weird since I love hiking and natural foods and everything. But there were just too many scenes that seemed to go outside her personality. That inconsistency made me unsure about how to take her.

That being said, this is an amazing read. I reread it a couple weeks ago and loved it just as much as the first time. And even though the epilogue is so full of cheesiness that I almost cringed, I couldn't put the book down. It also made me want Mexican food as Carlos is obsessed with it, and Elekeles describes it on more than one occassion. (Just a warning: don't read this book if you're hungry. I'm just saying...)

Definitely check out this series!

[...]

Rules of Attraction is the sequel to Perfect Attraction, the story of Carlos Fuentes, Alex's younger brother which also follows a similar storyline - boy from the wrong side of the tracks meets good girl from a middle class respected family.

Carlos Fuentes is a teen with a care factor of zero & a cocky bad attitude, He is forced to move to Boulder, Colorado to live with his older brother Alex & to finish off his senior year of high school; after getting framed for drug possession, he is moved into the REACH program & also in with the Westfords.

Kiara Westford is Carlos's school peer guide; she is a good student, enjoys fixing cars, playing sports, has a stutter & a best friend who is gay, she is not Carlos's type whatsoever but they soon get to know one another & Carlos actually enjoys having Kiara around; she seems to understand him & see's through his attitude ridden facade.

Carlos didn't think he would amount for anything in his life & seemed to want to run rather than try. Because of his gang affiliations in Mexico, he is forced into a situation that he can't say no to. His life, as well as the lives of those he loves, depends on his participation in a high risk, illegal activity but thanks to the help of relative strangers as well as his brother he is able to move past his troubles & on to a promising future.

Seeing the way Carlos & Kiara's relationship progressed was sweet & believable, he genuinely seemed to enjoy her company and care about her as did she.

I really enjoyed the secondary characters; Tuck was hilarious! Mr & Mrs Westford treated Carlos as if he was one of their own - they were the most down to earth parents & Brandon, Kiara's younger brother was adorable! It was also nice to catch up with Alex & Brittany again & nice to see their relationship progressing.

Like in Perfect Chemistry, I enjoyed the alternating POV's that allows the reader into both Carlos' and Kiara's heads.

An excellent continuation of the Fuentes brothers, I didn't enjoy it as much as Perfect Chemistry but it was still a great read. I look forward to Luis's story.

My favourite quotes:

Carlos - "I want to make sure Kiara's got a boyfriend who has more to offer than a hot bod and a face that could make angels weep'

Carlos - Did I tell you it's annoyin' that you hardly say anythin' to me anymore? You're like a mute who doesn't use any hand gestures. I mean, seriously, it's irritatin' the hell outta me. Don't you think I have enough to deal with, bein' framed, arrested, and havin' to go to that stupid REACH program?

There is just something about the way Simone Elkeles writes that has me completely hooked on to every single word.

Simone Elkeles is fairly well known in YA circles. "Rules of Attraction" is the first of her books that I have read. I liked it; I liked it a lot. I didn't love it, but I will definitely read her other books.

One of the best things in "Rules of Attraction" is her use of a Hispanic protagonist, Carlos Fuentes. Carlos is an American citizen, who had been living in Mexico until gang trouble sent him back to the states. In Boulder, he tries to go back to his "tough guy" image. Helping him resist his more feral urges are his brother and a very straight and narrow female protagonist, Kiara.

Carlos has a strong wise guy voice, a sardonic sense of humor, and never has a good word to say when it will help him. He's always protecting himself with his wit or he remains silent. He gets into plenty of scrapes with a drug cartel after him, a vixen named Madison hot for him, and his brother on his case.

The female voice belongs to Kiara. She is a little problematic in her stereotypical nerdy way. The set up of the title, those rules of attraction, should include "fall for bad boy" syndrome. Kiara has some good moments with her friend Tucker, and I do like the way she treats her parents and her brother. She doesn't seem as real as Carlos, thus four stars, not five.

Elkeles does not overdo the teen jargon, texting, or phone obsession. She allows the characters to use language that teens use, F-this, F-that. She also is unafraid to talk about SEXUAL attractions and SEXUAL situations from her characters' points of view. Honesty is a good thing in YA lit.

Except for a strange plot twist or two that beg reality and the aforementioned voice for Kiara, I think this is a strong YA book, especially for those kids who say they've never read a good book. I would bet they'll have a hard time putting this one down.

In this companion book to Perfect Chemistry we learn more about Alex's little brother Carlos, a recent transplant from Mexico who is sent to live with his brother...who will hopefully keep him out of trouble.

Needless to say Carlos arrives with bad attitude and is determined to keep it that way. He rebels against everything his brother and the school ask him to do. When he meets Kiara on the first day of school (she has been assigned as his designated peer guide) he sees nothing special. He soon finds out that Kiara is a friend of his brothers and that they frequently work together on a car she is rebuilding.

At first Carlos finds himself attracted to a more outgoing and "sexier" classmate, but after he finds himself in big trouble he is pretty sure it is her and her friends that have set him up. A series of events has Carlos spending more time with Kiara and her family where he determines that there is more to her than meets the eye and that underneath her baggy clothes and car grease, is a beautiful girl who just chooses not to flaunt it.

The secondary plot involves Carlos facing his gang related past and how it has followed him to his new home. With a help from a few unexpected sources maybe he can escape the fate he always thought was inevitable.

If you read Perfect Chemistry there is also a small storyline that still follows Alex and Brittney but if didn't read it first, you can read it after...I am! I can't imagine any teen or young adult not liking this romance/action story, they will be lining up to read this one!

Language and subject matter make this book appropriate for ages 14 and up

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