Review: Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles

RULES OF ATTRACTION by Simone Elkeles

Pub. Date: April 2010
Publisher: Walker & Company
Format: Hardcover, 336pp
Age Range: Young Adult

Carlos Fuentes doesn't want any part of the life his older brother, Alex, has laid out for him in Boulder, Colorado. He wants to keep living on the edge, and carve his own path?just like Alex did. Unfortunately, his ties to a Mexican gang aren't easy to break, and he soon finds himself being set up by a drug lord.

When Alex arranges for Carlos to live with his former professor and his family to keep him from being sent to jail, Carlos feels completely out of place. He's even more thrown by his strong feelings for the professor's daughter, Kiara, who is nothing like the girls he's usually drawn to. But Carlos and Kiara soon discover that in matters of the heart, the rules of attraction overpower the social differences that conspire to keep them apart.

As the danger grows for Carlos, he's shocked to discover that it's this seemingly All-American family who can save him. But is he willing to endanger their safety for a chance at the kind of life he's never even dreamed possible?

After reading PERFECT CHEMISTRY, I knew I had to read other books by Simone Elkeles. So when I was informed that she was working on a second novel about Carlos, I couldn’t wait to see if he was just as swoon worthy as his brother Alex. Elkeles did not disappoint! Carlos + Bad Boy = Swoon!

Just like the characters in PERFECT CHEMISTRY, I enjoyed reading to see how Carlos’s and Kiara’s relationship would blossom. Their banter had me smiling everytime these two got together. Seeing Carlos’s demeanor progress from the guarded teen to someone whom finally opened up to others, kept me turning the pages. It was delightful to see him finally acknowledge his feelings for Kiara. I can pretty much say the same about Kiara. She went from being shy because of speech issues to the confident girl that I loved. These two had me devouring the pages and let me tell you, the sparks definitely flew!

RULES OF ATTRACTION gave PERFECT CHEMISTRY plenty of competition. I don’t know which brother I crushed on more. So here’s to hoping there will be a third book with baby brother Luis following along in the limelight. RULES OF ATTRACTION is definitely a great addition to this series and I’m so glad Elkeles decided to write it. I look forward to reading more sizzling star-crossed romances from Elkeles.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars