[Review] Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles

Rules of Attraction
Perfect Chemistry #2
Simone Elkeles
April 27th, 2010
Walker Childrens
326 pages

Amazon/Book Depository/B&N

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.

 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.