Chain Reaction (Perfect Chemistry) [Hardcover]

Simone Elkeles (Author)

Book Description

Release date: August 16, 2011 | Series: Perfect Chemistry

Luis Fuentes has always been sheltered from the gang violence that nearly destroyed his brothers’ lives. But that didn’t stop him from taking risks — whether he’s scaling a mountain in the Rockies or dreaming of a future as an astronaut, Luis can’t stop looking for the next thrill. Nikki Cruz lives her life by three rules — boys lie to get their way, don’t trust a boy who says “I love you,” and never date a boy from the south side of Fairfield. Her parents may be from Mexico, but as a doctor’s daughter, she has more in common with her north-side neighbors than the Latino Blood at her school. Then she meets Luis at Alex’s wedding, and suddenly, she’s tempted to break all her rules. Getting Nikki to take a chance on a south sider is Luis’s biggest challenge, until he finds himself targeted by Chuy Soto, the new head of the Latino Blood. When Chuy reveals a disturbing secret about Luis’s family, the youngest Fuentes finds himself questioning everything he’s ever believed to be true. Will his feelings for Nikki be enough to stop Luis from entering a dark and violent world and permanently living on the edge?

--This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Luis Fuentes is a good boy who doesn't live with the angst that his big brothers, Alex and Carlos, have always lived with. Luis is smart, funny, and has big dreams of becoming an astronaut. But when he falls for the wrong girl, Luis enters a dark world he's never known, and just when he thinks he's got life all figured out, learns some disturbing news about his family that destroys his positive outlook on life. Will that Fuentes bad boy streak come out with a vengeance and lure Luis to live on the edge like his new girlfriend and his own father?

Continuing all the steamy romance of the first two books, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Simone Elkeles gives fans one more satisfying taste of the irresistible Fuentes boys.

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Behind the Scenes of the Trailer for Chain Reaction
(Click on Images to Enlarge)

Setting up for a scene on the Chain Reaction book trailer set.

The Fuentes brothers watching a soccer match on the set of the Chain Reaction book trailer set!

Alex Fuentes gets ready for his close up.

Author Simone Elkeles is always excited on set with her heroes--Alexander F. Rodriguez as Alex Fuentes and Giancarlo Vidrio as Carlos Fuentes.

(Photos © Courtney Perry)

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About the Author

Simone Elkeles is the author of Perfect Chemistry, Rules of Attraction, and Leaving Paradise, a Book Sense Pick. Simone was named Author of the Year by the Illinois Association of Teachers of English.

www.simoneelkeles.net

www.perfectchemistrythebook.com

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Walker Childrens (August 16, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802720870
• ISBN-13: 978-0802720870
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (109 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #230,060 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Simone Elkeles was born and raised in the Chicago area. She loves writing books for teens and enjoys hearing from her readers. In her spare time (which she has less and less of these days), she loves hanging with her friends and going out to movies. Go to her website to learn more about her at www.simoneelkeles.com!

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Irish Banana Review August 18, 2011

By Hannah @ The Irish Banana Review

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

For the record, I fully blame Simone Elkeles for my obsession with the young adult genre. Before I got my hands on a copy of Perfect Chemistry, I thought YA novels were strictly PG rated and the most passionate displays of affection was a line saying, "We made out last night." Nothing was ever discussed in detail, let alone the smoldering way Elkeles writes a love scene. As if that wasn't enough, she doesn't flinch when tackling tough subjects like gang violence and teen sexuality.

I fell in love with this series three years ago, and this final installment was just as hot and sultry as the previous two books. Luis, being the youngest, was so much fun. He didn't have the jaded cynicism his older brothers had going into this book. He was a reckless, fun guy who liked to make people laugh. This is what made the revelation about his past all the more saddening (sorry, that's all I'll say - read the book to find out what happens).

I wasn't all that crazy about Nikki. I understood she got hurt in a major way by a major creep, but I felt some times she took her mistrust in Luis too far. Towards the end I warmed up to her, but for a little while I thought she needed a good slap. I did, however, adore her friends Derek and Kendall. For some reason I looked forward to any scene they were in.

I felt parts of this book, especially the end, moved too fast. I would have liked a little more filling in the Latino Blood storyline and Luis's reactions to what he discovered. I felt that came and went too fast. Then again, it might just be me with a serious case of the Oliver Twists, making grabby hands and begging for some more because I knew this series was coming to a close.

It could be argued that Elkeles's books in this series are formulaic. After reading the first, the other two play out the same way, but I went in expecting that. There are no real surprised, but I recently saw on the news that people are almost 40% happier when they read a book or see a movie already knowing how it will end. This book is a classic example of that: I love knowing that in the Simone Elkeles's world love truly can conquer all.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars The Gorgeous Fuentes Brothers are back!!!! August 16, 2011

By The Book Runner TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Those gorgeous Fuentes brothers are back and all three of them get to be in this story! First Alex, then Carlos and now Luis is steaming up the pages with the one girl that is right for him, but struggling with his ties to the gangs. Once again we get to see the unbreakable family ties that bind this family together and experience the heartaches and difficulties that they try to overcome. Another winner from Simone Elkeles!

Luis and his mother move back to Illinois to be near Alex and Brittany after their marriage and first son is born. Luis is immediately sucked into the pull of the Latino Bloods when they threaten to harm his family if he doesn't join. He has finally got Nikki, a hot girl from school to start trusting him and going out with him, and he promises her that he won't get involved with the gangs like her previous boyfriend Marco did. Marco left her for the gang and she has trust issues and other past grievances against Marco and the gang. Unfortunately, Luis has lied to her and his family and is one more Fuentes boy caught in the gang's fist. This is an exciting, romantic read with a twist that makes it hard to put down until the very end.

Just a warning, but just like "Perfect Chemistry" and "Rules of Attraction", this story contains profanity, sensuality and sex. If you have never read Simone Elkeles before, you might be taken aback that this is rated YA even though it deals with realistic high school drama. Although these are stand alone stories, they are more enjoyable when read in sequence as they do refer to past events that we have read in previous books.

Would I/Did I buy it? Yes
Would I read it again? Yes
Would I recommend it to friends? Yes

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Lackluster finish to a fun trilogy August 22, 2011

By Michelle E. Millet

Format:Hardcover

As the youngest of three brothers Luis Fuentes knows what he wants in life: to someday work for NASA as an aerospace engineer. Which means he's got to work hard at school and stay far, far away from any kind of trouble like his two brothers got into. Luis is all set to see his dream come true when his mother decides to move back to Fairfield, Illinois which means Luis is now surrounded by memories of his past - and the Latino Blood gang. Also there to distract Luis is the prickly Nikki Cruz who, despite her Mexican heritage, wants absolutely nothing to do any guy from the south side of Fairfield - especially Luis.

Oh Luis! How I was hoping to fall for your story! Instead, I came away from Chain Reaction feeling as if the book had only been half-way written. Like I had ended up with the cliff notes version. It's almost as if in the midst of all the family secrets revealed, dangerous gang fights, and tying up of loose ends that Ms. Elkeles forgot to finish developing Nikki and Luis to their fullest potential. The story simply felt too stilted and predictable to be satisfying. Which doesn't make sense at all because Simone Elkeles proved with Perfect Chemistry and Rules of Attraction that she is genius at taking a formulaic story (bad boy meets good girl, sparks fly) and making it special. Neither of her two previous novels could ever be classified as campy or contrived, but that's the vibe I got from Chain Reaction.

For example (but without going into spoilery details) I have NO idea how Luis could ever think he needed to 'stick close' to the LB gang in order to 'protect' his family. Really? Doesn't he already have two prime examples in the form of his brothers Alex and Carlos on Why It's Always Smarter To Stay Away From Gangs? He's supposedly the smart Fuentes brother but all I saw was one stupid choice after another. And aside from one or two honest confessions, it seemed like the boy spouted lies continually - especially to Nikki, which frustrated me to no end. Numerous times she tries to explain to him that lies are a definite deal-breaker yet Luis continues to keep the truth from her. And in the end, it doesn't really matter to her! I suppose lust (since I never saw them develop any sort of real relationship) can make up for a lot of things. That's just one of my frustrations with Nikki and Luis as a couple.

Sadness. I wanted to love this book so much more than I did. I guess I'll just have to go and comfort myself with a much needed rereading of Perfect Chemistry.