Rules of Attraction Review

Sorry about all the reviews this week, but with the internet down last week I didn't have anything else to do except read. *twitches* I just watched Waters of Mars (Doctor Who). OMIGOSH. The episode was incredible, but I can't stop twitching...

Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles
Carlos Fuentes idolized his older brother, Alex, when he was a member of the Latino Blood. So when Alex chose to get jumped out of the gang for a change at a future with his gringa girlfriend, Brittany, Carlos felt shocked and betrayed. Even worse, Alex forced Carlos to come back from Mexico to join him on the straight and narrow path. Trouble is, Carlos just wants to keep living on the edge. And ties to his Mexican gang aren't easy to break, even hundreds of miles away in Colorado.

In Boulder, Carlos has to live with one of Alex's college professors -- and he 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.

This book is the reason why I read Perfect Chemistry in the first place. I saw the book trailer for this one on Kristin Nelson's blog. Since Rules wasn't out yet, I sprung for PC. I loved PC so of course when Rules came out I couldn't wait to get my hands on it.

The first half kind of let me down a little, to be honest. It was a great book, but it just felt average after PC. I needed a little more to set it apart. The second half really redeemed the book for me though. I didn't want to put it down at all and the ending was pure awesome.

Kiara kind of annoyed me. It's like she started out strong and independent. Then all of a sudden she met Carlos and her resolve completely weakened. She's a lot like Brittany was. Both girls were strong with their old boyfriends, strong without them (mostly), and then all of a sudden they meet another guy and they're ready to give it up and just give everything they can to this new guy.

I do love Carlos and Tuck though. I can't help but like Carlos even if he's being a jerk. Tuck's dialogue really cracked me up sometimes and he's a hard guy not to like.

Overall: 9.5/10

Comments

Nomes said…
cute review. I have this one on pre-order - I held out for the paperback edition as I'm cheap like that :)

I love Elkeles writing - but have always preferred her male POV more, not sure why. Have you read Leaving Paradise? It's a quieter more emotional read, but I loved it :)

Good to know the books second half is fab :)
June 10, 2010 at 7:54 PM
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