Rules of Attraction is a classic teen romance. Two unlikely teens who start out not really liking each other, end up in love.
Carlos has come from Mexico to stay with his brother Alex (from Perfect Chemistry) in Boulder, Colorado. Carlos has gotten in trouble with gangs and needed to escape. Kiara is assigned to Carlos to show him around his new high school. Kiara is a self-conscious teen who has always done everything to please her parents, and has never been in trouble. She has never been concerned about appearances, and has struggled with a stuttering problem.
There are a lot of mixed messages and tension between these two. Carlos gets caught with drugs at school, and has to move in with Kiara’s family and attend an after school rehab program. Carlos wants to keep his nose clean, but is desperate to find out who set him up and why. So, along with the romance aspect, there’s a dangerous, suspenseful aspect to the story when Carlos confronts some nasty characters who want him to sell drugs.
I know people complain about “insta-love” in teen romances. But this book was the opposite. I got so tired of all the game-playing, lying, and denial of feelings between these two. This went on for almost 200 pages before anything romantically exciting happened. The rest of the book was great. Once the romance heated up, Carlos begins trying to figure out how to escape his predicament, and the plot moves quickly and I couldn’t put the book down.
Teens will probably be much more patient with this slow-building romance than I was. After all, this book is about teens and written for teens. I think Elkeles does a great job with the “misfits becoming lovers” theme. I am just old and jaded and don’t have that kind of patience any more. I think this is a book that teen girls who love the bad guys will enjoy, and I won’t hesitate to recommend it (as well as the previous book, Perfect Chemistry.) There’s a third book, Chain Reaction, coming out in August.
Published by Walker & Company, 2010
Copy obtained from the library
324 pages
Rating: 3/5
I haven't read Perfect Chemistry or Rules of Attraction yet; but the series sound like fun and romantic reads. I am not very fond of "bad boys" but I am willing to give this a try.
ReplyDeleteI am more then willing to put this one in my TBR pile just for the sake of the cover! AWESOME!
ReplyDeleteI can see where a slow buildup to the actual relationship would be frustrating but as long as the pay off is worth it then I bet I'll still like it.
Great review Annette!
I'm sorry you didn't enjoy this book. I LOVED IT! I think because it reminds me of the guys I dated in high school. I can't wait for the third one.
ReplyDeleteI picked up Perfect Chemistry a couple of months ago because I've heard good things about it and the cover drew me in. I'm not a fan of instant romances so hopefully I'll enjoy this book.
ReplyDeleteI should read this. I enjoyed Perfect Chemistry although didn't love, love it. I'm curious to see how the story continues. Funny how a too-slow relationship can be just as frustrating as a too fast one.
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