Review: Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles

Book description:
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.

Was this book worth my time?
AWESOME book. 

You know, it means a lot when I finish reading a book in only one day when I'm teaching.  This book was one of those books.  I started reading the book at about 8:00 last night, and I'm done tonight. 

This was a compelling romance.  It has a Romeo and Juliet/ West Side Story plot that pulled me in from the get go. 

Elkeles' details protraying the complicated inner conflicts of Carlos are vivid and had me cheering for him as well as laughing at his "tough" sense of humor.

I LOVED that both Carlos and Kiara's point of views were well-established in this novel as there is nothing better than having a story flow seamlessly from one to another and feeling, I  mean really feeling, each character's emotions.

This is a fast, easy, and romantic read. 


What bothered me?
Not one single thing. :)

A warning, though, this is not a book that I would put in my middle school library.  It deals with some tough issues.