Book Review: Return to Paradise by Simone Elkeles

Title: Return to Paradise (Leaving Paradise #2)

Author: Simone Elkeles

Pages: 291

Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Realistic Fiction

Published: September 1st 2010 by Flux

Source:  Library Book

Synopsis: 

Caleb Becker left Paradise eight months ago, taking with him the secret he promised to take to his grave. If the truth got out, it would ruin everything.

Maggie Armstrong tried to be strong after Caleb broke her heart and disappeared. Somehow, she managed to move on. She's determined to make a new life for herself.

But then Caleb and Maggie are forced together on a summer trip. They try ignoring their passion for each other, but buried feelings resurface. Caleb must face the truth about the night of Maggie's accident, or the secret that destroyed their relationship will forever stand between them. 

Review:

I really really really wanted this book to redeem Leaving Paradise, and to have made reading this duology worthwhile.  It wasn't worthwhile, or at least it wasn't for me. 

Okay, the same issues from the first book are what continued to bug me here. 

CALEB. he is the most annoying male character (for me) that Elkeles has written. He is just rude, I dislike his attitude with a PASSION. The way he works with problems, and tries to resolve them is just ugh. 

Maggie maggie maggie. Girl you should have let that loser loose. He treated you so badly until like the last 70 pages, that was not OKAY. 

The way the last 70 pages just seemed to rush Caleb and Maggie back into a couple was a tad annoying. But the whole book was annoying. 

This book just really pissed me off, because time after time Caleb treated Maggie shittly, she STILL went back to him, she still loved him. 

I just, maybe I read this at the wrong time of night? 

But I am SO HAPPY this series is OVER.  And the cover is really ugly. Sorry. 
P.S: 1.5 stars, cause this book really bugged me.

Rating: ★ 1.5

Book Review: Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles

Title: Leaving Paradise (Leaving Paradise #1)

Author: Simone Elkeles

Pages: 303

Genre: Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Romance

Published: April 8th 2007 by Flux

Source:  Library Book

Synopsis: 

Nothing has been the same since Caleb Becker left a party drunk, got behind the wheel, and hit Maggie Armstrong. Even after months of painful physical therapy, Maggie walks with a limp. Her social life is nil and a scholarship to study abroad—her chance to escape everyone and their pitying stares—has been canceled.

After a year in juvenile jail, Caleb’s free . . . if freedom means endless nagging from a transition coach and the prying eyes of the entire town. Coming home should feel good, but his family and ex-girlfriend seem like strangers.

Caleb and Maggie are outsiders, pigeon-holed as "criminal" and "freak." Then the truth emerges about what really happened the night of the accident and, once again, everything changes. It’s a bleak and tortuous journey for Caleb and Maggie, yet they end up finding comfort and strength from a surprising source: each other.

Review:

I gave this book a shot, because I enjoyed Simone Elkeles writing in the Perfect Chemistry series .

I wasn't too sure how i'd feel about this book after reading the blurb. I just couldn't see how Elkeles would make this an Elkeles book. 

Basically the story follows Caleb and Maggie. It alternates POV's throughout the book, between the two characters. The issue here (as well as her other novels) is how long each chapter is. Some seem way too short, because then when you turn the page BAM its a completely different POV. 

The pace of the book too, can seem a tad off beat. That's because, sometimes the next chapter is like a week later. And that is an okay thing, just not when you spend lots of chapters on one event or a day. Because personally that can be confusing, and make you lose your pace with the story. 

Maggie. How do I start? Why do you still like Caleb, like he almost KILLED YOU, and you still like/love him. I don't understand, i'd personally get really angry at him. 

Caleb, hmm. I'm not too sure what I thought about him, I wasn't too fond of his attitude and his mannerisms. Plus that massive secret. Um okay. Didn't see that ever happening, and why would Caleb still act like that? 

This story was really well written, I love Elkeles writing style and her ability to write teens as they are. 

I didn't like the ending. I thought it could have been a stand alone book (if you added like 30ish pages). But that ending. I laughed. Why. Like really?
WAS ALL THE PROGRESS IN THE BOOK FOR NOTHING?

I'm also over these "romantic" scenes in Elkeles books. I don't think that happens to every single couple. 

Overall i'm giving this 2 stars. And now I have to wait like ages for the second (and hopefully last book) so the series will be complete (cause my library is slow with getting new books)!!!

Rating: ★★

Book Review: Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles

Title: Chain Reaction (Perfect Chemistry #3)

Author: Simone Elkeles

Pages: 310

Genre: Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Romance

Published: August 16th 2011 by Walker Books for Young Readers

Source:  Library Book

Synopsis: 

Like his brothers, Luis Fuentes is a risk taker; whether he's scaling the Rocky Mountains or dreaming of a future as an astronaut, Luis is always looking for the next thrill.

Nikki Cruz lives her life by certain rules ― don't trust a boy who says "I love you", boys lie to get their own way and never date a boy from the south side of Fairfield. Then she meets Luis at his brother Alex's wedding and suddenly she's tempted to break all her rules.

Getting Nikki to give him a chance is Luis's biggest challenge, until he finds himself targeted by the head of the gang that nearly destroyed his brothers' lives. Will Luis's feelings for Nikki be enough to stop him from entering a dark and violent world that could prove to be the ultimate risk?

Review:

Book three in the Perfect chemistry series and WOW it let me down. MAJOR LET DOWN. 

Let me start; WHAT THE HELL. Luis was meant to be the smart one. What happened? Did Mamma let him run loose? 
Why is he such a playa (player) too? 
Why did you paint his picture so brightly then dim it? 
What was the point? 
I don't understand. 

So really when his character changed so much, I wasn't too impressed anymore. 

So five pros and five cons again.

Pros: 
Brittany and Alex get married!! YAY. Cuteness. And they had a baby and named him Paco. Too much cuteness. I liked the wedding scene. Especially when Luis gets kneed in the nuts. HAHAHAHA

Kiara and her amazing self being in this book, and knocking Carlos down a few runs. He was rude. But they are cute, and i'm happy they got engaged. (Well we knew they got married).

I really liked how they moved into their old house, and it was all done up. And how their neighbour was a cop, that was great. 

Nikki's backstory. Even though it was sad, I liked it. It gave her depth and character. I even liked how her family even though they were Mexican, they didn't do much Mexican stuff. Because to me that represents lots of different cultures, and their way of expanding. Because it was totally that families choice. (Even though it is hurtful, it is there choice). 

I like how it was Luis who fell hardest and fastest, out of him and Nikki. That was nice (because most authors ALWAYS make it the girl first, so that was nice for a change).

Cons: 
How much Luis changed. How he became a "gangbanger"..... such a let down. 

How the gang reemerged... um okay. As soon as they move into town again, the guy gets released from jail. Uh huh. Don't think so

The epilogue. Did not enjoy that. 

How Hector is Luis' father.... Didn't see that coming, and it was a weird twist. 

How Nikki was the one to shoot that guy. I didn't like that i'm sorry. 



Okay this one was definitely the WORST in the series. Luis had so much potential. And it was ruined for me. I really didn't like the concept and plot for this book.

Why did they all end up facing the same issues....? 
Why did they all get the girl?
Why did they all get what they wanted out of life? 
Why did they all get happy endings? 
WHY. 

Okay for this book i give it 2 stars, because though I didn't really like it, it was still okay. But it could have been SO MUCH BETTER. 
Because Luis could have faced other issues than just a gang... 
I mean come on. 

So happy that this was the last book.

Rating: ★★

Book Review: Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles

Title: Rules of Attraction (Perfect Chemistry #2) 

Author: Simone Elkeles

Pages: 326

Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Realistic Fiction

Published: April 27th 2010 by Walker Childrens

Source:  Library Book

Synopsis: 

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.

Review:

Today is going to be a short review with five pros and five cons:

Pros: 
Kiara. Kiara was great. I loved Kiara and her stutter. She and her family are like the BEST part in this book. 

Kiara's best friend. Loved Tuck and his wisdom, and his ultimate frisbee team!!

The cookie magnets, I loved them, that was a really cool idea. 

How Alex and Brittany were in the novel. Sucks that they broke up though. But they did get back together!!!

I liked the epilogue of this book, it was cute. I love how they have three daughters. That was cute, and the car shop!!! 

Cons: 
Sorry to say but Carlos, was a con to me. I just did not like him. There was just that thing about him, that pissed me off. 

The whole gang aspect in this novel, how much of that was really necessary? Certainly not all of what was in the book, it was a bit overdone for me. 

How they had sex on the night of prom, at someones house, in like a boat shed? And the way Carlos was so cold to her after. Poor Kiara. 

Carlos' attitude to everything. He is a very disrespectful boy. 

How the mum and Luis move from Mexico to Colorado... hmm. Not sure how I felt about that, but at least they are not dead!


Overall, this book was NOT as good as the first. It felt a bit overdone. Again I did not like the swearing, because I know these guys are "tough" but to be tough, you don't need to excessively swear. Again I didn't understand the mexican/spanish words.... 

I give this book three stars, because even though I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would, I still liked it. It was still a satisfactory cliche book that I enjoyed reading!

Rating: ★★★

Book Review: Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Title: Perfect Chemistry (Perfect Chemistry #1)

Author: Simone Elkeles

Pages: 357

Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Realistic Fiction

Published: December 23rd 2008 by Walker Books for Young Readers

Source:  Library Book

Synopsis: 

A fresh, urban twist on the classic tale of star-crossed lovers.

When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created 'perfect' life is about to unravel before her eyes. She's forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for: her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect. 

Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more.

In a passionate story about looking beneath the surface, Simone Elkeles breaks through the stereotypes and barriers that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart.

Review:

I've being getting recommendations for this book all year, so i finally decided it was time to read it. 

Today is going to be a short review with five pros and five cons:

Pros: 
It was in the perspective of both Brittany and Alex

They actually did school work, went to school in this novel. As i've found books written in the perspective of teens, don't always involve them going to school.... 

They didn't fall for each other straight away

THEY END UP TOGETHER 

Alex leaves the gang for Brittany, I think that was nice, and quite risky I might add

Cons: 
It was pretty cliche story, except the gang part of it. 

Alex was like meant to be this guy that you fell for reading the book? Oh no, he wasn't I'm sorry. I didn't like his attitude, his language, and just him in general. 

Brittany, was actually a pretty annoying character. I love the fact that she loves her sister so much. But Brittany in general, just pissed me off. She seemed SUCH the barbie doll, and that annoyed me. Why isn't there EVER an ugly/normal looking female character, or one who is not the most beautiful person ever.

The whole chemistry class thing. HA HA HA of course they have "perfect chemistry". 

That whole Epilogue set 26 years later. Them curing alzheimer's. Ugh, that wouldn't happen, because you'd also need to study genetics.... (but good try).



Overall I did like this book. It is the best in the series. I like this book, even though there are negatives. And I did like the cliche in it. But just the way the characters were written annoyed me. 

And I don't speak mexican/spanish, so I had no idea what Alex was saying, so it would have been great, if there were translations in the back, because google translate did not help at all. 

Overall i'm giving it 4 stars, because I liked the cuteness, and the cliches, and yeah. I liked the story, but I did not love the characters.

Rating: ★★★★

Book Review: Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles

Title: Wild Cards (Wild Cards #1)

Author: Simone Elkeles

Pages: 342

Genre: Contemporary, Romance

Published: October 1st 2013 by Bloomsbury

Source:  Library Book

Synopsis: 

After getting kicked out of boarding school, bad boy Derek Fitzpatrick has no choice but to live with his ditzy stepmother while his military dad is deployed. Things quickly go from bad to worse when he finds out she plans to move them back to her childhood home in Illinois. Derek's counting the days before he can be on his own, and the last thing he needs is to get involved with someone else's family drama.
Ashtyn Parker knows one thing for certain--people you care about leave without a backward glance. A football scholarship would finally give her the chance to leave. So she pours everything into winning a state championship, until her boyfriend and star quarterback betrays them all by joining their rival team. Ashtyn needs a new game plan, but it requires trusting Derek-someone she barely knows, someone born to break the rules. Is she willing to put her heart on the line to try and win it all?

Review: (THIS REVIEW CONTAINS MINOR SPOILERS, READ AT OWN RISK!)

Wild Cards, another Simone Elkeles formulated book.

Hmmm. Okay. Going to put it out there now, I didn’t really like Ashtyn (and WHAT IS WITH THAT SPELLING?!? i just had no idea how to pronounce her name, it was very confusing) I just didn’t like her. There was something that really put me off about her, I just can’t pinpoint that thing.

So this book is about football right? Why don't we actually get a game or stuff about practice. It always the before and after. That is what drew me in. So why didn't you include anything about it?

The whole her and Derek getting together was really weird. Like you are his step aunty, that is just WRONG. SO DAMN WRONG. JUST NO. NO NO NO. 

Derek, how to describe Derek, he seemed really nice. The way the book portrayed him as troubled, I hated that. Because really he was lovely, he did yard work without being asked he was nice to his stepbrother. And yes he had his faults, like always mentioning his balls. (why)

Okay back to the story. Ashtyn, how can you not cook pasta, how did you live off junk food for years? I do NOT believe this. You can't just live off junk food, and still be okay mentally and physically. LIKE FAR OUT.

There was a lot I disliked about this book, the sexism from Ashtyn's father and her boyfriend, well ex-boyfriend. The "i'm one of the boys, and have no fashion sense, but can totally pull together a 'sexy outfit' in five seconds flat" I just didn't like this nor did it really make any sense. 

It had such great promise, I was really interested in this story, but my hopes fell away 1/3 through the book.

The book had its highs too, I loved the part where Ashtyn stabbed Derek in the foot, that was brilliant. Their chemistry seemed forced at times (like most of Simone Elkeles previous characters from other novels). 

Overall, this is just another Simone Elkeles book, one that is was personally a let down, but one you can't seem to put down either. 

Rating: ★★