I’ve loved Simone Elkeles bad boys-romances since I read Perfect Chemistry and am so excited that it will be turned into a movie soon! Seeing that news, I wanted to get back into the Simone Elkeles world and picked up this cutie, Better Than Perfect (formely Wild Cards).

This is another bad boy-good girl-can’t-help-falling-for-each-other book, but with a bit of a new take in that the main character, Ashtyn, is kicker and captain of her football team. So a bit tougher than the usual good girl, and with motivation and drive to carry out her plan to catch the attention of college football recruiters and get a scholarship. Derek on the other hand is trouble. Cocky, getting kicked out of school and with no real plans for life at all. The relationship between them starts out as antagonists, but slowly, it turns into something else.

I love Simone Elkeles’ slow-build romances and her bad boy characters with good hearts. This book was another cute, romantic read, but not one of her bests. I was a bit irritated with Ashtyn from time to time, for being so clueless about her boyfriend being a douche-bag and for acting too girly when she was supposed to be this tough football girl. And there wasn’t the usual spark in the romance, not the same tense and smoldering chemistry as I’d expected from a Simone Elkeles’ book.

But still, both Ashtyn and Derek were very lovable and the story was sweet and heartwarming. IT was one of those happily-ever-after-stories we all need once in a while. But if you haven’t read anything by Simone Elkeles yet, you should definitely start with Perfect Chemistry instead. (Or see the movie, I’m sure it will be awesome!)

Find out more about the book and the author here: Simone Elkeles

My reading tips this week is the gorgeously cute and romantic Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles. This is the second book in the Perfect Chemistry series following three brothers. I read the first book, Perfect Chemistry, a couple of years ago and totally loved it! Simone Elkeles sure knows how to tell a romantic story with all the right feels and I just love, love, love her bad boy characters who are such a bad asses with good hearts (aren’t they the best..?)!

What I love about the Perfect Chemistry books - besides that they are truly adorable, addictive, sweet and quirky and with characters that steels your heart - is that you get to know all of the Fuentes brothers. 

​The story line of both books are similar, but still unique for each book. Both books are kind of modern, urban Romeo of Juliet stories; both brothers get into trouble and fall for a girl from different sides of the track. In Perfect Chemistry the eldest Fuentes brother, Alex, meets uptown, perfect Brittany, only to find out that she’s a real person behind the facade. In Rules of Attraction it’s the younger brother, Carlos, gets into problem with a drug lord and has to leave Mexico to go and live with Alex. There he meets Kiara, the daughter of his professor and a type of girl he normally wouldn’t fall for. Alex and Brittany from the first book are part of the story in the second books as well, but this is not a typical sequel, it’s more of a companion novel. I don’t think that it is necessary to read Perfect Chemistry first to appreciate Rules of Attraction.

The brothers are very different, but still really cares about each other as a family. At first I didn’t like Carlos as much as I liked Alex, but he grew on me when he started to show his more vulnerable sides. Kiara was wonderful from the start; so nervous and unsure and still so strong and true to herself at the same time. I cannot wait to read the third book, Chain Reaction, that will be told from the youngest brother’s point of view! So looking forward to another romance rush and what I’m sure to be yet another addictive read by Simone Elkeles!

Find out more about the books and the author here: Simone Elkeles