YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

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.


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Trinity and I will be reading this book from July 1st and everyone is invited to join us! :)

Thank you for making the thread. :)

it was not a problem!
I hope we'll enjoy the story. :)

I hope so too. It seems really cute!

did you start reading this?
i had a really hard day today, i have no energy to hold a book in my hands and read.

I started yesterday and am almost done with it. :)

81% - (view spoiler)[Wow. I have really liked this book so far. I feel so bad for Alex, he has to do what he has to do to protect his family. I hate that Brittany said what she said to him but I also respect it. She stood her ground saying that she was going to leave him if he did the deal but he still decided to, of course for his family and the next thing I know they are done and my face is leaking with tears. I really want to finish this book already! (hide spoiler)]

oh, i'm going to start now. i know i'm late, sorry.

Irena wrote: "oh, i'm going to start now. i know i'm late, sorry."

It's fine! :D

Final Thoughts - (view spoiler)[This book was really great. The ending was so adorable. I really loved this book. Gave it 5 stars! It is a great contemporary and is adorable. And a real tearjerker. (hide spoiler)]

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Date Changed. Restarting Februray 8th 2015. Happy Reading ☺

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Date Changed. Restarting April 5th 2015. Happy Reading ☺

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I'm obviously in :)

I'll join this one :)

7 chapters in and already hating it

Hope you find this :-) I will probably start tomorrow, Monday. Read at your own pace I will read what you have to say and comments, I always have a comment ;-)

Chapter 24:
(view spoiler)[IT HURTS MY EYES!!! Brittany's family is seriously f*cked up, excuse me, but they are! I can't stand to read about them.
Also, I don't really care about Colin nor Alex. Only thing I like in this book is Brittany and her sister Shelley.

And what's up with the writing being part Spanish? I don't know Spanish and so I miss out on a lot of the conversation between Alex and his friends. (hide spoiler)]

I just noticed you already found this :-) LOL, I wasn't quite awake when I posted earlier, at least that is my excuse ;-)

Ch. 30
(view spoiler)[I bet it was Colin setting Alex up (hide spoiler)]

Ch. 33
(view spoiler)[Finally! That breakup took a awfully long time. It was cming right from page 1! (hide spoiler)]

Well you are reading quickly through this :-)

I will be starting this book later today or tomorrow.

Please don't let my hate towards this book ruin your reading experience! :) I just really didn't connect with this one. You win some, you lose some, right? :)


I'm finished
(view spoiler)[Okay, I admit it, that scene with Alex and Shelley at the end was just so sweet!
Apart from that, I didn't really like anything in this book, except for Shelley. (hide spoiler)]

Up to 21
(view spoiler)[ I kind of like the simplicity of this book, it's so the boy is bad and the girl is good that you know they're going to get together no matter what a bad idea it is, it's predictable and quite an easy comforting read and I think I like that about it whilst at the same time I'm kind of expecting more from it than just more hot chocolate too. (hide spoiler)]

Irene wrote: "Chapter 24:
(view spoiler)[IT HURTS MY EYES!!! Brittany's family is seriously f*cked up, excuse me, but they are! I can't stand to read about them.
Also, I don't really care about Colin nor Alex. Only thing I lik..." (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[ Lol thankfully I can read a little espanol and can understand it albeit stilted but for someone with no knowledge can understand the frustration because it's not even explained very well in English after. (hide spoiler)]

No worries, I won't be getting to this until tomorrow :-) Irene, when you love a book let me know because I bet it will be absolutely amazing!! You have great insight, and A critics eye. You still didn't tell me what your absolute favorite books are :-)

Berit wrote: "No worries, I won't be getting to this until tomorrow :-) Irene, when you love a book let me know because I bet it will be absolutely amazing!! You have great insight, and A critics eye. You still ..."

I'll pm you :) Aww, thanks, that's kind of you to say :)

Up to 41
(view spoiler)[ wow Alex way to impress the new girl! take her to a wedding threaten a guy and lie to her hmm who thinks we are setting ourselves up for a fall? (hide spoiler)]
Now I'll have to change to my iPad mini because this ones on 2% lol

Ok and I finished lol
(view spoiler)[ ok so it was predictable and sickenly sweet but I still enjoyed it. It was a comforting easy read :) and I love the way it finally ended (hide spoiler)]

Well! You all are quick :-) hoping to start this tomorrow, I will be trying a new thing for me and reading three books at once, we will see if this actually will work!

Lol not really tbh but people assume so I guess I've just read too much lol soon as I could see aged 5) I read and read lol my whole family call me the bookworm because once I'm in it's hell if you disturb me lol I don't like being interrupted whilst reading I get grouchy.funnily enough only my kids get away with disturbing me reading and I'm fine with them doing it lol.

Berit I usually read 2+ books a time best advice to work it effectively is dedicate specific time to each one otherwise gets confusing. When I read 3 books at once I dedicate my chapter at a time reading (during the day when it's busiest with 3 young ones lol) to one book. Then spend an hour after they go to bed on another and then the last book is usually one I find too hard to out down and I can plough through those til bedtime lol
Sorry novel comment

I'm getting used to reading more than one at a time, but three is pushing it for me. Somebody told me it's like changing television shows, and that really made some sense to me..

Yeah you have to have your mind set for the right book otherwise it's confusing that's why I split mine by time frames lol

36% done. I like this book so far. I agree with you Irene. Brittany's family has serious issues. (view spoiler)[ The way they treat her special needs sister is horrible. Her mom is too concerned about what other's think. I say screw what others have to say.

I feel bad for Alex. He was forced into the gang life to protect his family. He actually seems quite smart, and very friendly. I'm hoping that he can get out of the gang and go to college. (hide spoiler)]

65% done. (view spoiler)[ I'm so happy that Brittany broke up with Colin. He is a jerk. Trying to pressure her into having sex with him. I'm also glad that she and Alex are getting closer. (hide spoiler)]

I'm a little ways in, but I just needed to comment. My blonde hair, blue eyed, cheerleading, daughters boyfriend is named Alex and he is Mexican, of course is not in a game, he is the quarterback on the football team, but still I live in a very racially diverse area and there is no problem between the races, well not much of one. . Living in Southern California everyone is from everywhere, and everyone speaks a little bit of Spanish on a daily basis, doesn't matter what race they are.. I'm definitely not fluent, but I throw in a Spanish word here and there all the time. I think this takes place in Chicago, so maybe things are different there.

Berit wrote: "I'm a little ways in, but I just needed to comment. My blonde hair, blue eyed, cheerleading, daughters boyfriend is named Alex and he is Mexican, of course is not in a game, he is the quarterback o..."

I'm not blonde hair or blue eyed obviously lol, but my husband is German, Mecican, and Spanish. He is from Soledad, Ca and there were probably 5 black families there. When we lived there all the Mexican families welcomed me with open arms. We get more stares here in the south,where I'm from. I think it's because he is blonde hair, blue eyed. People are always shocked that his last name as well as mine now is Garcia.

78% done. (view spoiler)[ Finally Brittany stands up to her mother. She should be able to date, and be friends with whoever she wants to be friends with.I think Shelly is the cutest thing. I love the bond that Brittany and Shelly have. (hide spoiler)]

LOL my daughter's boyfriend's last name is Garcia :-)

Some parts of this book reminds me of the movie Crazy/Beautiful.

Berit wrote: "LOL my daughter's boyfriend's last name is Garcia :-)"

Lol. It's a wonderful last name. ;-)

Oh my gosh! I'm done and I loved this book. (view spoiler)[ How awesome was it that Alex and Brittany named their son after Paco.This book had me sooooo emotional at the end when Alex was at Shelly's place playing checkers with her. (hide spoiler)]

I'm really liking it as well, I agree with all Britney's parents need some serious help, especially her mom.. It is almost unbelievable, but I'm afraid there are actually a lot of people out there like that :-(

A little over halfway done, it's funny how some love stories even though they are corny just are so perfect!

(view spoiler)[ it was very sweet when Alex interacted with Britney's sister, I think everyone is guilty of perceiving people a certain way and no one really lives a perfect life that is for sure! (hide spoiler)]

I know I'm a bit late but I am going to start reading this today

Ch 1 (view spoiler)[ i'm happy Britney wasn't angry with her sister she didn't mean to do it obviously she is disabled I think this book is going to be interesting (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Ch2 I like Alex and his brothers they make me laugh the only thing I don't like is how they don't translate the words

chapter 19 I don't like Collin all he wants is to have sex with her I am posting my ch Thought now as Goodread went down and I couldn't post them before

Finished what can I say I didn't really like this book that much I just want them to hurry up and get together

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Reading from the 3rd of August 2015

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