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Chain Reaction (Perfect Chemistry #3)

4.18 of 5 stars 4.18 · rating details · 20,166 ratings · 1,706 reviews

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 bro...more

Hardcover, 310 pages

Published August 16th 2011 by Walker Books for Young Readers

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Sep 29, 2011 Diane ϟ [ Lestrange ] rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, own, 2011-reads, contemporary-romance, favorites, to-review

Book description on the CHAIN REACTION jacket.

Luis Fuentes has always been sheltered from the gang violence that nearly destroyed his brothers’ lives. But that didn’t stop him from taking risks—whether he’s scaling a mountain in the Rockies or dreaming of a future as an astronaut, Luis can’t stop looking for the next thrill.

Nikki Cruz lives her life by three rules—boys lie to get their way, don’t trust a boy who says “I love you,” and never date a boy from the south side of Fairfield. Her paren

...more

162 likes · like · see review

Jun 06, 2012 Lady Jayne *~*The Beach Bandida*~* rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Adults who enjoy sexier, grittier YA books and Older Teens

Recommended to Lady Jayne *~*The Beach Bandida*~* by: Having loved Perfect Chemistry

Shelves: young-adult, owned-read

IN DECEMBER 2010, BEFORE READING…

Muy caliente! HOT cover! To be released ~~24th May 2011~~
16th August 2011. Bring it!

I've had LUKE PASQUALINO in my mind as my Luis Fuentes ever since I saw him on UK Skins Seasons 3 and 4 (LOVED him as Freddie Mclair. *sighs*). And now, strangely, I think he kind of looks like the guy on the cover. ^_^ Really looking forward to reading this! Loves me some Fuentes brothers!

My Luis (Luke Pasqualino) and now my Nikki (Victoria Justice):

^^^I wish the Lake scene had be

...more

128 likes · like · see review

Aug 17, 2011 Ariel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Edit After reading august 16: I was seriously debating giving this book three stars, but my loyalty to the author stopped me from comitting the crime... les cocottes I know you're gonna read this, so let me tell you that I'm a bit disappointed. C'etait genre un peu forcee. And it had un uncanny resemblance to Alex and Brittany's story. It was still good, and they're were still awww moments, but I think it was the worst one. After you read it tell me what you think, okay?

Edit: WHYYYYYYYYYY???? Si...more

31 likes · like · see review

Aug 20, 2011 Ariana rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: alternating-pov, bad-boy-good-girl, annoyed-me, series

Ay carajo!

There are only so many times you can enjoy the same old story.. in my opinion it gets down to probably two.
I loved the first book because of the characters, and the chemistry and the action and I enjoyed enormously the humor in the second one, but when it comes to this one... I am terribly sorry to say that it was such a big disappointment.

Please Simone Elkeles, I know you can write better than this, I've seen it before, just come up with something new the next time. I just feel like...more

25 likes · like · see review

Mar 30, 2012 Emily May rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-na, romance, 2011, contemporary

I am terribly sceptical when it comes to books that define themselves simply as 'romance'. I like romantic subplots in science-fiction, in historical-fiction and in mystery - in fact, in just about anything - but straight-up romance? Can't say I've ever been a big fan. But there will always be exceptions, like Anna and the French Kiss for example. This is one such exception.

This is mindless, sexy teenage fun. With emphasis on the sexy. That cover look steamy to you? Wait until you see what this...more

19 likes · like · see review

Aug 25, 2011 Arlene rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2011, ya-contemporary, cover-pda-fave, young-adult

Rating Clarification
First half: 3 stars
Second half: 2.5 stars
Epilogue: 0 stars (Couldn’t even finish it. Seriously, was that necessary?)

Well, unfortunately for this series the third time is definitely not a charm… Bummer…

I was so looking forward to this final installment, and I was probably one of those raging fangurlz that was climbing up the wall when the release date was pushed out. Now that I’ve had a chance to read it, well it was definitely not worth the wait. Disappointment...

But, I will...more Rating Clarification
First half: 3 stars
Second half: 2.5 stars
Epilogue: 0 stars (Couldn’t even finish it. Seriously, was that necessary?)

Well, unfortunately for this series the third time is definitely not a charm… Bummer…

I was so looking forward to this final installment, and I was probably one of those raging fangurlz that was climbing up the wall when the release date was pushed out. Now that I’ve had a chance to read it, well it was definitely not worth the wait. Disappointment...

But, I will be generous and give it 3 stars because I have to admit, Luis was fun to read about at times, but if he called the other protag mi chava one more time, I was going to screech. I mean I love nicknames and endearments. Love them! However, that one made me cringe every time he used it. Bleh! There were a few scenes too that almost killed it for me. (view spoiler)

It was fun to see Luis have so many similar characteristics to his brothers, including Alex’s smarts and Carlos’s drive, but one thing he had in spades that made me like him even more was his charm and arrogance about him. That was a nice combo for the bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks. I like Nikki in this book and it was nice to see her try and overcome her insecurities, but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit she got on my nerves at time.

It was a disappointment to see Elkeles go with the same formulaic storyline as the other two books, but I finished this in one day, so it did keep my attention and at times had such cheestastic moments that I was forced to grin. Now the cover was a huge let down. I was really looking forward to reading the scene that went with that cover. Ugh! She could have done better than that. :/

Overall, obviously not the caliber of Perfect Chemistry, but it was nice to see this story come full circle with all three Fuentes brothers. And my only regret is not stopping before the Epilogue. It was so unnecessary that I couldn’t even finish reading it. (less)

32 likes · like · see review

Dec 13, 2011 Ayla rated it 2 of 5 stars

Definitely NOT good. I don't understand how the author made first two so amazing, and now this one... good lord the romance just felt plastic, and forced somehow. But, of course, I had to read it in order to have some closure. Ugh.

My advice? Read the first two, and then go into a bookstore and pick up this book, read the epilogue at the back of the book, put the book back on the shelf and walk out.

24 likes · like · see review

May 21, 2012 Jo rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, own, e, ya, oh-come-on

Warning: If you are a fan of this book you may want to avert your eyes. I like to think that I am open minded. I read the first book and…. eh, it was ok. I read this second book and I liked it more than I am willing to admit.

This book?

Um…
With my warning in mind, let’s proceed……

“Her words slam into my libido like a bucket of water on a flame full of testosterone. I think my dick just twitched in protest.”

That above quote pretty much sums up this book.
Mate, what does that even mean? A flame full o...more

51 likes · like · see review

Feb 03, 2012 Miakoda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, romance, action, funny, own, realistic-fiction, school

Luis' story and third companion to the perfect chemistry series gets a thumbs up for humor; I was, at the very beginning especially, so into Luis because he was funny...but then again, so were his brothers(I'm laughing just thinking about them). I'd say Nikki was a good pick for this story, she stood by what she believed in, which was really cool...she was however a bit looney sometimes but then again if I were her I'd probably be worse.

As an individual story, this book was really good but compa...more

13 likes · like · see review

Nov 06, 2011 Kristi (The Story Siren) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, signed-books

Ahhhhh.... the Fuentes brothers... as sexy and dangerous as they are alluring. I'm sad to see their stories come to an end. I will miss them. If you have not read this series... all I have to say is WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!!?!

Luis was the brother that you didn't really see much in the first two books, he was there and made a few small appearances but he wasn't what I was expecting. Luis had always been described as the "smart" brother.... so I thought maybe, just maybe he might learn from his b...more

16 likes · like · see review

Aug 23, 2011 Stacia ~ Mistress of Mediocrity rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

3.5 stars. My review is going to be quite half-assed this time. Either you love these books or you don't. I have to fall on the love side because so many experiences in these books are ones that I have witnessed first hand. Sure, there are people who feel it a bit fake, but not everything can be 100% accurate. I feel like the author did her research and came close enough for me to relate, being someone who has been there, lived that.

Good lord, it's as if these books are half documenting my teen...more 3.5 stars. My review is going to be quite half-assed this time. Either you love these books or you don't. I have to fall on the love side because so many experiences in these books are ones that I have witnessed first hand. Sure, there are people who feel it a bit fake, but not everything can be 100% accurate. I feel like the author did her research and came close enough for me to relate, being someone who has been there, lived that.

Good lord, it's as if these books are half documenting my teen years. It's crazy how much of this stuff actually happened to me and exes of mine. It's nice to read something that isn't so far off from my life, me being the girl who dropped out of high school and had a baby as a teen and still managed to overcome and make something decent out of my life. This is one of the only book series that at least sort of gets what the rest of us "bad kids" went through.

Were the love stories a bit sappy and overdone? Perhaps? But maybe not as much as some people complain about. Even my hard-assed gang-living high school boyfriend had a sappy side. He used to write me poetry. He used to whisper words of love and affection in my ear that used to make me melt. He probably reigned it in a little when around his friends because of the whole image thing, but that side of him was still there under the surface. I swear, there was so much of Alex (from book 1) in my first love, but I can pull out qualities of both Carlos and Luis that would match up with other boyfriends of mine.

Call me blasphemous (Alex I still got your back!) but dare I say I liked this one just a little bit better than even book 1? I thought it was great how the author managed to bring all three brothers together to tell the continuing story of the family as a whole. I still got to have my Alex fix, but also got to see where Carlos and Kiara's relationship was headed. And then...then there was Luis. He was all of the good qualities of Alex, while managing to be even more in spirit. He was so much fun. The cockiness was playful, not serious, which added an adorable appeal to the youngest Fuentes brother.

Nikki, the girl in this book, was hands down my favorite girl in the series. I never really attached to either Brittany or Kiara. I'm not sure why all three girls had to be rich girls, but whatever. Small complaint.

If you were a fan of the first book, but not so much of the second, I'm here to tell you that you'll be getting some of the original magic back with this book. Partway into the book, the whole family moves back to Chicago, so we get away from the small-town mountain setting of Boulder (awesome town, but yeah...not so much for these books). This story needed to be told in Chicago. Book 2 lost something for me when the setting changed, so I was happy to see that a relocation was in order.(less)

10 likes · like · see review

Aug 30, 2011 Alyssa rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Hopeless romantics who pray for Chuck and Blair from Gossip Girl to just get it on for good.

Shelves: i-cannot-breathe-without-you, 2011-read, great-books, great-realistic-fiction, highly-anticipated, mystery-suspense, only-okay, really-excited-for, reccomended, ya-romance, multiple-povs, a-guy-of-ya

I’m such a huge romantic. 90% of my books have a large chunk of romance in them, and 90% of the movies and songs I listen to involve ~~heartbreak~~ the sweeping of one off their feet. Chain Reaction could have sated my lust for love, and yet, like its prelude, it fell flat in all the important areas.

Luis Fuentes is doing his best to stay on the right path, and when he meets Nikki, the girl with the angelic face and beautiful soul, he thinks his life is finally starting to come together for good. Sur...more

12 likes · like · see review

Aug 14, 2011 Zemira Warner rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: hot-guys, romance, contemporary, realistic, disappointed

*before reading*

STOP EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING! FUENTES BOYS ARE BACK!!!!

*after reading*

So,I gotta say Chain Reaction is a huge disappointment. It lacked that 'spark' previous two had. I did not like Luis and Nikki. I couldn't felt their love for each other. I didn't enjoy them as much as I did Alex & Brittany and Carlos & Kiera. :(
Luis was too much of a good boy for me to even think about him as a person who would join a gang.
Nikki,what to say about Nikki? I had a feeling she was depres...more

19 likes · like · see review

May 23, 2012 Reynje rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemp-or-realistic, dual-or-multiple-pov, read-2012, release-the-drama-llamas, saw-it-coming, young-adult

[Note: I went into this book with good intentions. Please note my enthusiastic hashtagging in honour of the Fuentes boys, along with my fellow readalongers, Flannery, Jo and Trinity. Alas, I did not like this book - as the following review states.]

Look, I’m sorry, but every once in a while I just need to get my rant on and Chain Reaction has the dubious honour of being in my ranty sights right now.

I’ve read Perfect Chemistry and Rules of Attraction, and while they weren’t precisely my cup of te...more

21 likes · like · see review

Aug 23, 2011 Elena R a.k.a. Lunies R rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, contemporary-romance, favorites, will-make-your-body-parts-quiver

http://samsawesomness.blogspot.com/20...

Can I get a little wha,wha....? FUENTES BROTHERS BABY!

I thought the series might die down knowing that this 3rd novel,was about Luis. He's suppose to be the goodie two shoes in the family.BUT HOT DAYUMMMMM!!!!!!!! I'm in La-La Land! I've never loved a Ya-series as much as I loved this series! Some one pass me a "Get Out Jail Free Card" Cause I might one day jump one of these brothers *for personnel reasons* LMAO!!!!!!!! Simone Elkeles is too good to her r...more

10 likes · like · see review

May 10, 2012 Charlene marked it as finishing-later

Dude... I can't get enough of these Fuentes brothers... they're so yummy in my head. :)

7 likes · like · see review

May 20, 2012 Trinity rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: e-book, what-the-what, young-adult

Remember last week when I hadn't read Chain Reaction yet? Yeah me too, fondly.

------------

Washing the blood stains out of my bandanna for an intercontinental readalong with Reynje, Flannery & Jo

Plus Drinking Game! Hola!
Rules: (view spoiler)
Take a drink for
Chichis
Abs
Awkward flirting
Straddling
Gangbanging
Bandannas
When Alex is lame or cries or lamely cries
When Carlos is awesome aka all the time
Girl has sad
Steamy shower scene

Things we kn...more

10 likes · like · see review

Sep 07, 2011 Scarlet369 rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: scarlet-s-favorites

Chain reaction is about Luis Fuentes the youngest son of the Fuentes family. He is known in previous books to be the innocent, goal oriented, dedicated son of the family. In this book though we see that Luis is one cocky SOB!! All three brothers have been famous for the drop dead looks and the known receiver of the double take from all the girls (and possibly some guys too). But Luis for me tops both Alex and Carlos. He is cocky, confident, passionate, and not afraid to flaunt it. His personalit...more Chain reaction is about Luis Fuentes the youngest son of the Fuentes family. He is known in previous books to be the innocent, goal oriented, dedicated son of the family. In this book though we see that Luis is one cocky SOB!! All three brothers have been famous for the drop dead looks and the known receiver of the double take from all the girls (and possibly some guys too). But Luis for me tops both Alex and Carlos. He is cocky, confident, passionate, and not afraid to flaunt it. His personality was more real to me then either one of other perfect chemistry books and I commend the author for that. He is so sweet to when it comes to Nikki that I just want to pinch his cheeks (or claim him for myself=p).

Now Nikki is not what I expected. From the synopsis of the story I gathered that she was supposed to be the bad ass, gang member in the relationship and she was going to be the one to corrupt Luis. We quickly find out though that, that's not the case. Luckily for me anyway, we find out that Nikki is a north sider with an attitude. Maybe it's the Latino in her coming to life. All I know is that I loved her character because she was cocky, smart aleck, and won't take crap from anyone. I admit that in the beginning I had my doubts about her but once Luis and Nikki's first introduction passes and we move onto the real story she became my absolute fave character next to Luis of course.

Luis and Nikki flowed easily together. There was actual chemistry between the two. And the inevitable declaration of love was more realistic. It wasn't some white knight, sweeped away to happily ever after crap. Instead it was semi-realistic sticking with how actual teenagers would profess their love for one another.

There was a couple of people I didn't like though. Cesar the cop/landlord who falls for their mom is stupid!! He serves no point to me. And honestly I kept waiting for him to slowly fade into the backdrop.*sigh* unfortunately that didn't happen and in the epilogue we find out he becomes their step-dad. YUCK!!!!

......Moving on this book was a fast romantic read and it kept me captivated for hours. I enjoyed it immensely and I would definitely, definitely, DEFINITELY recommend it to anyone who is apprehensive about the sequel. Or were as nervous to pick up the book as I was.

Seriously that cover was so erotic looking that I was semi-embarrassed and nervous to check it out at my school library. I kept waiting for them to scan it and mumble teenagers these days it's all about sex!

p.s. I said in my last review of this book they were chained together. That is false you later on find out in the book the inspiration for the cover. (view spoiler)

p.s.s This is by far the best book out of the Perfect Chemistry series!!! Not kidding go get your copy SOON!(less)

6 likes · like · see review

Oct 27, 2011 Cindy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 100-books-in-2011, received-from-publishers, favorites

This is definitely my favorite book in the series. Luis is easy to love right away. He doesn't have that same hard edge that his older brothers do, but he's got enough cockiness and attitude to still exude the sexy confidence you've come to expect from the Fuentes brothers.

When Nikki's story begins, my heart immediately breaks for her. We see exactly what happened to her to make her so hard against guys and why she has no intention of falling for anyone -- especially not Luis. When they meet at...more This is definitely my favorite book in the series. Luis is easy to love right away. He doesn't have that same hard edge that his older brothers do, but he's got enough cockiness and attitude to still exude the sexy confidence you've come to expect from the Fuentes brothers.

When Nikki's story begins, my heart immediately breaks for her. We see exactly what happened to her to make her so hard against guys and why she has no intention of falling for anyone -- especially not Luis. When they meet at Alex's wedding (when they are both fifteen), Luis is instantly intrigued by the Latino who doesn't claim her Mexican blood. He hits on her right away, but Nikki isn't having it. In fact, their first meeting is anything but romantic and ends with Luis being embarrassed more than once. But Luis doesn't let this distract him from his goal. He's nothing if not a quitter.

At seventeen, Luis moves back to Illinois, which is where Nikki lives, with his mother and right back into the southside where he'd been raised for the first half of his life. He's surprised to see that the neighborhood isn't quite as he remembered it, but it isn't long before we learn that things are not as calm as they seem. I loved that the other Fuentes brothers make appearances in this book and how wonderfully evident it is that family truly does come first with these boys. No matter what's going down, they've got each others back. It's an underlying theme in all three books, but we especially get to see that dedication to family in this book.

Chain Reaction is an amazing ending to a series that I've loved from the start. I sped through this book and can't wait to read all three books back to back. And based off the epilogue that Elkeles gives us, I'm really hoping that we may be learning of new Fuentes books in the future. I can't recommend this series enough. If you haven't yet read them, go get them now! And be prepared for some really great love stories that are as sexy as they are dangerous. Really and truly incredible. (less)

6 likes · like · see review

Apr 08, 2012 Bianca ♥ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, crush-worthy-guys, i-cried

You once told me that I made you believe in the impossible. You make me believe in love, which I'd given up on. Thank you for proving to me that it's not just a fairy tale.

I can't express how much I love the Perfect Chemistry books and what an amazing writer Simone Elkeles is. This is seriously a perfect book. I have nothing to object and I literally read it non-stop. I had to stop for a few hours basically because my mom made me go somewhere with her but I still read in the car and anytime I...more

4 likes · like · see review

Dec 02, 2011 K. rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ok-fine-its-ya, ok-i-cheated, this-shelf-can-die, 21st-cent, cover-vom

This book is like a really bad last minute paper at the end of a hectic term; when you've used up all your braincells for other essays and exams and you're running out of time but you have to hand something in. I wouldn't normally bother with a book as bad as this, but I'm shockingly disappointed because I liked Perfect Chemistry well enough.

Seriously, though. Chain Reaction might as well have been done in point form, as there is absolutely no supporting evidence of sincerity, both from the char...more This book is like a really bad last minute paper at the end of a hectic term; when you've used up all your braincells for other essays and exams and you're running out of time but you have to hand something in. I wouldn't normally bother with a book as bad as this, but I'm shockingly disappointed because I liked Perfect Chemistry well enough.

Seriously, though. Chain Reaction might as well have been done in point form, as there is absolutely no supporting evidence of sincerity, both from the characters and the author, herself. She tells us everything we need to know, taking no time to actually show us why we should believe her.

Luis and Nikki are weak, fleshless, glossed-over characters. There's no reason to sympathize with them. Oh sure, they have problems but the focus veers towards the inane that you just end up wanting the story to end (which isn't hard - just put the book down, right?). Let me summarize: Luis is a cocky adrenaline junkie who happens to be a gorgeous, straight-A student with ambitious plans of becoming an astronaut. Nikki is a sexy Latina who volunteers at the animal shelter but who acts like a judgmental bitch to ward people off, especially boys, except it only makes her even more desirable. Luis wants to bang Nikki because he's a "daredevil" and she's a "challenge". Nikki wants to bang Luis "to prove" they have no chemistry and that she can be "emotionally detached" with anyone...guess how this ends. Furthermore, people don't speak like this. If anyone pulled any of these lines on me, I'd throw up in my mouth. And the italicized Spanish got old real fast. It wasn't cute; it was demeaning. Its like the Pavlov effect...whenever I hear chica or mamacita, my reflex is to cringe and fling my arm wildly about my person to hit the mouth from whence the abomination came. I'm now damaged goods.

Characterization done, onto the plot...

Plot done, onto the conclusion...

This book is juvenile, lazy and dispassionate. It does nothing for its genre, offers nothing to its readers and is a disservice to young people.

This paper gets a D, if only for the few funny lines that actually managed to make me snicker.

---

Update: Okay, I just re-read this and think, perhaps, I might have been just a tad melodramatic...but still, I stand by all I said.(less)

8 likes · like · see review

Aug 19, 2011 Jess rated it 3 of 5 stars

before reading-

simone i really love your books. but can luis not fall for a white girl this time? i'm not hating or anything, i love carlos & kiria & alex & brit...but it just seems to be a repeat. i love you! keep up the great writing girl :)

after reading-
have to say though i some what liked nikki & luis, i felt like this story was kinda a repeated mixture from the other two. i though nikki was going to be this bamf but she really wasn't, in fact she was kinda annoying at first....more

5 likes · like · see review

May 04, 2012 Aly (Fantasy4eva) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: conflicted-thoughts, own, crushing-on-the-cover, fast-paced-and-engrossing, what-happened-to-you

I've been very conflicted about this one.

So I'm going to just go ahead and list what I did and didn't like.

* THE COVER. I loves.
At first I was like WOW. And then all traumatised when my dad saw it and gave me the WTF look. Now I just say WHATEVS. Sometimes I even stare. I DON'T EVEN CARE.

* Nikki Cruz in the first half I really liked. In the second half I guess something just changed because my original opinion of her diminished.

* The cheesy dialogue? Oh man. I know there's bits of it in the pr...more

7 likes · like · see review

Dec 03, 2011 Serpent rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: own

**UPDATE**

Book went above my epectations. I loved seeing the eldest Fuentes boys and the youngest in the last addition to this "series."

The heroine (Nikki) didn't quite measure up to my ideals. She was just very bland to me.

Other than that, I have nothing negative to say!

****************************************************************************************************

Firstly - not entirely sure how this has such a high rating when it's not even published yet? :/

I hope for the best, but expect...more

3 likes · like · see review

Oct 10, 2012 Georgia rated it 5 of 5 stars

To be honest, I had no idea how Simone Elkeles was going to top Perfect Chemistry and Rules of Attraction, but she did. Yet again she released a brilliant book about learning to love, family, trust and loss.

Luis Fuentes is the youngest of his three brothers, and so far the nicest and the smartest. He is working his ass off to get good grades and get into a good college to study to be an Astronaut (sorry, I forgot what the actual study is and I don’t have the book at the moment!). What his famil...more

2 likes · like · see review

Sep 19, 2011 Stacy/GirlsInTheStacks.com rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, romance

Fans of Elkeles won’t be disappointed in the last of the Fuentes brothers, Luis is just as hot and passionate as Alex and Carlos! He plays the Mexican hottie scandalously. His one defining characteristic is that he is a thrill seeker, an adventure junkie. So, it’s no surprise he finds himself in over his head and ends up in a perilous situation reminiscent of his brothers.

Luis and Nikki’s relationship is a hot mess. Lies and deception mar their totally sensuous, passionate love for one another....more

4 likes · like · see review

Aug 17, 2011 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-ya, disco-chicken, ya, bad-cover-book-club

I have no idea how to rate this one.

I really enjoyed Simone Elkeles other books, which I read one week when I was home sick earlier this year, but Chain Reaction bothered me. My issue was with the premise. In this novel, the youngest of the Fuentes boys, Luis, returns with his mother to Chicago--not only Chicago, but his old neighborhood and old house--and gets wrapped up with the same violent guys that almost killed his brother Alex. And this is where I got tripped up. My internal monologue wh...more I have no idea how to rate this one.

I really enjoyed Simone Elkeles other books, which I read one week when I was home sick earlier this year, but Chain Reaction bothered me. My issue was with the premise. In this novel, the youngest of the Fuentes boys, Luis, returns with his mother to Chicago--not only Chicago, but his old neighborhood and old house--and gets wrapped up with the same violent guys that almost killed his brother Alex. And this is where I got tripped up. My internal monologue when something like this,

"What, what?! Mama Fuentes is taking her kid back to the gang-infested neighborhood?! But he only has his senior year left! Why is she doing this?"

Now, her reason is that she doesn't want to be far away from her grandchild (Alex & Brittany have had to return to Illinois because Brittany's sister is now in state care--but at least they have the sense to live in Evanston, where Alex is going to grad school). However, the notion that she couldn't wait a year until Luis, straight-A student and good boy, went to college is absurd to me. I mean, she could Luis and Carlos back to Mexico to escape the very environment she returned to in this book! Either their mother is an idiot or completely selfish. (Her actions and general cluelessness regarding Luis and the neighborhood throughout the book lead me to think it's probably a combination of the two.)

This stuck with me while I read the book and it really kept me from enjoying it like I'd enjoyed the first two. However, I will say that I thought Nikki was a very compelling character, with far more depth than either Brittany or Kiara, who were narrators in the first two novels in the series, respectively.

I guess my hesitation with the third install of this series is that the premise is hard to swallow, that Luis' story could have been told from Colorado, where he was thriving. If you can get beyond that premise, and enjoyed the other books in this series, you'll likely enjoy this one as well. I believe the Perfect Chemistry novels are very well-researched, and that really does come through in the scenes dealing with gang culture--it's heart-breakingly realistic. Like all of Elkeles novels, the pace is fast, there's the perfect amount of heightened teen emotions and drama that will appeal to high school age readers tremendously. (I would have loved these books so much when I was 15 or so!) Adults who enjoy YA may have a harder time overlooking some of the issues, however.

Also, the epilogues in this series drive me crazy. I know most folks love them, but I don't.
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Aug 22, 2011 Jessica rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 24-ebooks, 16-chick-lit

Rating clarification: 2.5 stars

*sigh*

I was SO sure that I was gonna love this but sadly I didn’t *hangs head*

For me, Chain Reaction was lacking the unbelievably hot and sizzling chemistry that made the other two books so special. I enjoyed “seeing” Alex and Carlos again and learning more about their lives – hence the 2.5 stars – but otherwise I didn’t really care for the story.

Luis is a hottie and quite swoon-worthy but somehow he didn’t have the same effect on me as his brothers had in the pre...more

19 likes · like · see review

Aug 19, 2011 Michelle. Tsunami. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: gotta-love-those-guys, want-to-own

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Um... AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

This has to be one of the best series I have ever read! All three books were amazing in there own ways. The characters were fin-nominal and awesome and went together so well!

Luis was like all Fuentes was like all Fuentes'. Sexy, witty, cocky, smart, passionate and did I forget to say SEXY! He was exceptional and was a great main lead!
Nicki was a great love interest for the youngest Fuentes! Sassy, sexy...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jun 04, 2012 Ren marked it as wishlist

Shelves: annoying-chara, best-cover-at-series, beta-hero, buy-it-online-at-fb-and-book-site, contemporary-romance, drooling-cover, family-theme, high-school-theme, humor, inspirative-story, reccomended-to-translated, romantic-or-couple-cover, young-adult, plan-to-read-2013

5 reason why I write review about this book (even it's not released yet)

First : This is YA series that I love to read, over and over again, probably the best (at last, for me)

Second : The cover is the best cover at this series. Steamy! (even for YA)

Third : I can't wait to read this, to know if one of my nom, nom boyfriends , Alex Fuentes will make appearance (he must do!)

Fourth : The book not released yet, but already have 100 more ratings? o_O???

Fifth : Simone Elkeles tell me at Twi...more

3 likes · like · see review

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topics	posts	views	last activity
Crazy for Young A...: Chain Reaction (Perfect Chemistry, #3) by Simone Elkeles → Start Date: June 1, 2013	6	8	May 21, 2013 08:12am
Favorite couple among Brit & Alex /Carlos & Kiara / Luis & Nikki and why?	28	139	May 20, 2013 05:50pm
Aiossa's 14/15 Se...: Amanda Book review 5	1	4	Feb 07, 2013 04:15pm
Young Adult Conte...: #5: Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles (Oct 22-28)	11	90	Dec 29, 2012 04:50am
Favorite couple among Brit & Alex /Carlos & Kiara / Luis & Nikki and why?	1	12	Dec 05, 2012 01:01am

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About Simone Elkeles

Simone Elkeles is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of novels for teens. Simone’s books have won many awards including being YALSA Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, being named to the YALSA Popular Paperbacks and Teens Top Ten lists, and added to the Illinois “Read for a Lifetime” Reading List. Simone also won the coveted RITA award from the Romance Writers of...more

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Books by Simone Elkeles

Perfect Chemistry (Perfect Chemistry, #1)

Rules of Attraction (Perfect Chemistry, #2)

Return to Paradise (Leaving Paradise, #2)

How to Ruin a Summer Vacation (How to Ruin, #1)

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Quotes from Chain Reaction

“Marry me, Kiara,” he blurts out in front of everyone.
“Why?” she asks, challenging him.
“Because I love you,” he says, walking up to her and bending down on one knee while he takes her hand in his, “and I want to go to sleep with you every night and wake up seein’ your face every mornin’, I want you to be the mother of my children, I want to fix cars with you and eat your crappy tofu tacos that you think are Mexican. I want to climb mountains with you and be challenged by you, I want to argue with you just so we can have crazy hot makeup sex. Marry me, because without you I’d be six feet under … and because I love your family like they’re my own … and because you’re my best friend and I want to grow old with you.” He starts tearing up, and it’s shocking because I’ve never seen him cry. “Marry me, Kiara Westford, because when I got shot the only thing I was thinkin’ about was comin’ back here and makin’ you my wife. Say yes, chica.” — 401 people liked it

“Nobody really knows her
Except the chosen few
Her secrets are kept hidden
Behind that sun-kissed hue.

If I reach out to touch her
She’ll just run away
My Forever and Always
Will have to wait another day.” — 157 people liked it

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Chain Reaction (Perfect Chemistry #3)

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