Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

I joined Goodreads in 2010, when I got my first library job. One of the first books I added was Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles and it has been sitting on the top of my TBR list for 4 solid years. Well I finally decided to tackle it. I didn’t have any preconceived notions that hindered me from picking up this book. I’m much more of an “in the moment reader”. Whatever someone just recommended to me has a higher chance of getting read than a book that I have had checked out for 6 weeks.

I read Perfect Chemistry over a few days and I found that it wasn’t that bad. When I first started it, I wondered if this would be a typical “boy from the wrong side of the tracks” story and it was. But what made this story a step higher was the supporting cast. I loved Shelley. I thought the element that Shelley brought to the table added a deeper meaning to Brittany’s story. Another character that I thought really helped the story was Isabel. Though she was only a minor character, I thought her realness was genuine and she was very likeable.

The story does have some stereotypical plot lines, but overall I thought the author did a good job. It could have been really bad. Another surprising factor was the minimum amount of angst. Oh, there is some angst, but after reading a slew of New Adult books, the level of angst in Perfect Chemistry was appropriate for the plot. I read one review where the reader had an issue for all the Spanish in the book. Though I didn’t always know the phrases, I thought the author’s use of spanglish was very appropriate. It was a characteristic of this culture and I was glad it was included.

My only issue was with the cheesy epilogue. I would have been perfectly content to give this book 4 stars until I read the epilogue. I don’t want to give anything away for anyone who hasn’t read the story, but it was cheap and unnecessary.

Am I glad I read Perfect Chemistry? Yes, for the sole reason that I got it off my TBR.

Would I continue with the series? Probably not. 

Will teens love this book? Oh, yes. 

Introducing You to Rainbow Rowell

Sometimes you find an author and know instantly that you will always be a fan of their work. I had a moment like this after reading Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell.


I recently joined a local Forever YA Book Club, which has fabulous picks btw. I decided to be ahead of the game and read some of the picks a few months before because ...well....I can be a slacker when it comes to book clubs (I do have good intentions though). It was through the FYA Book Club that I discovered Rainbow Rowell.

Since my move into Nonfiction and Reference Services and the fact that I have no outlet to write book reviews for work, my YA reading has tapered off some (and by some I mean it has pretty much ceased).This is one of the reasons I was keen to join the FYA book club. I will be forever indebted to FYA BC because this is how I discovered Eleanor and Park. This beautiful story of acceptance, love, and pain tore at my heart. I went back to my Goodreads Review to see what I had written and this is what I found (I read it in June): "The last sentence just shattered my heart into a billion pieces." That's not much of a review for you, but that last sentence did me in. For a waaaay better review of Eleanor and Park, check out fellow librarian blogger (and friend)'s My Fun-Size Life blog. Oooh, also read John Greene's NYT review as well! I'm such a lazy blogger, but they pretty much sum up everything I want to say...they just do it way better. 

So imagine my excitement when a lovely friend lent me an ARC of Fangirl, Rowell's upcoming New Adult book. I just knew that I would love Fangirl but I also knew that I probably wouldn't have that same euphoric feeling that Eleanor and Park left me with. I was wrong. Not only did I LOVE Fangirl, but it buried itself deep within my heart. Again, I went back to my Goodreads Review to see what I had written (I read it in July - 2 months ago): "Absolutely wonderful. I am completely in love with this book, Cath, Levi, Simon/Baz and pretty much everything else Rainbow Rowell touches." If I don't write a book review immediately after I finish the book, it is never going to happen. I should have written one (I'm kicking myself now for it), but you can read CuddleBuggery's review and relive my excitement about Fangirl .

So besides writing amazing books, let me give you another example of why Rainbow Rowell is a librarian's best friend. This woman epitomizes how wonderful social media can be for authors. I have written tons of book reviews over the years and though I can't always recall the author's name right off the top of my head, I CAN recall the authors who shared my reviews, who tweeted a thank you, or reached out in anyway through social media. Social media, whether it is Goodreads, Twitter, or Facebook, puts us all on the same playing field. Where else can you have instant contact to someone? 

Example: I tweeted this a few minutes ago, " I should be sleeping...not writing a blog about how awesome @rainbowrowell is. #librarianproblems"

Two minutes later I got this: Rainbow Rowell ‏@rainbowrowell

@LibrarianJuJu Thank you :)"

And this is not the first time that Rowell has reached out to librarians. Many of my libraryland friends have had interactions with her whether it is her favoring a tweet or joining in on our conversation. That little extra effort really makes a big difference!

If you need more examples of Rowell's awesomeness then I suggest you check out her blog post "Is Eleanor fat? Or does Eleanor just THINK she's fat?" or maybe "A Chat with Rainbow Rowell about Love and Censorship"

I probably should put a disclaimer somewhere in this post that I'm not some crazed fanatic...here: I promise I'm not stalking Rowell.

I just want you to know the awesomeness that is Rainbow Rowell.

Reading Chaos

I am notoriously bad at reading many books at one time. Currently I am reading/listening to 6 titles. A lot of people don’t understand this, but there is a method to this madness.

I usually read several different genres as once to cover any mood I might be in: Romance, YA, Mystery, Nonfiction, etc. I also have certain areas that I read in my house so I usually keep one of the books I am reading in each area.

Here is what I am currently reading and where:

Car: I am listening to David Sedaris’ Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls. I am very picky with my audio. I only like nonfiction audio, read by the author, and preferably humor. See, picky?

Computer/Tablet: I very rarely read on my tablet unless I am traveling. Usually then it is some sort of romance that I have gotten from Amazon or BookLending.com. I read on my computer materials that I have downloaded from me library. There are usually adult fiction or romance. Right now I am reading Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs (2^nd in the Mercy Thompson series)

Living Room: I usually read nonfiction in my living room. I am very rarely in the living room, because we hang out mostly in the man cave. Currently I am working through A Short History of England: The Glorious Story of a Rowdy Nation by Simon Jenkins

Bedroom: Normally, I start a romance novel that I can finish in one sitting. Right now I have Hidden Riches by Nora Roberts that needs to be finished. I like it, but I put it down and that is where I went wrong. I am also slowly working my way through Release, an erotica novel by Beth Kery.

Purse: As a rule, I don’t usually keep a book in my purse. My tablet is always there and whenever I get stuck at the doctor’s office or an airport I’ll just use the tablet. Right now I have a paperback romance that I am almost finished with. I started The Marriage Bargain by Jennifer Probst one night before I went to sleep. I finished 3/4s of the novel that night, but I fell asleep before finishing it. It is a lighthearted read that I am really enjoying. I threw it in my purse on my way to babysit and that is still where it is. I’m hoping to dig it out of my purse and finish it tonight.

Several of my friends and even BF have commented on the chaos of this, but I love it. I feel productive that I am knocking out a lot of my TBR shelf. Where do you usually read and how many do you read at one time?

So Shiny.....

Eeek they are so shiny! Nothing like a new book... Especially when its free :)
Thanks to Sandra Brannan for autographing each one! Very excited. 

Goodreads Giveaways

Since I just don't have enough books to read (pure sarcasm) I decided to enter into some Goodreads Giveaways and I guess this is my lucky week because I have won a total of 8 books. Yup, 8. Sidenote: I hope I haven't used up all my luck because I need all of it for my Vegas trip in December.

I thought I would post the books I have won and see if anyone is familiar with any titles. Also, I need to know which one I should read first.