Review: Flat-Out Celeste by Jessica Park

Title: Flat-Out Celeste
Author: Jessica Park
Series: Flat-Out Love #2
Publisher: Self Pub
Publication Date: May 22, 2014
Source: ARC provided by Wordsmith Publicity
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Whether you were charmed by Celeste in Flat-Out Love or are meeting her for the first time, this book is a joyous celebration of differences, about battling private wars that rage in our heads and in our hearts, and—very much so— this is a story about first love.

For high-school senior Celeste Watkins, every day is a brutal test of bravery. And Celeste is scared. Alienated because she’s too smart, her speech too affected, her social skills too far outside the norm, she seems to have no choice but to retreat into isolation.

But college could set her free, right? If she can make it through this grueling senior year, then maybe. If she can just find that one person to throw her a lifeline, then maybe, just maybe.

Justin Milano, a college sophomore with his own set of quirks, could be that person to pull her from a world of solitude. To rescue her—that is, if she’ll let him.

Together, they may work. Together, they may save each other. And together they may also save another couple—two people Celeste knows are absolutely, positively flat-out in love.

Last year I read Flat-Out Love on my friend Jess’s recommendation. I still had Prime at the time, so it was free for me to borrow. I adored it. It was very cute, but at the same time it dealt with a lot of serious stuff. I don’t think I ever reviewed it, now that I think of it.

Flat-Out Celeste is a follow up and when I heard she was writing it, I looked a little like this…

Celeste was my favorite so you can imagine my excitement. I think to fully appreciate her, you need to read Flat-Out Love first. Celeste is unlike any character I’ve ever read about. She’s extremely smart, but a social misfit you could say. This mostly comes from the trauma she’s lived through, which you read about in book one.

Now she is a High School senior and on the brink of starting her life. Life still isn’t easy for her. She’s still socially awkward and what she’s strived for her whole life (Ivy league Colleges) isn’t so cut and dry now. Being a senior is stressful for a normal teen, for Celeste it’s brutal.

Along comes Justin Milano and she begins to come out of her shell. I adored him. He was the perfect for Celeste and their budding romance was just so sweet. He gives her confidence she never had before, and it has such a positive effect on her everyday life.

Flat-Out Love fans will be happy to see Matt and Julie make appearances. Over all, I felt like this was a great follow up. I always wondered what would become of Celeste after I finished Flat-Out Love. Now I know, and I’m thoroughly satisfied.

About the author:


Jessica Park is the author of the young adult novels FLAT-OUT LOVE and RELATIVELY FAMOUS; five Gourmet Girl mysteries (written as Jessica Conant-Park with her mother, mystery author Susan Conant); and the e-shorts FACEBOOKING RICK SPRINGFIELD and WHAT THE KID SAYS (Parts 1 & 2).

Jessica grew up in the Boston area and attended Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. After spending four years in the frigid north, including suffering through one memorable Halloween blizzard, Jessica hightailed it back to the east coast. She now lives in (relatively balmy) New Hampshire with her husband, son, bananas dog named Fritzy, and two selfish cats. When not writing, Jessica indulges her healthy addictions to Facebook, Rick Springfield, and super-sweet coffee beverages.

Find Jessica:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Labels: Flat-Out Celeste, flat-out love, jessica park, reviews