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

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

{Audiobook} Review: Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park

Title: Flat-Out Love
Author: Jessica Park
Series: Flat-Out Love, book #1
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Publication Date: November 17, 2012
Source: purchased audio
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

To college freshman Julie Seagle the emotionally scrambled members of the Watkins family of Boston add up to something that ... well ... doesn't quite add up. Only the funny, gorgeous, smart oldest brother Finn is emotionally available--but only online? Not until Julie forces a buried secret to the surface, eliciting a dramatic confrontation that threatens to tear the fragile Watkins family apart, does she get her answer.

Since both of us listened to the audiobook concurrently, we're going to handle this review more like a discussion.  =)

Jen: So, after finally finishing the audiobook, what did you think of the book in general?

Mendy: It was great. Not the typical love story I’m used to. And the narrator was awesome; she embodied the character of Julie to a tee. What'd you think?

Jen: I loved the characters! Even Flat Finn, who wasn't technically breathing, became a character in his own right. Gawd, and I love what Celeste brought to the story.

Mendy: Flat Finn was great. I love their entire dysfunctional family. Very relatable -- of course, maybe not quite to that degree...lol.

Jen: Ah, the dysfunction! It was obvious from the beginning, I think, but then to find out how they got to that point. So sad.

What about that twist? Did you see it coming?

Mendy: I didn't. I had short-lived theories, but nothing I really leaned toward. I just couldn't imagine what was so serious that this entire family would go to such lengths to avoid talking about it. You knew all along, didn't you?

Jen: I did. And it was soooo hard not discussing it with you. Especially when I was finished and you were still taking your sweet time getting to the big reveal. I just knew something truly horrific had to have happened to those poor people for them to all react the way they did. And I was right. :)

So, did you like Julie? I loved that adorable banter between her and her mother at the beginning of the book. I would have loved to see more of that throughout the story. But I got some of the banter back with Matty and Julie, and that was kind of fun.

Mendy: Julie MADE the book. She was the sane one. Even Erin admitted that she was the foundation that held them together. Julie saw what the rest of them couldn't and she stepped in to help. I love her unique relationship with each of the other characters.

TBH, at the end I was a little annoyed with Julie and Matty's banter. I mean, really? You guys love each other and still act that way? Reminded me too much of the married couples I know, and their newfound love is just too fresh for all that.

Jen: Dude, I love banter. Keeps you on your toes. I did think that maybe their familiarity came back rather quickly when all was said and done, but they had some time to make up for, I guess. ;0) Think you'll read Flat-Out Matt? The novella from Matty's POV?

Mendy: Hmmm....not sure about that. I think I already know Matt's POV. What else is there to tell? And I kinda prefer the mystery in wondering what all the characters feel. Don't tell me. Just let me have my own feel for things, my own interpretation. What about you?

Jen: Yeah, I think I'm gonna try to read it this week while I have some down-time at work. Ha! She's also got another book -- Left Drowning -- coming out in July...I just got a copy for review. Think you'll read that one? *sings* I'll let you borrow my copy, if you want. :) It definitely sounds like your kind of book.

Mendy: Does sound interesting! Lemme borrow! :)

So, when all was said and done, how did we rate Flat-Out Love?

Jen:   -- mostly because I saw certain developments and found it a little predictable

Mendy:    -- I was pleasantly surprised by the turn the story took and found it quite engaging

Some of Our Favorite Quotes:

“Mom, I have to go. I think this Matt character is here.”
“Are you sure it's him?”
Julie peered into the car as the window lowered. “I see a maniacal-looking guy with brightly-colored candy in one hand, and he's waving a sickle in the other. Oh! He's beckoning me to the car. This must be my ride.”

“Julie swallowed. “Flat Finn is on Facebook?” She'd love to see those status updates: 'Got strapped to the roof of the car today for a trip to Starbucks. Would have loved to taste caramel mocha, but can't move arms and so was forced to stare longingly at delicious hot beverage. Will the taunting never end?'”

“He just wasn’t the guy, you know? I want the guy. The everything guy. Not the dumb Prince Charming, nauseatingly-perfect everything guy. That’s pathetic. I want the flaws-and-all everything guy.”

“I tell you that I like being this close to you and how you feel against me. But now even I'm hesitant. I'm afraid that when we hit the ground, this will be over. We'll land and this feeling between us will vanish. That you won't feel it any longer. I can't stand that thought.”

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); 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 | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Labels: audiobooks, contemporary, favorites, flat-out love, funfunfun, indies, jessica park, mendy, new adult, post hs ya, read-along, reviews

Teaser Tuesday #57: The Beautiful and the Cursed by Page Morgan & Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here are the books we're teasing this week:

Title: The Beautiful and the Cursed
Author: Page Morgan
Series: The Dispossessed, book #1
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: May 14, 2013
Source: ARC received from publisher
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

After a bizarre accident, Ingrid Waverly is forced to leave London with her mother and younger sister, Gabby, trading a world full of fancy dresses and society events for the unfamiliar city of Paris.

In Paris there are no grand balls or glittering parties, and, disturbingly, the house Ingrid’s twin brother, Grayson, found for them isn’t a house at all. It’s an abandoned abbey, its roof lined with stone gargoyles that could almost be mistaken for living, breathing creatures.

And Grayson has gone missing.

No one seems to know of his whereabouts but Luc, a devastatingly handsome servant at their new home.

Ingrid is sure her twin isn’t dead—she can feel it deep in her soul—but she knows he’s in grave danger. It will be up to her and Gabby to navigate the twisted path to Grayson, a path that will lead Ingrid on a discovery of dark secrets and otherworldly truths. And she’ll learn that once they are uncovered, they can never again be buried.

“Gabby tried desperately to keep her mouth shut.  She pinned Nolan with a savage glare.  Useful.  As if Ingrid were some sort of shiny object that had caught his attention.”

-- p. 166 of ARC

This book started off a little slow, and I wasn't prepared for multiple third person POVs, but I am enjoying it quite a bit now.  The gothic atmosphere, the steadfastly loyal siblings, the gargoyles.  And that gorgeous cover!  It's even prettier in person!

Title: Flat-Out Love
Author: Jessica Park
Series: Flat-Out Love, book #1
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Publication Date: November 17, 2012
Source: purchased audio
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

To college freshman Julie Seagle the emotionally scrambled members of the Watkins family of Boston add up to something that ... well ... doesn't quite add up. Only the funny, gorgeous, smart oldest brother Finn is emotionally available--but only online? Not until Julie forces a buried secret to the surface, eliciting a dramatic confrontation that threatens to tear the fragile Watkins family apart, does she get her answer.

“So we've pulled the chute, and we're drifting, riding the sky. It's just you and me. You can hear me now that we're falling like this, remember? I tell you that I don't want this to end. I don't want to land and reach the real world, because I like our world up here better.”

OMG, this book!  It's taking me much longer than I'd like to finish, but I'm savoring every minute of it.  I don't read novellas normally, but should I read Flat-Out Matt?


What are you teasing this week?  Share it in the comments or leave a link so we can visit!

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Labels: audiobooks, contemporary, favorites, flat-out love, gargoyles, gothic mystery, indies, jessica park, new adult, page morgan, random house, teaser tuesday, the dispossessed

Teaser Tuesday #56: The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Rae Miller & Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here are the books we're teasing this week:

Title: The Summer I Became a Nerd
Author: Leah Rae Miller
Series: n/a
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Publication Date: May 7, 2013
Source: eARC received from Rockstar Tours for blog tour
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

On the outside, seventeen-year-old Madelyne Summers looks like your typical blond cheerleader—perky, popular, and dating the star quarterback. But inside, Maddie spends more time agonizing over what will happen in the next issue of her favorite comic book than planning pep rallies with her squad. That she’s a nerd hiding in a popular girl's body isn’t just unknown, it's anti-known. And she needs to keep it that way.

Summer is the only time Maddie lets her real self out to play, but when she slips up and the adorkable guy behind the local comic shop’s counter uncovers her secret, she’s busted. Before she can shake a pom-pom, Maddie’s whisked into Logan’s world of comic conventions, live-action role-playing, and first-person-shooter video games. And she loves it. But the more she denies who she really is, the deeper her lies become…and the more she risks losing Logan forever.

“Aw, poor cheerleader. Listen, I didn’t call you over here to soothe your aching bloomers. I called you over here because I want Logan to be happy. He deserves it. If it means getting the girl he’s been hardcore pining after, then damn it, I’m going to make that happen.”

-- p. 166 of galley

Hmm.  I like this guy already.  Seems to me that Maddie needs someone to give her the what-for.  =)  Stop back by on Thursday for my review as part of the blog tour for this book, hosted by Rockstar Book Tours.

Title: Flat-Out Love
Author: Jessica Park
Series: Flat-Out Love, book #1
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Publication Date: November 17, 2012
Source: purchased audio
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

To college freshman Julie Seagle the emotionally scrambled members of the Watkins family of Boston add up to something that ... well ... doesn't quite add up. Only the funny, gorgeous, smart oldest brother Finn is emotionally available--but only online? Not until Julie forces a buried secret to the surface, eliciting a dramatic confrontation that threatens to tear the fragile Watkins family apart, does she get her answer.

     “Mom, I have to go. I think this Matt character is here.”
     “Are you sure it's him?”
     Julie peered into the car as the window lowered. “I see a maniacal-looking guy with brightly-colored candy in one hand, and he's waving a sickle in the other. Oh! He's beckoning me to the car. This must be my ride.”

This book is pretty humorous, and I love how sarcastic and witty Julie is.  Jen just finished the audio and gave it five stars, so I think I'm going to like it.  :)


What are you teasing this week?  Share it in the comments or leave a link so we can visit!

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Labels: contemporary, entangled, flat-out love, indies, jessica park, leah rae miller, teaser tuesday, the summer i became a nerd