Title: Flat-Out Celeste
Series: Flat-Out Love #2
Author: Jessica Park
Release Date: May 22, 2014
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.
☆☆☆☆☆ 5 Quite Fabulous Stars ☆☆☆☆☆
Flat-Out Celeste is off the hinges AH-MAZZZING!!! Jessica Park has blown me away with this fun, quirky, sweet and loveable installment of the Flat-Out Love series. I am “quite” amazed and bewitched how beautiful and inspiring this story is. I laughed, swooned, cried, and laughed again and was left with a big fat smile on my face. In this unforgettable and touching book, Ms. Park reminds us all to LIVE, LOVE, & LAUGH.
Flat-Out Celeste was more than finding love but finding strength, inner peace, and acceptance.
“LIVE THE LIFE YOU’VE DREAMED.”
Celeste Watkins is still the same quirky, lovable, and brainiac girl that we all fell in love with in Flat-Out-Love and Flat-Out Matt. How could we forget the girl who has quite a profound vocabulary knowledge and intellectually gifted? When I was first introduced to Celeste in Flat-Out Love, hands down she was my favorite. I loved her personality and everything about her. She stole my heart with how raw, open, and vulnerable she is. Fast forward to a couple years and Celeste is in her senior year of high school and she’s off deciding which Ivy League college should she attend to. She should be excited with all these Ivy schools vying for her but something is missing.
“He’s just stupendous. He is not only a suitable first boyfriend, but rather ideal one at that. Our phone conversations are quite wonderful, his emails detailed and engaging, and every morning he sends me a coffee picture.”
Cue in Justin Milano, a college sophomore at Barton College in San Diego. Justin emails Celeste in trying to woo and persuade her in attending Barton College. After a few email exchanges, it seems that Justin is just as quirky as Celeste. Call it fate or what not, within a few email exchanges and a handful of meetings, it seems these two found a perfect partner within each other. For the first time, Celeste is comfortable in her own skin. Justin loves Celeste for just being herself. She calms him and gives him light. And for the first time in her life, Celeste has found someone who understands her besides her family and Julie. A new Celeste is transforming!
“You’re calming for me. You can settle me somehow in a way that nobody else has. I can’t explain it.”
The sweetness of Justin and Celeste relationship is off the charts beautiful. I love how Justin allows Celeste to experience and try new things whether it be trying out new food or experiencing her first kiss. This new life Justin brings out in Celeste was truly refreshing and breathtaking. The growth of Celeste character is what makes this story beautiful. The raw, honest, and vulnerability of watching her blossom with the help from Matt and Justin is what is truly inspiring. From a shy, timid dependent girl is transformed to a lady finding her wings to truly fly and let go. Justin was the yin to her yang. They truly balanced each other. He allowed Celeste to see and find her inner beauty and strength.
“Don’t doubt my love. Don’t doubt yourself. You don’t get to do that. Remember we talked about the fight? You’re in it again. So win. Fight for yourself, fight for me, for us. For….for whatever you need to. But win this battle and win the war. This is not the time to give up; it’s not………….Everything is lined up in your favor, so I’m telling you, win the war. Finish it. You need this to be over.”
Jessica Park is a storyteller and Flat-Out Celeste is another perfect example of her spellbinding ways. Ms. Park brought life to Matt, Julie, Celeste, and Justin. These were not just fictional characters but characters that felt real. The raw emotional transformation of each of these beloved characters were felt through every emotions they evoked. Flat Out Celeste is one of those books that must be experienced. Celeste’s story reminds us all that life is meant to be lived. As a big fan of Jessica Park, the Flat Out Series will be one of those books that you can never get tired of re-reading. They will grip, touch, and stay with you.
“I am choosing a love that defies boundaries and a life that defies boundaries. That is the power of Celeste.”
~ Review by Michelle
Jessica Park is the author of LEFT DROWNING, FLAT-OUT LOVE, the FOL companion novella, FLAT-OUT MATT., and RELATIVELY FAMOUS. 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 dogs named Fritzy and Finn, and a selfish cat. When not writing, Jessica indulges her healthy obsessions with Facebook and complicated coffee beverages.
