Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Book Review: Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park

Flat-Out Love
Author:  Jessica Park
Publisher:  Self-published
Publication Date:  April 11, 2011

From Goodreads:
He was tall, at least six feet, with dirty blond hair that hung over his eyes. His T-shirt read Nietzsche Is My Homeboy.

So, that was Matt. Who Julie Seagle likes. A lot. But there is also Finn. Who she flat out loves.

Complicated? Awkward? Completely.

But really, how was this freshly-minted Boston transplant and newbie college freshman supposed to know that she would end up living with the family of an old friend of her mother's? This was all supposed to be temporary. Julie wasn't supposed to be important to the Watkins family, or to fall in love with one of the brothers. Especially the one she's never quite met. But what does that really matter? Finn gets her, like no one ever has before. They have connection.

But here's the thing about love, in all its twisty, bumpy permutations—it always throws you a few curves. And no one ever escapes unscathed.

New York Times Best-selling author Jessica Park mines the territory of love’s growing pains with wit, sharp insights, and a discernible heat and heartbeat. 


Review:
I loved this book.  I loved the quirky characters, unique plot, and unconventional love triangle.  I felt such a connection with all of them.  Julie is smart and independent, away from home for the first time and finding herself suddenly part of this very eccentric, dysfunctional family.  She's a bit pushy, but she cares and ends up becoming exactly what each one of them  needs.  Celeste is the thirteen-year-old whose just trying to cope in a very unusual way.  And Matt, oh Matt, how I felt for him.  Having to play the grown-up (his parents are absent a lot, both physically and mentally) and take care of Celeste, along with his studies at MIT.  His choice of t-shirt always made me smile.  And then there's Finn, the traveling brother who everyone misses and who Julie starts feeling a connection with over e-mail.  I loved their exchanges and I also loved her conversations and bantering with Matt, who is just such a lovable geek.  (How many times can I use some variation of the word love?)

This book evoked such emotions from me.  I laughed, got teary-eyed, smiled, said awwww.  
Even if you figure out the secret early on (which I did for some reason, I never do that) it will not keep you from absolutely loving this book (ok that was the the sixth time).  It will stick with you for a long time.  And I'm not one to reread a book, but I will definitely be rereading this one.  


Posted by:  Pam

18 comments:

  1. Hmm, I usually veer away from self published books, but maybe that is a mistake! How did you come across this one, out of curiosity? It sounds really good!

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    1. I haven't read too many self-published books, either. I generally stay away from them unless I've heard great things about them and this is one of those. I don't remember where I heard about it specifically, but I just kept seeing it around and reading rave reviews so I thought I would try it (and it was free for prime members on Amazon so I thought, why not?. Self-published can definitely be hit or miss. ~Pam

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  2. I also tend to shy away from self-published. Which I'm sure means I'm missing out on a lot of great books... But this sounds great! I will have to give it a try after all those "loves" :)

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    1. Yeah, I went a bit over the top, but this book really surprised me. I hope you enjoy it if you read it! ~Pam

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  3. I got this one a while ago when it was free, I think. It doesn't really look self-published, which I think helps. I've heard good things, but haven't read it. I'll definitely have to get to it sooner rather than later. Thanks for the review!

    Tressa @ Tressa's Wishful Endings

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  4. I think I saw this one somewhere, can't remember where - possibly amazon but didn't end up getting it. Now I am really regretting it, and think I may have to check it out! Great review! =D

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    1. Not that you can't tell from my review, but I definitely recommend it! ~Pam

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  5. Alright, sold. I've heard about this one, but never gave it a lot of thought. I'll try to track down a copy. It's always so nice to find a book you love. :)

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  6. I can't believe I haven't read this book yet! It definitely just got moved up on my 'to-buy' list :)

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    1. So many great books out there, it's always hard to decide what to read! ~Pam

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  7. These characters sound so fun!! I've been seeing this book around, and everyone praises what an adorable read it is! Will be checking it out =)

    Alicia @ Summer Next Top Story

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    1. The characters are really what make this book so good. ~Pam

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  8. Wow I have had this book sitting on my book shelf for 1 maybe even 2 years and now I feel like I need to read it ASAP!! It never really caught my attention enough to actually read it though it must have caught it as some point because I picked it up at the bookstore without ever having heard anything about it!

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    1. I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. Hope you end up liking it! ~Pam

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  9. I think I will like this book so I just added it to my TBR. Goodreads says it's not a standalone which is unusual for Contemporary, but if it's so good then I guess that's a good thing!

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    1. Let me know what you think after you read it...I hope you enjoy it! It's a stand-alone as far as I know, but there is a novella from Matt's POV. Maybe that's what they mean? Let me know if there's something else. ~Pam

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