Synopsis:
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.
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.
Buy from:
Amazon | B&N
Review:
Flat-Out Celeste is a very sweet
story of first love. The quirky characters kept me engrossed in the book. It is
full of innocent firsts, harmless flirting and funny but sweet conversations.
This book has just enough dose of humor, romance, heartbreaks and sweet
reunions.
Celeste Watkins is still the
super-intelligent girl we met in Flat-Out Love, but we get to know more of her
this time. We get to know her insecurities, her struggles, her fears, and
pretty much what goes on in her head. It was very interesting to be inside her
head, and I’m amazed at how the author executed Celeste’s character. She is
easy to love and sympathize with. She portrays an innocent, awkward teenager
trying to fit in and be what everybody calls ‘normal’ but thinking she’s
failing miserably in doing so.
Justin Milano is adorkable. Yes,
I did say adorkable. He reminds me of
Matt and how different they are from the hot, swoon-worthy heroes in most of
the books I read these days (nothing wrong with that, but from time to time I
want something different from the usual). They’re easy to love, but it’s more
from their dorkiness than their smoothness in getting the girl. Justin doesn’t
try to impress, but I’m impressed nonetheless. His awkwardness is very
charming, especially when he’s on a roll.
Julie and Matt from Flat-Out Love
is here, too. For those who haven’t read their story, I suggest doing so right
this second before diving into Celeste’s world. Despite what most believes,
Julie and Matt’s roles in this book is not really a spoiler in FOL. In fact,
only a few details could be passed as a spoiler in Falt-Out Love. I applaud the
author for pulling that one very well.
What struck me the most in this
book is this: “Who the hell sets the standards, huh? Who gets to say how we are
supposed to be? Or who we are supposed to be?” (Read the book to find out who
said it!) So anyway, that quote stayed with me even after reading the book. I
might forget this whole book, but not those lines, mostly because I can relate.
No, I’m not super-intelligent like Celeste, but I have my own quirks. I used to
hide those, to fit in, but after realizing that pleasing everyone is an
impossible task, I just didn’t care anymore. I’m just being myself. But
Flat-Out Celeste reminds me that once upon a time, I’m a girl like Celeste who
tries to fit in and be what is perceived as normal.
So this book is a very enjoyable
read. It’s adorkable. Most of all, though, it is very relatable.
~ Zee
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