Flat-Out Celeste by Jessica Park

From Amazon.com:
   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 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.

   I read Flat-Out Love a couple months ago and liked it. It was a little different than I was expecting and I love surprises. I read Flat-Out Matt almost immediately after and was somewhat disappointed (it was a good book, I'm just not a huge fan of "the other side of the story" books,) this is why I put off Flat-Out Celeste. Don't make the same mistake I did. I freaking loved this book and marathon read it, staying up too late trying to finish it, without moving from my spot. It was so hard to pick a quote to use for this recommendation, one that didn't give away too much. There are so many better than the one I chose, if you could only see all my highlights.
   I like the way that Celeste's speech is "affected," the most obvious thing being, she does not use many contractions. I can't explain why I am so attracted to this, but I am. I adored the honest conversations between Celeste and Justin about every concern Celeste had. I need books that make me snicker out loud while reading, mission accomplished Jessica Park.
   But mostly I was crazy for their acceptance. Everybody feels (to some extent) the insecurities faced in this story. I think it's important for authors to write about topics similar to this, many kids feel alone in these feelings and they are not. And they should be told as often and in as many ways as possible. I wish that teens will find this book, and others like it, while still growing into who they are.
   Flat-Out Celeste along with Flat-Out Love are books that I would recommend to the multitude of young adults looking for the next book to read, and for the adult who enjoys the YA romance genre. Fans of The Perks of Being a Wallflower might also enjoy this astounding book.

Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park

From Goodreads.com:
   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.

Please notice, while I found this quote in Flat-out Love it is credited to Victor Hugo in the next paragraph.

     When I first started this book I wasn't very impressed, kind of your typical young adult book. I've been on a YA binge lately, but this book stood out from the rest.
   The book description barely mentions the beefiest part of the book. There's something seriously wrong in the Watkins' house. Thirteen-year-old Celeste carries around a life-size cardboard cut out of her brother Finn, who is travelling the world, and has no friends. Julie thinks something is up, but Matt won't tell her about it and advises against asking his parents. Both parents work a lot, leaving Matt to take care of Celeste. After they see how she cares about Celeste they ask Julie to stay for the school year. In exchange, she's to pick up Celeste from school and hang out with her, allowing Matt to concentrate more on his year at MIT. When no one will tell her what is going on she seeks Finn on Facebook hoping he will shed some light on the strange happenings. So starts their relationship.
   Was the book magnificently written with beautiful language? No. Could I put it down? No way. The love story got a little sappy I will admit (I rolled my eyes a couple times) but the mystery of what the heck was going on kept me hooked. I looked forward to the progress Julie was making with Celeste, and I liked the dialogue between Julie and Matt. I plan to read the next book, Flat-Out Matt, just as soon as I can.