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.

Anatomy of a Misfit by Andrea Portes

From Amazon.com:
   In this Mean Girls meets The Perks of Being a Wallflower tale, narrator Anika Dragomir is the third most popular girl at Pound High School. But inside, she knows she's a freak; she can't stop thinking of former loner Logan McDonough, who showed up on the first day of tenth grade hotter, bolder, and more mysterious than ever. Logan is fascinating, troubled, and off-limits. The Pound High queen bee will make Anika's life hell if she's seen with him. So Anika must choose - ignore her feelings and keep her social status? Or follow her heart and risk becoming a pariah. Which will she pick? And what will she think of her choice when an unimaginable tragedy strikes, changing her forever? An absolutely original new voice in YA in a story that will start important conversations - and tear at your heart.

"...most of those people were just idiots. Sheep, following along. Remember that. Whenever you see everybody clamoring in one direction, do yourself a favor, go the other."

   I immediately thought of Mean Girls when I started this book. I enjoyed Anatomy of a Misfit. It is a quick read that still has important subject matter. I did have trouble getting used to the dialogue and was worried that it would bug me the entire book. I did get used to it after a few chapters. I love the dedication of this book, I believe it's one of the best dedications I've read.
   I like Anika, and kept hoping that she would realize it doesn't matter what other people think. Anika fights who she is inside and who she thinks she has to be. She feels like she's spider soup on the inside, when what she really is, is a caring individual who's afraid to show it. She is always worried that her choices will make her an outcast at school. And I really like Logan, who I felt bad for. He kept their relationship a secret with Anika, for Anika. I even like THE Jared Kline, the most popular bad boy that every girl wants. This book was full of likable characters (even if they all weren't well developed.)
   I recommend this book to people who like Mean Girls and The Perks of Being a Wallflower like the synopsis suggests, but also to other YA readers. If you don't normally read YA but you're looking for an easy to read, take me back to high school book, this is for you.

Shine Shine Shine by Lydia Netzer

From the back of the book:
"What does it mean to be normal? This is the story of two odd children who grew up and fell in love, the way they fit and the way they fell apart, how he became an astronaut lost in space, and she became the perfect wife whose 'perfect' wasn't real.
      A debut of singular power and intelligence, Shine Shine Shine is an adventure between worlds, and a stunning novel of love, death, and what it means to be human."

"Sometimes it comes that that desperate state, when you have to cling to each other and be alone. When no one else can truly matter. She thought, Ours is one of the epic loves of our generation. Possibly of all time. Who cares if no one sees it, walking by? This story is a love song. Who cares if history won't remember?"

I've read this book twice and I love it. I'm not sure why it isn't more popular. I felt for the characters almost immediately. Told mostly from Sunny's viewpoint with the occasional snippet from Maxon in space, it did take a few chapters to get used to the writing but after that the story flowed well. It fills you in on the present, then jumps back to Sunny's birth. From there it's back in forth in time. As time progresses in the present I came to care more for Sunny and Maxon through their past.
     The story itself is captivating, add to it the ultimate lessons, a mother's love, being who you are vs. who you think you should be, friendship, and more, this book is magnificent.

You might like this book if you enjoyed The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky or Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes.

Shine Shine Shine on Amazon