Book Club Friday: Flat-Out Celeste

Look at this! You get two posts from me today!

It's only because I really wanted to join Book Club Friday and share my review of Flat-Out Celeste with you.  After being a part of the cover reveal, I anxiously bought the book as soon as it was available.  And I absorbed it in two days.  I should say nights.  I stayed up way too late reading this book, but I regret nothing.

Buy it here!

Description from Amazon:
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.
 

My thoughts:
Celeste Watkins is an unforgettable character.  Even though she was not the main focus of "Flat-Out Love," she stood out.  Often.  I'm so glad to finally read more about her, and this book did not disappoint.

Jessica Park has created a beautiful voice for Celeste, and it's easy to get drawn in.  And how can you not adore this girl?  I guess maybe if you've never felt socially inept or awkward, you might not get her.  But I did.  Because I have.

I could not have read this book at a more perfect time as I'm currently navigating some friendship cycling and uncertainty.  This line hit me ... hard -- "Celeste, you are who you are. Don't be ashamed of yourself. At all. Surround yourself with people who cheer you on. That's all."  Such simple but powerful words from Justin, who is as big of a cheerleader for Celeste as Matt and Julie ... and that's significant.

I would love to read more about Justin, and I hope Jessica Park will write a book for him.  It was also great to get some more closure on the Matt and Julie saga.

I could go on and on forever about this book, I just loved it! It got five stars from me on GoodReads.