A burrito restaurant in place of her Craigslist-listed apartment was something freshman Julie Seager never expected to find on her first day in Boston. Especially when money is tight and she’s a stranger to town. Fortunately for her, Julie’s mother isn’t, and after a quick phone call, Julie is welcome to crash at the home of her mother’s old roommate Erin until she finds another place. Warm and generous as well as quirky and academically-minded, the Watkins family is a breath of fresh air to Julie and she fits in well. The family seems normal, if a bit on the intellectual side, until Julie meets thirteen-year-old Celeste and her constant companion, a life-size, cardboard cutout of her older brother Finn, who is currently working abroad. Despite this Julie is unfazed and becomes fast friends with both mature yet socially inept Celeste and her older brother Matt, a math whiz who attends MIT and spends all his time either studying or online. She even becomes an intimate Facebook friend of Finn, quickly progressing from writing informative messages to frank chatting whenever he’s able to connect. The longer Julie stays with the Watkins the more she realizes that there is something larger lurking behind Celeste’s behavior, Erin’s marriage to her work, and Matt’s lack of a social life - a mystery that once uncovered will challenge everything she knows about the Watkins and their dysfunction.
It’s been awhile since I’ve wanted to kick myself for not reading a book sooner but I’m more than happy to report that the self-published Flat-Out Love
by Jessica Park has broken that streak. After reading Julie’s sarcastic and witty reaction to finding a burrito restaurant instead of an apartment I had a good feeling about how I’d like her story, a premonition proven correct as I read on. A bit of a closet nerd myself, I immediately connected to Julie, who always felt like a black sheep in high school and hid how much she liked studying. With that in mind it shouldn’t come as a surprise that meeting tall, blond, and nerdy-and-proud-of-it Matt was love at first sight for me. Their witty intellectual banter (especially the math-related quips) scattered throughout the book charmed and entertained me to no end. The snappy dialogue also translated unexpectedly well in the Facebook status updates, messages, and chats between Julie and Finn. Admittedly I was in danger of overdosing on smart talk – really, was Julie capable of saying anything without sarcasm or wit? – so I was relieved when Finn and Julie’s conversations took an appropriately more serious tone in the latter half of the book. I also enjoyed getting to know Celeste, whose vulnerability and obsessive compulsions are both heartbreaking and endearing. The development of her sister-like relationship with Julie is sweet to watch. I may have figured out the family secret before Julie did but my knowing did not detract from the emotion-rent reading experience. There is deep heartache but there is also such happiness and rewarding romance in Flat-Out Love which make it a complete joy to read. I smiled, I chuckled, I grieved, and I sighed. I love it without reserve and hope my unabashed enthusiasm will help it find new readers.
Flat-Out Love is available in ebook format for $2.99 and also in paperback
. There is an interactive, enhanced edition coming out this spring in an app for iPod, iPad, and iPhone. To watch a preview, back the project or sign up for updates, click here and here.
Second Opinions
Angieville Review
Chachic’s Book Nook Review
Janicu’s Book Blog Review
One More Page Review
Proud Book Nerd Review
Rather Be Reading Review
A burrito restaurant in place of her Craigslist-listed apartment was something freshman Julie Seager never expected to find on her first day in Boston. Especially when money is tight and she’s a stranger to town. Fortunately for her, Julie’s mother isn’t, and after a quick phone call, Julie is welcome to crash at the home of her mother’s old roommate Erin until she finds another place. Warm and generous as well as quirky and academically-minded, the Watkins family is a breath of fresh air to Julie and she fits in well. The family seems normal, if a bit on the intellectual side, until Julie meets thirteen-year-old Celeste and her constant companion, a life-size, cardboard cutout of her older brother Finn, who is currently working abroad. Despite this Julie is unfazed and becomes fast friends with both mature yet socially inept Celeste and her older brother Matt, a math whiz who attends MIT and spends all his time either studying or online. She even becomes an intimate Facebook friend of Finn, quickly progressing from writing informative messages to frank chatting whenever he’s able to connect. The longer Julie stays with the Watkins the more she realizes that there is something larger lurking behind Celeste’s behavior, Erin’s marriage to her work, and Matt’s lack of a social life - a mystery that once uncovered will challenge everything she knows about the Watkins and their dysfunction.
Words I never thought I’d write: I want to read a self-published novel. But after reading your review, I’m pretty sure I need to check this one out. Thanks for the rec!
You’re welcome! Lol, love that my review caused you to write those words.
This sounds very entertaining but I too get suspicious of too much dialogue that sounds scripted, even though it’s fun to read!
I completely understand. It was almost too smart up until Julie starts to look at the Watkins mystery problem seriously, and then I was fine after that. Don’t let this deter you – I definitely think it’s something you would like.
I’m having that “person with good taste likes the book I liked” emotion. Sigh. I think I’ll leave it at that.
LOVE that. It’s one of the most content feelings in the world.
Holly, you are right on the money. I was a bit skeptical before starting out but I jumped on the bandwagon pretty early. This is definitely a gem of a find. I loved the geeky conversations between Julie and Matt and I agree that seeing Celeste grow into herself and become more outgoing was such a highlight. I’m definitely going to check out Jessica Park’s other book, Relatively Famous. I haven’t heard as much about it but I have my fingers crossed:) Great review!
Oh, thank you Flannery! I definitely want to check out Relatively Famous as well! I haven’t even read the blurb. I hope it’s comparable.
Yay! So glad you really liked this one. I’m always nervous that you won’t end up enjoying a title that I recommended. I loved all the nerdy talk in this book, I even asked a friend studying in MIT to get a nerdy shirt for me when he went back here for a vacation.
Looking forward to reading Jessica Park’s other books.
Chachic, don’t be nervous! (But i also totally understand.) When did you review this? Back in September? I wish I would’ve read it then. You gotta be more pushy with the gems.
I’m really anxious to try something else out.
It really feels rewarding, doesn’t it? I smile whenever I think about this one. It was exactly what I needed.
YES. Really. The love for it has not ebbed.
Flann and I read this one together last year (she helped me discover it, actually) and neither of us was very excited at the beginning, but it ended up being one of my favorites in 2011. I’m always so happy when someone else ends up enjoying this book.
It may be one of my favorites of this year – I loved it so. I’m glad Flann started it.
I don’t know. I’m still so weird about self-published books. Every one I’ve read has been such a bad experience. I’m going to file this away in my mind though. There may come a time my horizons have broadened a bit and I’m ready to go for it.
I totally understand, but I hope you get to it sooner rather than later!
Between you and Angie, I’m completely convinced that I MUST read this.
YES! Do.