Saturday 4 May 2013

Review & Giveaway: Flat-Out Love & Flat-Out Matt by Jessica Park

Flat-Out Love (Flat-Out Love, #1)
Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park
Publisher: Amazon Children's Publishing
Publication date: September 11th 2012
My rating: 5 stars 

 

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.

I can’t say enough good things about this story! It was amazing! It has witty, intelligent humor, quirky, lovable characters, a very swoon worthy romance, and a mystery!

Julie Seagle has just moved to Boston as a freshman starting college but the apartment she rented in advance turns out to be a sham and Julie has nowhere to go. Julie’s mom calls in a favor from an old college friend, Erin Watkins, a successful lawyer in Boston, and Julies ends up staying with the Watkins family. The Watkins’ are an adorable dysfunctional family that takes Julie in whole-heartedly. There is Erin, the distant mother, Erin’s husband, Roger, Matt, the twenty-one year old MIT nerd, Finn, the traveling older brother. Then there’s Celeste the thirteen-year old sister that carts around a life-sized cardboard cut-out of her oldest brother, Finn, wherever she goes: “Flat Finn”. Celeste is a braniac, like the rest of the family, but she is socially stunted. No one will tell Julie why Celeste must take “Flat Finn” everywhere but she knows that something traumatic has happened.

Julie becomes attached to the whole family including Finn, who she starts chatting with online by emails and Facebook. Matt, or Matty also becomes an important friend to Julie, always there to pick her up when she needs help. Even though Celeste has her issues, she and Julie become close, and Julie makes it her mission to get to the root cause and help her. She starts helping her to come out of her shell and behave like a normal teenager. Julie is puzzled by the resistance she gets from Matt, he refuses to tell her what happened to the family to make “Flat Finn” necessary and he is reluctant to push any changes. In spite of her growing attraction to the real Finn, she can’t understand why he won’t just come home, so that Flat Finn wouldn’t be needed.

I loved this book! The humor is fabulous! Some of my favorite quotes:

Julie turned her head to Matt. ”You’re a double major? Physics and math? Jesus…”

“I know. Nerdy.” He shrugged.

“No, I’m just surprised your brains fit in your head.”

“I was fitted with a specially designed compression filter that allows excessive information to lie dormant until I need to access it. It’s only the Beta version, so excuse any kinks that may appear. I really can’t be held responsible.”


And then this swoon-worthy moment:

His mouth was soft and unhurried. Teasing, even. His tongue just brushing hers and making her tremble. She kissed him back, tasting him, breathing him in. Julie was dizzy, and shaky, and inundated with his heat. He made her temporarily lost, not able to see beyond the way this kiss felt. In this moonlit light, it was smooth, easy, instinctive. She moved her leg over his, bringing them closer together.

There’s more where that came from but that’s all you’re going to get until you read the book!









I loved Flat-Out Love and it's companion/novella: Flat-Out Matt. (Do yourself a favor a do NOT read the synopsis for Flat-Out Matt before reading Flat-Out Love!!)  So today I'm giving away both to one lucky reader.  The giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.  Just fill out the rafflecopter below for a chance to win.  Good luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

53 comments:

Lisa said...

I've always had a thing for bad boys with broken pasts, who put up a facade and hide behind it. One example is Colt, from Nyrae Dawn's Charade. Love that book.

But Matt totally stole my heart in Flat-Out Love with his geekiness and how he's very protective of Celeste.

Thanks for the giveaway! :D

Jen (Books and Other Happy Ever Afters) said...

Ooh lala! I've definitely seen this book quite a lot in the blogosphere, but I don't know why I haven't picked it up yet. I love it when New Adult books heavily involve family/siblings into the story. It makes the romance more genuine, I think! Matt sounds like an adorable nerd, and I'm definitely curious about Flat-Finn and Celeste now. Those teasers! ;) Lovely review, Rachel, I'll have to check this one out soon!

Unknown said...

I really really really want to win a copy of this book!! I can't get it on my Nook *sigh* Thank you for the chance!!

Unknown said...

oh because I got carried away..I totally fall for a bad boy. It's so cliche I know haha!

Anonymous said...

I'm a junkie of fictional bad-mysterious boys (I guess it also applies in reality, hehe). I should be reading this one, shouldn't I? Ooh! and those quotes you picked? I'm sold! :D

grass-harp said...

I love the nice and intelligent guys that treat the main character (and everybody else) well most of the time. Also, they're much more swoon-worthy if they are really smart and, well, intelligent and stubborn and if they like to read. William Trombal from "Saving Francesca" for example or Noah from "The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer".

Pooja. S said...

I remember this book. It was absolutely fantastic! So wholesome xD

alicia♥ said...

Flat Out Love looks like a really cute book! Will be keeping an eye out on this-- Matt, Julie and Finn are such adorable characters to read about :)

Alicia @ Summer Next Top Story

Christina Fiorelli said...

Christina K. in the rafflecopter

LOVE geeky nerdy boys who are eloquent with an amazing sense of humor - basically Matty:))

Thank you:)

Kiku said...

I love the badboys, but mostly those that are supposed to be dangerous, but are actually very sweet (:

nurmawati djuhawan said...

i love a col one but also protective :)

Bube said...

Bad-tattoo boy :)
Thanks for this givaway :)

ArtemisG said...

I love the mysterious boys and it is important to me they are the perfect combination of strong and gentle.
Thank you for the great giveaway!

Raffle name: Artemis

sshah605 said...

I love brooding / mysterious guys filled with regret over their past mistakes and tough exterior shells over a soft gentle heart. If all that makes sense. But I also love cute/quirky guys.

Thanks for the Giveaway!

Mary Preston said...

The bad boy with a heart of gold.

Katie said...

The bad boy who is secretly a softy.

erin said...

tall dark and handsome... with a bit of snark :)

RIN said...

I was going to say 'with a bit of snark' but oh look! That's the exact phrase used right above me? But honestly... you can't beat a witty love interest.

Brynna

Lis said...

I love the good bad boys! :)

Anonymous said...

I've heard great things about this book, but I still haven't given it a shot. You've definitely changed my opinion, Rachel.
I like the sound of the nerdy guy from the quote. ;) I think I have an inkling on why you said not to read the blurb for the novella. (I didn't read it ;))
Lovely review, Rachel!

Unknown said...

I need to read this book

Krazzyme(Young Readers) said...

OMG! I feel like buying this book right now!! BUT.. BUT... I need to control myself (going broke here) so I will wait and NOT read the blurb of the sequel

Love your review :)

Jules said...

That is a hard question. I usually fall for the so called "bad boys" in a story, but I often fall for the funny types, :)

Unknown said...

I love the tortured bad boys :D The bad past, the scars... LOVE THEM.

Sophia said...

I've heard many great things about this book! I'm glad you loved it so much, Rachel. It sounds hilarious and romantic--my favorite kind of contemporary! I'll definitely have to check this one out. It sounds far too cute to pass up.

Sam (Realm of Fiction) said...

I just LOVE when a swoon-worthy romance is coupled with some great humour. The quotes you shared there are brilliant! I know I told you that I have a copy of this one. I still need to make a start on it! Can't wait now. :)

Awesome review as always, lovely!

Vegan YA Nerds said...

I bought this for Kindle like a year ago and have not read it but your review is a reminder for me and I might give it a go on the plane trip :)

Keertana said...

I'm so glad you enjoyed this one, Rachel! I've had it on audio book for awhile now and I can't wait to dig into it, especially with that swoony romance! ;) Lovely review, dear!

Amanda said...

The funny and bubbly ones that always have a smile on their face make me swoon. Especially if they play an instrument!

Unknown said...

Bad boy with a sweet side :D No love triangles

-Dannielle

Unknown said...

I love the mysterious bad boys that have a sweet and caring side. Thank you for the amazing giveaway!!!

Bea Tejano said...

I'm a total sucker for bad boys haha Thanks for the giveaway!:)

Unknown said...

I read the sample on Amazon and bought the paperback. I'm a little hesitant to read it though. I don't know why. Awesome giveaway, ladies!

Sarah Elizabeth said...

Isn't it annoying ehrn blurbs for books totally spoil the previous book! I actually stopped reading blurbs for sequels!

JennRenee said...

I also love this book!

Unknown said...

This sounds AMAZING! I've heard such great things, but you got me even more excited by your review and the quotes. Oh, the quotes sound great. Thanks for the giveaway AND the review :)

Pam said...

I've developed a liking for the bad boys.

Unknown said...

I've had Flat Out Love for over a year now, but still haven't read it. I'm so happy to see you loved it so much & will definitely be moving up my tbr.
Great review!

Heidi@Rainy Day Ramblings said...

So glad you loved this as well. I adored it. I need to read Flat Out Matt right away, The romance is so,good. I guessed early on what was up, though.

Bevz747 said...

I loved reading bad boys, they are swoon worthy! Thanks for the giveaway

Tanja - Tanychy said...

I've recently just talking with Glass...I really have a soft-spot for books with characters with fucked up lives. I dunno...just want to see them get their HEA...They deserve it mostly.
This is one of these books and I really enjoyed it. I was so surprised with some moments and I cried a lot. Great review Rachel! :)

Veronika said...

My favorite is the bad-boy type with tattoos :)

Christine said...

I know I'm in the minority here, since most girls tend to swoon for the tattooed bad-boy, but I always swoon for the sweet, quiet boy :)

Maja (The Nocturnal Library) said...

I'm with you Rachel, I adored everything about this book, and each of the characters had something I easily identified with. They are all STILL very special to me. I have the old cover paperback, but this one is much prettier. Still, I've read mine quite a few times and I'm emotionally attached. :)

Texas Book Lover said...

I don't really have a favorite type as long as they fit the story.

Louisse A. said...

Argh. So hard to choose! I love both the awkward but super cute nerd guy (MATT <3) and the broodish bad boy. They're both so appealing! Can I just have both kinds of guys?

Mara said...

Bad boy type with sexy tattoo. Yay!

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Thanks for giveaway :)

Anna said...

A bad boy who has a sensitive side and shows emotions.

Raffle name: Anna Granberg

Aly C. said...

I love tortured men! ;)

Sam said...

I love the whole hot bad boy thing ;) Like Alex from Perfect Chemistry and Noah from Pushing the Limits <3 Mmmmm

Dani F. said...

I love sweet man, but also the bad boy ;D

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