CELESTE FEST! FLAT-OUT CELESTE BY JESSICA PARK

We're super excited to share our love for Flat-Out Celeste and we hope you can join us! We have a lot of fun things planned for this! Some events we have planned include: Take Celeste around town, Dress-up Celeste, Curtsying Contest, Hot Yoga Selfies, First Kiss stories and more! 

Title: FLAT OUT CELESTE

Author: Jessica Park

Release date: May 22, 2014

Amazon | B&N 

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

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.. 

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.

Our favorite Celeste-isms! 

Enjoy!

“I see that they are on a motorcycle. I have concerns about where the handlebars might end up.”

“Don’t worry. Nothing creepy happens with the handlebars.”

“I am unsure about this selection. I have not read these types of books before.”

            “Try it.”

“My expectations are not high.”

            “Then the odds of your being disappointed just dropped astronomically.”

“I will read it with gusto and a positive attitude.” Celeste nodded.

“What is meant by ‘nut bag’? Is that a testicular reference or merely the identification of a satchel of cashews or pecans?” 

“This is fun, Matty, isn't it? Cocktail hour is intoxicating." "It is." "I made a little joke there." - Celeste.” 

And a Justin-ism for the road, because he is so dang cute! 

“I’m not letting my woman of salvation travel around the dangerous streets unaccompanied. #chivalryaintdeadbaby #sendhelp #sendshrimp #hashtagsgoneinsane #hashtagsdonotbelonginatext #whatever I’ll pick you up at 7, okay?” 

#hashtagcourtneyout #hashtagshelisnext

"I do believe that I have a suitor"..."He took me out last night. Oh, Julie, I have had a sexual awakening!"
"Matthew and I were experimenting with cocktail hour, and it seems that things got a bit out of hand.".."Drunk may not be accurate, as I feel painfully sober and my senses are astronomically heightened by this hideous air travel venture."

"Make love, not war"

#hashtaglovedthisbook

Our Review

Long ago, in a land far away...(okay, just kidding, sort of) Shelley and I hadn't yet "met" and were both reading the same books by the same authors. This happened to include a great love for Jessica Park and Flat Out Love. Can I just say. I STILL remember reading this book...and then we read Left Drowning and loved it, and theeeennnnn, came Celeste. I am in so much love with this book, it is getting ridiculous. YUSSSSS. Mad love for Jessica Park and her characters and her writing.

Celeste is Matt from FOL's sister, in case you haven't read that one...but if you have...you remember her don't you? I bet you do, because she is a HUGE character in that book as well. I can't get enough of Celeste, because she is such a well written, well developed, well EVERYTHING character. She has character flaws. She drives the plot. She has insecurities. But most of all...she is coming of age, in the most riveting story. I have been in a book hangover for days! Little Celeste is now teenage Celeste and she's just so precious. I want to put her in my pocket and carry her around and love her and protect her and have adventures with her. She's just so interesting. (I'm intrigued by Jessica Park's brain and how writing this book was for her). I appreciated how Jessica Park wrote Celeste as a little lost and then through trial and error she began to figure out more and more about herself. She needed a little nudge, here or there, but by the end our little Celeste had blossomed into this more self-aware, lovely young woman.

Justin's character is equally matched in development as Celeste. And I don't want to short change him, but if we get too much into it, I think that it will be a disservice (sorry, Shel, say what you want!) but for me, seeing how things developed between them and how it all works out has to be savored and experienced without much of the ins and outs and hows and whys. I loved it that way. I couldn't get a single detail out of Shel the whole time. She just virtually patted my head, and prodded me to keep reading. Yes..no spilling of beans about Justin. Let's just all agree he's wonderful and you will absolutely LOVE him (and Matt and Dallas...such great characters). 

End note: I cried. Quite a bit. The story is so beautiful. There were lots of moments in this book. It was a fantastic, FANTASTIC book.

Courtney: 5 stars
Shelley: 5 stars

About the Author:

Jessica is the author of LEFT DROWNING, the New York Times bestselling FLAT-OUT LOVE (and the companion piece FLAT-OUT MATT), and RELATIVELY FAMOUS. She lives in New Hampshire where she spends an obscene amount time thinking about rocker boys and their guitars, complex caffeinated beverages, and tropical vacations. On the rare occasions that she is able to focus on other things, she writes.

Please visit her at jessicapark.me and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/authorjessicapark and Twitter @JessicaPark24

COVER REVEAL: FLAT-OUT CELESTE BY JESSICA PARK

We were introduced to Celeste in Flat-Out Love and readers wanted more! Well, more they shall have! Look at this amazing cover and take a peek inside FLAT-OUT CELESTE!

COMING SOON!

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

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.. 

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.

Excerpt

There was a knock at the door and Matt leaned in, swinging a brown paper bag in her direction. “I heard Mom made stuffed peppers tonight. Last time she made those, I nearly died from flatulence. I assume she stuffed them with her usual repulsive ground chicken, quinoa, Brussels sprouts, and pomegranate seed mix?”

Just the sound of Matt’s voice made Celeste relax. She smiled at him. “Based on the smell, I believe you’re right.”

“So you didn’t eat then? I was right!” Matt flopped onto her bed and lay down, his long body scrunching up the neat white comforter that she spent ten minutes arranging before she’d gone to school this morning. “I thought I’d take a break from studying and bring you something edible.”

“It smells like a burger from Mr. Bartley’s,” she said as she got up and took a seat next to Matt. “Hand it over, thoughtful brother.”

He tightened a hand around the top of the bag. “You have to guess which kind I brought you first.”

“How am I supposed to know?”

“Close your eyes.”

She did as instructed and felt him move the bag under her nose. Sweet, spicy... a bit garlicky. “Aha! Boursin cheese and bacon! The Mark Zuckerberg burger!”

“And sweet potato fries and a bottle of iced tea, but you win. A burger named after ‘the richest geek in America,’ as the restaurant calls him.”

“You will be the richest geek in America after you finish your Ph.D. Program,” Celeste said through a mouthful of fries.

“If M.I.T. doesn’t land me in a psych unit first.”

“You only have this year left to endure. And you will hardly find yourself in need of psychiatric care, Matthew. You are doing stupendously.”

“I’m scraping by.” Matt reached into the bag and grabbed a handful of fries and opened her iced tea.

“You are not ‘scraping by.’ You are assistant teaching classes, excelling in your own, and in all ways performing to standards that exceed even the high ones our mother set for you.” She frowned as he chewed on the fries. “Did you not eat?”

“I did. A Big Papi burger and a Fiscal Cliff. But you can never have enough sweet potato fries.”

“I have a finite amount of my own from which you are stealing. But I shall not complain because this was very kind of you.”

Matt chewed and studied her. “Are you okay?”

“Why do you ask?”

“No contractions. When you’re stressed out, they disappear.”

“I know. But most days I do not care to use them. If it is an effort, then I do not push.”

“Okay. I get it.” He chewed for a minute. “I heard your presentation went well. Did your friends like it?”

“It went marvelously. My friend Dallas took me aside to share quite the flow of compliments.”

“That’s great, Celeste.” He was downing half her iced tea.

“And then I bitch slapped her.”

Matt choked on the drink and desperately tried to clear his airway. “I’m sorry. You did what?”

She cocked her head. “I bitch slapped her.”

“That... that can’t be right,” he sputtered. “I mean, I hope it’s not.”

“I slapped my hand against her hand. Up in the air.” She looked at Matt blankly. “Is that not the right term?”

“Thank God, no, it’s not. I think you mean a high-five.”

“If you say so. Well, either way, it happened. You know I have trouble with colloquialisms, so I resent your shocked reaction.”

“I do know that about you, and I apologize.”

“Since we are on the subject, there is something else I would like for you to clarify.”

“Shoot.”

“What is meant by ‘nut bag’? Is that a testicular reference or merely the identification of a satchel of cashews or pecans?”

Matt groaned. “This conversation has gotten really weird. Could we just talk about— Wait a minute. Why are you asking me this? Did someone say that to you?” He looked angry.

Celeste picked at her fry. “No. Certainly not. I heard the term and had a natural curiosity.”

“Okay then...” Her brother crumpled up the paper bag and then smoothed it out in his hands. Then crumpled it again. “It’s the same as ‘nuts.’ You know, crazy.”

“Thank you for the definition.” She took the last bite of her burger and wiped her hands on one of the paper napkins. It shouldn’t matter what her classmates thought of her. Celeste would just be strong about this. She would move on.

PURCHASE--> FLAT-OUT LOVE and FLAT-OUT MATT on Amazon. FLAT-OUT LOVE at B&N.

About the Author:

Jessica is the author of LEFT DROWNING, the New York Times bestselling FLAT-OUT LOVE (and the companion piece FLAT-OUT MATT), and RELATIVELY FAMOUS. She lives in New Hampshire where she spends an obscene amount time thinking about rocker boys and their guitars, complex caffeinated beverages, and tropical vacations. On the rare occasions that she is able to focus on other things, she writes.

Please visit her at jessicapark.me and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/authorjessicapark and Twitter @JessicaPark24