Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park

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Title: Flat-Out Love
Author: Jessica Park
Series: Flat-Out Love #1
Published by: Brilliance Audio
Release Date: November 17, 2012
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Julia Whelan
Length: 9 hours and 43 minutes
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, New Adult
Source: Audible
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2018 New Adult Challenge, Lenoreo's COYER Big Summer Birthday Bash 2018
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon ✩ B&N ✩ iTunes
My rating:

Blurb:

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 Seagles 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.

My Review:

4.5 stars — Please excuse me while I attempt to recover…. *weeps silently*  OK, that probably gives an inaccurate vibe of the book…it has sad parts, but it’s not overall a sad book.  I am just a ridiculously weepy person, so I’m quick to bawling.  I must say, this is my second time reading this book, and listening to it might have been more traumatic.  The narrator, Julia Whelan, truly gutted me at times with the way she would actually speak out the voice breaking sections…OH GOD, I’M GOING TO START CRYING JUST THINKING ABOUT IT!  Needless to say I really enjoyed Ms. Whelan’s narration.  She did a great job with the different voices for characters, and the emotion she conveyed in her voice was just…gut wrenching at times.

I think I actually gave this book a 4 stars when I read it the first time, but I’m bumping it up…not sure if that’s due to the narration, or I’m just a different reader than I was 7 years ago (OMG, 7 YEARS AGO), but I thoroughly enjoyed being back in this world.  Even knowing the plot and what was coming did nothing to hinder my enjoyment.  I remembered the broad details of the story, but I think I forgot the subtle nuances, you know?

I loved Julie.  She had this snarky personality right from the start.  I both loved her need to help (and fix) others, and it made me sad for her.  I wanted to hug her and smack her at the same time.  In so many ways this was like a book about Julie’s growth during her first year at college.

I loved the relationships she formed with the Watkin’s family, but in particular with each of the siblings.  I loved her bantering with Matty, and the way they just fit together.  I loved her messaging with Finn.  And I adored the way she tried to help Celeste grow, and tried to get the family to come out of their slump.

The problem with this book is that ALLLLLL the characters are flawed.  Like, super duper flawed.  And because of the things they are dealing with, they all become a bit emotionally volatile in this book…and so sometimes the way they treat each other isn’t the best.  It’s hard on the heart, you know?  Because you want them to be better.

But I loved the way the book plays out in the end.  I was fully invested in the characters, and I believed in their growth…both individually, and their relationships with one another.

And while the romance was unusual, and *almost* secondary to the story, I still found it really satisfying, and the chemistry was amazing.  Damn, some good kissing scenes too.  I wanted to fight for them, even not knowing who and what I was fighting for.

Now I really want to read more in the series.  I wish I’d been on top of things and done this earlier, but that’s the way the cookie crumbles sometimes.  I definitely recommend this story, as well as the audiobook.  But if you’re an easy crier, perhaps near the end I would recommend NOT being out in public.  😛