Flat-Out Love

Flat-Out Love, Book 1

By: Jessica Park

Narrated by: Julia Whelan

Length: 9 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

©2012 Jessica Park (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Flat out Wonderful

What made the experience of listening to Flat-Out Love the most enjoyable?

Grabs your attention from the beginning and keeps it to the end. The quick wit of Julie and Mathew was refreshing.

What other book might you compare Flat-Out Love to and why?

"Hissy Fit", by Mary Kay Andrews

Which character – as performed by Julia Whelan – was your favorite?

Fin

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Computer Love

Any additional comments?

An excellent read, start early in the day because you will be anxious to get the to the end, but hate for it to end.

Loved it!

After a couple of bad narrations and poor character development in other books, I was in an audiobook rut! Enter Flat Finn and I remembered why I love listening so much! Excellent character development, wonderful narration… This is really the whole package!

Flat-Out In Love!!!

Would you consider the audio edition of Flat-Out Love to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the book, but the narration was perfect. It had me living every emotion.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Flat-Out Love?

I loved their banter, and quirky moments. Celeste's character was great. I loved the whole parachuting story.

Which character – as performed by Julia Whelan – was your favorite?

My favorite was Celeste.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I did listen to it in one sitting, leaving my husband ignored. I just couldn't stop listening even though you kind of know what;s coming. It had me living the whole experience.

Any additional comments?

This book is all that and a bag of chips!!! Great lighthearted fun and romance. I usually don't go for the romance novels, unless there is some vampire and tough love involved, but this was a great change of pace. It was wonderful and would most definitely listen to it several more times.

Predictable but still very enjoyable.

Where does Flat-Out Love rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

In the top 25%.

What did you like best about this story?

Character development, and the setting. I'm from the Boston area.

What about Julia Whelan’s performance did you like?

She has an easy style and it did not seem like she was reading.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Flat Finn's intruduction.

Any additional comments?

Good book, good performance, I will definately listen again.

Good character development

Nicely unfolding character psychological development. Surprises abound. I really expected something different but was pleasantly surprised.

Flat out fun

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would. It was fun to try to figure out the things behind the characters. They all had a lot going on. Yet I didn't feel like it was to over the top. Something as dramatic and horrible as what happened to this family will make people do funny and strange things.

What does Julia Whelan bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

You know I simply love her take on Matt.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

So that I don't give anything away I'm just going to say Christmas tree.

5 Gushing Stars

Gush gush gush gush gush..........

If I didn't gush enough for you then let me break it down for you, I kinda LOVED this book.

I've read so much YA at the minute with instalove, rippling muscles and lopsided smiles ( What the hell is a lopsided smile anyway? I mean try to do one now....GO ON ... see, you look like a total freak, do it in the mirror ......do you look sexy hmm? NO you look like a serial killer! )

Anyway where was I ........ oh yeah gushing haha.
So this was not the usual YA book it was a little bit different.

Julie gets a placement for a university in Boston, gets her bags packed and off she goes, however when she gets there the apartment she has secured is not so much as secure but non existent.
Good old mum calls a friend of hers from years back who tells Julie to go and stay with them.............thats when the weirdness starts.

So Julie is collected by Matt who is a quite handsome but geeky to take her back to the house.

Later she is then joined at dinner by Erin (Mother and a bit of a snob) Roger ( A biologist who studies the excitment of shrimps!) Matt ( Geeky know it all with bad dress sense) Celeste ( Matts younger sister who talks like she is in a period drama) ........And Flat Fin (A lifesize cardboard cut out of the older brother!)
This at dinner is all perfectly normal with everyone no one even bats an eyelid at FF, and they just go about their dinner as normal.

This is also a tiny bit wierd for Julies liking, but then finds out that Fin is travelling around the world and Celeste uses the flat version to compensate for the fact her brother is not there.

Julie settles in nicely and gets close to all of the family especially Matt and Celeste, but most of all Fin.

Ahhhh Finn .....swoon.

Have you ever fallen in love with someone you have never met?
After friending him on facebook and chatting regularly Julie realises that they are falling for each other.

NOW dear readers after reading that little bombshell you would in fact be doing the whole erghhh...... come on Vicci you told us it wasn't an instalove book.

But this book is different....... it's like a jigsaw, you know when you start doing it you find the nice straight edges, fit them together and then the fun begins, and there is always that last piece, that you can not find, and it's always there but it's hiding behind the others. ...THAT IS THIS BOOK.

I laughed out loud
I nearly cried
I shouted OMG at the top of my voice.

What can I say............but gush!

Heartbreaking and heartwarming

First, I love anything narrated by Julia Whalen but I truly loved this story.

I found myself truly invested in the dynamic between Matt, Finn and Julie. And I think you will too.

Nerdtastic! Best Narration!

When I read this book I "Loved" it, but hearing Julia Whelan narrate it...she brought it to life. I kept forgetting one person was narrating. The narration is what makes an audiobook. I loved the character Julie right from the beginning. If she were real she would be my best friend. The quick wit drew me in and the fun-loving bantar kept me there. Matt's nerdy geekdom and Celeste's intellectual calibur tugged at my heart and wrapped me around their lil fingers. This book is now on my "Favorite Books" list.

I Loved this book!

First off ... I am a complete Nerd, so I am a huge fan of Matt and his quirky t-shirts and awkward social skills. I can totally relate. This book pulled me in from the start. I listened to it in two days... I enjoyed all the twist and turns of the book along with the modern draw of social media. Jessica Park did a wonderful job of drawing me in and keeping me interested throughout. I have listened to the book twice now.