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.

Best of the YA Titles

I listened to Eleanor & Park (1 star), The Fault in Our Stars (4 stars), Counting by Sevens (Two Stars), and Reason to Breathe (3 Stars). Others see these differently, but Flat-Out Love was far and away the most enjoyable listen and the only one of the five books that I would recommend. I loved the characters, the story, the twists and turns, the personalities, and the ending. Well worth your credit in my opinion.

Re-read it right away!

I was up until 2 a.m. listening to the end of this book. I couldn't stop listening. And when it ended, I immediately restarted it. You'll understand why after you hear the ending. During the first half, I kept waiting for something to happen but because Julia Whalen is such a great narrator -- my favorite -- I was still engaged and interested in the story. Then you're totally rewarded for your patience in the second half.

Lovely story - but oh so predictable

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

As an audio book I loved it. I pretty much ended up purchasing it because of the narrator. It is a really good listen, and she deserves a lot of the credit. However, because of the super-predictable plot-twist I just wasn't able to enjoy it. I really liked all the characters, and the way they interacted with each other. They were all really good at the bottom, they just sometimes didn't act like it because they were hurt or whatever. Believable.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

It was just waaay to predictable. As I said, I just couldn't really enjoy it. The author gives us too many clues too soon. All through the book i kept thinking "this can't be the twist, it can't". Not because it's bad or anything, it was just too obvious. I was thinking about the plot twist throughout, not the story. I think that's what ruined the experience for me. Or, not ruined it, that sounds awful. It's a really sweet story - I just wasn't able to really enjoy it.

Have you listened to any of Julia Whelan’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes. I think she's my favorite. She makes the characters stand out from each other, but doesn't overdo the voices. She takes the book up a notch. This was another great one!

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

Flat-Out Love across the distance - or in your face?

Any additional comments?

Most people seem to really love this book. Maybe you won't pick up on the twist as soon as I did. I recently read something else with a similar twist, so it might have been at the front of my mind. If you like a sweet YA romance with likable characters, you should still pick it up. Julia Whelan does an awesome job. If you haven't, check out her other reads as well,especially The Witness by Nora Roberts.

Loved the story

If you could sum up Flat-Out Love in three words, what would they be?

Creative, relatable, touching and funny. (oooops that's 4)

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

There were many memorable moments. I liked how each chapter began with a Facebook status of the main characters.

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

Julia Whelan is my favorite narrator of all time. She is easy to listen to, and provides the proper emotion for the story. I especially like the way she performed the voice of Celeste. It appropriately conveys the child's social awkwardness.

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

I listen in the car, but yes, it was very easy to get into.

Flat out LOVED this book!

If you could sum up Flat-Out Love in three words, what would they be?

Here's one, Cheese-tastic!

What did you like best about this story?

I loved the complicated story line! The use of language and collegeate status words in such a heartwarming, tragic, and dare I say geeky book is brillant. The banter was genius and I don't know about others whom have read this book, but personally I fell for Matt instantly and not the infamous Finn! Maybe because we share kindred dorky spirits...

What about Julia Whelan’s performance did you like?

She managed to bring a brillance and a sense of realism to the several charecters in this book. A new voice for every one, and may I say bravo because I can picture those charecters clearly in my head because of her.

Any additional comments?

Jessica Park is a great author! She is refreshing on her take on the severely worn out romance novel department. Her charecters are complex, relateble, beautiful, inspiring, and I always feel sad when I finish a book of her's because I want to know these people. I feel like I've been bonded to them by their story. She is brillant, and I look forward to more from her in the future!

Great characters tangled in a ridiculous story

I would like to start by saying the narrator did a fantastic job and I have nothing bad to say about her. She was great from start to finish!

Having said that, I really did not like this story. It's a funny concept but how in the world could she not see what was happening? Honestly, after my second introduction to Flat Finn I was like "oh, so that's what this is..."
and I thought that would be the end of it. As soon as your audience figures it out shouldn't your characters be pretty close behind? NOPE! The whole book later it finally comes out and I feel like shouting DUH!!

Don't get me wrong, I Loved Julie. I loved her relationship with Celeste and Matt and even Flat Finn, but I just couldn't love her trials because I found the whole scenario a little too strange to swallow (and I'm a huge Molly Harper fan so that's saying something).

Great characters, not so great story. Thankfully Jessica Park also wrote "Left Drowning" which was amazing and that made me feel better :-)

witty and heart warming

just listened to this for the second time. Love the characters, the storyline is great , has an unexpected ending and lots of great lines. Would highly recommend this if you're in the mood for a romantic comedy!

REALLY good book.

Loved the writing, the story, the characters and the good feeling it left when it was over. Not light themes, not really YA, not boring. Give it a try.

Serious and sarcastic all at the same time!

I picked up FLAT-OUT LOVE in an Audible sale because Julia Whelan is one of my favorite female audiobook narrators and I had seen a lot of positive reactions from my Goodreads friends. I really didn’t know what it was about before I started but I was pleasantly surprised with its content and tone!

FLAT-OUT LOVE was a wonderful mix of serious and sarcasm. Main character Julie ends up moving in with a family friend (and the family that comes with her) after being scammed on an apartment listing for college and ends up staying there throughout the year. The story revolves around the family that Julie moves in with and their delicate balance of affection and stoicism, most noted by 13-year-old Celeste’s attachment to a cardboard cut-out of her older brother Finn, who is away travelling the world. I won’t rehash the whole plot but essentially Julie brings levity and a fresh outlook on life to this family and really breaks through a point where they were all standing still, holding their breath. I loved Julia’s personality and attitude. She brought a light to that house and so much humor, sarcasm, and high spirits. There were plenty of serious moments, as this book is clearly harboring some deep secret with Celeste’s quirks that no one will talk about, but I thought the balance was really well done. If this had been a strictly serious or tragic book, I wouldn’t have enjoyed it nearly as much.

Every relationship was really well-crafted. Julie is able to connect with each person in the house on a different level, even if it’s not deeply. Julie shakes things up and yes, breaks a few hearts by making them admit the “bad things”, but ultimately is able to show them that standing still is no way to live if you can’t ever move forward. I don’t really know how I feel about the romance because without spoiling anything, it gets complicated on soooo many levels and there’s a level of trust that was broken with me as a reader that I don’t think I could have personally come back from, but Julie is a forgiving soul and of course she wants to make the relationship work because it is quite sweet in its core.

While FLAT-OUT LOVE was a quick and addicting read for me, I really don’t have any interest in its companions. I tried reading FLAT-OUT CELESTE and her voice was just very difficult for me to at least listen to, though I don’t know about reading, and I don’t have an interest in FLAT-OUT MATT since it’s really just the same story but in parts from Matt’s POV. Julie was the best part of the book and without her, the stories don’t really have a draw for me.

I think FLAT-OUT LOVE is a great contemporary read and good book for those who don’t want to shy away from real life but also appreciate some good humor and lightness in times of darkness.

Wonderful

Every family has a story,. Some family secrets can glue you all together, while others can rip you apart. the secret with in this family all be it tragic, has been wonderfully put back together.