Book Review: Clear (A Death Trippers Novel) by Jessica Park

Clear: A Death Trippers Novel by Jessica Park

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Get a copy here!

AMAZON | BOOK DEPOSITORY

p.s. I tried really hard not to spoil anything here on this review, so please, enjoy!

This book is…. OH MY GOODNESS!!!

I SWEAR I’VE NEVER MET A BOOK THAT BLEW MY MIND FROM EVERY DIRECTION LIKE CLEAR DID! THIS BOOK IS TOTALLY MINDBLOWING IN EVERY SCENE AND LEFT ME SPEECHLESS THOUSAND TIMES EVERY DAY!

…and it’s been almost two weeks since I finished the book…

Come to think about it, I never not began my review for any of Jessica Park’s books without bolded block letter initiating hysterical reaction. Well, it’s hard to not to…

Actually, what I’ve written above doesn’t even cover what I truly felt when I was drowning inside the story. I swear, I DID NEVER SEE THAT COMING. At all. Not even close. Nada. Period.
I’m not going to repeat myself because the only way you could feel what I really feel is only by reading it for yourself. Read it. Now. I mean it, read it people. And see how this book blows your mind. Every. Single. Time.

Sixteen years old Stella Ford realized that the role as unwanted kid had finally shifted fully beneath her feet the day her sister and dad were involved in the car accident that winter. After that, her dad, the only sane parent in the house, disappeared completely leaving her with her mother (who loathe her ever since day 1 she was born) and her sister (who began to loathe her unreasonably ever since the accident day). Living with these two family members who hated her to the bone was apparently beyond the bearable level. She was fine, really, to be hated by them. But it was not just hatred she received until this very day she turned twenty-one, it was also abuse and destruction that she suffered from some mental game her mother got her into. For five years, Stella grew up feeling insecure, constantly doubting herself, and was firmly convinced that she could never be an independent woman, ever. The day she finally met her limit, she decided to take off and never looked back. The brief encounter with a stranger boy named Sam Bishop five years ago was the only thing she had in mind when took off. It was not just simply common encounter with stranger. Sam Bishop, within few minutes successfully planted a wise advice Stella kept holding on for years. So there she went, bracing herself to find him wherever he might be now.

“You were not just some unhappy beautiful girl in a stairwell. 

You were more. You are more.”

(Sam Bishop; Chapter IX, Clear: A Death Trippers Novel)

Meeting him for the second time, Stella didn’t expect to meet a man with sad eyes and looking so lost like that. Sam was not the cheerful boy she once met. But it didn’t matter; Stella believed there was a reason for everything. And whatever haunting Sam’s eyes, Stella determined to erase them completely. When they thought they were finally able to working their way out of each other’s issues, another hurdle came between them. Something from the past, something that actually stayed within them every day, something Sam tried really hard to get over. Something dangerous that could be the undoing of everything they’d been worked out. Something that if compared, made death seemed more sufferable…

I admit, the first four chapters were totally wrecked my mind. I was like, What the heck is this? What happened?? What in the world happening?? What kind of mindfck game being played here??? Seriously, Jessica Park succeeded big time in deceiving me, just like how the mother deceived Stella… And then things became more ‘make-sense’ when Stella finally met Sam. I really loved character Stella here. I was in awe of her brave step to fight for herself, leaving the messed-up family with no plan at all in mind. Moreover considering her circumstance, it was awesome that she was able to pull the big act of saving herself like that. And Sam, dear Lord, Sam Bishop were so so amazing, so understanding, so determined, so loyal, so fierce in loving his beloved. My heart ached knowing he’d been through awful thing like that in the past. And I forever thanked Stella to stay true to him, accepting him even after she’d seen the darkest side of him.

“I love you, Stella. With every part of me, I love you.”

“And I love you, Sam. I am so clear when I’m with you.”

(Chapter XVII, Clear: A Death Trippers Novel)

I didn’t know how many times I’d cried for this couple. Jessica Park really knows how to create such loveable couple, even the flawed one.

And then around 32%, I dropped both my jaw and e-reader to the floor...

I literally yelled WTH over and over again with tears streamed down on my face. It was only few minutes later than I dropped my jaw again for the second time. Yes, the mind-twisting part had come and I could feel my mind slowly turning from confuse, disbelieve, and lastly, in awe. Jessica Park brought a whole new fresh theme in paranormal genre that usually went around the same topic. I am completely mesmerized on how Jessica Park could even come up with the idea. And it was so well-built! This is so original and fresh and awesome! BIG TIME!

One thing that I kept thinking about this book was the lesson slipped from what Sam had said to Stella in a hospital five years ago:

“Everything will be okay. Good things last, and the bad things will fade away. 

So, go find your good”

(Sam Bishop; Chapter I, Clear: A Death Trippers Novel)

Just no matter how messed-up things had become in your life, how awful the background you came from, how many times people let you down, know that good things will always last. You just have to find it.

I recommend this book for paranormal story lovers who want to experience the mind-blowing ride in a very original and unique plot they’ve never read before.

You’ll love this, trust me. Even me, who am actually not really a fan of paranormal story, enjoyed this so much!

Love, read, and review,

Cynthia D.

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COVER REVEAL CLEAR: A Death Trippers Novel by Jessica Park

Check out the gorgeous cover for CLEAR: A Death Trippers Novel by Jessica Park!

Title: CLEAR: A Death Trippers Novel

Age: NA

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Author: Jessica Park

Cover Designer: The Cover Lure

Release date: February 17, 2015

Goodreads

YAY! So the time has come...

We all know how excited and nervous Jessica about this new book of hers. Well, if you've been following her every update on facebook (I do) you'll see that CLEAR-ly. I first found out about this book when Jessica posted CLEAR teaser video on facebook last December and been following all CLEAR updates ever since... I'm citing one of her updates on facebook dated January 10 about what Jessica thought about this book. Somehow it made me more excited to wait for the release!

Author Jessica Park:

January 10 at 10:25am
For the record, I have never been so freaked about releasing a book. Never.CLEAR. It's SO me. And so not me. But I've been trying to listen to myself and trust in what moves me, and that approach has resonated with you guys so far. And, truly, I write for you. Yes, of course it's partly for me, but in the end, it's what you've responded to so far that compels me to keep going. I bounce off of what you've written me.And then I try to push you...You think you know what you want, so I'll happily give you that... And here's a little more ;)So you and I will brace ourselves and get ready for pub day, shall we? Good.Yes. Let's go find our good...

So, what is CLEAR about? Here's go find out on the blurb bellow! :)

Blurb:

Stella Ford’s grasp on reality is already loose, and it’s about to come undone.

When the college junior flees Chicago and leaves her toxic family behind, she heads for coastal Maine to find the one person who brought her peace years ago: Sam Bishop. But the Sam she once knew now has painful secrets. 

Stella is determined to heal them both. Healing, however, is a challenge when the walls of her everyday existence collapse. And when Sam’s best friend is his worst enemy.

When the line between life and death blurs.

When an end is just a beginning.

When lust and rage rule.

Yet during extraordinary chaos, there can be extraordinary love, even if that love comes with a twist.

Welcome to death tripping.

A thriller, a paranormal, and a passionate romance, CLEAR crosses genres and breaks boundaries.

Now you're curious?

Let's wait for the release date on February 2015! :)

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

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Book Review: Left Drowning by Jessica Park

Left Drowning by Jessica Park

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Get a copy here!

AMAZON | BOOK DEPOSITORY

EVERYBODY?!

OH GOD, EVERYBODY!

HEARTBREAKING AND TEAR-JERKING ALERTS FROM EVERY CORNER ARE ON!

DEFINITELY ON!

SIT UP STRAIGHT, FASTEN YOUR HEARTSTRINGS AND GET A HOLD OF A BOX OF TISSUES!

I MEAN IT, OH GOD. LAST WARNING, EVERYBODY!!!

Ahem. Okay. I’m done warning everybody. Then I guess I can start my review now.

Left Drowning is the latest Jessica Park’s book that I read. I love Jessica Park, I do. I love every single book that she wrote, I really do. Flat-out series has been haunting every corner of my heart for like months after I read it (they still are…) in a sweet, sweet way. That’s why I did not even a bit of hesitating to pick up this book to my tbr list this January. But what I didn’t expect was… THIS SHOULD NOT BE THIS HEARTBREAKING I SWEAR I WAS THE ONE LEFT DROWNING INSTEAD OF BLYTHE MCGUIRE!!!!!

Blythe McGuire never thought she would be this crushed, flawed, and unsociable girl for four straight years. Well, she didn’t even think she would be healed for the next year or the next one or forever. Losing both parents in a tragic fire accident and having a brother who blamed her for things that she’d done for them had shaped Blythe into loneliest and most messed-up person ever be. Blythe never had any answers for her future, she lost hope, lost everything, hell, she lost almost everyone she loved! Could life be any crueler? Apparently, no.

Miracle called ‘Shepherds’ came along to her life in one fine day. Sabin, Christopher, Estelle, and Eric. They were all siblings who soon became a group of people that Blythe was finally brave to call ‘family’. She felt loved, she felt secured, and she felt real being with them. No one had ever understood her fully like they had. Even her brother never treated her the way Sabin pampered her like fragile porcelain doll. Soon, Blythe became part of them as they became part of her life. But however she could not deny that there was one of them who outshone the others and was actually the one who had lifted her from the drowning she’s in for years.

As the oldest, Christopher Shepherds always managed to take care of his younger siblings in every way. It was always like that ever since they were still kids. Even more when their mother died from cancer long time ago. Shepherds siblings might look just like other normal siblings. Solid group, tight chemistry, little brother’s problems. Well, they’re just like the other teenagers their ages. Blythe saw it too that even though she adored them, she couldn’t help but feel jealous over their deep relationship. Something that she lost somewhere with James, her only sibling, along with the death of their parents. But something beautiful outside is not always beautiful in the inside too. Chris could not deny that fact. As hard as he tried and shook it off, the dark ghost would just come back around and haunting his future. That’s why when the attraction happening between him and Blythe became stronger and deeper, he felt scared he had to restrain. Blythe didn’t think so, though. She recovered well enough, thanks to Chris. Surely, she could help him back with whatever he’s been dealing with, right? But what they might not know that whatever he dealt with could be something that break them apart more fiercely or might be something that could bond them tighter than before.

God, this story is so intense in every way. I would not dwell into the heartbreaking parts (I had enough, surely, you could see my intro? Yes, I definitely had enough). Instead I’ll talk about the other things. The characters are all amazing! Blythe is really tough girl. Truthfully, I was a bit indifferent to her in the beginning. I just thought like, ‘wow, what a really messed-up girl she is’. But slowly, Jessica Park made me love her by peeling the layers covering her inner identity. The tough, loyal, and caring girl. And as for Chris, *sigh*, Oh Chris… I kind of have a hate/love relationship with him. I loved him, I do. But every time I was reminded of his high level insecurity, I just felt bad, angry, crushed, stepped-under-iron-boots-crushed for him. I give thousand stars in the sky and sea to Blythe for her constant understanding and undying love for Chris. Chris was appeared strong and brave in the beginning, but as his dark past slowly revealed, he was shown a bit confusing I feel like banging my head to his so it could knocked some senses into his mind that he was the most adorable person who deserved loves from the whole world for his sacrifice, then I would (no doubt) kiss him better forever. Yes, that maybe could show much how I feel about Chris. And Sabin, oh God, Sabin!!!

I WANT A SABIN IN MY LIFE!!!

The other characters are all adorable. Estelle is funny as hell. Together with her siblings they made the most wanted siblings in the world!

Even though the heart-crushing scenes were everywhere, okay, I repeat it, EVERYWHERE, I found some dang funny scenes as well. This is what I love from Jessica’s books! Her jokes are so natural; it is just flowing in every corner. So, even when I had the ugliest tear-streaked face I ever had, I could still laugh and grin at some silly scenes. And the secrets and revelations, Jessica made a wonderful job putting all the scenes clicked in the right places!

I raised both my hands in the air and literally yelled in victory once I reached the ending. BECAUSE IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL I FELT LIKE KISSING SOMEONE’S FOREHEAD LIKE THOSE FOOTBALL PLAYERS DID WHEN THEY WON! No cliffhanger, I assure you. So, go ahead pick the book, box of tissues, and pom-poms for celebrating the ending. It’s just simple like that.

Anyway, while reading this I couldn’t help but making a mental playlist for Left Drowning. And I am surprised that all of them was Relient K’s songs. But when I listened to them again, yes, definitely, they really suit Blythe and Chris’s story so much! Here are some lines from one of the songs that really suits what Chris has in mind for Blythe in the end:

“And sometimes I think that I’m not any good at all
And sometimes I wonder why, why I’m even here at all

But then you assure me,



And when I think that I can’t do this
I’m a little more than useless.



And do something right
You promise me that I’ll get through this

Do something right for once”


― More Than Useless, Relient K (Album: MmHmm, 2004)

The whole playlist is here (I know maybe it was just me who think this playlist suits the book perfectly but I can’t help putting it here. I just feel like sharing… *curling up in bed*):

• Forward Motion
• Curl Up and Die (Oh God, this really suits the intense heartbreaking scenes!)
• Be My Escape (Somehow I feel like this is Chris’s song in his every despairs but he wasn’t religious, so yeah…)
• There Was No Thief (Chris’s song omg when he messed up a bit)
• At Least We Made It This Far (Blythe’s song for rooting her love for Chris)
• You’ll Always Be My Best Friend
• More than Useless
• I’m Taking You with Me
• The Best Thing 

So, yeah, no doubt, five stars for Left Drowning! 

Love, read, and review,

Cynthia D.

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Book Review: Flat-Out Celeste (Flat-Out #2) by Jessica Park

Flat-Out Celeste by Jessica Park

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Get a copy here!

AMAZON | BOOK DEPOSITORY

I LOVE THIS BOOK!

I FREAKING LOVE THIS BOOK THAT IT HURT WHEN I REACHED THE LAST PAGE

‘CAUSE I NEVER WANT TO STOP READING THIS!!!

Okay. So I meant it when I said I never want to stop reading Flat-out Celeste. I had to resist myself from reading this for the nth times. I’ve freaking fallen in love with Flat-out Love and Flat-out Matt. I had to go out with swollen eyes for two days because of the ugly crying I’d done the night before caused by those two books. But with Flat-out Celeste… I am not just in love with this book. I am freaking falling deeply-fiercely-awfully in unconditional love with it.

When I first met Celeste on FoL, I just fell in love with her character. Heck, I think the Watkins kids are all so loveable. Even Finn who’s not present on the book physically, I liked him a lot. I felt really bad for Celeste on the first book. So when I found out that Celeste has her own story, I was so eager to witness her happiness slowly formed. And damn IT DID BEAUTIFULLY!

Celeste has grown up into a beautiful and socially-still-awkward teenager. Her being genius and has a very unique way of speaking makes her classmates raise their eyebrows at her every moves. High school life is like her personal torture. She only wants to skip every day to finally enter the college that she believes will offer more friendly surroundings. Pulling herself away too long from social life for years has affected her behavior now. None of her friends want to really befriend her. Not the girls. Not the boys as well. The only friend who wants to talk to her is this cheerful pink-haired girl who likes saying ‘cool beans’. Celeste knows she has no hopes left in her last year of high school, both of having friends or some romance. Not that she cares anyway. She’s fine with how her classmates treat her. She always prefers being unnoticed and unaffected. But everything has limits. Celeste finally meets the day when she could no longer want to be unnoticed and could not help but affected by all the negative treats. Most importantly, she finally blurts out that she wants to meet someone romantically.

With her witty aura, she goes around ‘reinventing’ herself by doing some stuff like trying out yoga session and attending audition for a local band ―which both ended up in total failures. Matthew, her brother, always encourages her to not worry too much over everything especially over ‘the dating’ thing. But being Celeste, she will always be critical about anything, and that’s including ‘that one dating’ thing.

”You don’t need to give a crap about universal anything.

You give a crap when you have love that defies boundaries.” 

-Matt Watkins-

Justin Milano comes to her life in a rather unique way; well, as unique as his personality. Being that-one-different-friend in his own friends circle, Justin never cares about that. He won over his own demon long time ago. Meeting Celeste has brought a whole new experience of being loved completely. Justin found himself loved not just by his cheerful personality but also by the quirks as well. This is the first time and Celeste is definitely a very special girl. Her positive attitude is what he loves the most. Unfortunately, the girl herself could not see the special on her. Using his own past experience and with love that slowly but steadily grows up between them; Justin will do just anything to make Celeste see what he’s been seeing on her. The special Celeste, the loveable Celeste. Love will conquer all in the end, right?

“… I want to destroy anyone who has hurt you for a dumb reason like just being yourself. What? Do we want the entire universe made up of people who are all clones of each other?” 

-Justin Milano-

Good Lord. THIS STORY HIT ME IN ALL THE RIGHT PLACES. Mind, heart, everywhere! I would never imagine Celeste to end up with anybody else but someone like Justin. I mean, Oh God, they’re just abso-freaking-lutely perfect for each other, DON’T YOU THINK SO??? Jessica Park is bloody genius for creating such couple that really different, unique, pure, cute, adorable, ultra-cute, sweet, omg did I mention ‘cute’ already? Just Celeste is enough for making me rate this book with thousands stars in the whole Milky Way but she just had to add Justin as well… with his speech about love… please, have some merci on me…

Ooo Celeste and Justin lookalike :); 
Source: Google (Not mine)

“… love comes from the way differences interact. How we bounce off of each other, challenge each other, and how we push and pull. It’s through those tensions that we connect with others and with ourselves. And that’s how we fall in love. Because there is magic in diversity.” 

-Justin Milano-

I’ve read and love bunch of young-adult romances in my life. But Flat-Out Celeste brings my taste to another level of loving YA-romance (and I don’t have any idea if there will be any YA books that I can put along with this awesome book, except, if Jessica decides to write another flat-out books…). The romance is really strong. Too strong. God, it’s too strong I would do just ANYTHING to have my own Justin Milano…

“Hey, Celeste?”

“Hey, Justin?”

“Are you all right?”

“Yes, I’m very much all right.”

“Then I’m very all right, too.”

God… can it be any sweeter? Yes, it can.

“Why are you nervous?”

He squeezed her hand. “Because I’m going to kiss you.”

A touch of a smile crossed his lips. “And I better do

a good job because I want you to like it.”

Celeste’s voice was shaky. “I feel sure that I will.”

“How could you know that?”

“Because it is you.”

Something a little bit cute-cheesy?

“You could wear a garbage bag, and I wouldn’t mind a bit.” 

-Justin Milano-

And for the final touch…

Justin : “I am falling so in love with you.”

Celeste : “I am, unequivocally and wholly falling in love with you, too.”

At some parts it was so dang funny I could not help laughing out loud. I really really reallyyy love Jessica’s writing style in Flat-Out series. The idea of Celeste’s eccentricities is so fresh. And I love it that Watkins family here was described happier. God, that reaction of Celeste’s parents whenever Justin’s around was so damn funny! But you could never miss the sad part in a romance book, so in Flat-Out Celeste, Jessica has provided enough tear-jerking and emotionally-touching scenes in several parts. I smiled, I laughed, I cried, and all the mixed-feeling happened when I read this book. Along with so many lessons that you could get from this book, it’s like a complete package you wouldn’t ask for more.

I never felt this happy writing a review before. I had so many things in my mind that was in the edge of exploding soon and I found it rather hard to put them into proper words. That’s why it took me so long to finish this review. Even after weeks, I could still feel my emotions jumping to every direction when I recalled every sentence of the book.

Every single stars in the galaxy for this book, definitely! 

Love, read, and review,

Cynthia D.

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