Book Review: If He Had Been with Me by Laura Nowlin

If He Had Been with Me by Laura Nowlin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Get a copy here!

AMAZON | BOOK DEPOSITORY

“Try to marry your first love. For the rest of your life, no one will ever treat you as well”

I don’t know if I have the strength to write down everything I felt inside me about this book right now. I don’t want to give any spoilers but… HOW CAN YOU DO THIS TO ME, LAURA??! HOW CAN YOU EVEN DO THIS IN OUR FIRST ENCOUNTER??? I JUST FOUND YOUR BOOK AND YET YOU ALREADY MADE ME WAILING ALL NIGHT. HECK I AM CRYING RIGHT THIS MINUTE YOU KNOW OH GOD............................................................................

Okay. Okay. I’ll set my emotion straight first…

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Okay, I’m ready.

If He Had Been with Me is a young adult novel by Laura Nowlin. The story is told backward with prologue and epilogue set in present time. The opening scene was already kicking your heart. But the next chapter until right before epilogue took you back to the past time to tell you every moment spent together by the main characters. Even though the timeline was sometimes jumping back and forth, surprisingly it was not confusing. Laura did a real great job piling all the moments and put it together so that every moment has firm relation and gives strong vibe to the readers.

Lately I’m having a hard time to finish a book in one day. There will always be excuses that forcing me to finish reading in 2-3 days. But once I sat down to start reading this book, I was drowning instantly. Laura’s writing style was so addicting! I was hooked. Totally hooked that only after one chapter I already set this thing in mind: I’m so going to finish this book today no matter what. I literally abandoned everything I was doing and focused only on this book. And Holy God… damn if this book didn’t fascinate me!

Having mothers who were best friends with each other, went through pregnancies together in spring and went to labor with gap only one week, Autumn and Finn has been friends for more than they could remember. There was never a day that they didn’t spend with each other’s companies. Anywhere, anytime, they never stay far away from each other. Having another people from school to befriend with never really appealed to them. Simply says, they were inseparable. Finn has been protecting Autumn ever since forever. Even though sometimes insecurities came creeping up to Autumn’s sleeves ―thanks to their classmates’ comments― Finn never gave a crap to all that and kept pulling her close under his arm.

By all means, I should have felt like an outcast here, a pariah, and Finny should have been the popular boy he is now. I wasn’t, because of him, and he wasn’t, because of me.

Growing up, without they realized, they became slowly apart. Best friends became simply friends became strangers as they were pulled by their own worlds, each. Finn was in the popular group while Autumn was in the ‘misfit’ group. Their worlds were just too different to be placed side by side. People might say that Autumn and Finn was simply an item. The inseparable one. Well, their mothers could keep imagining the future of them both to end up together for all they want, but things between Autumn and Finn were never as simple as childhood best friends turn soul mates. It was much more complicated than what appeared on the outside.

But what if the complicated things were never really there in the first place? What if their separation was caused by something happened between them long time ago instead of by the differences of their worlds now? What if things that caused them apart was their own self? And if they ever came to their realizations sooner, would things ever turned out differently? If they’d been with each other, would the story become any different?

The love I’ve tried to hold back breaks its dam and flows over me,
curling my toes and making fists of my hands as I breathe his name into my pillow.

“Finny”, I say to the lonely dark. “Finny. My Finny.”

My breath shudders and my eyelids close against the pain of loving him. 

Finny. My Finny.

I loved this book. I loved the writing, every word was chosen carefully and they were so damn beautiful. God, every single page ‘screamed’ love right to me! I could just add this book to my ‘to-be-read’ EVERY MONTH ALL YEAR…

I fall in love with Autumn and Finn. God, how I love their names both!!! I always love the name ‘Finn’ for all my life. That’s why the second I read the blurb and it said the male character was named Finn, I didn’t think twice. But truthfully, the blurb was so damn intriguing. It was so short yet hiding something that raised my curiosity to the max level. Somehow I know, God I know, it will end like that. But I held my hope high that things would not be like that. But oh, hell…

Autumn was so adorable. In certain parts, she reminded me of myself back when I was in high school. The realization that hit her surreptitiously and how she handled her heart with all the circumstance she was in…

"I know what I am feeling. I know that it is real, and in this moment there is nothing else in me but this knowledge. I’m in love with Finny."

And Finn, OHMYGOODNESS!!!! Finny and everything that he is are all that I ever want to spend the rest of my life with. His protective side, his understanding, his caring, his EVERYTHING!!!! I loved how natural the way Laura wrote every little detail of Finn’s moment that build up his whole kindness. Like that moment with worm in the sidewalk…

Finny used to ask me to go outside with him to save the worms on the sidewalk.
It bothered him to see them drying and writhing on the pavement the day after rain.

He hated the idea of anyone ―anything― ever being sad or hurt.

Ohholyheartfinnymyfinnyasfsdkfsfhjds! It was so cute it totally melted my heart I didn’t even know how to put it back together into its solid form… Oh my Finn… Finny with his kindness… Finny with his kindness and........................................

I cried thousand times during reading. The feeling I had during reading If He Had Been with Me was the same one with those what I felt during Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks. In the end I wanted to crawl into the corner of my bedroom and scratch the wall with all my ten long nails for hours (I might just do it if my sanity didn’t kick me hard on my face…).

Despite bunches of tear-jerking scenes; I found that this book had a lot of hilarious moments as well. Like the ‘table war’ scene, God, I could just imagine how it went… so dang funny!

The ending (even though it was nothing I pictured it would be) has something that will make you feel ‘alright’. Simply said, this book would be the right one that you’ll really enjoy its every moment.

Love, read, and review,

Cynthia D.

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Book Review: Pretty Girl by Amy Heugh

Pretty Girl by Amy Heugh

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Get a copy here!

AMAZON | 

I loved to read books from the authors I’ve never read their works before without finding out first the what-about of its content. I simply loved to make expectation based on the cover, though I realized it’s not always effective. I rarely read blurbs and only do when I couldn’t make any interpretation from the covers.

Seeing Pretty Girl for the first time, I couldn’t help but hooked by its beautiful cover (and also the title!). I interpreted the story must be those kind of sweet romance (almost fairy-tale like) with adorable couple. Something like that. Never once crossed in my mind that this book would be crushing my heart out thousand times repeatedly and cut the pieces into some confetti.

Izzy hated it when people asked her if she’s okay. She hated it when people called her by her given name, Isabella. She hated it when her mother made decisions for her. She hated it when people made her the center of attention. She hated crowd. She hated strangers. She hated liars. She hated to talk about her past to anyone. She hated the reflection staring back at her in the mirror. She hated herself.

Mason hated it when people judged him by his doings. God, he hated his own doings. He hated people with their needs to put the whole society into groups. He hated people who benefited one’s trust and crushed it in a flash. He hated it when his mother left him. He hated words of sympathy. He hated disappointing those who loved him. He hated people with hollow eyes. He hated himself.

When the two flawed worlds collide, it could only mean either of the two things: worst collision that caused indiscernible wreckage or good collision that filling each other’s voids. Izzy and Mason’s encounter could be one of those things. But it was only natural to push each other away in the beginning. They knew nothing about each other, yet they could make out what was haunting each other’s eyes.

“And, what I see, I know so well, and it kind of scares me, but it brings relief along with it, knowing that I’m not the only one out there who is like me.”

-Izzy-

Slowly but steadily, they finally became closer and together reached the gate of friendship. But to start a relationship―whatever it was, there should be trust given to each party. The question was, were they ready to reveal what they’ve been hiding from outer world under their quilts? While one’s secret was worse and darker than the others? While one’s secret was more heart-crushing than the others? The answer was hidden within their hearts, whether they wanted to make the first step to each other’s hiding corner and help directing the light to come inside.

“The past cannot be undone, but tomorrow knows no regret.”

Seriously, God. I felt so damn hollow during reading. I didn’t even know what to say. I might successfully guess their secrets but holy, Amy Heugh hid nothing ordinary behind the curtain! They were greater, darker, and scarier than what I could imagine. When I thought things couldn’t be worse, they were. I might just let Nicholas Sparks to share my award of most heart-breaking author with Amy Heugh. They both had done a very good job breaking my heart but giving me good life lessons of life to think about after reading. I liked that a lot.

The story began quite slowly at the beginning. On the first 20% I almost giving up reading but I kept going anyway. The heroine, Izzy, lassoed my heart the moment I met her. She has a really strong character and even though she was flawed, she didn’t turn into full time brat like most people with same situation. She might appear cold but she didn’t have a stone heart. And Mason, the hero, was one brave boy despite all the bad things happened in the past. I loved how fierce and keen he was when it came to protecting those he loved. God, Mason, come protect me, too please.

“You know what I hate?” His voice soft but strong.
“What?” I whispered, almost afraid to be heard.

“That you have to feel like that, that you feel like you have to deceive everyone around you for their sake only. Don’t do that, and I don’t want you to lie to me. I hate f*cking liars.”

Amy Heugh’s writing style is so excellent! I loved how Izzy’s recovering was described here. It was as if we were there as well witnessing every second of it. She didn’t narrate it in one straight paragraph but through pages of scenes so when we almost reached the end Amy was like taking us to recall all the progress Izzy has made little by little and it was overwhelming and made me want to cry happy tears. How Izzy and Mason formed a whole different kind of friendship, two fragile hearts protecting each other. God, that was so damn touching I wanna cry all week. There were just too many heart-wrenching scenes I was scared I might ended up curling in bed in despair. I had no idea that two desperate people could form a tight chemistry that led into a really beautiful relationship. But don’t worry there were also some cute scenes as well.

My emotion was totally played here. The tension was built real strong I felt like my breathing stopped for some good minutes and I was scared to exhale it. God, if you are fan of heart-ripping story, you have to pick this book right this minute!

The after-reading effect is quite strong. I have these repeated flashing scenes in my mind about this book that made me think about a lot of things in life. This book contained a very good amount of life lessons. Every word was written beautifully and full of meaning. The realization was one thing that I really adored of Amy’s writing. I’m having a hard time choosing my favorite quote from this book but it’s alright, I’ll just end up citing the whole book here…

Despite all the indication of heart-ripping story I mentioned above, this book would make you smile in the end. Well, I don’t know I just feel like saying this so a lot of people wouldn’t hesitate in picking this book up for their next read :)

“I realized that some people came into your life
just so they can teach you how to start it over again.

The day Mason rescued me he shared the words that gave me the power to do just that...

“... . I can’t tell you when it will get easier or promise you that it will be okay,

but I know that I won’t give up because I’m with someone

who gave meaning to the word ‘hope’.

I heard once that sometimes you have to go through the worst

so you can arrive at your best, and I believed that day for me will still come.

Until then I know that the sun will set over the horizon and a new day will begin.”

Love, read, and review,

Cynthia D.

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Book Review: Never Never (Never Never #1) by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher

Never Never by Colleen Hoover

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Get a copy here!

AMAZON | BOOK DEPOSITORY

This book is SICK!

And the cruelest book I ever read in 2015. Seriously. I’m not kidding.

I’m not going to dwell on the story ‘cause there’s a huge possibility that I might give spoilers. And people should not write any spoilers about this book because it will just break the spell!!!! Except, if you are those kind of people who’s fine with spoilers hitting you from every direction ‘cause you still can feel the intensity of the book. BUT I AM NOT THAT’S WHY I DECIDED TO READ IT ONCE NEVER NEVER WAS RELEASED!!

Okay, first, I’m going to make the lamest confession of the year (and it’s even still January..........).

"I confess that I have never read any of Colleen’s books. Or Tarryn’s."

Gosh, I suddenly cringe after I said it out. But really, I do. I never read their books. It’s not because I dislike them. Strangely, I followed them both on twitter and instagram. I even joined email-subscription to Colleen’s blog. But I never read their books. Like ever. Not even one. I don’t know why. Maybe because my monthly to-be-read lists are always full and I happened to always forget to put any of their books to the lists (and am pretty strict with my own list. Idk, it’s just a habit). Then news about Never Never came out and I (literally) made a biggest mental note to read this book once it’s released on 2015. I must be blessed. I read it and I REGRETTED IT THAT I NEVER READ ANY OF COLLEEN AND TARRYN’S BOOKS! BIG TIME! Omg, where have I been all these time........... ;;AAA;;

Never Never is awesome! I might have some (stupid) confused moments in the first two chapters of the book. I had to read it back and forth to match some scenes and names. But God, this book is bloody addictive! Every page keeps making you wanting for more. The idea of the story is real unique. I might have read stories with slightly same idea but there were some parts that made it different and stood-out than other books. And damn, I’ve never felt so dang curious to the level that I felt so depressed (but in a good way) (Gosh, my words must be confusing but that’s just what I feel after I finished it). Every word was beautifully written. The sweet scenes was so darn sweet I had this stupid grin that I should literally pressed my face to the pillow to stop it. And the writings were so hilarious!!! I laughed at several scenes that were damn funny which were EVERY PAGES. The POV is alternating by both characters and I LOVED IT! The main characters, Charlie and Silas were so cute!!! Somehow this couple reminded me on Margo and Quentin from Paper Towns. Tough girl and so-damn-caring boy. But in a whole better version! Even though Charlie appeared cold, the moment Silas showed his affections, she couldn’t help but feel touched by them. I really really liked both characters!! And Silas, Oh God, Silas!!! Gimme Silas Gimme Silas Gimme Silas FREAKING GIMME SILAS!!! I don’t care about anything that he’d done, I just care about what he do now (Nope. Not going to say anything more than this…)!! He’s just the sweetest, cutest, wittiest, big time flirty boy in the world !!!!!!!!!!

I may not remember anything about her, but I would bet her smile was my favorite part of her
-Silas -

My heart ached for everything that happened to them. I almost shed some tears during last chapter when Silas wrote the last point on his letter… Omg that’s just breaking my heart into tiny little pieces that was ready to be swept by ocean waves...

HOMG, I WOULD BEGGING ON MY KNEES IN FRONT OF COLLEEN AND TARRYN FOR GIVING THEM A BEAUTIFUL HAPPY FREAKING ENDING ON THE NEXT BOOK!! Wait.. next book? FREAKING GIMME NEVER NEVER BOOK TWO OH YOU BOTH!!!! YOU CANT DO THIS TO ME!! YOU CANT JUST PUT THOSE BLOODY ‘TO BE CONTINUED’ THING IN THE END OF THIS BOOK AND EXPECT ME TO BE OKAY AND PATIENTLY WAITING FOR THE BOOK 2 TO BE RELEASED GOD KNOWS WHEN!!!!!!!!!!!

I’m going to warn you, okay. This book has the worst cliffhanger in the history of ever-existed-books and you couldn’t even hate the authors for that. Trust me. That’s pretty much what I feel for them right now.

So please help me God, my only hope is that me and my heart can survive until the day Never Never book 2 is gonna be released. Until then… *smirks*, hope you feel depressed as much as I do. Lol! Kidding. Or not. Hahahaha...

Love, read, and review,

Cynthia D.

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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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