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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCES ~ UNDER THE MAGNOLIA TREE ~ USELESS AUNT & UNCLE
This SOLID 4-STAR RH checked several boxes for me...
✔ Childhood Friends
✔ Broken Heroine
✔ Small-Town
✔ Overcoming Obstacles
✔ Unconditional Love
✔ Second Chances
Also, so many times when an author writes a sex scene with more than two, it becomes so freaking convoluted I imagine the outcome as some weird contortion/karma sutra shit. However, Rathe did an excellent job using words to create easily pictured scenes.
Plus, I enjoy the use of messages either written, texted or emailed in books...it works for me.
WHY NOT 5 STARS?
First, and foremost, I am NOT comfortable with reading explicit sex scenes with underaged characters. It's not okay (yes, I skipped it, but was disturbed and trust me, I'm not a prude). Plus, the second sex scene was entirely too long and didn't seem necessary.
The organization of the scenes in the first 1/3 of the book didn't flow well...not smooth.
Even with these two issues, it was a great book. If you have TRIGGERS please read the author's note at the beginning of the book.
This SOLID 4-STAR RH checked several boxes for me...
✔ Childhood Friends
✔ Broken Heroine
✔ Small-Town
✔ Overcoming Obstacles
✔ Unconditional Love
✔ Second Chances
Also, so many times when an author writes a sex scene with more than two, it becomes so freaking convoluted I imagine the outcome as some weird contortion/karma sutra shit. However, Rathe did an excellent job using words to create easily pictured scenes.
Plus, I enjoy the use of messages either written, texted or emailed in books...it works for me.
WHY NOT 5 STARS?
First, and foremost, I am NOT comfortable with reading explicit sex scenes with underaged characters. It's not okay (yes, I skipped it, but was disturbed and trust me, I'm not a prude). Plus, the second sex scene was entirely too long and didn't seem necessary.
The organization of the scenes in the first 1/3 of the book didn't flow well...not smooth.
Even with these two issues, it was a great book. If you have TRIGGERS please read the author's note at the beginning of the book.
I started reading this books because i thought it was going to be a fluffy, light read. Imagine my surprise when ideas bawling my eyes out on a sunday morning, the pain and heartbreak was a 10
Characters:
Magnolia/Noli, Matty, Ryan, Darius/Dare
Synopsis:
Overall: 4.1/5
I liked a great deal about this book but my biggest complaint is how little time she got with the guys. The flashbacks and their separation was heartbreaking, as intended, but the time we got to share with them together was too short. Especially her and Matty. It took him until somewhere are 70% to finally get his head out of his ass and see what she went through and even then, we got very little time with them together. In fact, we got more time with just Ryan and Dare alone than we did with Matty and Noli. I loved all 3 guys so that was a bummer. I also felt like some of the events that Noli went through felt a little bit of a stretch. More as if the author was trying to advocate for certain things and it ruined the immersion a little bit for me. That being said, I'd still absolutely give her another shot based on this book. The characters all had a pulse and I just wanted more.
Magnolia/Noli, Matty, Ryan, Darius/Dare
Synopsis:
Spoiler
Noli and her 8-year old daughter, Jaime, run away from her abusive husband back her childhood home and reunite with her 3 best friends: Matty, Ryan, and Dare. She was initially separated from them after the tragic death of her father and put under the care of her psychotic, jealous aunt and her pedophile uncle. Her uncle, under the guise of covering up his nefarious behavior toward Noli to is wife, introduces Noli to his creepy nephew and her now husband: Josh. Josh prey on young Noli and at only 17 he rapes her and impregnates her. Through traumatic events, approximately 15+ years pass by and she seizes an opportunity to escape with her daughter after drugging him with sleeping pills in his alcohol. When she reunites with the guys, Ryan and Dare instantly rekindle their friendship and escalate to the romantic relationship they had always envisioned together. Matty, however, is still angry. He projected a lot of anger from his mother's abandonment as if Noli had done the same to him, not understanding that Noli did not choose Josh and was a victim all along. Ryan interferes and literally knocks sense into Matty revealing to him how she actually came to be married and the horrors she has endured while they were all separated. He confronts her and apologizes allowing all 3 of them to heal and have a relationship with Noli. Shortly after, Josh finds and attacks Noli while the guys and her daughter are out of the house. She fights back and wins but barely. She recovers in the hospital allowing time to heal and eventually ends up being an advocate for domestic violence victims. Cue the HEA.Overall: 4.1/5
I liked a great deal about this book but my biggest complaint is how little time she got with the guys. The flashbacks and their separation was heartbreaking, as intended, but the time we got to share with them together was too short. Especially her and Matty. It took him until somewhere are 70% to finally get his head out of his ass and see what she went through and even then, we got very little time with them together. In fact, we got more time with just Ryan and Dare alone than we did with Matty and Noli. I loved all 3 guys so that was a bummer. I also felt like some of the events that Noli went through felt a little bit of a stretch. More as if the author was trying to advocate for certain things and it ruined the immersion a little bit for me. That being said, I'd still absolutely give her another shot based on this book. The characters all had a pulse and I just wanted more.
Grab your tissues and your comfort snacks… probably a bottle of wine too for this read.
Always Magnolia is powerful, it’s dark, it’s hot, and it’s got a strong message.
This book has a lot of plot with a bit of heat mixed in. Your heart will break with the beginning of the book as you watch things fall apart for the group. The anger, hurt, confusion, resignation… all of it will hit you in your feels.
But then you get to watch Noli gain back the strength that had been taken from her, and the whole story itself is just beautiful.
Make sure to check the triggers, because while this a beautiful and powerful story… it’s extremely relatable for those of us who have been in similar shoes. That can be hard, so please please check the triggers.
Always Magnolia is powerful, it’s dark, it’s hot, and it’s got a strong message.
This book has a lot of plot with a bit of heat mixed in. Your heart will break with the beginning of the book as you watch things fall apart for the group. The anger, hurt, confusion, resignation… all of it will hit you in your feels.
But then you get to watch Noli gain back the strength that had been taken from her, and the whole story itself is just beautiful.
Make sure to check the triggers, because while this a beautiful and powerful story… it’s extremely relatable for those of us who have been in similar shoes. That can be hard, so please please check the triggers.
the way i sobbed reading this, but i would still recommend it to anyone is a sign of a truly good book. i went to my friends after reading this and just ranted for about an hour until they stopped responding to me, it just made me feel so many things. how perfect!
Always Magnolia was a bit different to what Rathe has written so far and it was so so good. The triggers are real and will leave you aching for Noli to find her HEA. Honestly, this storyline will have you so deep in your feelings you will have to be dragged out. The best part of this particular story was the healing. Noli shows such a big strength in everything she has dealt with and her healing process, I just love her so much. The guys and the intimacy was a big bonus. I adored this book so much and can't wait to see what is next for Rathe!
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
magnolia is amazing!
I can’t get over this book. It had me in tears a good amount of the time. This book definitely tugs at your heart strings . Magnolia is definitely a fighter she and her daughter went through a lot of trauma. Magnolia definitely had a rough life after her dad passed. You would think family would love and protect you but even now a days even family’s are just shockingly horrible. I’m so happy that through all the trauma there was a rainbow at the end for her with 3 loving mean. Boy did they give her some loving. Please mind trigger warnings this book is definitely a journey.
I can’t get over this book. It had me in tears a good amount of the time. This book definitely tugs at your heart strings . Magnolia is definitely a fighter she and her daughter went through a lot of trauma. Magnolia definitely had a rough life after her dad passed. You would think family would love and protect you but even now a days even family’s are just shockingly horrible. I’m so happy that through all the trauma there was a rainbow at the end for her with 3 loving mean. Boy did they give her some loving. Please mind trigger warnings this book is definitely a journey.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated