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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
* your mental health matters, for a full list of triggers please visit www.linktree.com/rebeccarathe and hit trigger warnings*
At first I wasn’t sure how I would feel reading this book, completely on the fence. I’m glad I opened it, from the first page I was hooked. Started at 9pm finished at 2:45am
At first I wasn’t sure how I would feel reading this book, completely on the fence. I’m glad I opened it, from the first page I was hooked. Started at 9pm finished at 2:45am
I honestly wished I DNFed this.
There were so many issues with this book. First, there was way too much time spent in the past before getting to the main plot of the book. The main, present day plot didn’t start until about 40% through the book, and by then, there had been so many weirdly detailed sexual and physical abuse scenes that I was already kind of just over the book. At that point, it was just starting to feel uncomfortable to read, especially since this was barely brought up in the present timeline.
Secondly, this story was about a girl who was abused, physically and sexually, for YEARS and then literal days after she escapes, she’s getting intimate with her childhood friends?? What?
Not to mention the one of the MMCs blaming an abuse victim and saying some pretty nasty things about her, with his excuse being “his feelings were hurt that she left”. Like, ??
This novel spent no time actually building any sort of character development or relationships, it just spent all of its time with uncomfortable smut scenes that don’t match the content of the story and the graphic abuse scenes.
There were so many issues with this book. First, there was way too much time spent in the past before getting to the main plot of the book. The main, present day plot didn’t start until about 40% through the book, and by then, there had been so many weirdly detailed sexual and physical abuse scenes that I was already kind of just over the book. At that point, it was just starting to feel uncomfortable to read, especially since this was barely brought up in the present timeline.
Secondly, this story was about a girl who was abused, physically and sexually, for YEARS and then literal days after she escapes, she’s getting intimate with her childhood friends?? What?
Not to mention the one of the MMCs blaming an abuse victim and saying some pretty nasty things about her, with his excuse being “his feelings were hurt that she left”. Like, ??
This novel spent no time actually building any sort of character development or relationships, it just spent all of its time with uncomfortable smut scenes that don’t match the content of the story and the graphic abuse scenes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual violence
Moderate: Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault
Always Magnolia is an incredibly emotional story of second chances and survival. I had a hard time putting this down and this is definitely a book that will stay with me.
I felt these characters emotions so vividly. I felt their joy, pain, and sorrow. The book was an emotional roller coaster.
This was a slow burn, but once we got to the spice it was phenomenal. Dirty talk is my weakness and it was amazing in this book.
I cannot recommend this book enough, but be warned there are potentially triggering elements.
Rating: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I felt these characters emotions so vividly. I felt their joy, pain, and sorrow. The book was an emotional roller coaster.
This was a slow burn, but once we got to the spice it was phenomenal. Dirty talk is my weakness and it was amazing in this book.
I cannot recommend this book enough, but be warned there are potentially triggering elements.
Rating: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Wow, what an emotional Rollercoaster this book was. Magnolia. Matty, Ryan, and Dare have been bffs for years, but now her dad has passed, and she has to move to Kansas with her amount and uncle. They promise that they will make it work and then it's been Years and now Magnolia has shown up with daughter in tow physically and mentally broken. There is just the first part of the book that sets up Magnolia when she is trying to leave her husband. And then the author takes you back to the past. You see a lot on both sides of her struggling with her new homesite and the boys learning to live without her. Matty is Ryan twin, but Ryan and dare have aleays been together. Seeing them explore each other was so great to see and very hot. Matty sees no one but her and becomes a very different man. This book has rough scenes with sa and physical abuse. Please read trigger warnings with this. She writes Magnolia and her daughter perfectly, and not everything is rainbows when she finds herself back with the guys. Such a great book had me in tears. Also, the smex scenes were oh so good.
DNF at 50%
This one just wasn’t for me. I’m not much for past and present timelines and this one spends a lot of the time in the past following the main characters as they grow up. I think I would have liked it better if the POV was in the present with some important flashbacks. The past just felt overdone, with meaningless/more mundane things presented, with not much happening in the story. I just found myself kinda bored.
This one just wasn’t for me. I’m not much for past and present timelines and this one spends a lot of the time in the past following the main characters as they grow up. I think I would have liked it better if the POV was in the present with some important flashbacks. The past just felt overdone, with meaningless/more mundane things presented, with not much happening in the story. I just found myself kinda bored.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was a heartbreaking, painful and beautiful story. Noli had so much strength and courage to get through everything she went through. What I loved most about this book is how it focused as much on Noli’s journey with herself and her daughter as it did with her relationships with the guys. (The spice deserves a mention of course) but it was so much more powerful than just the sexual relationships they had.
It was a hard, quick read that I wish was longer but it was beautiful and I loved it.
It was my first book by this author and it won’t be the last.
This was a heartbreaking, painful and beautiful story. Noli had so much strength and courage to get through everything she went through. What I loved most about this book is how it focused as much on Noli’s journey with herself and her daughter as it did with her relationships with the guys. (The spice deserves a mention of course) but it was so much more powerful than just the sexual relationships they had.
It was a hard, quick read that I wish was longer but it was beautiful and I loved it.
It was my first book by this author and it won’t be the last.
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
The resounding message of the story is a brilliant one, one that we should all drive forward. Victims are not to blame, and the systems in place don't always help.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Rape
I really enjoyed reading this book.. This book dives deeper into domestic violence & brings more awareness to the issue. I really enjoyed the ending of the book. This whole book has been truly thought out & it shows.