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cfreeman129's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
If you’re looking for an obsessive, dysfunctional romance, this is it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction and Drug abuse
emelisa_19's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
The mental health crisis of the 21st century is clearly diplayed in the amount of people that like this book and root for the main characters.
I am so happy they broke up in the end. In my mind, they will stay that way because I have no plan nor the desire to read the other two books.
The writting is beautiful. The timeline and flow of the story is messed up tho. One chapter they were resolute on never getting back together, then the next chapter they are made up again, swearing to the stars this is it. I had this feeling that I missed like 4 chapters, which made me think that what was happening was not happening at all. Absolutely hated that.
Absolutely hate BJ Ballentine, biggest asshole I've ever read about. Parks was kinda nice in the beginning, annoyed me to pieces by the end. They both need therapy. The white walls, straight-jacket kind.
That star I put in the review is for Tom England and BJ's mom only. They were the only thing that kept me pushing through.
I am so happy they broke up in the end. In my mind, they will stay that way because I have no plan nor the desire to read the other two books.
The writting is beautiful. The timeline and flow of the story is messed up tho. One chapter they were resolute on never getting back together, then the next chapter they are made up again, swearing to the stars this is it. I had this feeling that I missed like 4 chapters, which made me think that what was happening was not happening at all. Absolutely hated that.
Absolutely hate BJ Ballentine, biggest asshole I've ever read about. Parks was kinda nice in the beginning, annoyed me to pieces by the end. They both need therapy. The white walls, straight-jacket kind.
That star I put in the review is for Tom England and BJ's mom only. They were the only thing that kept me pushing through.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Drug use, Sexual content, Addiction, Alcoholism, and Drug abuse
Minor: Eating disorder, Child death, and Infidelity
agonz225's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
genuinely mad i spent time reading this. the characters never redeem themselves and it’s just the same fight over and over again
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction
Moderate: Violence
letterpress's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
How is the weather over there, Parks?
I am going to try and explain why this was a 5⭐️ read for me, because this relationship was one of mutual destruction and quite honestly I should hate it, but I don’t.
First off Jessa Hastings writing is absolutely amazing, the way she is able to describe feelings without straight saying them is so buttery smooth to my synapses.” Pine trees of mistakes so tall we can’t see over them and rivers of things we didn't say so wide we can’t get around.” I can hardly believe his is her debut novel, I am going to need to buy more tabs, because I don’t know if I can handle the rest of the series.
Our two main characters are Magnolia “Parks” and BJ Ballentine “Beej”. They have pretty much grown up together. Magnolia literally does not remember a time she did not know him. Throughout the whole story you watch them dance around the topic of why they are no longer together. They have created an amazing family of found friends from boarding school. At times when they did not have parents to count on they could count on each other. My absolute favorite relationship was between Magnolia and her sister Bridget (she is my fav). I loved the way they talked to each other so much. Bridget is pretty much our voice of reason in the book, she is constantly calling out Magnolia and BJ on their dysfunction.
Their relationship is absolutely something I would never want a friend/sister/brother to ever go through. They both use other people as objects when they get upset with each other. BJ sleeps around and Magnolia fake dates. However, I can understand how fear can make you go to a level you never thought you reach. Magnolia is so relatable, I can be the exact same way and say things are “fine” when they are so far from it not only does she lie to everyone in that sense, but she also lies to her self and creates this false narrative of how she really is doing. I hope that as I continue to read the series she is able to grow as a woman, find her self worth, and demand that from others.
This is the first book in a long time where I tabbed and spent time looking up merch. Of course I would love the not romance/romance book. There is just something about the depth of feelings that they have for each other, that is so believable, where they cannot face a reality that they don’t have each other in it.
I would totally recommend this to someone who has experience loss, not just in relationships. I think you would be able to relate to the feeling of not being able to let go. I cannot wait to move on to the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Toxic relationship, Classism, Infidelity, Gaslighting, Drug abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Cursing, Toxic friendship, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, and Drug use
Minor: Death
0live_tr33's review against another edition
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Violence, Addiction, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug use, Drug abuse, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, and Grief
booksbymae's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Alcoholism, Cursing, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Alcohol, and Emotional abuse
mooncraftbujo's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Drug abuse, Infidelity, Drug use, and Addiction
Minor: Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Panic attacks/disorders
ljp817's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
This was entire book was so painful and my chest hurts????
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Drug use, Toxic friendship, Violence, Drug abuse, Addiction, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcohol and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Abandonment
aplunkett's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction
lealeatss's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
i would have given this book higher if the ending wasn't so stupid. i loved the beginning and the middle because it was fun and everyone was doing random shit but the last ten chapters were so aggravating.
like i love Magnolia, but please. she seems to have zero self-respect. just because it's a tradition doesn't mean you need to have sex and get back together and break up again in one chapter. Tom England WARNED you. and the last few chapters did not redeem BJ or the other boys (except Henry, muack) Magnolia deserves better than whatever that is, and even though Tom was in love with Clara, HE TREATED HER BETTER. also Taura Sax on top? that was so wild of her i love her. also, the brief mention of Julian Haites is kind of interesting (fell in love with him on the spot)
i think this is an example of badly written but fun and entertaining. i definitely enjoyed it, and i'm willing to put the random metaphors stuck into wildly casual prose aside because it was fun!!
edit april 9: the more i read daisy haites the more i hate them.
edit april 12: the more i think about this book the worse my feelings get. i loved the themes, the setting, but the couple is my problem. (3.75 -> 3.5)
i think this is an example of badly written but fun and entertaining. i definitely enjoyed it, and i'm willing to put the random metaphors stuck into wildly casual prose aside because it was fun!!
edit april 9: the more i read daisy haites the more i hate them.
edit april 12: the more i think about this book the worse my feelings get. i loved the themes, the setting, but the couple is my problem. (3.75 -> 3.5)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction and Cursing
Minor: Body shaming