Reviews with content warning for Infidelity - Magnolia Parks

Reviews tagging 'Infidelity'

Magnolia Parks by Jessa Hastings

115 reviews

heidi_fischer's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad 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

2.5

⭐️2.5 - Beautiful writing. It’s actually not fair that such a toxic plot is written so poetically. I want to read the whole series just for that reason. That being said…

• Plot - TOXIC. Stomach churning, vomit worthy, toxic.

• Characters - Flat. Magnolia is off in delulu land, which is semi-justifiable due to the fact she’s dating a textbook narcissist. That, and maybe because all the braincells were CLEARLY saved for her little sister (arguably the only dimensional character - sorry Tom, still love you).

• Ending - predicted it 50% of the way thru

It’s not worth NOT recommending this book because even the readers who love it don’t recommend it to people. And while it’s more of a “read at your own risk” kind of book, if you watch reality TV you’ll probably survive.

Not unscathed. Not without renewed trust issues. But probably you’ll survive…

:)

Content Warnings

sjexley's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny lighthearted sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
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

4.25

This book. Addicting in the sickest way, like when you can't stop eating popcorn at the movies. Fucked up in the best way, like when you can't stop staring at a couple fighting in public. And wealth in the most opulent way, like when your Miu Miu mini dress costs $3500. If you are in a book slump, this will cure you. Think Gossip Girl, in London, on steroids. It is not high brow but that's what makes it so good. Brain candy for sure.

Content Warnings

chelseafrieske's review against another edition

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dark emotional relaxing tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

lishreadsx's review against another edition

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emotional sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Content Warnings

emelisa_19's review against another edition

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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.

Content Warnings

letterpress's review against another edition

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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

0live_tr33's review against another edition

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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

mooncraftbujo's review against another edition

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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

graciesbooknook's review against another edition

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challenging emotional sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

4.75/5⭐️

1.5/5🌶️

WOW. One of the biggest things that I’ve heard about this book from the beginning is how toxic the relationships in it were… I am here to confirm that rumor is CORRECT. The characters would do/say things and I would want to SCREAM at them to stop. There was one time in the break room at work that I literally had to put my Kindle down and take a breath🤦🏻‍♀️

I loved the drama in this book, toxicity aside. It felt like watching trashy reality TV even though all of the characters are absolutely filthy rich. It was one of those books that once you’re into the story, it’s impossible to put it down.

I felt like towards the end we were getting some really great character development and I was eating it up until our final cliff-hanger of a reveal. I knew that there was a plot-twist in this book, and I tried to guess it the entire time, but I was WRONG. When the reveal came around, I was literally in shock wondering WTF just happened.

The only thing keeping this from a 5⭐️ read for me is the overly frequent descriptions of the outfits. I understand that it’s part of the entire premise of the book, but without knowing these pieces as well, it went over my head and brought me out of the story.

My favorite quote from this book was: “I’d never before had list be met with having. I remember how heavy he was on top of me. I equated that feeling with safety for the longest time. Him lying on me was like the best quilt until he lay like that on someone else and changed everything.”

I am SO excited to see where this story will go next for literally every character involved and will be downloading the next book ASAP!

Content Warnings

mana_reads's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Content Warnings

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