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jelkebooks's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
After really enjoying Daisy Haites I was really excited to read this book. However, I completely forgot just how exhausting BJ and Magnolia can be, ugh. They just keep going in circles, and this book feels incredibly repetetive because of that. It definitely need to be this long. It is especially frustrating because if they actually communicated for once without running away, or overdramatising everything, this whole book could have been reduced to like 50 pages. It's just incredibly frustrating.
I'm going to be completely fair here though, I feel like BJ in particular really goes through a lot of developement in this book. I like that he's in therapy, and actively working to be a better human. He's still a piece of shit, but at least he's learned to take accountability for his actions. BJ's progression also makes it able for the relationship to start to feel less exhausting. It just feels nice to see someone recognize the issues in their relationship, and try to make them better or even fix them completely. It was an extreme contrast to Magnolia, who did not change at all throughout the book. In fact, she might have even gotten worse. The constant ass kissing by side characters, and their inability to see any flaws in Magnolia are still incredibly exhausting. That's maybe why I love Daisy so much because as little as she appears in this book she does not put up with Magnolia's bullshit, and I ADORE it.
Anyway, besides all those issues I did still enjoy this book fine enough. There's just something about this trainwreck that I absolutely cannot look away from. It is so incredibly drama filled, and entertaining. I also like that in this book we get to see more of the friend group, and their drama as well. It just felt refreshing dealing with other people's shit than Magnolia and BJ even if it's done through their perspective. The ending was incredibly wild though. Maybe a bit too much, but also at the same time it had my heart racing, and I can't wait to continue with this series.
I'm going to be completely fair here though, I feel like BJ in particular really goes through a lot of developement in this book. I like that he's in therapy, and actively working to be a better human. He's still a piece of shit, but at least he's learned to take accountability for his actions. BJ's progression also makes it able for the relationship to start to feel less exhausting. It just feels nice to see someone recognize the issues in their relationship, and try to make them better or even fix them completely. It was an extreme contrast to Magnolia, who did not change at all throughout the book. In fact, she might have even gotten worse. The constant ass kissing by side characters, and their inability to see any flaws in Magnolia are still incredibly exhausting. That's maybe why I love Daisy so much because as little as she appears in this book she does not put up with Magnolia's bullshit, and I ADORE it.
Anyway, besides all those issues I did still enjoy this book fine enough. There's just something about this trainwreck that I absolutely cannot look away from. It is so incredibly drama filled, and entertaining. I also like that in this book we get to see more of the friend group, and their drama as well. It just felt refreshing dealing with other people's shit than Magnolia and BJ even if it's done through their perspective. The ending was incredibly wild though. Maybe a bit too much, but also at the same time it had my heart racing, and I can't wait to continue with this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism and Miscarriage
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Rape
Minor: Drug abuse
toofondofbooks_'s review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Another roller coaster of a book from the Magnolia Parks Universe and while I am extremely emotionally compromised (Jessa, I'll be sending you my therapy bills <3) I cannot say that I am disappointed. When I say I'm emotionally compromised, I mean it, like, I'm not going to sleep tonight, in all likelihood, and if I didn't care about spacing these books out so that they last me longer, I would be picking up Jessa's latest immediately. HOWEVER I'm going to exercise self control and just continue crying and singing the praises of these dumbass characters that I love way too much for my own good. I don't know if this is so much a review as it is just me having a mental breakdown....but I'm going to try and write something actually constructive.
I love how much more in depth BJ and Magnolia were explored as characters, particularly the focus on the shared trauma they've been through as well as individual traumas. I feel like prior to this book neither of them really looked their problems in the eye and saw shit for what it was but they started to make some headway in that department here and I was thrilled to see it. Sure, it was messy as well, but doesn't that make it more delicious?
bj ballentine you are my beloved and you are so important btw *blows a kiss for him*
I love how much more in depth BJ and Magnolia were explored as characters, particularly the focus on the shared trauma they've been through as well as individual traumas. I feel like prior to this book neither of them really looked their problems in the eye and saw shit for what it was but they started to make some headway in that department here and I was thrilled to see it. Sure, it was messy as well, but doesn't that make it more delicious?
bj ballentine you are my beloved and you are so important btw *blows a kiss for him*
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Grief, Medical content, Miscarriage, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Sexual content, Classism, Infidelity, Cursing, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Violence
Minor: Death of parent
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