A review by meg_
Magnolia Parks by Jessa Hastings

dark emotional fast-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

3.5

My feelings about this book are so complicated that even a week after reading I'm still not totally sure how I feel. 

One thing I know for sure is I love Magnolia Parks as a character. Her every emotion felt so real and despite how insanely rich and perfect she is, she still felt like a character that anyone could connect to based on her experiences. I absolutely loved her. The other element of this book that I felt was worthy of a 5 star rating was the writing. It was poetic and beautiful and made every feeling experienced on page a feeling that was viscerally experienced by the reader at the same time. I feel like I can't even accurately describe it because it just made me feel everything so intensely, even though there are virtually no elements of this plot that I could relate to my reality. 

Things I absolutely hated in this book is where the rating falls. Number one and most hated thing about this book is BJ Ballentine. I hate that man and if I read another book in the story and they end up together I will rip my hair out. I love Magnolia and I understand the soul deep bond she feels with BJ, but after the fuck shit he did and literally
admitted on page to enjoying and not giving two fucks about Magnolia while doing
I do not fuck with that man. I also think the way he behaves throughout the story is deeply immature and infuriating and he continually treats Magnolia (who is perfect and beautiful) like absolute dogshit. The other part of the book I hated so much was how absolutely repetitive and never-ending the plot was. There was genuinely a part of reading this where I questioned whether I was reading After 2.0 because the whole plot here is: fight, make up, immediately fuck up the making up part by rubbing it in the other person's face that your with someone else, feelings are hurt, fight again, make up. Very big yikes and very not entertaining or fun to read. 

So, this is why I have such complicated feelings about this book! The things I loved were things I love so much it hurts my heart and the things I hate are things I hate so much I want to scream and/or rip my hair out. Also, the ending of this book stomped directly on my heart and just to re-iterate, fuck BJ.  And if Magnolia ends up with him I will riot. Okay, that was convoluted and rambling review, but I think I'm done. Can't wait to read the next book in this universe! 
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