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meg_'s review against another edition
- 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
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
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!
Graphic: Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Addiction, and Infidelity
Moderate: Gaslighting
lizzieundercovers's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
But also, justice for Tom, man 🥲
Graphic: Drug abuse, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Violence, Alcohol, and Sexual content
brookewithbooks's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Alcohol, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, and Cursing
simixfe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Infidelity, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Medical content, Drug abuse, Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, Self harm, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Addiction, Toxic relationship, and Drug use
ayushivohra's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcohol and Addiction
Moderate: Drug use, Gaslighting, and Infidelity
booksandlucy_'s review
- 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
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Addiction, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
moanareads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Addiction, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Infidelity, and Drug use
sarahemhavens's review against another edition
3.0
I struggle with the rating of this book because there are some things I found enjoyable, and some things I found highly relatable to my life experiences. Chapter 7 in particular really took me for a loop, and I think the ability to relate to something heavily in a book automatically makes me want to rate it higher. If i didn’t find this book relatable in some way, it definitely would not have made even 3 stars for me. (I’ll be honest it’s teetering on the brink of 3 stars, as is).
I think that Hastings has writing capabilities. There were some powerful, impactful, and thought provoking lines, but I found honestly quite a few typos in this book and all in all, the writing was for the most part confusing and jumbled? Lots of weird run on sentences, poor grammar - sometimes I reread sentences over and over because it didn’t even sound like it made a complete, coherent thought. I wondered a few times reading this if it was rushed, a draft, or if it even had an editor?
(I also really hated the whole fashion detail that magnolia did throughout the whole book, sorry but I skimmed over that just about every time).
I did enjoy reading this book, but I can’t say I stand behind shipping a toxic love, or supporting magnolia in any of her toxic behaviors
Graphic: Alcohol, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Drug use, and Gaslighting
emmaasbokhylla's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Grief, Alcohol, Cursing, Drug use, Gaslighting, Addiction, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, and Infidelity
nicklepolaroid's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Creo que si sabes que es un libro sobre una relación tóxica y lo que eso implica, y te llama la atención leerlo, creo que vale la pena.
Mi mayor problema con el libro es que no sé si quiere decir que ellos deben estar juntos, o si los personajes creen eso por haber estado juntos prácticamente todas sus vidas. Supongo que lo sabré con los siguientes libros y, honestamente, creo que mucho de mi gusto por la serie depende de cómo coloque las demás relaciones (si también son tóxicas o no) y qué final le da a BJ y Magnolia. Por ahora, lo disfruté mucho.
Graphic: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Drug use, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship