Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - Magnolia Parks

I vaguely remember this book series being flooded on my feed for a couple days. At first I was confused because the cover felt like someone just jumbled up random images and called it a day. Then I actually took the plunge and started reading. Wow. This couple needs intense therapy like yesterday. I don’t why people romanticize them when they are one of the examples of love that should not be strived for. How & why is/are EVERYONE telling Magnolia & Baxter (BJ) that they are “bonded” destined to be together?! What? Absolutely not. This is 450 pages worth of sheer toxicity back and forth. Y’all are supposed to be in your early 20’s and none of you have true friends to step in and say “ Magnolia, you deserve someone that respects you and won’t toss your feelings around like they aren’t worth anything.” Clearly neither of them care. The only one that had any sense of reasoning/ logic was Bridget, Magnolia’s little sister. Also, the girl that BJ cheated on Magnolia with that made them call it “off” for three years? It should have been obvious but it wasn’t and honestly, it tracks.

Content Warnings

laruru's review against another edition

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challenging emotional medium-paced

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

4.25

Damn that was a ride. This book was very entertaining, especially if you're into toxic ass relationships/friendships. Magnolia & BJ are the main characters, but we get a good look at their entire co-dependent friend group and some other supporting characters. So much drama. After reading so many lighthearted romances, this was a great change of pace. I had no idea if I wanted to root for Parks & BJ throughout the entire book -- they're just so infuriating but also written in the stars. I never really got bored or felt like the story was getting repetitive, just more and more toxic.

I'm docking off stars because Magnolia was very annoying for most of the book. It's hard to feel bad for someone who constantly plays the victim card -- she has some deeply rooted daddy issues, which isn't her fault, but she was so immature and whiney. I don't like it when a FMC has several guys fawning over her when she's not even that likeable. Also, too many outfit descriptions. I really did not need an extensive description of every single outfit each character was wearing.

The ending was predictable, but it unraveled so well. It was a satisfying ending -- you can't read a book like this and expect it to have a happy ending lol. Overall, a very entertaining read, would recommend if you're in the mood for drama & toxicity & stupid rich people things.

Content Warnings

kind0fdarkness's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging 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

5.0

Content Warnings

headinthepages's review against another edition

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medium-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

I have absolutely no idea whether I enjoyed this book or not 😂 I found it compelling and easy to read though somehow. It felt like an episode of Made In Chelsea, and I liked reading about the lavish lifestyle but the constant descriptions of what people were wearing got a bit old, though I understand it aided Magnolia’s characterisation.

The “will they won’t they” element did get old and I felt like there was too much to and fro,

Spoiler

though I liked the twist with Paili at the end, and to be fair, Magnolias obsession with details made that twist fit nicely. I do wish she’d ended up with Tom. I don’t like BJ at all and didn’t see what attracted them to each other. I do wish more showing, rather than telling was done when it came to the characters. We get told endlessly that Magnolia & BJ are magnetic and people are obsessed with them but no actual personality traits came through that would make me believe that other than them being conventionally good looking & rich. The rest was taking the author at their word

Content Warnings

lucyrudd's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.0

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