A review by kbea88
Magnolia Parks by Jessa Hastings

emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Edit for 2023:

I'm updating my star rating from 4 to 5 because I've thought about these characters at least once per week for a full year and I love them so much. 



2022:
Right. The great thing about reading is that you can experience things that you would have no tolerance for in life. As in, these people, all of them barring maybe Bridget and Tom, are the most codependent, trauma-bonded, toxic people ever. Literally the worst people to and for each other…

And I ate. It. Up. 

They’re predictable in the worst ways:
Harley cheating with the nanny? (Ugh) Magnolia choosing the obviously wrong man over and over? (Please) BJ sleeping with the best friend?? (COME ON) I wanted to hate them, and this, but I just didn’t. 

The writing was strange because sometimes Hastings would write these lines that were like a gut punch (“Our eyes hold like our hands won’t. I I love you, he blinks. Prove it, I sigh.”), but then only seemed to have one way to describe blushing (“cheeks go pink.”). There was a definite style, but some of it seemed out of her range. Idk.

I literally could not relate to a single character or experience but I loved it anyway. It was a fun read.
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