Magnolia Parks by Jessa Hastings

Pages: 442
Method: Kindle
Rating: 2.75/3

There are book girlies that absolutely love this book but I am not one of them.

In regards to the writing, it felt modern and conversational but in a way that was sometimes difficult to read because there were run-on sentences and clarifying points in the middle of sentences, making it hard to follow the main point. There were also a lot of details about fashion, name brands, and fancy material items that I honestly didn’t think was necessary. It makes sense as a part of the FMC’s main interests but the amount of times that excessive detail was included just seemed unnecessary. And then there were a couple of random text conversations that, to me, seemed random, not that pertinent, and didn’t add to or progress the story.

From the first page, it feels like we are supposed to know who the characters are and it gives off an elitist vibe. I’m not sure if that’s what the author was going for but considering the fashion, the character dynamics and the dialogue, I would say that may have been the goal. Though I think they were meant to be in jest, a lot of the dialogue between the friends came off as rude and because you don’t know much of the backstory it’s harder to swallow and doesn’t feel justified.

There is a lot of allusion to past history between the two main characters but very little detail is actually given. This usually annoys me, but even more so in this book because the characters were so much more unreasonable in their responses and reactions. I’m sorry, but this whole relationship is incredibly toxic. I imagine there are relationships out there that are like this but when the conflict is over the same thing, but in a slightly different way multiple times, it gets old.

I understand the depths of love and what it will cause you to accept or gloss over, but when there is cheating, manipulation, and you’re dragging other people and their feelings into your mess, I don’t think that’s right.

What’s really frustrating is that even though I was annoyed by the characters, I wasn’t a huge fan of the writing style and it was 400 pages of the same fight, it was just good enough that I am tempted to see what happens in the next book.

Favorite Quote: I know that some love is beautiful, and some is freeing, some unravels you, some love poisons you, some blinds you, some betters you, and some loves break you in invisible ways that no one else knows about until you have to stand up and the weight of your love crushes your bones.

Question: What is a painful thing you’ve experienced that you can see the beauty in?