Written by Jessa Hastings, Magnolia Parks is a new adult romance that tells the story of Magnolia Parks, a young London socialite, and BJ Ballentine, the bad boy who broke her heart. As teenagers, they enjoyed an intense, all-consuming relationship, and now, even though BJ cheated on her, Magnolia finds herself drawn to him even as her other boyfriends and his reckless lifestyle come between them. The novel’s depiction of the lifestyles of the ultra-rich combines with its themes of tormented love and betrayal to offer a satirical commentary on celebrity culture and the risks of addiction as Magnolia and BJ self-destruct.

Jessa Hastings self-published Magnolia Parks in 2021, and the novel’s popularity soon led to offers from traditional publishers. To date, five books have been released in the Magnolia Parks universe, three of which focus on Magnolia and BJ, while the other two follow Daisy Haites, another young socialite who is first introduced in Magnolia Parks.

This guide refers to the Dutton US trade paperback published in 2023.

Content Warning: The source text and this guide contain descriptions of possible sex addiction, substance abuse, and a graphic depiction of a drug overdose.

Plot Summary

The novel is written in the present tense and alternates between the first-person perspectives of Magnolia and BJ. Occasional exchanges of text messages are also included at the conclusion of certain sections. Born in England to wealthy families, Magnolia and BJ first met at boarding school and fell in love when they were still teenagers. They enjoyed a passionate romance until three years ago, when BJ cheated on Magnolia, prompting her to break up with him. He has never identified the other girl, and Magnolia has never forgiven him, but because they were together for so long, they find that they cannot stay apart. The novel opens with BJ in Magnolia’s bedroom while she dresses for a party. These days, although they both date other people (or, in BJ’s case, indulge in casual sexual encounters), their attraction to each other remains strong. They continue to encounter each other because they share the same friend group, but the situation becomes tense after Magnolia sees an old boyfriend at one event and BJ attends another event with a girl whom Magnolia suspects is the same person he was seeing when he cheated on her. Their code for communicating about emotional issues has always been to ask about the weather, and now, Magnolia says that the weather is getting stormy.

Magnolia has always believed that she would resume her relationship with BJ, even though his betrayal wounded her, and she now feels that she can never really trust him. Magnolia’s nanny, Marsaili, warned her not to forgive BJ, so Magnolia started dating other people as a deflection and an emotional shield. BJ resorted to drug use, and when he overdosed, Magnolia was terrified that he would die. Now, BJ apologizes for bringing her rival to the party, but when Magnolia goes to find BJ at a club later, he is getting a lap dance from a strange woman. She is hurt and turns to Tom England, another handsome celebrity who, unlike BJ, is a grown man. Tom suggests that he and Magnolia initiate the public appearance of a relationship. She agrees, and the cameras capture them kissing.

BJ is upset to learn that Magnolia is dating someone like Tom England, whom he admires, but he notices that Magnolia continues to wear the ring he gave her on a chain around her neck. When BJ is able to spend time alone with Magnolia, he thinks that there might be a possibility for them to resume their romance if only they can stop trying to hurt one another. He worries that Magnolia might fall in love with Tom. He is further concerned when she maliciously publicizes the information that his infidelity is the reason for their split. To avoid processing his emotions, BJ starts using cocaine again, and he continues to spend nights at Magnolia’s, even sleeping in her bed, which Tom thinks is weird.

Magnolia meets Tom’s widowed sister-in-law, with whom he is in love; she is the reason that he suggested starting a fake relationship with Magnolia. Learning this, Magnolia feels a little jealous. She asks BJ to spend a weekend with her, and they discover that Magnolia’s father, Harley, is having an affair with Marsaili, Magnolia’s long-time nanny, confidant, and mother figure. Magnolia is upset and decides to take her friends to Greece to get away from the situation. Tom flies the plane and arranges to share a room with Magnolia, but Magnolia asks BJ to spend a day with her. BJ plans a romantic date and hopes that this will be his chance to win her back, but the date is ruined when Magnolia asks why he cheated. BJ tells the simple truth—that he wanted to—and she is devasted by this answer.

Magnolia turns to Tom for consolation and initiates sex, but she thinks of BJ the whole time. Later that night, Magnolia goes to BJ’s room, but he is now with the Greek bartender from the hotel. BJ realizes that Magnolia places a great deal of importance on sexual fidelity, and he worries that he really will lose her to Tom. He resorts to sex, alcohol, and cocaine to numb his feelings, but his friends tell him that he can get Magnolia back if he kisses her. Because he knows her shopping routine, he finds Magnolia in the Gucci store and kisses her in the dressing room. The intense attraction between them flares, but Magnolia confesses that she is also drawn to Tom.

Tom is not willing to give Magnolia up either, so BJ jokes that they will both date her, but he continues to use drugs to quiet the fear that Magnolia might not choose him. He and Magnolia continue to quarrel over who he cheated with. Meanwhile, BJ’s friend, Christian—whom Magnolia briefly dated after breaking up with BJ—now upsets BJ by admitting that he is still in love with Magnolia. BJ realizes that Magnolia tries to make everyone fall in love with her, and when they have a moment alone at one of their old meeting spots, he tells her that she will have to admit her own mistakes before they can resume their relationship. Indignant, Magnolia turns to Tom for solace, and BJ increases his drug use.

During an anniversary that is important to both of them, Magnolia revisits another spot of theirs, a willow tree by a lake on her parents’ property in Dartmouth, and BJ is waiting for her. They make love and reunite, promising to start over. However, as they get together with all of their friends to celebrate, Magnolia hugs her best friend, Paili, and upon smelling her friend’s perfume, she realizes that BJ slept with Paili when he cheated on Magnolia. Devastated, Magnolia tells BJ that she is through with him. She breaks the necklace holding BJ’s ring and takes a cab to Heathrow Airport.