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Available 4.15.24


Magnolia

Magnolia, August 2014
by Kristi Cook

Simon Pulse
Featuring: Jemma Cafferty; Ryder Marsden
337 pages
ISBN: 1442485353
EAN: 9781442485358
Kindle: B00FNVSTNG
Hardcover / e-Book
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"Romeo And Juliet In Reverse"

Fresh Fiction Review

Magnolia
Kristi Cook

Reviewed by Susan Dyer
Posted November 15, 2014

Young Adult

MAGNOLIA is the story of Jemma Cafferty, a teenage girl who lives in Mississippi. Her family and the Marsden's next door have always been friends, leading back to the War. Not just any war, but you know, The Civil War. The two families are constantly pressuring Jemma and Ryder Marsden to get married and unite the families once and for all. The only problem is Jemma and Ryder can't stand each other. While reading MAGNOLIA you can't help but think of Romeo and Juliet only in reverse. The parents grew up together, went to school together, have always loved each other and the kids don't want to even been in the same room!

Jemma and Ryder's relationship is written very realistically. It isn't too fast or unbelievable, and the chemistry is real. So, there is Jemma, who works hard and is the "good" daughter who follows the rules and does what her parents want. The problem is that she is now starting to realize that she doesn't want what her mom has planned for her. What she wants is to be able to go to NYU to study film. But when tragedy strikes and her sister is diagnosed with a severe illness, things get a little rocky, and suddenly she doesn't know how to ask for what she wants.

Ryder is full of mystery. He grew up with Jemma, and has always sort of looked after her from afar. He is a hot, successful, intelligent football player with gentlemanly manners - basically the total package. Due to some stupidity on his part, trying to act bad in front of his friends, his friendship with Jemma ended years ago, and both are rather spiteful to each other. The banter between him and Jemma will have you laughing out loud.

First things first....why didn't I have a Ryder in my high school? I would have loved school so much more having him lurking in the halls! I truly loved MAGNOLIA! Jemma irritated me a bit but I learned to like her. Especially after she admitted to loving Jim Cantore from the Weather Channel! I mean.......don't we all?? Kristi Cook took an interesting twist to the classic Romeo & Juliet and crafted this fun and entertaining read with MAGNOLIA. It's the perfect definition of a YA contemporary novel with its fantastic cast of main characters, sweet romance, and the gorgeous southern setting.

MAGNOLIA is undoubtedly a book I'm incredibly happy I read because by the end, it gave me a warm feeling inside and silly grin on my face.

Learn more about Magnolia

SUMMARY

Jemma and Ryder are far from friends—until a storm stirs up their passion in this contemporary southern romance from New York Times bestselling author Kristi Cook. In Magnolia Branch, Mississippi, The Cafferty and Marsden families are practically royalty. Neighbors since the Civil War, the families have shared vacations, holidays, backyard barbecues, and the overwhelming desire to unite their two clans by marriage. So when the families finally have a baby boy and girl at the same time, the perfect opportunity seems to have arrived. Except Jemma Cafferty and Ryder Marsden have no intention of giving in to their parents’ wishes. They’re only seventeen—oh, and also? They hate each other. Jemma can’t stand Ryder’s nauseating golden-boy persona, and Ryder would prefer it if stubborn-headed Jemma didn’t exist. And their communication is not exactly effective: even a casual hello turns into a yelling match. But when a violent Mississippi storm ravages through Magnolia Branch, it unearths feelings Jemma and Ryder didn’t know they had. And the line between love and hate just might be thin enough to cross…


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