My mother’s New Year’s resolution for me was simple: make a serious effort at putting myself out there and dating again, and do it for one full year. Or until I fell in love. Whichever came first. How hard could one year of swipes and matches and awkward first dates be? In a word: bad. In nine words: bad and also hilarious, demoralizing, exhausting, and ridiculously amusing.But the only thing … ridiculously amusing.
But the only thing worse than dating in the era of hookup apps and unsolicited dick pics is the absolute whole-life-flail of falling in love.
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I really enjoy Kate Canterbary’s writing and it shines in this story. She writes beautifully.
This book is one of those rare stories that captures romance along with women’s fiction. I like women’s fiction – the story of struggles and transformation into the self the character wants to be, whether through acceptance or intentional change – and this book delivers on that. It also delivers on the butterflies-in-the-the-tummy highs of crushes and falling in love, which is why I like romance. Together this book is a delightful creature.
This is not a book I’d share with my mom. Or my grandmother. Too much language. But with my girlfriends? Absolutely. So, happy reading, y’all.
Swoon!! That is the first word that came to mind when I finished reading. I’ve come to expect, not necessarily perfection (though to me, this was perfection rolled up in perfect and glazed in vanilla glaze – did you think I’d say perfect lol–and it will make SOME sense when you read the book), but superbly smart, wickedly witty, sublimely snarky, fantastically funny, terrifically tantalizing — oh those messages back and forth completely sucked me in — and above all, just absolutely swoon worthy. Take a trip into the bushes with the Gigi we’ve all fallen in love with (if you have not read the Walsh Family you MUST start now). Magnolia finds everything she never wanted and more, but will it be enough to erase the memories and mistakes of her past? Find out who finally nabs our Roof Garden Girl!
I’m a huge Kate Canterbary fan. I’ve been waiting for Gigi to get her story for what feels like a lifetime. However, when Kate started releasing this on Book+Main, I avoided it, because I knew the wait between installments would kill me. After reading it, I fully stand by that decision. Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. Of course there has been a lot of buzz about this book, so if you follow Kate on social media you have a pretty good grasp on the beginning plot, but there is so much more to this book.
This book is more than an adventure in modern dating. It is more than witty banter. It is about more than finding love. While it is all of those things, it is also about a woman who has made some mistakes and been backed into more than one corner learning to stand up for herself and love herself for who she really is. Magnolia is completely imperfect perfection. The journey she sets upon is about so much more than finding a date. And following her on this journey brings all the feels. I ached for her, I cheered her on, I laughed with her, I agonized over the decisions she had to make, and I wanted to do a freaking happy dance for how everything turned out. I absolutely adored this book from the very first word to the very last.
So, yes. This book is EVERYTHING. If you are looking for some of the best witty banter, hot sexy guys, romantic moments that make you swoon, and a sassy heroine you want to be best friends with, this is the book for you. Icing on the cake? If you are already a fan of Ms. Canterbary’s work, you will absolutely adore the appearances from some of your favorite characters.
Kate Canterbary is one of my absolute favorite authors, and The Magnolia Chronicles is one of her absolute best books. This will absolutely go down as one of the best books of 2019.
I was introduced Magnolia Santillian (Gigi) in the Walsh Series, and I got to know her as some of her story unfolded on Book+Main Bites. From the first meet, I knew Gigi was my kind of girl- who doesn’t dig a hot mess, baseball-loving dog mom who designs roof gardens like a boss? The Magnolia Chronicles cemented the girl crush and I am forever #teamgigi.
So, you are going to get all the greatness that is a Kate Canterbary tale here. Wit, sex on a stick guys, and low angst. What makes this book stand apart? The journey to the HEA is a little different. As you are reading, you find that you are rooting for Gigi first and foremost, with the love story coming in a close second. You’ll discover there is a little bit of Gigi in all of us, and it’s a treat to read something so relatable.
This book needs more than 5 stars! Holy cow what an amazing read. Being a huge fan of the Walsh Series and a lover of everything Magnolia, this book was EVERYTHING! And can’t even begin stress that enough. And if you haven’t read that series, well go do that! But you don’t have to in order to enjoy this book. It just makes it more special if you have.
So damn special in so many ways.
Magnolia (aka Gigi) is flailing in her personal life and her mother knows it and takes advantage. She gives her a New Years request: let her set Magnolia up on some dating sites and let her choose who she thinks Magnolia should date….yep it’s just about how you think it will be. Except…an interesting non-mom approved match sneaks in and lays it all out for Magnolia and she’s surprised to find she’s intrigued.
Meanwhile across the street from her home, a rude and noisy firefighter sparks her need to help and fix…him and his house.
This book is a journey of 3 thirty-something’s trying to find their way in life, love and moving on. They make a pact and know what the outcome will be at the end. One will find a new path and two will find their hea.
This book was everything I needed at this moment. This is a family I want to be a part of!! If you love sarcasm, unconventional romance, quirkiness, and all around love for family, this book is for you!!
Kate takes Magnolia, a character who has been in her Walsh series since the beginning, and gives her a quirky, funny, LOL story. The Walsh series has always held a special place in my heart, but I think magnolia just stole a piece of that. She takes modern dating and turns it into a masterpiece that I loved reading. Kate creates an atmosphere that is believable and drags you in. The chemistry between the characters and family will make your heart smile over and over again. The banter between them will have you laughing out loud and people will be asking what you’re laughing about. I would give this book more than 5 stars if possible.
Magnolia is who I wish I could be. She is this sarcastic, loving and devoted woman who is trying to figure out her place in this world. She’s had a tough past, just like most of us. She takes chances with her heart and ends up falling hard. Magnolia always creates an atmosphere of sarcasm, Magnolia-isms (because she is definitely unique), and she finally gets her love story. It’s not conventional, but it is amazing and works perfectly for her. I loved catching up with the Walsh family. Magnolias mom made quite the impression on me this book. She was quirky and loving all the way through the book.
Talk about soul searching! Magnolia aka Gigi was such a gem to read about. Her internal monologue was spot on! She tends to put an ironic and witty twist on almost everything she says and thinks, and I loved that. Gigi was a tough chick, battling her way through the dating scene in comedic fashion. In the day of dick pics and swiping left or right, she’s elbow deep in the struggle. Add on top of that an overzealous mother with grandbaby fever, and Gigi has her work cut out for her.
Holy shit. I was the jam in a Rob-and-Ben sandwich.
This book has a love triangle situation going on, and it’s all kinds of good. There were so many sexy, flirty scenes, I think I met my quota for the year. The dirty talk made me blush so hard. The flirting was perfection.
I swooned so hard with this book. Gigi is truly a lucky girl. Seeing Gigi get her HEA was worth the wait! Add in the expected shenanigans, situations full of shambles, and guest appearances from many of our endeared Walsh clan and this book has it all.
I have loved Magnolia from the beginning , always thought she was misunderstood and just a girl like the rest of us trying to navigate the confusing world of signals and men. Kate has her job cut out for her turning the Gigi haters into lovers and man she did it. Gigi is strong funny and absolutely loveable. The writing as always is intelligent and witty. You get taken on a journey full of laughter , introspection and choc full of emotions. For every women that has traversed the scary world of dating this book is for you and you won’t want to put it down.
Magnolia, Maggie, Roof Garden Girl, GiGi … these are the names we know Magnolia Santillian will respond to. Let me add one more name now, and that name is “love.” I would like to think she likes this name best, especially when coming out of a certain gentleman’s mouth.
This story is an unconventional love story and the reader gets to peer into the organized chaos of Magnolia’s life. As the reader, you get to experience her insecurities with dating, her inadequacies (perceived) with her family and finally the support of some familiar friends. Magnolia has had some missteps with men, and she doubts her abilities at finding someone to love her, flaws and all. The journey that the author takes the reader on is not only funny (bakery scene) but poignant (moving day) as you feel for Magnolia and the heart-wrenching escapades she has endured in search of love. The old adage that you cannot love somebody until you love yourself has never been more true. The storytelling from the writer lady is masterful, quietly weaving in breadcrumbs that make you like this journey and hope the destination is worthy of Magnolia’s dreams. Ultimately, the reader is the winner when you realize that Magnolia has fallen in love … with herself. The side benefit is she has also found someone who is not quite perfect, but is perfect for her.
The book’s ending is happy for all concerned and yet the final scene is completely unexpected. In true Canterbary fashion, she writes a scene that you didn’t know you needed until it appears on the pages and then you scream “yes!” If you are a fan of this author, then you will want to read and re-read Chapter Sixteen…it is pure Canterbary perfection! You may not have been a fan of GiGi before, but I can almost certainly guarantee you will be by the end of this book.
I was lucky enough to never have to jump into the online dating pool. I don’t think I could have managed it with the grace that Magnolia did.
Several years ago, Magnolia stole so much space in my brain after meeting her Necessary Restorations. She got the bum end of the deal when she went for it with a guy she was interested in. I think that one experience can sum up the men who have come and done from GiGi’s life. I’ve wanted her story since meeting her in that book so many years ago because even then, I knew she deserved a HEA.
GiGi’s journey in this book was so worth the wait. The crazy dating stories, the amazing friendships she has, and her wonderful family kept me glued to this book. Magnolia is worth every single second of sleep I lost while reading her journey. I was rooting for one guy in particular but more than anything I am now, always have been, and always will be #TeamGiGi!
*This is my voluntary review of an advanced reader copy*
This was every thing I needed and wanted in a book this weekend!!! I know that Kate had featured the Magnolia Chronicles on Book + Main, but I totally am behind the times and didn’t read it there. I haven’t read Kate in quite some time, and man did I miss her writing!!
From the beginning I was 100% engulfed in this book! I loved seeing Magnolia go through the online dating scene, it was HYSTERICAL! All of the funny messages, the dead-end dates and the chats were so damn funny, AND SO DAMN REAL! Dating in your 30’s is hard and Kate showed the perfect amount of “realness” when it came to online dating. It was so well done! I loved she went about it all, it was so perfect. Her mother’s influence was such a good added touch too! It’s always funny when parents try and “help” move things along.
Magnolia was someone who I always wanted to know more about, so I was really excited when I saw she was getting her own book. I love even more that it’s a Romcom filled with so many laughs and lots of drama. Speaking of drama, these men were amazing! I loved that they bickered, and that they both properly dated her. Everything about the situation was so unique and so much fun. That’s how the whole book was, unique and fun! I loved every single minute and didn’t want it to end. It was so good to read Kate’s writing again and to get to see the Walsh clan!
I love this book! A funny, smart and sweet story with a lot of depth as we follow a fabulous heroine through the perils of dating as she searches for love. It’s funny and witty, with fantastic banter and a whole lot of heart, and I absolutely loved it!
Magnolia (aka Gigi), was introduced as a side character in the Walsh series, and I was so excited for her story! This book can be read as a standalone, however there is a lot of crossover with the Walsh characters and storylines, so though you could read this one on its own, I would say that it would definitely be more enjoyable if you’ve read the Walsh series first. As fantastic as this book is, the cameos make it even better!
Magnolia has had a terrible run of relationships. She’s been hurt badly and carries a lot of baggage, and is therefore wary of all things relationship-rated. But she goes along with her mother’s scheme to sign her up for online dating and put herself out there for a year in the hopes of meeting ‘the one’. Her initial forays are hilarious, inappropriate, and not a little bit scary, but everything changes for her when she meets not one but two fabulous men and finds herself torn between the two of them.
Yes, it’s a love triangle, but it has a twist which means it’s not an angsty read. The boys know about each other, they know that she’s dating both of them, and the plan is to spend with each of them until Magnolia figures out where her heart truly lies. It may sound a bit weird, but it’s really not. It makes sense in some funny kind of way, and it’s so entertaining watching it all play out, especially when true feelings become involved.
The two boys are just fantastic. Investment banker, Rob, and fireman and hopeless renovator, Ben, are both gorgeous guys, both in very different positions in their lives, and both dealing with their own issues. Together the three of them muddle their way forward, and for a while there I was honestly clueless as to which direction Magnolia would go in. But as time goes on it becomes clear, and again, I loved watching her figure it all out.
“I met the game changer … I fell for the game changer.”
This is as much a story about personal growth as it is about romance. Magnolia has a lot to figure out, and she makes the time and effort to do that, and her realisations were things that will be relatable to a lot of readers. And though the story is written entirely in her POV, we also get to see Rob and Ben working through their stuff as well. And the book builds to a beautiful ending which is really satisfying and left me with a big grin on my face.
“I know I love you and I know it has nothing to do with wanting to win.”
“You could choose him and I’d bow out. I’d hate it. I’d fucking hate it. But I’d do it if it meant you were happy. If it was your choice, I’d wish you the best and step aside.”
He watched me, his eyes wide and his lips parted as that same arrow of affection lanced through him.
I was done. Heart eyes and butterfly bellies and a lava cake heart. Done.
And I knew … I knew falling was like this.
As I mentioned before, the Walshes feature heavily in the story, and I loved catching up with them! From conversations with Riley, epic girls’ nights, and even a long-awaited deep and meaningful conversation with Sam, I laughed so hard and I loved every moment spent with them.
When I thought about the steps I took and the mountain I climbed toward being all right with myself, Andy and her friends were the ones clearing the way and holding my hands. I wouldn’t have made it here and I wouldn’t have two men vying for my affection if not for these women. They were hard on me once upon a time and that was the ugly way of it—women were often hard on each other. Unnecessarily so. But when they came around, they came all the way around. Circled up so tight they pulled me back together and squeezed the darkness right out.
There’s something wonderful about Kate Canterbary’s writing – her stories have a fantastic mix of humour and heart with realistic characters who are the kind of people you would want to have in your life. Her books are usually romantic and steamy as hell, but this book is pretty much smut-free, though we still get to feel the chemistry. I would have liked to have seen a little bit more romance and HEA, but this book is more about the journey, and it’s a really beautiful read.
4.5 stars!
What a fantastic story. Kate Canterbary does it again. There’s a lot of ‘Walshes’ in here, but not enough to be distracting so don’t worry if you haven’t read t
‘The Walshes’ series yet, but you should, just for the added laughs. Not that this books didn’t have enough, it did. Oh, boy, it did. It was so good, I couldn’t stop reading and it was so late when I finished I forgot to add my review, lol.
Magnolia is doomed in love, or so she thinks. Until she gets set up with a dating app. She discovers two guys, Ben and Rob who are interested in her, and she decides to give dating a go. Who will win the hand of the fair maiden? Well, I can’t tell you except it was… that guy!!
One-Click your copy today and see who I mean.
I’ve been a fan of this author for a very long time, and while I love all of her books, this one really holds a special place in my heart because the feelings, it just hit so close to home and had such a profound affect on me.
Meet Magnolia, she is someone special. She’s strong in ways not even she realizes because she has grown from her past. She’s not afraid of to call the men out on their crap. She goes from nothing happening in the relationship department (due to some awful previous experiences) to two sexy men and ends up in a love triangle. It’s pretty much everything you expect from this author; sassy, salty, witty, funny, the rollercoaster of emotion with out getting angsty. There is tons of chemistry between the characters, but there is no full on sexy times. This story didn’t need it because it’s more about the feels and the self revelations and coming to love yourself first before loving someone else. Until you realize who you are and what you need, you really can’t find the right person for you.
If there’s a story I’ve been waiting for, it’s Magnolia’s. When Kate first started Magnolia’s story on Book & Main, I impatiently waited for each bite to come out. And when I found out all the bites were turning into a full-fledged book, I impatiently waited for information. What’s a girl to do when she has to choose between two guys? Date them, of course! Along the was to discovering which one has her heart and whose heart she has, Gigi also discovers so much about herself. In the end, she finds loves with whom she was always meant to be. This book is about self-discovery. It’s about adulting. It’s about making tough choices. It’s about being vulnerable. It’s about speaking up about what you want and need.
Witty banter and fantastic characters? Yes, please!
I received an ARC for an honest review.
I LOVE Magnolia!! She is real. She has real emotions, feelings, struggles and issues that so many woman go through. She is tough and blunt, hysterical and has a huge heart. I felt so connected to her and I was rooting for her the entire way.
I loved that she found two HOT guys that both liked her for who she was and didn’t dare try to change her. She may not feel like she deserves one of these extraordinary men but she absolutely does!! I am 100% satisfied with who she ended up with as well. My only complaint is that I wanted MORE of her. MORE of her happily ever after. More hot scenes with her boys!! MORE, MORE, MORE.
If you have not read Kate’s Walsh Series PLEASE run as fast as you can and start from the beginning. This is a great story that ties some of those characters in and makes it that much better.
This story is so beautiful. I loved following her journey to self realization. I loved both of the men in her life. I really enjoyed the Walsh Family connections, especially the women. Hilarious and loving. The dating app losers were so funny and sad.
Every bit of this book is wonderful. The ending is pure perfection.
Kate Canterbary (AKA The Laydee Writer) is to me the most intelligent writer out there right now and yet again she has raised the bar for me
Being a super fan of the Laydee Writer I knew of the character of Magnolia from the Walsh series and I had read the excerpts on Book+Main, so I thought I knew what to expect when I got to read the full story… [Laydee Writer: hold my beer….]
I thought that I read romance books for a bit of escapism…. my chance to be that girl who gets the hot billionaire/rock start/[insert your favourite fantasy guy here] and I’m down with that… but what Kate has crafted here in the Magnolia Chronicles is a book about ME. I am Magnolia… I am the woman that loves sports… I am the woman who has a mother that butts into her love life… I am the woman who seems to go for the man-child players… you get the picture…. and I am sure that anyone who reads this book will feel exactly the same.
Never have I related so much to a character before and never has a story made me feel like what I have experience in my own life wasn’t just me – we’ve all been there and it was almost cathartic when I finished GiGi’s book… I did a mental fist bump with GiGi and was like “Dude!”
As usual, there was the on-point banter and wit that I know I will get in a book by the Laydee Writer. There was also lots of bread crumbs and glimpses of my favourite Walsh characters
This is a standalone, but you’re missing out if you haven’t read the Walsh series or basically anything written by Kate. The sub-title of this book is Adventures In Modern Dating and Gigi’s story is certainly an adventure but it is yet again another refreshing, brilliantly written book by the Laydee Writer and there is no doubt that I will re-read and enjoy this book again as I eagerly wait to see what Kate comes up with next
Kate Canterbary never disappoints! I will admit I was hesitant on this one because I’m terrible when it comes to any angst in my reading choices, but I love Kate’s characters so I jumped in! I wasn’t disappointed. If you are a fan of real life romance and just real life characters in general, you will love the world that Kate continues to build and branch off from. Keep them coming Kate!!