What happened in Magnolia Parks by Jessa Hastings - Recaptains

The basics

Title: Magnolia Parks

Author: Jessa Hastings

Series: Magnolia Parks Universe #1

- Magnolia Parks (2021)
- Daisy Haites (2021)
- The Long Way Home (2022)
- The Great Undoing (2022)
- Into the Dark (2024)

Add it: Goodreads

Goodreads Summary:

She is a beautiful, affluent, self-involved and mildly neurotic London socialite. He is Britain's most photographed bad-boy lothario who broke her heart. But Magnolia Parks and BJ Ballentine are meant to be, and everyone knows it. They're in the stars... just suspended in a strange kind of love that looks like hurting each other a lot of the time: She dates other people to keep him at bay; he sleeps with other girls to get back at her for it. But at the end of their every sad endeavour to get over one another, it's still each other they crawl back to. But their dysfunction is catching up with them, pulling at their seams and fraying the world they've built; a world where neither has to ever let the other go completely. As the cracks start to show and secrets begin to surface, Magnolia and BJ are finally forced to face the formidable question they've been avoiding all their lives: how many loves do you really get in a lifetime?

Here is a spoiler summary of what happened in Magnolia Parks by Jessa Hastings to help refresh your memory before you read the sequel. If you need help remembering what happened in Magnolia Parks then you’re in the right place.

What happened in Magnolia Parks?

• BJ admits to Magnolia that he slept with a model. Magnolia pretends she’s unbothered.
• Magnolia and BJ get ready to go out with friends. Magnolia’s ex, Christian, is there as he’s part of the friendship group.
• Magnolia heads to the bathroom as she becomes overwhelmed. Her other ex, Brooks, shows up with another woman. There’s a tiny fight and photographers capture the whole thing.
• BJ and Magnolia get ready for bed. Bridget, Magnolia’s sister, tells BJ that Magnolia has only slept with him.
• Magnolia recalls her crush on BJ starting when they were fourteen years old.
• The following morning, the family eats together. Her nanny, Marsaili, tells Magnolia that the tiny fight yesterday made the papers.
• BJ goes out for drinks with friends and gets teased over his non-relationship with Magnolia. The waitress hands her number to BJ.
• BJ recalls how he beat Christian up after he kissed Magnolia.
• Magnolia’s mother hosts a launch party for a new fragrance. At the party, she avoids another ex. She speaks with a musician called Gus, whose friend’s brother recently died of an aneurysm.
• BJ arrives with Taura on his arm. Magnolia argues with BJ and accuses him of sleeping with Taura.
• BJ brings Magnolia a gift and apologises for the Taura situation.
• Magnolia recalls that when BJ overdosed, he asked for Magnolia. She had been worried that he would die.
• BJ throws a party and gets with a French woman.
• Magnolia goes to a club. Daisy Haites shows up with Christian and joins Magnolia in an awkward conversation. Christian denies dating Daisy.
• Magnolia heads out with friends again. She thinks about how nice it was being with Christian. BJ becomes jealous when he realises what Magnolia is thinking.
• BJ invites Magnolia out, she declines, so he gets drunk. He dances with another woman and Magnolia walks in and sees them.
• Magnolia recalls that three years ago, BJ told Magnolia that he had slept with someone. Magnolia locked herself in the bathroom. He apologised, but they broke up.
• Tom tells Magnolia that BJ is an idiot. He invites her out, and also invites her to be in a fake relationship with him. She agrees.
• Magnolia tells Henry to tell his brother that she slept with Tom.
• BJ is upset when he finds out, even though he slept with someone from the club.
• BJ drives to Magnolia’s house. She tells him that she is with Tom now. They argue.
• Marsaili calls Tom a “toyfriend”.
• BJ is offered cocaine, and he declines. He goes on Instagram, and the comments accuse him of cheating on Magnolia.
• Magnolia takes Tom shopping. While they’re out, two girls ask Magnolia about what’s going on with BJ.
• BJ goes to find Magnolia. He’s upset that she told people that he cheated on her. Jonah tells Magnolia that she must have feelings for BJ, otherwise she wouldn’t care who he was with.
• Magnolia introduces Tom to her friends at dinner. They tell Tom about how they all bonded at boarding school.
• BJ drives Magnolia home from work. He wants to kiss her.
• Tom enters Magnolia’s room and sees BJ lying on the bed. Magnolia says this is normal, Tom says this is weird.
• Magnolia and Tom go to the Chelsea Flower Show. BJ wonders if she’s falling for Tom. Magnolia insults Taura’s outfit. Magnolia meets Tom’s parents.
• BJ seeks out some cocaine, and tells Magnolia that he’s simply drunk.
• Magnolia meets Tom’s family, including Tom’s brother’s widow, Clara. She is Elton John’s goddaughter.
• Tom confesses that he’s in love with Clara.
• BJ and Magnolia go to Cornwall together. They visit a spa, and Magnolia sees her father kissing Marsaili. Marsaili admits the affair has been going on for six years.
• Bridget tells Magnolia that she thinks their mother is dating a French guy.
• Magnolia blames Marsaili for everything that has unfolded, including BJ’s previous overdose.
• Harley and Marsaili’s affair makes the news. Harley gets angry with Magnolia, and shoves Tom when he intervenes. Magnolia is shoved over and cuts her hand.
• Magnolia and her friends head to Greece. The guys joke about Magnolia’s nanny. Christian tells everyone that he once gave Magnolia an orgasm, which upsets BJ.
• Christian, now drunk, accuses Magnolia of using people.
• BJ takes Magnolia to a secluded beach. He asks her about Tom. She says she’s processing her feelings. The topic of cheating comes up and Magnolia wants to go back to the hotel.
• Magnolia heads back to her and Tom’s hotel room and cries.
• BJ accuses Magnolia of being selfish. Magnolia tells BJ she wants him to leave her alone.
• BJ does more coke and then goes to the toilets with the flirty bartender. Magnolia sees them.
• Magnolia kisses Tom and they sleep together.
• Magnolia goes to find BJ at 2am. She sees the bartender in his room.
• Magnolia tells her friend Paili what happened. 
• BJ continues doing coke throughout the holiday.
• Magnolia returns home to find that her mother is moving out. Marsaili and Harley no longer need to keep their affair a secret.
• Magnolia tells BJ that there’s no hope of them getting back together.
• Tom teaches Bridget and Paili how to make cocktails. Tom invites Magnolia to Clara’s birthday party. Paili asks what’s going on between Magnolia and the guys.
• BJ is spiralling.
• Tom gets upset because Clara has a boyfriend. Tom argues with said boyfriend. Magnolia realises this is a lot like her relationship with BJ.
• BJ goes to find Magnolia while she’s out shopping. He goes into the dressing room with her and they kiss. They’re interrupted by a salesperson.
• Magnolia is forced to have dinner with her family. Marsaili accuses Magnolia of cheating on Tom because Bridget knows about the dressing room incident.
• Magnolia tells Tom about the kiss, Tom doesn’t seem too bothered.
• BJ realises that Magnolia really likes Tom. 
• Jonah throws an opening party for his new club. BJ and Magnolia sneak in the back. The friends party. As they’re leaving, Taura kisses Magnolia to distract her from the press.
• Tom tells Magnolia that her dynamic with BJ is weird.
• Julian throws a birthday party. Daisy and Christian are there together. 
• Magnolia and Julian have kissed before but Magnolia didn’t handle it well and broke down. Julian tells Magnolia to find him if she wants a bad boy.
• Daisy and Christian argue. Daisy accuses Christian of being in love with Magnolia, which is probably true. Magnolia feels guilty.
• BJ gets upset over the Magnolia/Christian thing and takes some coke.
• Christian admits that he does love Magnolia, but Magnolia is obsessed with BJ.
• Bridget suggests that Magnolia has daddy issues, which is probably true.
• Christian calls Magnolia a bitch and kisses her. Christian also loves Daisy so it’s complicated.
• Magnolia demands that BJ tells her who he slept with when he initially cheated on her. He avoids the question.
• BJ throws a party and invites all the hot women. He takes loads of coke and has a threesome.
• Tom hopes that Magnolia will stop obsessing over BJ and stay with him.
• Magnolia spots BJ at a club and realises he has taken drugs. She gets angry with him, BJ pushes her, and Tom punches BJ.
• BJ realises what he did and is upset with his actions. He wants Tom to beat him up as he feels he deserves it.
• Magnolia wakes up next to Tom.
• Magnolia tells her mum and sister that BJ is taking drugs again. Magnolia tells Henry.
• BJ and the guys go to Amsterdam for the weekend.
• Magnolia and Tom go on holiday together. She wonders whether they could be a real couple, but he’s in love with Clara and there’s the whole BJ thing.
• BJ goes to an event, expecting to see Magnolia there. Bridget tells him Magnolia is on holiday with Tom. She also tells him that Magnolia was destroyed when BJ overdosed before, so he should try not to kill himself.
• Magnolia wants to be able to choose Tom but she feels like she’d fated to be with BJ. She goes to one of her family’s holiday homes and finds BJ waiting for her by the tree. They kiss and then spend the night together.
• The two decide to be together. Magnolia breaks up with Tom.
• Both families are thrilled by this news, as are the mutual friends.
• Magnolia hugs Paili, and recognises her friend’s perfume. She asks Paili if she is the one BJ cheated on her with. Paili admits that she is.
• BJ recalls that Paili followed him to his room during a party and they had sex.
• Magnolia flees the restaurant. BJ runs after her and grabs her. She tells him to never touch her again. She snaps the necklace and jumps into a taxi to Heathrow.

That’s what happened in Magnolia Parks! Check out our recap list for more recaps. If you can’t find what you need, you can request a recap from us!