Finding Magdalena

Magdalena #1

by Shannon Condon

Magdalena "Maggie" Curran is a freshman at a Virginia boarding school when her parents are killed in a car accident in Rome. With no family, Maggie must deal with the anxiety and night terrors that follow her tragic loss. Maggie learns to cope with the help of her best friend, Graham Ashford and Xanax. In her junior year, the school deems her stable enough to have a roommate, and her new friend Sarah quickly draws Maggie out of her shyness and into the dating world. While at Sarah's house for Thanksgiving, however, things take a turn for the worse. Can Maggie survive another tragedy and find true happiness?

Genres: Fiction

370 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 30, 2015

About the author

Shannon is an award-winning author, renowned for her gripping Magdalena Series.
Breaking new ground, she has a released new crime thriller titled “When Anna Came Home.” In this novel, Anna returns from college only to stumble upon a chilling crime scene that upends her world. Collaborating with the FBI, Anna dives into a complex web of financial crimes, illegal arms deals, and long-buried family secrets. The stakes are incredibly high as they race to expose the mastermind behind this deadly conspiracy.
For those who enjoy action, tension, and emotional depth, Shannon’s books are must-read. Immerse yourself in the world of Magdalena and be captivated by Anna's journey!

Reviews

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) · Rating 5 out of 5]

My how I loved this book "Finding Magdalena" and oh how I loved Maggie - dear, dear Maggie. My heart truly bled for her when she learned of the sudden and dreadful loss of her parents and with every wrong choice she made regarding boys or their atrocious behaviour towards her. So many things a girl of her age should not experience or encounter. Maggie is such a lovely, endearing and humble girl, you couldn't help but like her and you felt you were really with her, by her side all through the book.
The writing style was a pleasure to read and the story was so easy to follow, the characters were well portrayed and I particularly liked that there was no unnecessary bad language and although this has a romantic storyline, it was clean and comfortable to read.
Maggie (Magdalena) is left orphaned at the age of 15 - she learns to cope with her grief and excels academically. With the support of her friends Graham and Sarah she starts to build relationships - even though she's so used to being on her own - but can she truly rely on them and will she regret getting too close to the family of her best friend? Can she do enough to be accepted to the University of Malaga so she can trace her mother's estranged family? What will happen if she finds them? This is a wonderful coming of age style story depicting the strength and determination of a fiercely independent girl who sorely deserves happiness and security. There's tension, emotion and intrigue that makes this book a real page turner....and that ending! Wow!!
I really enjoyed the way the author Shannon Condon crafted a superb story that drew you in instantly from the beginning and I am now swiftly moving on to the second in the intriguing 'Magdalena' series "The Brotherhood".
A warm and well deserved 5 stars!

[Donna Chadwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all l would like to say a big thank you to Shannon condon for sending me her book and giving me the chance to read it. I was sent this book in exchange for a honest review. I am glad this book is on my bookshelf I would tell people that you should step outside your comfort zone with books because it is good to add more authors and genres to your reading portfolio even if you don't read books of this. I normally do not read books of this genre but l stepped outside my comfort zone with authors and genres I am so glad l did because l have read so many great books. I highly recommend this book. I would love to read more from this author. I was sent this book by bostick communications who I want to say a big thank you to them as well. The author is really nice I was intrigued by this book. Maggie sounds like a great lady l was sad to read that her mother and father passed away and she was a orphan now. Maggie travelled with her parents. This is a great story and this book will have you on the edge of your seat. You will be crying tears of happiness and sadness. I really wonder how Maggie survived after everything she been through l fell in love with this book after reading the first few pages. There is 323 pages in this book. This story will have you hooked and wanting to read more. I would love to read more about Maggie. It did not take me long to read this book.

[Britt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Simon/Austin Macauley Publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this story in exchange for my review

The beautiful, sweet Magdalena "Maggie" Curran is devastated when she learns that her parents have died in an automobile accident. What is she going to do now? She doesn't know of any other family members; she is now, officially, an orphan.

One sort of lucky thing is that she is enrolled at the Easton University so she has a home at least until she graduates from her High School classes.

Her days are all the same: go to class, study and take anxiety pills. She's too nervous to talk to anyone but the Dean of the school, Mrs. Branson and her best friend, Graham.

After a couple of years living at the school, she's informed that she will no longer have the privacy of her own room. She is going to be sharing with a girl named Sarah who is the complete opposite of her: loud, outgoing and not at all interested in good grades.

She and Sarah eventually become best friends and are good for each other. Sarah teaches Maggie to be a little more outgoing and how to flirt with boys...well, sort of and Maggie teaches Sarah how to be more organized and achieve better grades.

Once Maggie starts flirting with her best friend Graham, she becomes popular, no one can resist her beauty and innocent personality. She is such a sweet person.

Her relationship is off and on with Graham. A couple boys in between were head over heels for her. She had that special something, they all wanted to protect her and never leave her side.

One of the boys in between was Eric, Sarah's brother whom she met over Thanksgiving break when she was invited to stay at the Greenes' house. He was different than the other boys, something was a little off.

Another devastating incident happens while visiting the Greenes' house. How much more of this stress can Maggie take!? She's got to get out of there!

The incident that occurred has mentally scarred her so much that it's all she thinks about, worries about...and rightly so. There is no escaping it. Well, maybe, but it's going to be tough.


I really enjoyed this story. Not only were all of the characters in the book fond of Maggie, so was I.

[Adam Wing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding Magdalena is poignant and emotional. Shannon Condon isn't afraid to put her characters through the most difficult situations, and casts hope in their humanity, vulnerability and the strength they find and give to each other.

[Mol · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have some mixed feelings about this book. The story begins with the death of Maggie's parents, and I found myself sympathetic towards her character and what she was going through, which made me want to know more about how she would cope with the loss and grow in the novel.

Maggie as a character struggles throughout the book, dealing with loss, going through education and the several relationships she has along the way. This allowed for a dramatic and quite riveting tone in the book which made me want to keep pushing through it. However, I also thought the presentation of Maggie's character was unrealistic, especially at the beginning of the novel. She is portrayed as someone who is beautiful, who can sing and someone who has perfect grades and is loved by almost everyone she meets. This meant that her character lacked realism and depth, leading me to struggle to connect with her character.

Another element I wasn't keen on in the book was the writing style. While I enjoyed reading the book as it went on, I found some phrases were being repeated too often, and thus the book felt tedious at times.

However, that being said I did still enjoy myself and as the story went along the adversity Maggie faces gets more and more challenging, which allowed for a compelling story. For her first novel, I think 'Finding Magdalena' was a good attempt, and I would recommend this book to anyone who is fond of the drama and thriller genres.

*This book was sent to me as an ARC. These are my honest opinions and I am not being paid to write this review.

[H · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic thriller!

A very good book for a first-time author. The plot was intriguing especially for the emphasis of a strong female lead. The best parts for me were Maggie and Graham. At first, Shannon Condon got me appealed with the parents’ characters, but without a doubt, it is like being spellbound with enthrallment along with every character. Not to leave any spoilers, I was down with every detail that was spread all across the chapters. I felt most real with everyone each for a particular reason. For the most part, Magdalena had her magnificent spell of charm for her sincere personal relativism with everyone; it also made me feel a wave of ‘hiraeth’ homesickness of my own because of her humbleness and kindness. It is just like a magnet which automatically fuses you to feel with and love her. Not to mention, Graham also had his very special presence. It was his unique kinship that made me idolise his character. The way he stood by Maggie from the very beginning thru every problem she's gone through gave me a boost big enough for me to cheer them on.

I’ll just say that author Condon did a marvelous creation in making this book series. I am very glad and thankful I got to connect with the author for an honest book review, truly moving! It does full-heartedly deserve 5 stars!

[Kristine (The Writer's Inkwell) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Posted originally on my blog:
The Writer's Inkwell

When you are reading a book, typically you find yourself looking out for key things that will help you determine if you like it or not. In Finding Magdalena, I found myself sifting through a mixture of emotions because there were several things I enjoyed and a few things that really annoyed me.

As the main character, Maggie (aka Magdalena) is a hard character to hate and yet, at times, a difficult character to love. If there is one thing I really dislike in a main character, it’s a Mary Sue. As much as I liked Maggie, I was highly disappointed in how “perfect” she is at anything and everything. For me, realism is key and while someone may look perfect to you, they aren’t. Maggie is even so perfect that after a brutal attack, she barely has a single scar that is able to be covered up. Not even having her face pulverized left any lasting effects on her perfect beauty. That’s not interesting and that’s not realistic. If your face is beat so fiercely that you have to have tubes up your nose to breathe and an ice pack for weeks on your face, there’s going to be something different. At the very least, she could have had a small scar on her eyebrow or a small, barely noticeable bump from a broken nose. But not Maggie. This is only one instance of her perfect perfection and I’ll admit, at times it was hard to remain objective about the story as a whole because of it.

But my opinion on Maggie is just that, it’s an opinion. I’m probably in the small majority of the population who would ever notice let alone care about such trivial things. While I would have been receptive to her, had she some actual flaws/faults, she wasn’t a terrible character and I was actually rooting for her to find her way throughout the book.

My only real criticism outside of Maggie’s perfect perfection, is the fact I felt the description of the book gives entirely way too much away. I can’t imagine how hard it is to come up with a description for a book and hope that it will be enticing enough to catch a reader’s eyes. But by using an actual summary of the story for its description, leaves little left to be discovered. Especially when it comes to the drama that unfolds with Eric. I spent over a hundred pages anticipating Eric’s attack on her in her dorm room and yet, I never would have suspected that had it not been revealed in the description of the book.

As for the plot, I was actually a fan of several major plot points. Since Maggie was such an obnoxious Mary Sue, the fact she didn’t have a picture perfect life helped balance out the few issues I had with this book. I was a bit confused by hers and Graham’s relationship initially. Especially when he suddenly decides he doesn’t want to be with her the day after they confessed their feelings for one another. But teenagers are impulsive and in light of the events that led up to that, I suppose I could understand how he could make such a stupid mistake. Also, I really liked the introduction of Eric into the story line. He was probably the most complex character in the book and trying to figure him out was a challenge. It was clear he was meant to be the token “bad boy” of the book, but not everything he does is completely terrible. He actually has moments when he is decent or sweet.

All in all, this was a pretty solid book. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking for a new author to read. She clearly has a real talent for story telling and I think she’s going to be one to look out for in the future. I might have had a few minor quibbles about Maggie or the description, but they are truly minor things and didn’t really impact my thoughts on the book as a whole.

Reviewer's note: I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Rae Sontheyon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emotional-Action Packed Coming of Age Novel. . .

Right from the beginning this book had me in tears, the main character is so young facing such terrible loss and situations that no one should endure. It's through the entire story that the author has her character grow-up into a strong female who instead of cowering in fear of her attacker, fights back to live the life she's always dreamt of, full of love, family and friends.

Growing up all over Europe, 15 yr old Magdalene "Maggie" Curran, is sent to a private boarding school in Virginia for the first time as young high school freshman. Up until then Maggie's life had been just her and her loving parents living around Europe and her mothers home country of Spain. Then tragedy befalls her parents leaving Maggie an orphan in a new country. However, it's then that Maggie finds she is not truly alone as her best friend Graham Ashford steps in to be with her night and day. Over the next years Maggie grows up and finds out what falling in love is like, but she also finds out the dangerous side of "love" when obsession is mixed in. The brother of her new best friend/roommate during Maggie's junior year becomes a violent stalker with his sole intent on making Maggie only his; so to truly escape him Maggie knows she must make a clean break and return to Spain. While in Spain, Maggie enrolls in the university of University of Malaga, and begins searching for her mother's family. Her time in Spain leads to a reunion with a family she never thought she'd find and a new relationship she'd only dreamed of, the only thing is her past is still haunting her present and if she wants a future Maggie will need to decide to take flight or fight.

Overall, I liked the book. The main character is definitely a strong female despite everything that occurred to her, Maggie in the end came out stronger than ever. There are only a few things which could deter ones love for the book. The writing style of the book is more like a movie script or screen play than a contemporary novel; however, if the reader takes into account the perspective which isn't always told from one character but from the narrator writing Maggie's story over a span of years. Which is how Maggie can begin the book at 15 and end the story in her early twenties. Plus without this format a reader wouldn't experience the awesome imagery of Spain or spy like scene near the end. Now I will admit I did feel a disconnect at times with Maggie and the characters, as if I was only reading their story not experiencing the moment with them, perhaps due to so little dialogue included. Another thing was the ending, it went from Maggie managing her problems and living life to the movie "Taken" or "Lara Croft" in 5 seconds flat. I loved the scene, but it was like "where did this come from?" kind of feeling. I'd love to read more on Maggie, especially if the story entails Super Spy Maggie from the latter part of the book. In truth the author could have spliced up the book and made two parts, maybe three, with how much goes on in Maggie's life. So if you are looking to read a book about a young woman who despite all the heartbreak she endures decides to venture out on her own to find a place to call home and look for a family to love, but is still wrapped up in danger before she can find peace and chooses to take a final stand for life and true happiness, than this book may just be a good read for you.

**I received a free copy in return for an honest review**

------Read more of my reviews at: http://heyitwasfree.blogspot.com/------

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Right from the first page I was intrigued by this book. Maggie is a young lady that has been all over Europe with her parents. But tragedy strikes as she heads back to her boarding school. Her parents are killed and she is left an orphan. Her best friend Graham is there for her helping her through it all

Then Maggie gets a roommate and Sarah opens her up to so many new things like dating and having fun. Then one Thanksgiving Maggie's life alters and she becomes the deer in the headlights of Sarah's brother . A crush soon turns into terror for Maggie a terror that Graham can't even save her from. Even traveling to Spain doesn't give enough distance between Maggie and her stalker . As she makes a life there she reconnects with her mother's family and finds true love . But will that be enough to keep her safe and alive.

The author takes us on an adventure with Maggie , from all over Europe to Virginia back to Spain. The characters were well written and you got to watch them grow as you read . At the beginning you see Maggie as naïve young woman , who even though travelled all over Europe was still kind of naïve about things. She had to grow up fast and you start to see that as she and Sarah start hanging out. You really see her start to mature as she goes through all the hell that she went through. You see come out the other side a very strong woman, knowing what and who she is . I truly liked her and wanted to see her come out the other side stronger and wiser. The character of Graham is a likable guy who loves her as a best friend an first love. They are so sweet together and who never forgets their first love . He would do anything for Maggie and does. He protects her and listens to her . he is just a sweet all around guy. The rest of the cast of characters are so diverse and are there to help Maggie when she needs it . She can count on them to help her out when she needs it.

Over all I really liked this book. The characters were brilliant and the story line flowed well . But a times I felt a little disconnected with Maggie, like how she started the book with Maggie being 15 at the start and be in her twenties when she is in Spain. I just felt like wow what a jump.

The author has us on the edge of our seats as we read, from her student years to Spain and Maggie as a spy. I want to hopefully read more about Maggie as a spy, she would be so good at it , I think.

Over all the story is really good and will have you crying and throwing your book at a few spots. Trust me you will cry both tears of sadness and tears of joy when you read her story. You will turning pages well into the night and wondering how Maggie got through it all. And found love and family despite all the hardships and terror she went through . This is the book for you, it will give you a book hangover , trust me I know. Hope to read more from this author and soon

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book from the author for an honest review....

A very good book for a first-time author. The plot was very good with a strong female lead in Magdelena "Maggie". She had loving parents that she was very close to, but unfortunately was struck with tragedy when they are killed in an accident at the start of the story.

This tells of how Maggie, with the help of her best friend Graham, gets through her school life and learns to cope. Though Maggie is an excellent student, she doesn't have many friends, until a year later she gets a new roomie Sarah who she becomes close to and is ""taken in" as an honorary member of the family. Unfortunately Sarah's brother Eric has other ideas.

There are a few points in the story where you become very afraid for Maggie, and rightly so, but she develops into an even stronger character than you would expect. A lovely story of strength in a young woman who wins both in love and her life in the end. Would recommend!

Well done Shannon

[Jaclyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Magdalena, or Maggie, as she's called, has had a tough life with both of her parents dying in a tragic car accident. After a chance meeting with her friend's brother, Maggie's life is forever changed.

While I enjoyed the premise of the book, the dialogue among the characters did not always seem authentic (for example, they spoke very formally with no contractions). There were times when events were glossed over and some events described with too much detail or unnecessary to the story. These details sometimes bogged me down, discouraging me from finishing the book, but I plowed through.

A good thriller.

**I received an advanced copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.**

[Debra Stutts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding Magdalena was one of the best books I've read in quite a while. The author's descriptive text and characterizations of the subjects allows one to feel transported to the main character's (Maggie)time and circumstance. Maggie is a sympathetic character who makes one root for her throughout the entire book. I must admit there were a few twists and turns that I didn't anticipate but which made the book even more enjoyable. It's a MUST READ!!

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book about a young woman who must find her own way in the world after suddenly being orphaned. She learns that even apparently good friends can be unreliable and even dangerous. The characters are well developed and the story is compelling. I recommend it for any age.

[Brett Wallach · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is not my genre of choice, but it is a sweet though tumultuous coming of age Young Adult novel, written with heart and sensitivity. Only quibble: the dramatic events in the book were told in something of an offhand, anticlimactic manner which lessened their impact.

[Shaini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding Magdalena is a perfect balance of thriller, suspense and happy moments. Can't wait for a sequel.

[Heather Hancock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Book Is A Must Read!

This is Magdalena’s story of overcoming adversity and fear to live, love and thrive. I couldn’t put this book down!

[Kirsty Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Does contain a few spoilers**

A fantastic coming of age and thriller novel!

Follow Maggie as she tries to navigate the troubles of life at boarding school as she recovers from the death of her parents and becoming an orphan. Maggie tries to adjust to find her new kind of normal, finding love and discovering who Magdalena Curran is?

Shannon Condon's portrays Maggie as a strong female protagonist with many layers that are continually being explored, from Maggie's perception of herself, her mental health, how her peers view her, the media and even by the narrator. I liked that Condon's writing of Maggie's mental health and how it is continuously referred to throughout the book. Maggie is not just "fixed" after attending some therapy sessions; the readers see Maggie struggle with her anxiety from her parent's death in many different situations - appeared quite realistic. Condon is not afraid to show Maggie's weaker self. Even though everyone in the novel comments on Maggie's perfection whether that be her appearance or singing ability, Condon allows Maggie to have small moments of doubt, jealousy or envy with other people comparing them to herself.

Condon's writing strives to focus on a character no matter whether they are a featured character or only appear for a single chapter. The narration of the tale is always moving switching perspectives enabling the readers a small glance behind the other character whether they are significant to the plot or to create emotional moments of reflection. For example, the narrator reveals to the reader that Chris lied to Maggie about his relationship status or Sarah's parents, commenting on Maggie's misfortune.

Though Maggie's parents (William and Valeria) are only present in the opening chapter of the tale, Condon vividly depicts the loving relationship with Maggie and her parents. That bond between parents and child create the emotional hook for the reader, pushing them to read on wanting to know how she can cope without them. The charming images of her parents are destroyed by the police ask Maggie to identity her parents' remains shocking and angering the reader – absolutely heartbreaking. (I still can't believe the police asked Maggie to identify the remains when it was NOT EVEN NECESSARY)

I must commend Condon's pacing throughout the novel. The entire span of the book covers from when Maggie is fifteen to nineteen/twenty. The story has a perpetual turning point shifting from a coming of age novel to a suspense thriller, and that is mirrored the change in pace and writing style. The story clearly shows Condon's diversity in writing, and I'm excited to see the thriller aspect of her writing style develops as the novels later in the series are focused on Maggie working with Shep enabling the books to become a spy thriller series.

My only concerns with the novel are some of the repetition of images or phrases throughout the tale. However, these images become stables of the character; they can be a little annoying. Many characters that encountered Maggie all comment of her beautiful appearance, which takes away from the rounded character that Condon has created possibly labelling Maggie as a Mary Sue who is perfection. Furthermore, Maggie seems to always sing 'Ava Maria' and wears a vanilla scent. I understand that the song has sentimental pull for Maggie as it is a song her mother sang to her and taught her when she was a child. Still, as Maggie only appears to sing this song (as well as her original song) detracts slightly from emotional link with her mother as it is overused slightly.

All in all, 'Finding Magdalena' is a fantastic book which couldn't have been read fast enough. I cannot wait to read the next novels that Shannon Condon writes, exploring Maggie's journey series grows, and I imagine how journey works with mysterious Shep. However, I had a few minor issues with the novel; it didn't detract from my overall enjoyment, as Condon's writing and the pacing keeps the story moving forward!

**DISCLAIMER: I received this book for free as part of an ARC. My opinions are unbiased and honest, and I was not paid to give my review**

[Liam Billingsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading the blurb to this book, I was immediately drawn into Shannon Condon’s narrative. The tale of a young girl, tragically orphaned and far away from home. Only one friend, the sole person in her life whom she can truly rely on. What’s not to like? More importantly, I couldn’t wait to see where the story would build from here. What struck me most was Condon’s decision to incorporate these events into the first few pages. With over three hundred and fifty left, I couldn’t help but worry about where the story would take me. Oh, how very wrong I was.

It was only a matter of time before I was immersed in the life of Condon’s central protagonist, Magdalena Curran. It is absolutely crucial for any author to foreground an engaging, but above all else interesting character right at the beginning of a plot. To my utmost pleasure, this was executed perfectly. Following the hopeless, innocent young girl transform into something much greater than herself is exactly what I expected to see.

Above everything else: I couldn’t help but find myself constantly asking the same question – where is the story building to? Yet I knew something was coming, through expertly placed tensions interwoven in scenes of peace and serenity. Like a Harlan Coben novel, the twists began hitting me left, right and centre. What started out as a simple boarding school romantic tale, morphed into a gripping espionage thriller. This change from one genre to the next was seamless, embedded behind a wealth of side plots and meaningful characters.

So, from the outset we have a great protagonist, Maggie. But any protagonist is only as good as the characters around them, defining the person they become and altering the narrative course for better or worse. Her best friend/boyfriend Graham, her confidante/roommate Sarah, and the psychopathic Eric are just a few of the characters intertwined in Maggie’s life. Each of the aforementioned personalities, alongside the later additions of her cousin Felipe and love interest Mateo, influenced and changed Maggie’s experiences, opening up new avenues for storytelling along the way.

However, whilst Condon’s narrative is, for the most part fast paced and well-constructed, certain plot points became lackadaisically abandoned in the pursuit of newer tales. Maggie’s best friend, Sarah, became a critical part of her development as the novel progressed; for Sarah, Maggie was the sister she never had. Because of this, it’s so unfortunate to see her suddenly disappear from the narrative. For a character as prominent as Sarah I couldn’t help but wonder why she was no longer needed in the story, seen as she had been such a critical figure in Maggie’s school life.

Nevertheless, despite its rare, clumsy moments of haphazard characterisation, Condon’s novel remains a hit from start to finish. Her dialogue is natural and fluid, whilst her descriptions never overstay their welcome. But it’s this unwavering willingness to retain pace and momentum at every possible moment, which kept me turning pages for hours on end.

I received this book as a member of an ARC book pool, free of charge. Everything written above is my pure, unfiltered and unbiased opinion.

[Amanda Leavens · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given this book by the author in exchange for a fair review!

Book TW: graphic abus€/assau!t, mild language, alcohol use, prescription drug use, parental death, and mental health struggles.

Synopsis: Magdalena “Maggie” Curran is a freshman at Easton Academy in Virginia. She is intelligent, a natural beauty, and the idea of perfection to the boys whose lives intertwine with hers. She doesn’t know that when she hugs her parents bye, when leaving Rome from break, that it will be the last time she sees them alive. Hours later she is given news of their death and is forced to look at pictures that would certainly give anyone night terrors. Maggie becomes reliant on her best friend, Graham Ashford, as well as her prescription Xanax. Graham is her security blanket and will do anything to protect her. We see a coming of age story as this book follows Maggie from a naive 15 year old into a confident young adult of 19 years old. Come her junior year of high school, she meets Sarah Greene. Sarah is Maggie’s roommate and is a big personality in a small body. They become like sisters and it’s Sarah who really pushes Maggie to overcome the grief she has held on to for so long. The story doesn’t end there as we see romance, fear that makes Maggie look over her shoulder, thrills, and psyches that will make you shudder. Does Maggie find happiness or will she be a victim of her tragic life?

Review: The book should have been an easy read, but it took me longer than normal to get through it. There are a lot of anticlimatic parts, but if you really want your heart to race, definitely read pages 258-277. 😅. There is a lot of fluff, there are grammatical errors, and there is a bit of repetition, but what you will also find in there is an author who truly cares about each and every character in the book. I like that the author adds some “southern charm” into the book, but I feel like the overuse of idioms kind of takes away from that a bit. The book is lacking fluidity, so I really feel like this is a rough draft that’s in need of a good rewrite to turn the concepts into something great. The storyline is there, it’s just that the times of events don’t always make sense and the character shifts are all over the place.

Recommendation: I really wanted to love this book, but the more that I weighed my feelings about it, the more I was on the fence. I feel like there were too many stereotypes and not enough immersion into the culture that Maggie was striving to connect to. The Spanish words didn’t even have acute accents. I would give the book a 3/5 star rating. If you want a book that reads like a YA book but has some intense, graphic scenes, this is the book you will want to read! If you want lots of character description, this book is for you! If you are interested in reading about overcoming anxiety and grief, this book is for you! While this book may not have been for me, it may be for you!

I also wanted to note that this version is a 2021 reprint version through AuthorReputationPress, so books could slightly vary based on the publication.

[IJ · Rating 1 out of 5]

DISCLAIMER: I received this for free as part of an ARC group. No bribes (monetary or otherwise) for a positive review here.

The book, disguised as a coming of age story, is in fact a convoluted set-up for a spy thriller series. Upon first reading, I got the impression that this was going to be a simple story about Maggie navigating high school after the loss of her parents and developing a sweet romance with her close male friend Graham. I was wrong. So very wrong. The book certainly deals with various issues regarding sex, relationships, and dangerous men – but not in a way one would expect.

Let’s start with the protagonist. Maggie suffers the worst case of “Mary-Sue Syndrome” I’ve ever seen. Every single man in the book falls in love with Maggie. Every. Single. One. If they’re not *in love* with her, then they’re still obsessed with her. Even her university professor is repulsively keen on her, despite it not being explicitly described as romantic or sexual. Additionally, Maggie is miraculously good at everything and a gorgeous goddess. She embodies the “hot but doesn’t know it” archetype that just drives all those fictional men crazy. It reads like a fantasy that the author has projected onto her protagonist for the readers to picture as themselves. And that’s exactly what this book is: a fantasy of being this perfect woman surrounded by men who can’t help but want her (with one even going as far as trying to kill her out of a sense of deeply misogynistic “if I can’t have you, no one can” entitlement.) If you enjoy reading blatant wish-fulfilment, then this is definitely the book for you! However, if you’re looking for a story that is realistic with characters that feel like real people, you’re better of looking elsewhere.

Another detail I took issue with is that the author seems to think that Italians are ethnically Latin. When you think Latin, you think of Latinos/Latinas from South America. She makes references Maggie’s “Latin rear” and to Mateo being a “latin man” but Italians are not Latin. They are Caucasian. The stereotypical image of an Italian person (dark hair, dark eyes, and olive skin) is still, ethnically, white. Just because Latin (the language) originated in Rome does not make the general populace Latin as we know it.

I’m not going to get into the events of the book because spoilers (in case you want to read it) but… for me personally, who enjoys stories where the characters react realistically to the trials they endure, not seeing internalised misogyny and "not-like-other-girls" narratives, as well as not have the protagonist end up a spy by the next book at age 19 despite not having years of rigorous mental and physical training, this is not something I enjoyed. However, I know this series has a following of women who love this type of fantastical indulgence so maybe it will work for you. Otherwise this was an interesting read because it really gave you whiplash with the abrupt personality shifts of the male characters (Graham deserved better) and the events that happen are definitely shocking.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘Finding Magdalena’ is an intriguing, dramatic novel. It’s an interesting blend of romance, thriller, and coming-of-age genres that had me curious to see how the story would progress.

Jumping straight into the novel, we are introduced to Magdalena Curran, also known as Maggie, who is a high school student whose parents have been killed in a tragic accident. Throughout the novel, we are invited to witness her personal growth, from being a teenage girl in boarding school to a young woman on the run. At times, however, Maggie appears a little too perfect. She can sing, she is pretty, she has perfect grades, and everybody seems to like her. As someone who isn’t much older than Maggie’s character, I found that I couldn’t completely identify with her character at times.

On the other hand, the events of the novel, from the arrival of Sarah, Maggie’s relationship with Graham, and Eric’s terrifyingly obsessive behaviour, successfully drives the narrative and creates a compelling, intense story. Eric’s actions and the effects on Maggie’s everyday life especially drew me into the novel, as I was keen to know what would happen. Condon is highly successful in her creation of suspense and tension.

Although it is enjoyable to witness Maggie’s life progress, occasionally the pace of the novel is far too fast. There are events that are skimmed over that I feel could’ve been explored and developed to establish character personalities and relationships further. It seemed as though Maggie was in high school one minute and then travelling to university in Spain the next which was a little disorientating. Additionally, the novel can be repetitive at times, with certain actions and phrases being overused. For example, characters are always referred to as shedding tears when anything regarding emotion is concerned, which I personally did not find believable amongst such a diverse range of characters.

Although the addition of male characters aided the narrative, at times the presentation of gender roles was a little too traditional (e.g. Maggie and Graham’s mother cooking for the men as they watch sports) and contrasted with Maggie’s role as the independent female protagonist. Male characters seem to drive Maggie’s story (Graham, Chris, Eric) which does not always sit comfortably with me as it is clear from the narrative that she is a rather interesting character by herself.

Overall though, despite my criticisms, ‘Finding Magdalena’ is an intense novel that has so much potential as a thriller/coming-of-age/romance with a mysterious spy twist, that deals with mental health, death and grief, abuse and recovery, relationships, family, and espionage.

*This review is my honest, unbiased opinion of ‘Finding Magdalena’. I was not paid to provide a review and received the novel for free from Rowanvale books.*

[Book Reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding Magdalena, by Shannon Condon, embarks on a gripping journey with Magdalena "Maggie" Curran, a teenager whose life is upended after a tragic car accident claims her parents. Set against the prestigious backdrop of Easton Academy, where Maggie is a scholarship student, this coming-of-age story navigates themes of grief, survival, and the enduring power of love. Maggie’s struggle to adapt to her new reality as an orphan is palpable and her deepening friendship with the charming and protective Graham brings warmth to her otherwise lonely world. As Maggie ventures beyond her comfort zone and meets new people, unsettling secrets begin to surface, threatening both her safety and peace of mind.

Condon delivers a fast-paced and emotionally charged young adult read that blends grief, romance, suspense, and tension. The story hooks readers with its portrayal of raw emotion, complex friendships, and Maggie's journey of self-discovery. The narrative deftly weaves together the past and present, testing the strength of its characters in ways that keep readers on edge. From the outset, Finding Magdalena sets a promising tone, drawing readers into Maggie's shattered world after the sudden death of her parents. The writing builds an emotional foundation, hinting at the deep exploration of loss and suspense that lies ahead. The elite boarding school setting adds to the intrigue, and the initial hints of mystery beneath Maggie's grief suggest an intense, thrilling ride. Maggie’s relationship with Graham is heartfelt and one of the book’s more compelling aspects. Her nightmares and anxieties are rendered realistically, and the simple, accessible writing makes the book a fast and engaging read.

I do feel the themes of grief and self-discovery seem to take a back seat halfway through the plot as the focus shifts heavily toward romance. Though the romantic elements are well-executed, the transition seems abrupt, as though two different stories—one of loss and one of high school love—are competing for attention. I would love to have seen a slightly more nuanced balance between these two elements. The thriller aspects remain intriguing as there are moments of genuine suspense and emotional resonance that shine through, particularly in Maggie’s relationships with Graham and Sarah, and how an unexpected friendship helps her break out of her shell. These elements keep the reader engaged and invested in Maggie's plight.

Finding Magdalena offers moments of emotional depth, tension, and heart and is a compelling read for those who enjoy fast-paced young adult fiction with a mix of romance and suspense. I recommend Shannon Condon's thriller to any reader seeking a new author and a cast of relatable characters to explore.

[Jess Payne · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unexpected delve into themes of consent, misogyny, violence, obsession and anxiety, this book is everything I admire in a dark coming of age story… almost. Despite it's gripping plot, this heart-breaking story is at times let down in its execution.
The book is a definite page turner; moments of drama and extreme tension are very well executed. The book frequently flicks between light-hearted romance and dark tragedy, creating an inconsistent tone that can be jarring at points. However, this does allow the narrative to be very unpredictable and shocking. I especially like the development of the villain. Condon masterfully drops hints at the character’s problematic dark side, without ever displaying their true evil until the perfect moment, which is both shocking and completely believable. The other characters are equally dimensional and interesting. In the wake of tragedy that constantly follows the protagonist, the reader is always in doubt as to who Maggie can trust, which is subtly achieved throughout the novel. Irritatingly, this character depth does not extend to Maggie herself, who is so mind-numbingly perfect that it borderlines ridiculous. There isn’t a single moment in the book where she displays a single flaw in her character. Her beauty is such that she drives men to obsession and infidelity, her intelligence allows her choice of any university in the world, and her kindness extends to forgiving people who only bring her trauma. It is rare to read a single page of this novel that does not detail her extraordinary character. It not only removes any sense of relatability, it is annoying. Throughout all the hardships Maggie faces, the reader is constantly reminded that she is so faultless that she will undoubtedly come out of anything the same as before. I find that this often damages the validity of her suffering and removes the consequences of her trauma.
That being said, the themes are complex and for the most part, presented effectively. I especially appreciate the display of violence towards women and the dangers of ignoring initial signs of misogyny that on the surface seem relatively small. The novel almost punishes the reader for ever forgiving problematic behaviour and this social comment is presented with admirable nuance and subtlety.
Overall, this is a good easy-read novel with enough dark twists to keep anyone engaged. Fans of Twilight and Young Adult fiction would benefit from adding this to their bookshelves.

*I was sent a Review Copy of this book by Rowanvale Books. I was not paid to review this and all opinions are my own.*

[Maureen · Rating 2 out of 5]

A view weeks ago I was asked to review ‘Finding Magdalena’. The book description sounded very interesting, and I loved the cover so I decided to give this book a chance.

In ‘Finding Magdalena’ we meet Maggie, a young girl in college who just lost both her parents in a tragic accident. Since her parents where the only family Maggie had, she is now on her own. Luckily Maggie was emancipated and already lived on her own for a while. Maggie was a great student, excelling in all her classes and she had a great best friend. Although she was heartbroken about her parents death, Maggie tried to make the most of her life. But life can be very hard.

I read this book as part of a blog tour. But soon after starting ‘Finding Magdalena’ I found myself not liking this book at all to be honest so I agreed on sharing my review later on. The writing in ‘Finding Magdalena’ is very descriptive. Maggie did this, than Maggie did that. I just didn’t really like the writing style. But since I agreed on reviewing this book I kept on reading.

In the beginning I did like Maggie. She was a gifted singer, and seemed like a very nice girl who loved her parents very much. She was serious with her school work, and a real planner. I definitely found myself liking her character. But soon she started to change. From a nice and shy girl with not having had a boyfriend at all, she went to having several different boyfriends in the span of a month or two. I didn’t really get that at all. Things went way to fast in way to little time and I couldn’t keep up. I really felt like this book was rushed.

Near the end of the book I found out this book was more a thriller than a romantic read. But even the thrilling part I didn’t really get. I found it brutal and strange and just didn’t like it at all. And Maggie suddenly was this aggressive person. I mean.. I get that you’d want to hit someone who has betrayed your trust. But she hit two people in a very short time and it just didn’t fit the image it got from this character at the beginning.

‘Finding Magdalena’ really wasn’t my sort of book. And although I hate giving books a low rating I honestly can’t give this book more than two stars.

[Jess · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was sent a free copy of this book to review honestly.

I was intrigued by this book initially because it was listed as a thriller. However, this book isn’t a thriller; it’s a coming-of-age story with aspects of romance and it only becomes a thriller in the last 40 pages, which was a very jarring change tone. In general, the pacing is strange, as many events are rushed or skimmed over (such as the week-long cruise that Maggie goes on that is built up for a few chapters and then is summed up in a few paragraphs, or the time skip of a year and a half in the second chapter), and the writing is awkward and stilted (especially the dialogue, mostly due to lack of contractions).

The main problem with Finding Magdalena, however, is Magdalena herself. There is rarely a page of this book that doesn’t mention how beautiful, kind, or talented Maggie is; she is perfect in every way and the book goes to great lengths to remind you of this. Everyone who meets her adores her and constantly praises her for her many, many virtues. The few people who dislike her are bitter, hateful people who are jealous of her (and usually change their minds eventually anyway). While Maggie goes through some awful things through the course of the book, for the most part she doesn’t have to fight for anything; I never once thought Maggie wouldn’t win the music competition, or not get into the university she wanted to go to, and as a result, there are no stakes.

Something I can say in the book’s favour though, is that several subjects, such as mental health, consent, and abuse, are handled maturely and thoughtfully. For example, Maggie’s grief for her parents is not dismissed; she struggles with it, has anxiety attacks and nightmares, received counselling, and takes medication for her anxiety.

Overall, while I can’t say I liked or enjoyed this book, it did engage me to the point that I read it in two days.

[Lois Ferns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I did enjoy reading this novel; what kept me wanting to read ‘Finding Magdelena’ was the constant hyperbolic moments of intense drama.

I did find some aspects over-reaching and convenient just for plot progression which did take me out of the emersion of the narrative, and although at times the scenes of drama were very intense and a little uncomfortable I was unable to put the book down! The way Condon wrote these aspects of the novel was very well done and some of my favourite parts to the narrative.

What I did not particularly like was how many boys were interested in the main character, Maggie, and it always seemed that the boys/men in her life either loved or hated her, with no in-between. In spite of this, I did enjoy the differing friendships and relationships between characters, male and female, and I would be very interested in reading the next installment in the series to see how these characters and their relationships progress.

As a whole, I did really enjoy reading this first book in the series. I thought Condon explored a nice range of subjects and themes, from mourning, anxiety, divorce, and abuse to love, sex, friendship, and family.

I think I would recommend this novel to a young adult audience that loves a bit of romance alongside their thriller/drama genre, as the romances made up a large part of the drama narrative.

*I was sent this novel for free and asked to review it, however, all of these opinions are my own and completely honest, I was not paid to give this review.*

[Ella MacFarlane-Craven · Rating 2 out of 5]

Alongside with Maggie having no flaws, it seems to be more focused upon being a teen romance novel rather than focusing on the tragedy of her parents death that is skimmed over in the beginning of the novel. Furthermore, there are minor contradictions and inconsistencies in the story which makes the story seem cluttered with too many crossing wires. Another problem I found with the reading of the book is that the language used seems to be unnecessary and it does aid the character development of Maggie.

However, I can commend the book about how it handles important themes discussed such as anxiety, medication, consent and virginity. They are all introduced respectfully and fit in with the storyline of Maggie’s life.

I can appreciate the discussion of relevant topics within this novel but I did not enjoy reading the story due to the style and the language used. So my dislike of the novel is to do more with personal preference instead.

*I received this book free of charge but my opinions are my own and I will not receive any financial benefits from leaving this review.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! I love a story which has several facets, and this one certainly delivered on that. It covered grief, friendship and abuse, with a liberal helping of romance for good measure. I felt like it balanced the lighter topics with the heavier ones really well, and I especially liked the action that appeared towards the end of the book.

The story kept moving forward whilst still feeling like it was a natural pace. I really felt like I connected to Maggie and the rest of the characters really well, which is testament to how they were written. I kept wondering what was next in the story between reading sessions, which is what kept me coming back for more.

There were times when I personally felt the writing was a bit weaker, but generally it was a comfortable style to read. That's why I'm giving it 4 stars!

Note: I was sent a review copy by Rowanvale Books for free, but I wasn't pressured to write a review and all my opinions are honest.

[Gabriel Constans · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the first few chapters, it felt like Maggie was someone I knew and knew well. She is a talented young student who finds her way after a tragedy with the help of her friend Graham and roommate Sarah. Learning how to navigate love, friendship and relationships take up a good portion of the story, with unexpected challenges and shifts towards the end.

I finished this book in a few days and was glad I'd been told about it. The biggest gift I received from reading it was the sense that I knew the primary character, Magdalena (Maggie), cared about what happened to her and rooted for her discovering things about herself and her own strength.

[D.B. Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed the Magdalena series. The plots are well paced and the characters well drawn - by the end, I felt I actually knew some of them. Magdalena herself has human vulnerability at the heart of her strength, making her real and sympathetic to support, while being perfectly capable of looking after herself. There is a nice mix of mystery and action, with some interesting personal relationships which throw in the occasional curve ball. Shannon Condon has created a world for her characters which feels recognisable yet different (unless you actually are a spy, I guess). Highly recommended.