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Graceland High #1
Just Magnolia
Nothing about me was pretty. I had frizzy brown hair, I was too short, and the left side of my Face leaned so far to the left I could hardly see out of my left eye—like in those old cartoons when the characters are smacked with an anvil. Except mine never bounced back to normal. Yes, my Face, with a capital F, had its own name.
No one would ever confuse Magnolia Holland with a supermodel—though she gets plenty of stares when she's in public. After years of homeschool to avoid bullying and ridicule from peers and strangers, Magnolia decides to take the plunge and enroll in Graceland High in hopes of experiencing “normal” teenage life. But, there's no such thing as “normal” in high school, even with a pretty face.
With her mother and grandmother on her side, Magnolia navigates the minefield of mean girls, drama, and young love. However, risking her heart on a cute boy may not be the hardest thing Magnolia will need to do. Stepping onstage for the whole school to see her face in Graceland High’s fall production of The Rainmaker will test Magnolia’s faith in humanity more than ever—if the experience doesn’t shatter her heart first.
Just Magnolia is a story of courage, growth, and beauty as a daughter, mother, and grandmother adapt to new life changes and gain hope for a brighter future.
No one would ever confuse Magnolia Holland with a supermodel—though she gets plenty of stares when she's in public. After years of homeschool to avoid bullying and ridicule from peers and strangers, Magnolia decides to take the plunge and enroll in Graceland High in hopes of experiencing “normal” teenage life. But, there's no such thing as “normal” in high school, even with a pretty face.
With her mother and grandmother on her side, Magnolia navigates the minefield of mean girls, drama, and young love. However, risking her heart on a cute boy may not be the hardest thing Magnolia will need to do. Stepping onstage for the whole school to see her face in Graceland High’s fall production of The Rainmaker will test Magnolia’s faith in humanity more than ever—if the experience doesn’t shatter her heart first.
Just Magnolia is a story of courage, growth, and beauty as a daughter, mother, and grandmother adapt to new life changes and gain hope for a brighter future.
238 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 22, 2020
117 people are currently reading
517 people want to read
About the author
Olivia Rian
15 books13 followersOlivia Rian wrote her first book when she was seven, a comic book called "The Pimple-Faced Dragon" (poor dragon). After surviving a few frosty winters in the Mountain West, she received a degree in English education from Brigham Young University-Idaho and later a master’s degree in writing from Middlesex University. She writes children’s chapter books and clean romances. Olivia enjoys reading, shopping, surfskating, baking dessert, hiking, and making trips to New York City and the beach with her husband and two kids.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
May 18, 2025
4.5⭐️ rounded up// mature 12 or 13+//scroll down past review for content warnings
This book was sweet and adorable. Yes, it was the usual popular guy falls in love with unpopular girl, but still. Magnolia has a face deformity and knows she has to go to school for the first time where people will bully her for her face. Later in the story she makes friends (and loses some) the farther you get into the book. I’m so glad this was a stuff your kindle day book, otherwise I probably would have never read it. I’ve been caught up reading so much fantasy YA that I forgot that there were sweet books like this. Definitely would recommend.
~~Content warnings~~
Violence-none besides some typical high school drama
Swearing-p*ssed off used only a couple of times, otherwise clean
🌶️- adult got pregnant as a teen, otherwise clean
This book was sweet and adorable. Yes, it was the usual popular guy falls in love with unpopular girl, but still. Magnolia has a face deformity and knows she has to go to school for the first time where people will bully her for her face. Later in the story she makes friends (and loses some) the farther you get into the book. I’m so glad this was a stuff your kindle day book, otherwise I probably would have never read it. I’ve been caught up reading so much fantasy YA that I forgot that there were sweet books like this. Definitely would recommend.
~~Content warnings~~
Violence-none besides some typical high school drama
Swearing-p*ssed off used only a couple of times, otherwise clean
🌶️- adult got pregnant as a teen, otherwise clean
January 5, 2024
I mean, if you told me some 13 year old wrote this on Wattpad, I wouldn't doubt it even a little bit. But I think this will be a great book for kids around 12!
January 4, 2024
I picked this up from a large collection of stuff- your- kindle options. I wanted something different, something I'd probably never pick up otherwise.
It was exactly as promised, a short sweet read. I did feel it was too short to have any real, deep impact. It could have been at least 100 pages more in order to really understand people's feelings and motives behind their actions.
I liked Jian and Magnolia's points of view, but I felt that adding in
It was exactly as promised, a short sweet read. I did feel it was too short to have any real, deep impact. It could have been at least 100 pages more in order to really understand people's feelings and motives behind their actions.
I liked Jian and Magnolia's points of view, but I felt that adding in
January 6, 2024
Super cute and quick read! It instantly took me back to highschool in the best and worst way possible. As someone who never fully felt like they fit in and was subjected to teasing and bullying, it was really heartwarming to read about Magnolia’s story and how she blossoms into a beautiful and more confident girl. I felt connected to Magnolia on a different level and just loved this story so much.
January 1, 2024
i’ll convince you to read this book using one quote and one quote only…
“It’s good to let others fight for what’s good. For what’s beautiful.”
a cute little YA story. honestly the girl had a facial deformity and i spent a lot of the book confused about what she looked like because they kept saying she had twisted lips and i don’t know what that means.
it’s definitely an appropriate read for a younger audience but i still enjoyed it enough. i thought it was sweet!!
“It’s good to let others fight for what’s good. For what’s beautiful.”
a cute little YA story. honestly the girl had a facial deformity and i spent a lot of the book confused about what she looked like because they kept saying she had twisted lips and i don’t know what that means.
it’s definitely an appropriate read for a younger audience but i still enjoyed it enough. i thought it was sweet!!
January 2, 2024
Cute quick read
Downloaded this book free on stuff your kindle day not realizing it was a YA book. Cute and quick read.
Downloaded this book free on stuff your kindle day not realizing it was a YA book. Cute and quick read.
June 5, 2024
This was a cute little high school young adult romance. It had some bullying in it but in the end everyone was able to become friends and it ended in a happy ever after!
February 3, 2023
I really loved this book
I’ve never read a book by this author before but if her other books are anything like this one I’ll definitely be reading more.
This book seemed like the very typical unpopular girl meets popular/handsome boy and he somehow sees the real her and falls in love book. And although it is that book, it’s also so much more than that. I love the character growth of Magnolia and how she learns to love and believe in herself. I love her courage, kindness, and forgiveness. I love that her trials don’t harden her but allow her to reach out to others who are struggling. I just really enjoyed this book and Magnolia’s character in particular.
I’ve never read a book by this author before but if her other books are anything like this one I’ll definitely be reading more.
This book seemed like the very typical unpopular girl meets popular/handsome boy and he somehow sees the real her and falls in love book. And although it is that book, it’s also so much more than that. I love the character growth of Magnolia and how she learns to love and believe in herself. I love her courage, kindness, and forgiveness. I love that her trials don’t harden her but allow her to reach out to others who are struggling. I just really enjoyed this book and Magnolia’s character in particular.
June 5, 2025
a work of beauty
Thank you for being brave and writing such a moving and inspiring story that I believe will touch the hearts of so many as it has mine, you have changed me!
Thank you for being brave and writing such a moving and inspiring story that I believe will touch the hearts of so many as it has mine, you have changed me!
August 29, 2024
It’s hard to rate a book like this - it honestly feels like something a teen would’ve written for an English assignment or something. I didn’t realise it was such a YA as I got this on a stuff your kindle day.
It was a nice easy read, short and sweet but lacked any depth or real storyline.
The story is suppose to be about your own worth and beauty within which is a nice story I think for YA, however I did find it odd, with the undercurrent to the book about finding your own worth and happiness but basically until the mum finds love she’s depressed and distant to her family members?
I’ve adjusted my Goodreads reading challenge from 50 to 52 for this book as I didn’t want to hit 50 with this.
Sadly it was short and sweet, but with it being so short it could’ve missed out the mums romance and concentrated more on what the book was about, or perhaps been a 100+ page longer.
Filled up my “J” on my A-Z challenge however with this.
It was a nice easy read, short and sweet but lacked any depth or real storyline.
The story is suppose to be about your own worth and beauty within which is a nice story I think for YA, however I did find it odd, with the undercurrent to the book about finding your own worth and happiness but basically until the mum finds love she’s depressed and distant to her family members?
I’ve adjusted my Goodreads reading challenge from 50 to 52 for this book as I didn’t want to hit 50 with this.
Sadly it was short and sweet, but with it being so short it could’ve missed out the mums romance and concentrated more on what the book was about, or perhaps been a 100+ page longer.
Filled up my “J” on my A-Z challenge however with this.
January 10, 2024
3 stars
I was so torn with the rating on this one because so much and so little happens in this book. Magnolia was born with a birth defect that makes her appear different from everyone else and she just simply wants to fit it. She's bullied because of her looks in school and just wants to feel beautiful. That is until she meets a boy who at first doesn't know what to think about her appearance but soon realizes how beautiful Magnolia truly is.
If a little more had happened in this I would of loved to give it a higher rating. It has a very beautiful message and at times we all have a little Magnolia in us, filling our heads with doubt when we just need one person to see how beautiful and unique we truly are.
I was so torn with the rating on this one because so much and so little happens in this book. Magnolia was born with a birth defect that makes her appear different from everyone else and she just simply wants to fit it. She's bullied because of her looks in school and just wants to feel beautiful. That is until she meets a boy who at first doesn't know what to think about her appearance but soon realizes how beautiful Magnolia truly is.
If a little more had happened in this I would of loved to give it a higher rating. It has a very beautiful message and at times we all have a little Magnolia in us, filling our heads with doubt when we just need one person to see how beautiful and unique we truly are.
February 28, 2024
Just Magnolia by Olivia Rian
A cute little YA story that has each characters story within then main story.
So much but so little happens at the same time within this quick read. I enjoyed the storyline’s but personally for me lacked a little bit of something.
I do however recommend this YA to anyone who loves a FMC that is beautiful both inside and out despite her facial abnormality and a MMC that sees this beauty and tells her about it.
A nan that supports her child and grandchild while dealing with her own issues
A mother who has been hiding behind her pain but also opens up and finds love with a former enemy.
It has a great storyline around bullying and not judging person by their appearance.
A cute little YA story that has each characters story within then main story.
So much but so little happens at the same time within this quick read. I enjoyed the storyline’s but personally for me lacked a little bit of something.
I do however recommend this YA to anyone who loves a FMC that is beautiful both inside and out despite her facial abnormality and a MMC that sees this beauty and tells her about it.
A nan that supports her child and grandchild while dealing with her own issues
A mother who has been hiding behind her pain but also opens up and finds love with a former enemy.
It has a great storyline around bullying and not judging person by their appearance.
December 31, 2023
I didn't really like how the story included her Granny's and Elle's POV. Like it doesn't really make sense to me on why they would be included. However, Magnolia is really sweet and kind. I just wish it wasn't that same cliche where the popular boy goes for the nerdy girl. I also wish they had explained more on the facial deformity. However, if you're looking to read a light happy YA romance, then this is for you. I picked it up as a palate cleanser from my usual stuff but found I didn't really like how sweet and weirdly unrealistic everyone is in this book
Love,
Ishya
P.S. This is review #89. I only have 11 more reviews to go and only 7 hours. Wish me luck!
Love,
Ishya
P.S. This is review #89. I only have 11 more reviews to go and only 7 hours. Wish me luck!
January 3, 2021
I do like a sweet YA and I thought this one was going to make me cry. But I held it together. Magnolia had a facial deformity, I wished we knew more about that, so I didn't have to google, and starts high school knowing she will be stared at. But with such a positive attitude she meets friends and makes herself join in. I liked having her mom and grandma's points of view too, because their lives had been impacted by Magnolia, and I was pleased her Mom found happiness. I only wished Lucy had changed in the end.
August 6, 2021
This story was so sweet and adorable. Poor Magnolia has a tough time finding her place in high school, but she makes some great friends, and some not so great ones. I really like how several characters became her friends from the beginning. Some of them were just so sweet. I think I liked Cordan and Magnolia’s friendship the best. This story is told from several POVs, which makes it interesting, but I really liked seeing the thoughts of the mother and the grandmother. I even got choked up at the end with the grandmother’s last scene. Sweet clean read that’s perfect for just about any age.
February 7, 2024
A ver, es un libro ameno y que se lee muy bien en inglés, pero no es el mejor libro que he leído. Está bien para pasar un ratillo, pero seguramente me olvide que lo he leído. De todas formas, creo que hace muy bien en enseñar que el físico no importa y que lo único que importa es el interior. Y que la gente puede ser muy mala, sobre todo en el instituto.
April 3, 2024
Very quick read. Highlighting physical differences in main character and how she works to overcome them, finding acceptance with peers. I was disappointed that it took a romance to truly accept herself as beautiful. The side story of her mom finding romance felt distracting and I didn’t really connect well with any of the characters unfortunately. Loved the idea behind the story.
April 17, 2025
This was a cute, easy read, best for younger ya readers I think.
It was bizarre in that along with the povs of the young characters (who were both lovely) it was bogged down with the pov of her mom and granny. Why???
The ending also went on forever, so unfortunately I was bored more often than I’d like.
It was bizarre in that along with the povs of the young characters (who were both lovely) it was bogged down with the pov of her mom and granny. Why???
The ending also went on forever, so unfortunately I was bored more often than I’d like.
January 6, 2024
A super cute short YA romance. Based on the female main character who has a physical deformity and enters into public high school. Even with a rocky start, she was able to find friends, love, and beauty within herself.
March 19, 2024
Very cute and heartwarming but was definitely meant for a younger audience then myself. Would make a good book for older middle school kids or younger high school kids. Still was cute and nice and short.
March 11, 2025
This is very much a poor me story.
She looks different and lets it become her entire personality. It was very poor me. I wouldn’t call this a YA book. This is a book I’d hand my 10 year old daughter.
She looks different and lets it become her entire personality. It was very poor me. I wouldn’t call this a YA book. This is a book I’d hand my 10 year old daughter.
March 29, 2025
This is def a sweet and innocent YA romance. I would probably let my kid read this when they turn 13/14.
It’s def for younger people and that is what I’m basing my rating off of. For a teenager.
Not really for an adult but it was still a really sweet and easy read!
It’s def for younger people and that is what I’m basing my rating off of. For a teenager.
Not really for an adult but it was still a really sweet and easy read!
December 27, 2023
* stuff your kindle book
December 31, 2023
Such a sweet book! I love Magnolia! I would definitely read this again.
January 1, 2024
2.5/5 ⭐
January 2, 2024
A sweet story of the many facets of Love💕
January 7, 2024
the writing was kind of meh but the story was cute
January 21, 2024
Magnolia is going to attend a school for the first time she's a teenager like any other but has a condition where her face is not symmetrical. Because of this the kids aren't particularly nice to her, nonetheless she keeps trying to blend in and continues with her studies despite their utter meanness.
Then she takes part in a drama production where the hottest kid in school takes an interest in her...
This is a beautiful story about a young girls strength and determination not to be defined by her outward appearance.
She shows courage strength and dignity and you absolutely want to reach out and protect her.
The book is well written and the condition is handled with empathy and respect.
It's not my usual genre but I wanted to read something different and so pleased picked this beautiful book up
Kerry Kennedy Author
Then she takes part in a drama production where the hottest kid in school takes an interest in her...
This is a beautiful story about a young girls strength and determination not to be defined by her outward appearance.
She shows courage strength and dignity and you absolutely want to reach out and protect her.
The book is well written and the condition is handled with empathy and respect.
It's not my usual genre but I wanted to read something different and so pleased picked this beautiful book up
Kerry Kennedy Author
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews