March 14,
2012
Beautiful
Disaster
by Jamie
McGuire
Genre: Contemporary
Romance
Publisher:
Self published
Release
Date: May 26th 2011
Author Summary
The new Abby Abernathy
is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate
percentage of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance
between her and the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with
her best friend America, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by
Eastern University’s Walking One-Night Stand.
Travis Maddox, lean,
cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby needs—and wants—to avoid. He
spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the
charming college co-ed. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his charms, Travis
tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain
abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’ apartment for
the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his
match.
My Thoughts
It took
me days to think about this book and decide what to write in my review. I shouldn’t have liked the story, but I did. I shouldn’t have liked the hero of the story,
but did. I should have stopped reading
it but couldn’t. The story is like a train
wreck and part of me is even mad at myself for liking it but then…not.
My soul,
the differing emotions this novel evokes is phenomenal. It’s a gripping tale of young love and two
people that are so wrong for each other.
Their passion for each other is intense and despite their inner turmoil
and baggage, we cheer for them to work out their obstacles. This is a highly
addictive read but certainly not everyone will like it.
Abby and
Travis are college students who meet through mutual friends and develop a
relationship. A very tumultuous and
volatile relationship. But the passion
and chemistry between these two is all consuming. I think this quote from the novel says a lot…
“I know we're fucked up, all right?
I'm impulsive, and hot-tempered, and you get under my skin like no one else.
You act like you hate me one minute, and then you need me the next. I never get
anything right, and I don't deserve you... but I fucking love you, Abby. I love you more than
I've loved anyone or anything, ever. When you're around, I don't need booze, or
money, or the fighting, or the one-night stands... all I need is you. You're
all I think about. You're all I dream about. You're all I want.”
And this
from Abby’s roommate – an objective onlooker…
“It's dangerous to need someone that
much. You're trying to save him and he's hoping you can. You two are a disaster."
I smiled at the ceiling. "It doesn't matter what or why it is. When it's
good, Kara... it's beautiful.”
Travis is
the ultimate bad boy that every self-respecting girl needs to steer far away
from and our mothers warned us about.
He’s unscrupulous but he is also honest about it. Relationships are just sex for him and he
doesn’t make promises to any girl he sleeps with. The girls know it but they can’t stay
away. The author portrays Travis as
having so many sides – damaged but vulnerable, shameless but honest and
unapologetic, volatile but capable of the most kindness towards Abby.
Abby is a
good girl but underneath she is really just as messed up as he is. She struggles to find happiness in what she
thinks her life should be. She tries to
date the good guys thinking she can escape how she grew up and be something
completely different. She’s trying to
force a square in a round hole so to speak. She doesn’t want to love Travis but
sometimes the love you develop for someone is unavoidable.
Some many
not agree with me but I found this book realistic. A few years ago, I would have fallen for someone
like Travis…hard. I would have tried to
fix him, change him and solve all his problems.
I know better now that I’m older and wiser, but a few years ago, yes,
that would have been me. I know girls
that would want to be with someone like Travis to see what the appeal is. And I know guys that only want sex and no
commitments. They’re called friends with
benefits. Travis and Abby’s relationship
may be atypical, dysfunctional even but it’s true to life.
There are
great supporting characters in this novel such as Abby’s best friend America
and Travis’ cousin Shep, and many great minor characters. I loved how the author portrayed and
developed these the extra characters.
She didn’t use a lot of dialogue to show their character traits, however
she very effectively does so with description of events instead and saved most
of the dialogue for Abby and Travis.
Bottom Line
In my
opinion, if you’re looking for a beautiful and innocent romance, this novel is
not for you. However, if you are looking
for a novel that will evoke many different emotions and have you laughing, happy,
mad, angry and freaking out, this is a book you should read. The author has created complex and
multi-faceted characters and delivered the story expertly.
Happy Reading!!
4 Bad Boys – Really
Liked It!!!!
BUY NOW…
Great review.
ReplyDeletethanks cortney!!
DeleteGood honest review. I haven't read the book but I'm considering it. It sounds like an emotional roller coaster. I'll have to wait until I'm ready to take that on.
ReplyDeleteit was but its also very good and well written. honesty is always best!
DeleteHmmmmmm, based on your review it sounds a little like the 50 Shades Trilogy. If so I'll definitely read it since I loved those books.
ReplyDelete