Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Posted 30 July, 2012 by Danny in Blog, Danny, Danny's Book Review / 40 Comments

Beautiful Disaster

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary
Expected publication: August 14th 2012 by Atria Books
copy received from publisher
format: paperback, eBook
Rating:

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire, goodreads synopsis:  The new Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate number of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance from the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend, 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 ultimate college campus charmer. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his appeal, 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’s apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match.

 

I went into the story simply because it highly intriguing, I didn’t know anything about this book, nor had I heard about it before! (Apparently, I was living under a rock)  I was happy and glad to read this book with nothing tainting my thoughts… I could dig into this story blindly! And Oh My! It was a hell of a ride.

 

Ups and Down – Butterflies and Tornados

The whole story centers around the very intriguing violate relationship between Abby and Travis. Both, never knew what love ment before they meet. Yet, they have a hard time trying to work this love into a real lasting relationship.

And they fail. A lot!

They struggle! A lot.

They are insecure! A lot.

They are stubborn! A lot.

But… they love each other deeply and with a fierceness that feels like a thunderstorm of love. This book tells their story, it tells how their past affected them so much that it sometimes seems impossible to get past this.

And.. sometimes you have to make a choice! Do you want to go for save, or would you risk everything you believed in for an all-consuming love you probably find only once in your life! Some things are worth fighting for…

 

Abby – Cute, with a shell of innocence but a lot of fierceness inside the shell!

Abby was a great heroine as she resembles the typical college student who just begins to take her life into her own hands. She tries, and she fails a few times. I found Abby to be truly and genuinely real! She has flaws and doesn’t trust her own heart which made me furious at some points. But, tell me one person who is without flaws, because everyone is flawed no one is perfect and so is Abby. But, she tries and she has a big heart! Her problem was that she desperately wanted to change, but sometimes you cannot change who you truly are and you have to accept this. I admit, that Abby often enough irritated me and I couldn’t understand her actions – but I wholeheartedly admit that this was one aspects I truly  enjoyed about this book! Beautiful Disaster managed to stir my emotions on so many levels!

Travis! Oh Bad Boy! Violent, man-whore, but … there is a big heart hidden!

Travis was phenomenal! He is the perfect example of a bad boy with heart! In the beginning all we know is, he’s gorgeous, he sleeps with every girl who is stupid enough to let him, because he only sleeps with them once! Also, Travis earns his money with fighting and beating everyone in their college fight club. He’s bold, strong, fierce and violent! This all changes when be befriends Abby. There is something about her, that melts this cold heart and suddenly Travis falls in love. Something he never expected….

Just like Abby, Travis is far from being perfect and he’s truly flawed and broken. He has control issues, which often lead to a lot of violence. Travis is definitely not someone who talks first, no he hits first. But underneath all these flaws and issues, Travis has a big heart which only opens around Abby.

 

Intense! Emotionally draining and a heartbreaking love story!

It was heartbreaking intense!!!! Travis was intense! The Relationship was intense – their Love was intense! There was nothing in Abby’s and Travis Relationship that was not intense, but it was their relationship, their love and their life and that’s how they work.

I was glued to the pages! Literally glued! Sadly, I couldn’t read it in one sitting, so was thinking about those two whenever I had to stop reading. I couldn’t get enough from them, I wanted to see them succeed! I wanted them to be happy, and I wanted them to work out their problems! And, whenever a book or characters managed to occupy my thoughts for so long – it is an incredible book! I did have some minor issues with some scenes and with some of Abby’s decisions, but this didn’t taint my love for this book!

Bewitched Rating

 

Bottom Line

Beautiful Disaster was intense in so many ways. It was emotionally draining and Abby’s and Travis relationship was driven with a fierceness that it’s seldom to be found in other stories. This is a book that explores the depth of human relationship in an edgy and dark way, yet there is beauty within this epic love that shines so much brighter than the darkness. Jamie McGuire wrote a brave story that was nothing more than spellbinding…

New Adult    

Additional Notes:

Also, I’d like to make some things very clear. There was nothing abusive about this relationship! All violence in this book was never toward woman, it was the way Travis dealt with his anger, yet he never ever touched a woman! Is that is the perfect way? No, I do not think so – but I know that there are people like this out there, so this story hits a reality that might not be mine or your reality but it certainly is real for some others. Abby and Travis were good for each other. I strongly believe that love can conquer so many things, and their love was all-consuming and intense! It will heal them in the end….

And… Jamie has a Pinterest Board with images of Travis-hottness-Maddox!

Note: This book contains violence (man-on-man), sexual content and language. 

Much Love, 

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40 Responses to “Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire”

  1. I love this review and agree!!! I loved this book and with some of the reviws I saw, I was expecting a very abusive relationship and that was not the case at all. Is it the healthies relationship out there? Heck no, but they clearly love each other. Both have their faults and strive to work past them, nobody is perfect and this book really shows that!

    Once again, great review!

    Teresa @ Readers Live A Thousand Lives
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    Danny 7/30/2012

    That’s why I wanted to make this clear, that although there is clearly a lot of violence in this book the relationship is fat from being abusive! They loved each other and yes, they broke each others heart constantly – but nothing was violent between them!

    I loved the flawed characters, they are much more real than other characters who are too perfect to be true!
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  2. I am reviewing this book soon, so sadly I only read the blue sentences in your review…i didn’t want to influence my review but since you and I often agree ..curiosity got the better of me and i had to sneak a peak to see if you liked it. From those little blue sentences I have deduced that I need to bump this up on the review list..LOL
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    Danny 7/30/2012

    haha!!! I know how you feel, I also often do not fully read a review when I still have to write mine. But. YES I LOVED this book! It was intense and spellbinding!
    Cannot wait to read your review:)
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  3. I’m really glad you enjoyed this book, Danny. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t the book for me. To be honest, I didn’t approve of Travis and Abby’s relationship. I saw it as being abusive, maybe not physically but emotionally it was. I like when book guys get possessive, but to me, Travis was too possessive to the point that it bordered on control issues. (Telling her to change the clothes she was wearing, not allowing her to talk to other guys etc …) I suppose that’s the way Jamie McGuire wanted him to be portrayed, but I just didn’t find him attractive. Oh and the whole “Pigeon” thing made it very hard for me to portray Abby as a human being. Did you find that nickname endearing ? I’ve never liked Pigeons, so really maybe I’m being a little biased. 😛 LOL!
    Great review, Danny. 🙂

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    Danny 7/30/2012

    I truly think this is a book you either love or hate! 🙂

    I guess I see why you might think their relationship is abusive on a emotional level. But here is why I disagree. Abby had as much emotional “power” over Travis as he had on her. In the end, they both loved with a lot of fierceness and protectiveness. The only difference is the way the handled this. Yes, Travis had control issues and it was not like her forbad Abby to talk to other guys, he just didn’t like it at all. And yes, he might have handled some situations better, but that was the nature of Travis.

    On the other hand, Abby didn’t like to see Travis with other girls herself, the difference is in the reaction. She emotionally withdraw from him instead of reacting violent.

    What I want to say, this was a consent relationship between two highly possessive and emotionally challenged adults. In the end, they had to decide if they could handle the flaws from each other.

    Oh and btw, I also tell my husband what to wear sometimes lool :-)))))

    P.S.: I love discussions like this and this book has a lot to discuss!!! 🙂
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  4. Wowza! This sounds so freaking intense, chickie! Plus with the reviews that are so extreme on one end or another I’m SO curious! I was a bit scared of ow I would like the love interest since he’s apparently abusive and controlling but if there’s good character building like there seems to be I can usually, not be ok with it, but kind of understand him if you know what I mean. I’m excited to get my copy in August. Great review!

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    Danny 7/30/2012

    Truly this is a book either been loved to pieces or hated. But in the end, it has a 4.2 star average on goodreads, so more people loved it :))

    Abby and Travis are incredible characters and if they abuse each other, they both do, but again NO violence between them! Even the sex scenes were just sweet and innocent!! I am truly looking forward hearing your thoughts…
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  5. Thanks for pointing out there’s no violence in the relationship! I was wondering when I read Travis was violent (the man-whore bit made me giggle, though). Too many YA books have that brooding, violent bad boy who’s domineering, abusive, and just a horrible person.

    Love when a book stirs your emotions like this one did for you!
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    Danny 7/30/2012

    ROFL, actually I was trying hard to find a word for man-whore.. slut is female.. so you have a name for me? I would be happy to hear!!!

    And now, there was never violence between them. Even the sex scenes were super sweet and innocent!
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  6. Wow Danny, this books sounds crazy intense! Reading your description of Travis has me shaking my head because he sounds like the exact opposite of a character I should care for with the sleeping around and the violence, but I know I’ll be drawn to him. I always am drawn to the damaged and dark ones, I just adore them. Clearly, I need to read this book. *runs to NetGalley*

    Beautiful review!

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    Danny 7/30/2012

    I know!!!! Actually, if you would describe the boys you fall for in literature everyone would look at you and ask you if you lost your mind. But, exactly those strong and contradictory characters are what draws me in completely.

    Travis is exactly like this. He’s violent and often does not think before he uses his fist. But, his love for Abby? All consuming and amazing!

    I cannot wait to hear how you like it… Normally I can predict if you might feel like me (like with PTL or SPARK) but here???
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  7. Caitlin

    Beautiful Disaster is an intense read but that is what makes it so special. You have two characters who are stubborn and broken so when they fall in love they fall hard with no limits. I fell so in love with this story that I have reread it a few times already and will definitely reread this many many more times to come. I couldn’t recommend Beautiful Disaster highly enough and whoever hasn’t read this amazing story is the one living under a rock and needs to change that like yesterday. Lol

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    Danny 7/30/2012

    Thank you Caitlin! Exactly my thoughts, this is a book you do not find often! I had ghoosebumps when reading this intense story! It was so so good!!
    I hope more and more people fall for this book!!
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    Caitlin 7/30/2012

    Then you will love While It Lasts by Abbi Glines. Also an intense, powerful read. Not as intense as BD but very close. I got it last night and finished today. Absolutely fell in love from the first pages. I HIGHLY recommend this book.

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    Danny 7/30/2012

    THANKS I just bought this book! Thank you :))))) Looking forward reading this!
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    Caitlin 7/30/2012

    Your welcome. I saw it released yesterday and I was all over that. Let me know what you think of it when your done.

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  8. Danny, I’m so glad that you took the time to write about why you loved this book so much! I like stories that help me think about choice and consequence, and I think this book offers a really captivating and emotionally intense setting!! I think I’ll go to NetGalley to obtain the S&S edition, thank you so much. 🙂
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    Danny 7/30/2012

    OOOOOo I want to hug you right now! Thank you so much for your super sweet comment!!! I hope you’ll like this book, it truly is something else!
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    Henrietta 7/30/2012

    Big snugly hug 🙂

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  9. Ohmygod this sounds awesome! I had totally never heard of this book before! But now I’m like… MUST READ!!! This kind of sounds like a good book to follow up Pushing the Limits!
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    Ashley 7/30/2012

    Okay totally just got this on Netgalley! Squee! Thanks Danny!
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    Danny 7/30/2012

    YES – but when PTL is YA, this one is New Adult with a tendency to adult. So although there are some cute innocent moments, the story really deals with adult issues and emotions!

    Gosh, I cannot wait to hear what you think!
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  10. Danny-

    I saw this book ages ago and wanted to read it, but didn’t pick it up. Is this a re-release? I thought I already saw a book two coming out. Anyway, confusion aside, I’m glad to see your review explaining the violence part. I’d read a review on GR that was more of a rant and berating and went off on other totally unrelated tangents and I just skipped away not wanting to get po’d. That he doesn’t hit her, relieves me. I can take it. But reality, is, violence against women does happen so we shouldn’t be surprised about books with violence against women. We just won’t like the relationship, I’m sure.

    I think you explained yourself and your position very well. I’ll have to read the book and see what I feel. Sometimes, love does conquer all. Great review!

    Heather
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  11. Hi Danny, I have been keen to read your thoughts on this one! I have wanted to start on this book for ages but have been really hesitant because of some of the more negative reviews it has received and how Travis has been portrayed.

    Thank-you for sharing your wonderful review! I am all the more eager to get started on it now.
    .

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  12. I truly loved this book, it’s amazing!! I agree with your review, I liked it so much 😀

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    Danny 8/6/2012

    It was such an amazing read!!! I will do read it again…. I love such intense and emotional stories!’

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  13. Let’s try write something in English…

    I loved this book (I still love, actually). It’s very hard to get him the head.
    I agree with you when you say that the violence is never toward a woman, Travis, sometimes, makes wrong things, but he alway justifies.
    The couple has amazing chemistry and let it clear in my review. They are the best for each other. The great thing in this book is this: Travis sucks Abby is alone and without grace. But both make the story irresistible.

    Kiss,
    Ceile (@EsteJaLi – http://www.estejali.com)
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  14. Halle

    What are the sexual parts? I just orderd it and my mom wants to read it afterwords (awkward) and since there are sexual parts I want to cross them out when it gets here. Thanks. And can you tell me the pages of the sexual-ness lol.

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