Friday, April 12, 2013

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire Review



INTENSE. DANGEROUS. ADDICTIVE.

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 wants—and needs—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 have read this book twice. Twice.

Because it is just that good, and strangely addictive. I saw strangely because I don't normally read this genre of book. I like YA. I like the supernatural. I like that..."jazz" that a good book has. That certain something that gradually pulls you in, nurtures you, gets you to start reading, going with the flow and then before you know it BOOM! Your in hook, line and sinker and you don't even know exactly when or where it happened. It just did. It's that "Jazz" that McGuire pulls of flawlessly here.

So this story follows the story of Abby Abernathy, who at first glance appears to be a a good girl, prim and proper, a modern day Downton Abbey Lady. Told from Abby's perspective, we see Abby meet Bad boy, fighter Travis Maddox, notorious ladies man (and his not afraid to show it! ) and how there subsequent relationship grows and changes. Now, The bio does say "Suffering from Fifty Shades withdrawal symptoms? " and this is me telling you to ignore that tag line....completely! Because this is a million times better. Period.

Don't get me wrong, there are similarities. There's sex in it for one. And yes, Travis Maddox is a passionate, but his not Christian Grey obsessive. But the major difference is the fact that McGuire's style of writing is superior just like her characterisation. As a reader i genuinely cared for these characters. Both Abby and Travis have their flaws, they know and understand these flaws and they try to overcome them. And for me thats at the crux of this novel. Yes, it's a romance, but the central element of this story is the characters themselves, and how they grow and develop, so that they're both in the right place to finally and hopefully get the romance on! I say this, because i have read reviews that want to slate this book because of the seemingly "possessive and obsessive love," And yes, I don't like how women are being portrayed an image of the ideal man being a bossy and domineering biggot, but this isn't that sort of story.

Both Travis and Abby have trust issues. Abby can't trust Travis because of her past experiences. Travis can't trust himself. He constantly says he doesnt deserve Abby, which just highlights his self loathing, but that doesn't make him the next Christian Grey. Both Abby and Travis grow in this novel, and although you see and understand the changes more significantly with Abby, (thats ok, because the sequel is told from Travis' point of view) both characters learn something about themselves, each other and the nature of love and relationships. And as the characters develop, if your like me, you'll be shouting at the book egging it on, willing the characters to get together already. But the point is, they can't, not until their both of the same page, and its McGuire's ability to depict this, that makes so compelling. I literally couldn't put this book down, because i knew how i wanted it to end, McGuire knew how her readers wanted it to end, but despite this, and the pressure to please an audience, McGuire still kept the narrative natural and realistic and frustratingly good.

Even the best friends are just amazing, as Shepley and America are in a way, the reader included in the story. They see what we see, they want what we went, and yet, they're in the same awkward position we're in, where they can butt in and knock their heads together.

This book, is just a must read! Don't be put off by the 50 Shades tag, this book is so much better than that. Likewise, if you've read 50 shades, that doesn't mean you won't like this book. This book is amazing, and I'm sure you'll enjoy this so much more. So go, get this book and read it now! Stop reading this, and just buy it! Buy it!!!!!!!!!
You can purchase Beautiful Disaster at the following Retailers:
    
a Rafflecopter giveaway

41 comments:

  1. I actually just started reading it. I got an egalley from NetGalley a little while ago. Its pretty good so far. I would really love to own it in print though that's for sure!
    Thanks for the chance! ^__^

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  2. I haven't read it, but I've head a lot about it. It's in my TBR pile. :)

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  3. i haven´t read ... but i dying to read.. everybody said nice things about ... that book .. and travis ... jiji
    almendra in the rafflecopter

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  4. I want to read it! But my tbr list is infinite xD

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  5. I haven't read it yet. I've seen such rave reviews about it that I am fiending to reading it for myself. It's on my wishlist.

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  6. I haven't but heard lots of good things about it.

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  7. Oh, I love this book. Is amazing! and sweet...

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  8. I've heard so much about this series! I haven't read it yet, but I'm dying to read it. Lol

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  9. No I have not read it yet. It's been on my to read list because it looks good. I'll be reading it sometime next month since it is my book club's selection.

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  10. I haven't read it but I've heard so many great things about it. Also, I almost bought it at a bookstore but changed my mind on the last minute and the next time I went to see if they have it it was gone. :(

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  11. I haven't read Beautiful Disaster, but its on my Must get/buy list!!! I want this book so bad!!! Travis sounds like the ultimate bad boy hehehehehehe oh yea baby!

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  12. I haven't read this book but I have seen so much press on it that I am totally curious

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  13. I've actually read it already and my first impression of it is that I had a hard time getting into the main characters but when I reread it, it was definitely a lot better and i eventually loved them! I would love to have a printed copy! Thanks for the chance! :)

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  14. No I haven't had the chance to read this book yet. But I have read a lot of GOOD reviews on it. Contemporary Romance isn't my usual genre that I read. I am starting to like it more and more. And this one is definitely on my TBR and wish list. I'm actually really looking forward to reading this one. Crossing my fingers so I can read it sooner rather than later! lol Thank you Jean for another amazing giveaway!!

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  15. haven't read the book before...thx u so much 4 the chance...

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  16. I haven't read this yet but it sounds good.

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  17. Ho I haven't. But I would like to read this book :)

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  18. I haven't. But I do want to read it!

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  19. I haven't yet but I'm super excited to :)

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  20. Haven't read it but I heard good things :D

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  21. I haven't had the chance to read it yet, but I'm really excited about it, I haven't read a single bad review of it so I'm really stoked to get my hands on it.

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  22. I loved it.It was an ebook copy,and I'd love to get a physical copy of this book.

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  23. I've read it and actually loved it!!

    I had it from Netgalley but never got around to read it because of all the drama that supposedly surrounded it and the author but... Wow, I didn't find anything of the sort and I fell in love with Trav :D

    Thanks so much for this Jean!

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  24. No, I haven't read this book, I've read some thoughts but are not good, so I want get my own opinion about the book :)

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  25. I would love the opportunity to read it!

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  26. Actually I have not read this book but I have heard so much about it.
    nachre96@yahoo.com

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  27. I haven't read it, but I've head a lot about it. But I want to:)

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  28. I have not read it yet, I hope I can do it very soon .

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  29. No, but I've been wanting to for a long time! ^^

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  30. No, I haven't. I read some mixed reviews about it and now I'm curious!

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  31. Read the ebook ages ago.. Can't remember much!

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  32. I have not read it, but would like to!

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  33. I haven't read it. I've read a few reviews, and I'm debating on whether or not I should read it. It seems good nevertheless.

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  34. I have the Romanian edition of this book but I haven't read it yet :D

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  35. The book started off okay for me, but tanked rather quickly. Travis is this perfect fighter, but he never trains. He's just magically gifted, I guess. And Abby is this incredible poker player, who never plays poker because of Daddy issues. Or something. Abby's "dark past" is not really that dark, and would have been a more effective plot device if it was just revealed right off the start. The Vegas trip made no sense; neither did Travis getting Abby a dog. Just...no. Why did Abby have to be a virgin? That made no sense. And neither Travis nor Abby really develops or changes over the story arc. They are the same shallow, vapid characters at the end that they were at the start. And getting married at 19, while still in college? WHY?! I would have LOVED to have seen them split for 5 or 10 years, grow up, then make their way back to each other. This story lacked a lot of substance and just wasn't all that goo.

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