Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire (Book Review)

Book: Beautiful Disaster

Author: Jamie McGuire

Pages: 319

Published: May 26, 2011

Obtained: Purchased from Amazon

Started: May 26, 2013

Finished: May 28, 2013


Summary (Courtesy of Goodreads): 
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11505797-beautiful-disaster

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

Cover: This cover has a beautiful simplicity about it. In so many ways, this cover speaks to me about the true nature of Abby and Travis' love, but I can't just go spoiling that for all of you beautiful readers! ;)

Plot: Notice in Advance: This is a NEW adult book. Ages 17+.

The plot was SO engaging. I found that within a few pages, I was hooked to Abby's story. I found that not only was she relatable, but she was also likable. And honestly, though she could be a bit of a drama queen when she argued with Travis, I agreed with her. Call it woman's intuition. Or maybe call it a girl having another girl's back. 

I love the character's back story's, and I fell in love with the development of not only the plot, but also the characters. The plot had me laughing, had me anxious, grieving, aggravated, and gave me butterflies. This book is so realistic and I love that Jamie McGuire was able to capture that concept successfully in her book.

Characters:

Abby Abernathy - I LOVED her character. She's sweet, never gets into trouble, and is the overly conservative type. But as I read on, I learned more about the real Abby under that facade she put on at college. She's intelligent, funny, and independent (this trait being one of my favorite of hers). BUT she's also stubborn, whiny, and secretive. I love that about her though. She's flawed. She's HUMAN. I loved her opinion on the situations she was faced with. She is constantly back and forth and back and forth with Travis through out the whole book. They don't initially start out as lovers. At first, she honestly doesn't much care for him. She's heard the rumors. She knows who he is, and she doesn't want any of that. (Respect, girl.) But as she learns more about Travis, so do the readers. And he's not exactly what his reputation says he is, though his reputation isn't exactly too far off. 

Travis Maddox- I guess this leads up to Travis. He's stubborn, short-tempered, and demanding. BUT he's also caring, loving, smart, and funny. This is what I love about this book. Not everyone is exactly like they appear. He fights at an underground ring at the college for bet money. This is where the bets start. Even the bet that gets the whole thing rolling: if he loses, he'll be abstinent for a month; if she loses, she has to live with him for a month. Travis never provided a dull moment. Though 50% of his decisions would irk me, I still rooted for him to have happiness. And at times, he was just plain pitiful. I absolutely cannot wait to read Walking Disaster and hear his side of the story.

America Mason - I LOVE this girl. She's Abby's best friend. She's so loyal, funny, and free spirited. I adore the relationship she has with Travis' cousin, Shepley. America stands by her best friend no matter the cost. I truly respect her, and I would love to have a friend like her in my life. 

Shepley - Shepley is Travis' cousin, and America's boyfriend. He's cautious, but caring. He'll do anything to please his girlfriend and keep their relationship in tact, even if that means telling her best friend, Abby, not to even THINK about dating Travis. Because if something happens between Travis and Abby, America will take Abby's side and will leave him. Though he did agitate me at times, I understand the method behind the madness. He is so helpful to Abby, America, and Travis in so many different ways. I love his character. I think that Shep and America were just MADE for each other. Straight truth.

Series: This book has a companion by the name of Walking Disaster which was published on April 2, 2013. This is the same story but this time it is told from Travis' point of view.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Next Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Happy Reading!

VF, xoxo