BEAUTIFUL DISASTER by Jamie McGuire

Paperback, 432 pages

Published August 14th 2012 by Atria Books (first published May 26th 2011) 

ISBN: 1476712042

Source: AUDIBLE

Rating:  ♥♥♥

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, 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.

My Thoughts:

I like to listen to suggestions from other bloggers and readers about books because it broadens my horizons and it can introduce me to some novels that I may not otherwise know about. BEAUTIFUL DISASTER is one of those reads that I purely enjoyed for the addicting, mind-candy-book-crack reading that it was.

BEAUTIFUL DISASTER plays out like Lifetime movie of the week with a Abby a virginal, tough as nails girl that falls for the sexy, tattooed fighter boy named Travis.  She has no business being interested in, but she cannot resist (quel surprise!). Their relationship starts off platonic enough, but slowly and knowingly develop into something more even though they won't admit to themselves or one another.

I know I was addicted to this book when I could not seem to make myself stop. I wanted to see how this story would progress even though I was not surprised by it's storyline. I enjoyed Abby's resistance and Travis' over the top protectiveness (even though it was crazy and a bit scary) but while in throes of reading I was enthralled by it all. It's not until afterwards that I am a bit....things that make you go hmmmm??  about it. I personally could not tolerate someone that was crazy possessive and volatile like Travis so how could I romanticize it enough to read it with no hesitation? *scratches head* Yet, I did without issue and enjoyed it. Like I said, it was book crack.

The characters had issues, yes, but no one is perfect. I liked Abby's storyline and her history the best because it added a bit of unexpected danger to the story. I also adored her best friend and found that she seemed to be the only voice of reason throughout this entire novel and her bits of wisdom seemed to anchor some scenes that were a bit out there. 

So, yes while this book is addictive and twistedly romantic with a storyline that you cannot help but want more of. You will also be left wondering what in the heck happened to turn you into such a puddle of disastrous goo.


Book News:

According to THR Warner Bros. have won the movie rights to Beautiful Disaster which is being toted as a YA version of Fifty Shades?  Article HERE