I read Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire over the summer 2011, right around the time I read Fifty Shades of Grey. Though this book has no strong graphic sex, it had that same intensity that we love in Fifty. It was one of the best books I read this year. I could not put it down. This book consumed me! The story isn’t what drew me in, it’s the writing. Beautiful Disaster is the perfect name for this book. This relationship is a beautiful disaster. The scary, all consuming love may be amazing to read about, but this can be really scary in real life. I hope no girls think they want a “Travis” in their lives. It is a great fantasy, but reality for life is very different.
“To douchebags!” he said, gesturing to Brad. “And to girls that break your heart,” he bowed his head to me. His eyes lost focus. “And to the absolute fucking horror of losing your best friend because you were stupid enough to fall in love with her.”
Summary from Goodreads: 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.
The original book I read had a ton of formatting and grammatical errors that didn’t even take the rating down – It was that good. It has since been re-released with all of that fixed and a new cover. I felt that the story and the relationship were very intense. I was never sure if I was going to get a HEA for the couple or if there could or should even be one. You’ll just have to read it to find out. It was a nice, long, meaty, intense, stay up all night kind of book. LOVED IT. I have heard some call it a young adult book. The author lets you know in no uncertain terms this is NOT YA though the characters are young and in college.
Book Rating 5, Heat rating (if I remember correctly) 1.5
I read that Jamie McGuire is now writing the book from Travis’s POV, called Walking Disaster. I can’t wait!
Purchase Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
Amazon || BN.com
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Lisa says
I agree it was good. But definitely not erotica… if I’m not confusing books he was her first and there was maybe a half page dedicated to it?? The story was good, but not enough heat for a 50 shades fan!!
anasdiary says
I read this book before this blog and adding “heat ratings”. But a 1.5 is low. You want more heat? Click on the heat ratings to the right in categories. Or check out Favorite Dom/sub BDSM Books and series.
Sara says
You know, maybe this is one of those books you either love or you hate. My friends and I really didn’t like this book. I’m not a big fan of Travis (he belongs in prison, seriously) and the bizarre plot twist that comes into play out of no where in the second half of the book is just weird. IDK…I’ve read a lot of reviews where people just love this book but for me, not so much.
anasdiary says
I remember having concerns about it when I read it. It’s one of those books that is great to read about but you wouldn’t want that kind of relationship. I plan on re-reading before Walking Disaster comes out to see how I feel.