Friday, March 7, 2014

Book #Review: Beautiful Disaster (Book 1)


Book Title: Beautiful Disaster Book 1
Author: Jamie McGuire  |Website| TwitterFacebook|
Publisher: Atria Books
Genre: New Adult Romance
Series/Standalone: Series
Format: Trade paperback
Cost: $15.00
Pages: 416
How I got it: Purchased 
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Publisher
Publication Date: August 2012
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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.
Once again I started this book late at night, right before going to bed, Yeah...I didn't sleep I stayed up to finish reading this and I loved every moment of doing that and of reading this book.   After my disastrous attempt at reading Real by Katy Evans. I was afraid to pick up another popular book but I needed have worried  I enjoyed this immensely.  The characters were well written, they drew you into the story and made you apart of it. I loved reading the book, I mean a fact that's evidenced by it taking me one night to finish.

This has been a unique experience for me, because the characters were different from how most romance characters are written, I mean yeah Travis was the stereotypical manwhore, but in other characteristics he was written differently, he was a good friend, extremely smart, extremely broke yet working on it an even more unconventional way. Abby was a pretty different character as well, she completely didn't fall for his lines and man did he go crazy over that.  She was also smart, good looking, was from a pretty unique family background ( not completely but the elements that made hers different wasn't one I've read before).

I loved how uniquely Jamie made their love, their friends and their college experiences.  It was great fun and frankly reminded me a lot of my college days so I loved reading it.  The characters were fun, funny, witty, the conversations flowed and the storyline kept flowing so well that I kept fighting sleep to finish it.  I loved how well she created the world of their college experiences, writing in a way that allowed you to almost see the campus, the classrooms, the teachers, just created it in a way that you could kind of map it out. but at the same time leaving out enough details so you could create it based on your own experiences ( at least that's what I did, I totally imagined my college campus and simply named the buildings like she did)

I loved their passion, their quirkiness and Abby's stubbornness. There were moments I wanted to shake her, like really?? And moments I completely loved her.  Her best friend America *Mare* was totally kick butt.  I loved their dynamic and how much the girls truly loved each other.  I enjoyed reading Shep's & Mare's romance, their ups and downs totally rivaled those of Abby and Travis and I loved every moment.

I loved and loathed the nickname Travis gave her, because really dude I have a name use it!!  So much of their issues were character driven issues and I loved how they both worked at it and sometimes ran from it, making the romance both the focus and the reason for their growth.  Their issues didn't miraculously disappear and that they didn't immediate have a happily ever after, no they were too stubborn and hot headed for that.

There are a few moments in here that make you pause, however the characters were aware of them and either called each other out on them or immediately tried to stop them.  My biggest concerns were the fights he was participating in and the eventuality of a accident taking place due to one or at one.  I have seen reviews that say this book glorifies violence and Travis's bad behavior, I don't think so, especially because he worked at changing, at managing his behavior and modified it when needed.  I'm not going to lie there were a few O_o worthy moments but as I said before they were called out by several different characters and once made aware, Travis really tried to change.  I had a few problems with her indecisiveness as well, either you want him or you don't; if not stop with the holding it against him because you don't want him doesn't mean other won't take him. Stop playing games Abby. just stop. At the end there were a few unanswered questions which I guess is good since there is a second book.

Yeah I have pretty much nothing else to say other than it was an awesome ride and you must check it out.  I'm diving right into the other books and novellas. And I love how gorgeous the covers are and how they all match so well.
 ★★★★
Happy Reading


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