Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful #1)

4.25 of 5 stars 4.25 · rating details · 120,488 ratings · 12,505 reviews

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....more

Kindle Edition, 437 pages

Published May 26th 2011 by Jamie McGuire

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

Best Book Boyfriends

1st out of 2,214 books — 9,481 voters

College Romance

1st out of 494 books — 4,113 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 3,000)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Mar 12, 2012 Sophia. rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: No. Fucking. One.

Shelves: ever-heard-of-self-respect, give-me-a-gun-please, go-buy-some-dignity, its-not-okay, real-bad-relationship, really-disturbing, sick-and-twisted, very-bad-messages, what-happened-to-feminism, overrated-as-fuck, zero-stars-really, revolting, couldnt-finish-to-save-my-life, can-i-kill-the-hero

* Warning: If you're easily offended by cursing, and/or aggressivity, then don't FUCKING read this. *

I am literally losing it. This book contains one of the most disturbing scenes I have ever read in any book. EVER.
So here's one excerpt from the book.

Abby slept with Travis and left his apartment in the morning without saying goodbye. This is his reaction, a few hours later :

“Travis is a fucking wreck! He won’t talk to us, he’s trashed the
apartment, threw the stereo across the room… Shep [room...more

like 2628 likes · see review

Mar 30, 2013 Kristen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: bad-boy, favorite-books, strong-willed-heroine, scrumptious-hero, tattooed-pierced-hero, fabulous-characters, 5-star, new-adult-college, mild-steam, all-time-favorite, angsty-emotional, couldnt-put-down, exhausting-read, fabulous-hero, fabulous-heroine, fabulous-secondary-characters, favorite-heroine, favorite-hero, friends-to-lovers, frustrating-couple, girl-next-door, great-ending, long-and-drawn-out, lots-of-drama, love-triangle, playboy-womanizer, thought-provoking, tortured-hero, very-angsty, young-adult-angst, obsessed-hero

5 stars with a caveat, and by far my most difficult review to write to date.

I’m honestly baffled by my response to this book because I not only enjoyed the story, but I also gave it high marks. In many ways this book is everything I hate in a Young Adult romance, but I still found myself enthralled, giddy, and starry eyed, regardless of how annoyed I became at time. In fact, I felt like I was at odds with myself during most of it. There was my latent teenage self, all starry eyed and idealistic,...more 5 stars with a caveat, and by far my most difficult review to write to date.

I’m honestly baffled by my response to this book because I not only enjoyed the story, but I also gave it high marks. In many ways this book is everything I hate in a Young Adult romance, but I still found myself enthralled, giddy, and starry eyed, regardless of how annoyed I became at time. In fact, I felt like I was at odds with myself during most of it. There was my latent teenage self, all starry eyed and idealistic, who loved everything about this book, warring with my more mature and realistic 40-year-old self who knows better. It became quite exasperating.

I found I liked all the characters in this book. Not once did I become annoyed with them- shocking for a Young Adult story. The characters were multi-dimensional and authentic. I was easily transported into their world of college drama (although, frankly, it felt more like High School).

Right from the start I fell head-over-heels in love with Travis. He's such a lovable jerk. He epitomizes the charismatic, lackadaisical, tattooed, sexier-than-all-get-out bad boy over whom most young girls swoon. He's volatile, tough, flirty, compulsive, charming, aggressive, shameless, intelligent, domineering, proud, and nonchalant. He also has a tenderhearted, kind and vulnerable side that makes it impossible not to love him. He really is the ultimate fantasy.

Our book begins with Abby, our level-headed and strong-willed heroine, attending an underground college fight club where Travis "Mad Dog" Maddox is the undefeated champion. Unimpressed with his slick and smooth talking manner, she brushes him off, wanting nothing to do with him. Only too familiar with his type, she knows he means trouble. Travis, intrigued because Abby is immune to his charms, all but stalks her, wanting to win her over. Eventually he succeeds. What begins as a genuine friendship slowly blooms into an all consuming, passionate, and frankly, obsessive and codependent relationship.

I really liked Abby's character. I was braced to dislike her as the story progressed, fearing she would become little more than a doormat because of the codependent and obsessive relationship she had with Travis. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how level-headed she remained throughout the book. She confronted all of his “red flag” behaviors in a mature and rational manner, even leaving him for a time.

The thing that makes this story both intriguing and appalling, is Travis' obsession with Abby. He is consumed by her. She becomes his everything. Exhilarating in theory; unhealthy in reality! His obsession, at times, becomes disturbing and worrisome. In the end Travis makes some behavioral changes, albeit more surface than substance, hoping to win Abby back. He succeeds, and Abby returns to the relationship. In doing so, some readers may believe in the misconception that one person can change another.

While a part of me knows better I still loved so much about this book. I am a girl, after all! Would I want my 17 year old daughter to read this? No. Very few teens have either the experience or maturity to distinguish between fantasy and reality.

But will I read this book again? Yes! (Oh dear, this makes me a hypocrite!)
(less)

like 247 likes · see review

Jul 03, 2012 Scott rated it 5 of 5 stars

I agree with other reviewers who refer to this book as the literary equivalent of black tar heroin. I couldn't put this book down, even though I probably should have. I enjoyed the book but I'm not sure why (I only curled up in the fetal position on the floor of my shower weeping manly tears of shame while muttering "why?", like twice after all). I liked the main female character (not really) even though I thought she displayed the intellectual capacity of mentally challenged rock in a lot of pl...more I agree with other reviewers who refer to this book as the literary equivalent of black tar heroin. I couldn't put this book down, even though I probably should have. I enjoyed the book but I'm not sure why (I only curled up in the fetal position on the floor of my shower weeping manly tears of shame while muttering "why?", like twice after all). I liked the main female character (not really) even though I thought she displayed the intellectual capacity of mentally challenged rock in a lot of places. The whole initial sleeping arrangements thing...really? Really? Sticking around after one particular sequence (those who have read this hopefully know to what I am referring). Seriously?!!?! Which brings me to the main reason this is only getting a 3 star score from me: I'm not sure why everyone thinks the main male lead is such an awesome catch...he struck me as an arrogant, jealous (to the point of being creepy) douchebag ( but at least he's a ripped, douchebag who is tougher than an MMA fighter and has the brain of an astrophysicist [too bad it didn't come with a manual instructing how to properly use it when it comes to matters of the heart, but hey! He's all alpha and oozes testosterone from his pores and apparently that's all women want or need in a man, judging by the fact that every women he comes into contact with seems to offer her vagina on a silver platter, so no big deal!]) with a penchant for naming women after birds that like to poop on everything...possibly a metaphor for what this new girl is doing to his life of man-whoring debauchery (he is a genius after all, so clearly there has to be a clever meaning behind it). At least he uses protection, though, so he's somewhat (but not really) responsible (however, methinks he learned to do this the hard way after casting his metaphorical rod into the metaphorical female equivalent of the Ganges river one time too many and coming up with nothing but a bad case of the old crotch rot...hmmmm...do I sense some fanfiction coming, but I digress). He kind of (but not really) gets better as the story goes on, I suppose, although he does continue to allow his jealously to get him to do things that would have him arrested in a heartbeat if we were in the real world, but whatever. Maybe I'm just not alpha or manly enough to understand, I mean, I thought treating women with respect and not being an asshat was the way to go (thanks to Ms. MacGuire, I learned the error of my un-manly ways and discovered most women are vapid and easy. Thanks for showing me the error of my ways [but not really]). I was afraid our intrepid hero's "dead sexy manly" actions would spell disaster for our lovely young couple's blossoming romance, but thankfully LOVE! (*cough* co-dependency *cough* *cough* excuse me) conquers all!

Anyhoo, with all this rambling it may seem like I hated this book. Not at all! Much like a junkie getting kicked out of rehab for shooting up the smack he smuggled in his anus, I continually keep coming back to these type of stories! It's a love/hate relationship! I just want to see how the story is going to end...even though I sort of already do. I guess it's all about the hero's/heroine's journey, and what a journey it is! More twists and turns than a mountain road and just when you think it's over, BAM! you get a flat tire and have to switch vehicles and start another leg of said journey! What other YA (or is it?...duhn duhn dunnnnnnnnn) story about love blossoming between two college kids will give you fight clubs, mobsters, and fires! OH MY! Not enough for you? Well, have some poker, sex, angst, sex, jealousy, brooding, sex, childhood trauma extraordinaire, token gay character who has no purpose but to be the stereotypical token gay character...and act FAAAAAAAABULOUS!, Vegas, gambling, hustling (not the "sexy" kind), hustling (the "sexy" kind), gratuitous studying, gratuitous frat boys, the expected underage drinking, some gratuitous "in-hindsight-i-didnt really-think-this-through-so-I-wish-upon-a-star-this-relationship-works-out-or-I'll-feel-really-stupid" tattooing, and a little "we're-just-friends-even-though-we-clearly-want-to-bone-and-though-I-claim-to-not-really-like-him-I-will-sleep-in-the-same-bed-with-him-platonically-of-course-for-a-month-because-I-never-back-out-of-a-bet?" magic! Oh! Almost forgot! Let's throw in some "two chicks at the same time" action as well!

This is such a guilty pleasure for me. I will likely read it again (not really). You know what? Screw it! This is gonna get 5 stars from me! Maybe they can do a Mystery Romance Theater 3000 version of this book with three funny authors (Tom Servo, Joel Hodgson/Mike Nelson, and Crow T. Robot) writing footnotes and annotations poking good humored fun at the book. Now where did I put that copy of "Manos the Hands of Fate"...(less)

like 623 likes · see review

May 16, 2013 Jude rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: in-my-shelf, favorites

The book Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire has been all around the Blogosphere lately. It became available on Netgalley and many bloggers are currently reading it. This book has caused many controversy and has earned some really nasty reviews, still, the book has an average rating of 4.13. I recently stumbled upon a review that said very very no-so-nice things about Beautiful Disaster, and it also mentioned that everyone that rated this book with 5 stars was a @%#^&!#$% and insane. Well...more

like 160 likes · see review

Jan 09, 2013 Dd rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shake in your boots,boys,and drop your panties,ladies!

I give you : Travis 'Mad Dog' Maddox!

"He made his entrance,shirtless,relaxed and unaffected.The lean muscles stretched under his tattooed skin."

Okay ladies,here we go.1,2,3 and....S.W.O.O.N!!

"He oozed sex and rebelliousness with his buzzed,brown hair and tattooed forearms."

Uh-oh boy!!Here go my ovaries!!

Ummm...QUESTION!!

Anyway....

Okay,now the storyline!!

Abby Abernathy has a secret.She has a past.A dark past.And to escape it all,she makes a...more

like 323 likes · see review

Apr 20, 2012 Shelly Crane rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'm not sure what to write about this book. The reviews for the book were SOOO incredibly misleading. I thought Travis was going to hit her, or come close, the way everyone was going on about the 'abuse' in the book. I get it, it was intense. But having seen real abuse with my own eyes, in real life..I didnt understand what everyone else saw that made it be worse and stand apart from all other books.

This is a book about an alpha male. Just because it's not a paranormal book and instead, a contem...more

like 522 likes · see review

Apr 15, 2012 S.C. Stephens rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow...Travis, Travis, Travis. I liked him, I hated him, I liked him again...I worried about his sanity...then I loved him. And, oddly enough, I had a lot of the same feelings about Abby! So many times I wanted to scream at her, then him, then her again! Great, complex characters. I loved this!! Wonderful story, wonderful world, wonderful author!

like 462 likes · see review

Mar 28, 2013 Aestas Book Blog rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

“I need to hear you say it. I need to know you’re mine.”
“I’ve been yours since the second we met.”

ooooo *sigh* what can I say about this book except that its reeeeally good, HIGHLY addictive and utterly captivating. You literally feel compelled to keep turning the pages. You just can't stop. No joke!

Abby and Travis meet in college. He's a tough, charming, insanely hot, tattooed badboy who also is a womanizing A student who fights in a ring at night and once he meets Abby, he's just captiva...more

like 109 likes · see review

Feb 25, 2012 Hayley rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle, books-i-hate, read-more-than-once, stupid-ass-names

02/25/12:

Now that I've read this book twice, I can say absolutely without a doubt that I hate it. It wasn't me being stupid and not realizing how great a book was until the second reading, like it was the first time I read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Milkweed. It really is just an awful book.

Every single character in this book is an absolute idiot - with the exception of Kara, who is the only character without her head firmly shoved up her ass. Actually, she nailed Abby and Travis...more

like 494 likes · see review

Jun 01, 2012 Lucy rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: anti-feminist, adult, chicklit, how-did-this-get-published, lost-interest-based-on-author, lost-interest-based-on-reviews, oh-the-hype, parents-are-evil, romance, so-very-awful, story-what-story, vomit-in-a-hat

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. DELETED AND READDED BECAUSE SOMEONE HAD IT BURIED

Beautiful Disaster opens up at night in the basement of an empty academic building on a college campus where a fighting/betting ring known as The Circle is being run. This is where we meet Travis 'Mad Dog' Maddox, the male romantic lead. He, of course, wins his fight. The female lead, Abby, is attending the fight club for the first time that night. She ends up with blood on her cashmere sweater and a new name given to her by Travis, who doesn't ev...more

like 347 likes · see review

Nov 12, 2011 Brittany rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: disgusting, ya, m-f

Jamie McGuire. Putting the woman's movement back 200 years. D: It saddens me that someone from my own gender is writing such shallow and mindless dribble. I know the economy is bad, but damn have some pride!

If you were able to get through this book without throwing up I have to applaud you. I had to stop reading at page 225 because I was becoming physically ill. It wasn't the subject that sickened me, it was HOW the subject was being written. The characters and their reaction to Travis' obsessi...more

like 123 likes · see review

May 02, 2012 Katya rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, dramarama, fiction, oh-come-on, romance

I have a little dilemma with reviewing indie books. On one hand, I get it why authors might prefer to go down the self-publishing road. With an industry that gives us Halo and Hades, I'd be disheartened too. The thing is, indie writers face a lot of difficulties getting their stuff out there and making a profit, because the general assumption is that self-pubbed books are poorly written, poorly edited things that no agent wanted to take on.

So I was very conflicted about reviewing this book. ED...more

like 126 likes · see review

Apr 02, 2013 kristina rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, favorites

I think this is my favorite book ! I'm still book hangovered .

Where should I begin?
Ummm , yeah ...

Travis
“I belong to my beloved, and my beloved is mine.”

I loved him , many people may consider him as immature but his will for love was unbelievable.
Travis is fighting illegally ,he is hot , he has tattoos and all the girls want to f*ck with him. ( I wonder why?*innocent eyes*)

Abby

She was just an innocent girl who fell for someone that reminded her , her past.She bet with Travis and this gave an...more

like 74 likes · see review

Dec 17, 2011 Taryn at My Secret Romance rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance, love-triangle, romance, emotional-angsty, favorites, reviewed-by-me, young-adult

This review was posted at My Secret Romance

Once I finish a book, I think about it for a few days and then write my review for it. Well, I've been pondering for days now and I still haven't come up with much for it other than I liked it way more than I expected to considering it's a young adult novel, and everyone knows I don't do young adult. It is extremely rare that I will read a young adult book let alone actually like it. After reading this, it is now one of my favorite books.

The reasons wh...more

like 60 likes · see review

Dec 03, 2012 Ashleigh Paige rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: brb-gotta-go-sob-in-a-corner, how-convenient, i-screamed-at-it, makes-feminist-me-very-unhappy, new-adult-project, please-no-more-slut-shaming, rage-rage-rage, right-reaction-wrong-reason, shit-or-get-off-the-pot, take-your-sexism-and-get-out, the-shameful-shelf-of-get-rid-of-it, why-do-i-do-this-to-myself, worst-books-i-ve-ever-read, wow-what-a-douchecanoe

As long as there are people that say Travis is their dream guy and loveable and they want a man just like him, I will raise a ruckus about how dangerous this book is to our society. If people don't like it, they can kiss my lily white, bootylicious butt.

I know I said a few months back I'd never read this, but when I made the decision to poke around New Adult, there was no way to do it without reading this. Then when I abandoned that project because the genre seems to give me an abnormal number o...more

like 174 likes · see review

Nov 09, 2011 Tammara added it

Shelves: favorites

WOW. This book was like a roller coaster ride. I had no idea what was coming next and during most of it I thought we were going to fly off of the rails any minute. Travis is one of the most controversial literary characters I've ever fallen in love with. He's a true Bad Boy: sexy, possessive and temperamental. I shouldn't like him as a character but I did. I also liked Abby, even when I disagreed with her actions and questioned WTH she was doing. There were multiple issues that will raise the ir...more

like 224 likes · see review

May 02, 2012 Stacia ~ Mistress of Mediocrity rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: new-adult-college

*Update June 2012 - Thoughts posted on my review back in January were moved to comment number 14 (*edit* and later comment number 18) in the comments section of this review, in order to comply with GR guidelines. This review was flagged and removed for non-book comments and it was quite the process to get it reinstated, so I will keep my personal feelings to the appropriate section.

*Update December 2011 - original rating dropped. I realized after much thought that the ending really bothered me....more

like 85 likes · see review

Mar 16, 2013 Suzanne the Mighty ~Satin Seductress~ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: hero-i-wanna-hug, lover-the-cover, pdf-kindle, young-adult, best-of-the-best-2011, romance, mad-bad-and-dangerous-to-know, rake-man-whore

March 2013 reread - Still really like it! Shame I can't really find any other New Adult books that don't make me want to hurt someone!

FRACK ME SIDEWAYS! I loved this book. I know, your shocked, damn it I am shocked as well! It is Young Adult, I normally hate romance YA books, they drive me crazy with all the whining and moaning. But this book is so much better then that. At first glance it looks like a good girl meets bad boy scenario, which it kind of is. Abby has gone to college to get away f...more March 2013 reread - Still really like it! Shame I can't really find any other New Adult books that don't make me want to hurt someone!

FRACK ME SIDEWAYS! I loved this book. I know, your shocked, damn it I am shocked as well! It is Young Adult, I normally hate romance YA books, they drive me crazy with all the whining and moaning. But this book is so much better then that. At first glance it looks like a good girl meets bad boy scenario, which it kind of is. Abby has gone to college to get away from her father and to build a new life for herself without the stigma she has to suffer through in her home town and Travis is the perfect bad boy with his tattoos, his fights and don't-give-a-crap attitude as well as his man whore ways. But as soon as they meet, both characters change, more noticabley Travis and form a relationship.

The title of this book is perfect, there relationship is such a beautiful disaster. The emotions these two feel for each other tear off the page and suck you in, they are totally dependent on one another for happiness, not the healthiest of relationships. But, despite this and some of the stupid things that both Travis does and Abby doesn't do I wanted them both to work, the love and devotion they had shone from the book and yes it was very unhealthy in ways, if your boyfriend acted in the Travis did overly possesive and violently possesive if a male so much as looked at you funny then you would pretty pissed off. But for a girl like Abby, rejected and loathed by her parents, she may not like it, but at least she knows someone cares.

This book was fantastic and it one of my favourite books this year, it caught my eye because of the beautiful cover, but I know it will be one of those books that I will periodically reread and I can't wait to read more of Jamie McGuire's work. Fingers crossed for some books on Travis's brothers! *hint hint if you read this Ms Mcguire*

Also, has any one heard the song Beautiful Disaater by Kelly Clarkson? That song is like this book in music form! Anyone else feeling that?(less)

like 41 likes · see review

Aug 05, 2012 Rose rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, tough-subjects, contemporary, abusive-relationships, glorified-violence, realistic-fiction, mature, tbr-challenge, drama, new-adult

Jamie McGuire's "Beautiful Disaster" is the worst adult contemporary romance novel I've had the displeasure of reading.

I'm imagining I've raised a few eyebrows with beginning this review on that note. You might be thinking "Well, aren't you being a little melodramatic, Rose? It's just a book - it can't possibly be that bad, right?"

*exhales slowly* Let me state for the record I'm a person who likes reading many different kinds of romances because I'm an avid reader and genres know no bounds with...more

like 111 likes · see review

Aug 06, 2012 Kris (KC) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, reread-worthy, new-adult-ya

I definitely had a hard time putting this book down! The characters were very well fleshed out and I was quick to build up a fondness for them. The story was intense and never once became boring. I can see why some reviewers feel as though Travis' character was too violent, and at times, it did get overwhelming-- but I feel as long as readers understand that this is a work of fiction and not a guide on how to find violence attractive, there should be no permenant damage. I'd also like to mention...more

like 67 likes · see review

Jul 11, 2012 Krista (NawandaFiles) rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: insta-love, kindle, redundant, pet-peeves, 2011

At first I thought this book was addicting. Then I took a step back and actually THOUGHT about the characters. There is something about using your brain that puts things into perspective. The relationship was beyond dysfunctional. I could not condone how they treated each other. Travis was not hot, sexy, or anything in between. He is a possessive VIOLENT man who has no redeeming qualities. If you put his character in the real world he would most likely be a date rapist/serial killer. I think tha...more

like 104 likes · see review

Aug 01, 2012 The Holy Terror rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, young-adult, romance, realistic-fiction, contemporary-romance, foot-in-mouth-disease, terrible-writing, wish-i-could-give-less-than-1-star, attacks-reviewers, ya-author-wankfest-of-2012

Cherra recommended this book to me back in October, and even though I didn't have an ereader at the time and this was only available in ebook form, I added it in case it got a print edition. I ended up buying a Kindle Touch and I was excited to be able to read all of the ebooks that weren't previously available in print form, this one included.

I am no longer excited for this book and I will not be reading it.

like 60 likes · see review

Jul 25, 2012 Becs - Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: No one

Shelves: young-adult, book-everyone-loved-but-me, run-screaming-for-the-hills, worst-sex-scenes-ever, absolute-drivel

I read this because it tops so many lists here on Goodreads and I wanted to see what the hype is about but it sadly didn't even begin to live up to my expectations. I actually believe this may be the worst book I have ever read.

The characters are poorly developed, the writing style just appalling, I never really understood their motivations and the narrative never gave them time to react to situations. This felt like it had been written by a twelve year old to me.

This takes place over 2 semeste...more

like 83 likes · see review

Mar 25, 2012 Ridley rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, 2-star, read-2012, ya-romance

I can't really be bothered to write my usual style of review. I'm the last person on the planet to read it, so summarizing the plot just seems a waste of time. Instead, I'm going to skip straight to my criticism.

First off, if you don't like first person narration, this is not the book that will change your mind. It uses the device particularly poorly. Our narrator, the heroine, at times has too much insight into the minds of others and at other times has too little knowledge of her own mind. Non...more I can't really be bothered to write my usual style of review. I'm the last person on the planet to read it, so summarizing the plot just seems a waste of time. Instead, I'm going to skip straight to my criticism.

First off, if you don't like first person narration, this is not the book that will change your mind. It uses the device particularly poorly. Our narrator, the heroine, at times has too much insight into the minds of others and at other times has too little knowledge of her own mind. None of her personality comes through in the narration. She just describes what she and the people around her did, using a flat, emotionless sort of voice. It was like the story was written in third person then run through a find/replace to switch the pronouns. Abby thinks bizarre things like:

I looked down to my plate, letting the long strands of my caramel hair create a curtain between us.

and mangles grammar like:

Kara was reading ahead in her brand-new books, grimacing at America and I when we walked in.

Secondly, I think this early bit of characterization says it all about Travis:

He had tattoos on opposite sides of his chest, and black tribal art covering each of his bulging shoulders.

Since tribal tattoo = douchebag, the fact that he's a misogynist asshole didn't surprise me too much:

“I don’t promise anyone anything, Pidge. She didn’t stipulate a relationship before she spread eagle on my couch.”

I stared at the couch with revulsion. “She’s someone’s daughter, Travis. What if, down the line, someone treats your daughter like that?”

“My daughter better not drop her panties for some jackass she just met, let’s put it that way.”

Nice sex negative message there, don't you think? Abby the virgin is a good girl. All of Travis' past one night stands are referred to as "sluts," "bimbos," "whores" and "Barbie dolls." Abby joins right in with Travis on the slut shaming, making it plain that the sexual double standard isn't just a character flaw of Travis', it's an assumption that drives the narrative. Women who enjoy sex are dirty sluts who don't deserve respect in this story's world, and that's some sad internalized misogyny.

Next up is how Travis is a textbook abuser archetype. He never hits Abby or any other woman in the book, but he exhibits every quality present in your average domestic abuser. He has a violent temper when he doesn't get his way:

“He took a swing at Shep when he found out we helped you leave. Abby! Please tell me!” she pleaded, her eyes glossing over. “It’s scaring me!”

The fear in her eyes forced only the partial truth. “I just couldn’t say goodbye. You know it’s hard for me.”

“It’s something else, Abby. He’s gone fucking nuts! I heard him call your name, and then he stomped all over the apartment looking for you. He barged into Shep’s room, demanding to know where you were. Then he tried to call you. Over, and over and over,” she sighed. “His face was…Jesus, Abby. I’ve never seen him like that.

“He ripped his sheets off the bed, and threw them away, threw his pillows away, shattered his mirror with his fist, kicked his door…broke it from the hinges! It was the scariest thing I’ve ever seen in my life!”

He's possessive, even after Abby's broken up with him:

“I love you. I can’t let other guys dance with you.”

He's quick to violence when he feels he's been insulted:

Travis lifted Finch’s tray off the table and swung it into Chris’ face, knocking him off his chair. Chris tried to scramble under the table, but Travis pulled him out by his legs, and then began to wail on him.

Chris curled into a ball, and then Travis kicked him in the back. Chris arched and turned, holding his hands out, allowing Travis to land several punches to his face. The blood began to flow, and Travis stood up, winded.

And, most importantly, he sees nothing wrong with his behavior. I'm not a sheltered delicate flower. I'm a hockey fan who has been in her fair share of scraps over the years. I don't think a violent temper necessarily makes someone a predator. What makes Travis a predator, to my mind, is how his violent attacks on people outside the fight ring aren't treated as a personality flaw. These actions are not only not condemned by the characters or narrative, they're actually held up as examples of his love for and devotion to Abby. Viciously bloodying an innocent bystander's nose is treated as a heroic act.

All that said, had this book ended at its halfway point, I think I would have begrudgingly given it 4* for being a cracktastic trip back to college to stroll down Bad Life Decisions Lane. It encapsulated the self-centered, impulsive, emotional and dramatic whirlwind that is young adulthood in a way adult contemporary romance does not. I know, as someone who graduated from college more than a decade ago, that Travis is bad news and that Abby's a head case, but college is the time for bad behavior. I would've liked an indication from the narrative that they were all screwed up and/or getting away with something, but it was seductive to go back to a time where you didn't know any better and you felt free to take crazy risks.

Unfortunately, the author seems to have been unable to part with her characters and spent the second half writing her own fan fiction where Abby and Travis have Adventures! and break up and make up along the way. There's a beyond bizarre trip to Vegas that comes out of fucking nowhere. Abby's father is pointlessly introduced and forgotten about in an abrupt fashion. There's a throwaway sub-plot involving a mobster and a brush with death just to seal the deal. Where the first half of the book follows a nice dramatic arc, the second half is a half-witted sine wave shamelessly stalling the HEA. Bleh.

In the end, the gratuitous violence, misogyny, poor writing and uneven pacing team up to make this a sub par read for me. I'm not going to wring my hands over the terrible message this sends to YA readers, because I don't think fiction works on people like that, but neither can I enjoy something with such glaring negative themes in it. McGuire has a knack for telling a story, but I can't ignore the flaws in this to enjoy it. 2*(less)

like 106 likes · see review

Nov 03, 2012 Alicia rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone who want an article written on her that ends with, "And then she turned the gun on herself."

Recommended to Alicia by: The Troll in the dungeon

Shelves: wtf-is-wrong-with-you-people, we-deserve-the-apocalypse, ugh-young-adult, ugh-first-person, speshul-snowflake, self-published, probably-wont-read, pathetic-and-or-stupid-female-lead, lowest-common-denominator, judging-you, i-hope-the-mayans-were-right, wtf-is-this, chris-brown-would-be-proud, this-is-not-a-romance, male-lead-who-needs-a-junk-punch, drank-the-haterade, author-needs-a-muzzle, not-for-realreal-just-for-playplay, curiosity-killed-the-cat, my-masochism-is-not-the-sexy-kind, for-the-very-first-time

11/3/12: Man, that was a long three months. At least it felt long when I was trying to read this. Proper review, or something approximating one, to come.

8/02/12: Okay, DON'T call my family. They don't need to be notified. I have changed my mind and I'm going to push through this because Atria saw fit to give this woman money to mass produce this thing and now Warner Brothers will be making some generic show or movie based on it. So, let's see what they thought was worth that money.

4/28/12: Well,...more

like 41 likes · see review

May 29, 2012 Jane Litte rated it 3 of 5 stars

Edited to add: McGuire is one of the authors involved in the first five days of 2012 Goodreads who flamed out against reviewers. I had unfortunately read and written this review up before the flameout but decided to go ahead and post the review anyway. I would link to her rant, but she deleted it along with the over two hundred reader comments that were left. Here is the Google cache. If you want to read a great college set story with an amazing hero, pick up Easy by Tammara Webber.

Angela James...more

like 43 likes · see review

Mar 21, 2013 Duchess Nicole rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Duchess Nicole by: Alana ~ The Book Pimp

Shelves: e-pcs, highly-rated, pick-it-for-me, dead-tree-books, genre-contemp-romance, genre-new-adult, genre-ya, read-in-2013, don-t-know-why-i-loved-it

Can I just agree with every review written about this book? Can I? (Well, besides the nasty, ugly ones because no one need pay attention to those.) But if you loved it, SO DID I!!!!! And if you rolled your eyes and hated it, SO DID I!!! But I loved it more.

Abby and Travis….gah, they truly are a hot mess of a couple. No communication, no trust, no faith. But they do have a healthy lust for each other and a healthy flair for the dramatic. Plus, they’re young people. They remind me so very much of...more Can I just agree with every review written about this book? Can I? (Well, besides the nasty, ugly ones because no one need pay attention to those.) But if you loved it, SO DID I!!!!! And if you rolled your eyes and hated it, SO DID I!!! But I loved it more.

Abby and Travis….gah, they truly are a hot mess of a couple. No communication, no trust, no faith. But they do have a healthy lust for each other and a healthy flair for the dramatic. Plus, they’re young people. They remind me so very much of myself at that age. When everything you do is life or death except for the really important stuff that matters. All of the relationships you have, whether romantic or friendships, seem like the most important romances or friendships you’ll ever have. You love with every fiber of your being, and to you at that point in time, it’s a real as it gets. That’s what you feel, so that’s the way it is.

Is it stupid? Of course it is!! Is it unrealistic? Absolutely!
But it’s also romantic, because it’s young love.

I’ve been there, and I experienced the idiotic mistakes that are made. Travis is volatile and violent, an angry young man. Abby is fairly timid but not overwhelmed by Travis’ large personality. They just click…no rhyme or reason. They become friends who carry around a smoldering sexual tension that the entire college campus can feel. I’m surprised there wasn’t a break out massive orgy scene because good grief! Did they ever need to get it on already!

I get where some don’t like Travis. He’s one scary dude…and the setup for this relationship sounds like every parent’s worst nightmare for their daughter. But this is also fiction. And people still need to remember that someone who acts this way most likely needs even more help than their timid partner. Travis is so very insecure, the typical hothead who can’t control his rage. He sees subterfuge where there is none, he trusts Abby so long as she’s glued to his side and wearing a potato sack. He’s bossy, he’s pushy, he oversteps his boundaries and is overly possessive.

But he’s also a real sweetheart. He needs her to balance him. And yada yada, you can tout his instability all you want but I really liked him, problems and all. I don’t necessarily see him as a total hottie McHotface like everyone else does but I still love him. I even thought that Pigeon was sorta cute. Sort of. (view spoiler)

I waited so very long to read this. There was so much hubbub about it, and I just ignored the hype. But as soon as I started reading, it was un-put-down-able. I even added a new bookshelf called “don’t know why I love it.” But I do!
(less)

like 37 likes · see review

Jun 20, 2012 Leea rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

Update June 2012

Sometimes when you don't comment on someones bad behavior after awhile it's like you're condoning that behavior. Because of Jamie McGuire's disturbing comments regarding negative reviews and her attacking those who have not liked Beautiful Disaster I cannot support this book anymore. I love reading and reviewing books. I do that because it's something that makes me happy. I believe that Goodreads should be a safe place for readers to write constructive reviews without the fear of...more

like 26 likes · see review

Aug 11, 2012 Hira rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: No one.

Shelves: ya, stupid-character-s, romance, dnf, high-expectations, huge-disappointment, authors-y-u-no-grow-up

This review and other stuff can also be found on my blog.

Update in January: After reading the author's blog post (which she has now removed, huh), I only wish I could give them less than 1 star.

Original Review:
I am awed at all the 4/5 star reviews out there...I was too annoyed with this book to even comprehend anyone liking it, but to each his/her own, I suppose.

This book was incredibly cheesy. Each sentence was cheesier than the one before. I was dragging through the book, and got halfway throu...more

like 43 likes · see review

Feb 20, 2012 Nick rated it 1 of 5 stars

Read more of my reviews at Nick's Book Blog

I decided to give this book a try because so many reviewers on here have given it 5 stars. Boy, was I disappointed !
I really didn't like this book.
The characters really got on my nerves to the point that I wanted get into the book and just slap the hell out of them.
Travis was awful ! I really couldn't understand how the hell Abby could stand him.
He was seriously creepy, violent, a jealous freak, possessive and was a stalker. :O He was pretty much obsess...more

like 41 likes · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 99 100 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
'Beautiful Disaster' Movie! It's happening folks!!!	427	4622	2 hours, 31 min ago
BOOKS LIKE THIS!	1010	6646	7 hours, 20 min ago
Favorite Character/ Part of the Story? :)	37	200	May 14, 2013 07:34pm
Who would you like to see play Travis Maddox if Beautiful Disaster goes to the big screen?	110	2051	May 14, 2013 06:40pm
Travis and Abby's first Valentine's day !	13	241	May 11, 2013 10:43am

combine
Other Editions (35)

More editions...

Genres

Romance

1,264 users

Young Adult

755 users

New Adult

705 users

Contemporary

539 users

Romance > Contemporary Romance

419 users

Womens Fiction > Chick Lit

223 users

Academic > College

179 users

Adult

144 users

Love

117 users

Realistic Fiction

115 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Jamie McGuire

Jamie McGuire was born in Tulsa, OK. She was raised by her mother Brenda in Blackwell, OK, where she graduated high school in 1997. Jamie attended the Northern Oklahoma College, the University of Central Oklahoma, and Autry Technology Center where she graduated with a degree in Radiography.

Jamie now lives in Enid, OK with her three children and husband Jeff, who is a real, live cowboy. They share...more

More about Jamie McGuire...

Books by Jamie McGuire

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Beautiful Disaster

6 trivia questions
7 quizzes

More quizzes & trivia...

Quotes from Beautiful Disaster

“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.” — 2,975 people liked it

“I knew the second I met you
that there was something about you I needed. Turns out it
wasn’t something about you at all. It was just you.” — 1,885 people liked it

More quotes…

title link	preview: Beautiful Disaster
avg rating	preview: Beautiful Disaster Goodreads rating: 4.25 (120488 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11505797-beautiful-disaster?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1358259032l/11505797.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11505797-beautiful-disaster?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire[/url]

Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful #1)

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website