I’m in numerous book groups on Facebook, so I always see Jamie McGuire’s books being raved about. I’ve had this book on my TBR for quite a while and finally was able to check in out with the Overdrive App from my local library. Be sure to check out Overdrive, by the way, if you haven’t already! It’s a great way to save money because let’s be honest, most of us only read the majority of books one time.
This was my first book by Jamie, and certainly will not be the last. I enjoyed her writing style and especially the pace of the story. While this book didn’t end up being a five or even four-star read, like I expected it to be, it still kept my interest piqued. The first half of the story was excellent, in my opinion, but as I read the excitement of the plot died down and became a bit repetitive and dramatic between the characters. It likely could have been shortened by a few chapters.
Beautiful Disaster follows Abby Abernathy as she enters her first year of college with her best friend America. When Abby attends an underground fight, she meets Travis “Mad Dog” Maddox, the college’s own bad boy/panty dropper when he splatters someone else’s blood across the front of Abby’s cardigan. Travis immediately sets his sights on Abby and wants to get to know her better, while Abby remains leery of his antics. She refuses to be just another notch on his bedpost, like the other coeds. Eventually, she and Travis come to an agreement of simply becoming friends with no baggage- at least until Abby loses a bet, forcing her to move in with Travis. As any reader can predict, eventually Abby and Travis enter a turbulent relationship, while we hang along for the ride.
I like how Jamie McGuire added some secrets in Abby’s past that add to the plotline of the story to make things more interesting. In general, I am glad I finally knocked this novel off of my TBR since it was an enjoyable read, but probably not something I will pick up again for a re-read. I think Jamie’s books hold a lot of promise, so I’m looking forward to reading more by her in the future.
Ashes Books & Bobs 