Sunday, July 29, 2012

ARC BOOK REVIEW ~ BEAUTIFUL DISASTER BY JAMIE MCGUIRE












Title: Beautiful Disaster
Author: Jamie McGuire
Publisher: Atria Books
Expected Release Date: August 14, 2012
Previously Self published.

ARC provided by Net Galley


Book Blurb

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


Book Review

Have you ever read and finished a book and thought, "WTF have I just read?"

Beautiful Disaster is that book for me.

The entire reading was like watching a train wreck--one where I wanted to stop at times but couldn't peel my eyes away...even knowing that this was (for me) a somewhat twisted story spotlighting a very effed-up relationship.

At times I thought there was no way I would recommend this to a young adult--Travis and Abby's relationship was so unhealthy and  on a downward spiral for disaster (hah). But then I thought, was that the author's intention? To give the reader an inside peek of two people who are so unhealthy for each other, but somehow manage to stay together?

I am still clueless.

If the author's intent was to suck you in, she accomplished that. I was sucked in and slightly disturbed by that fact. Although the story line was slightly amateurish at best, I read along--and couldn't stop reading. I had to see where Travis and Abby ended.

Beautiful Disaster itself was filled with some flaws that I couldn't understand. And it promoted violence that I couldn't condone. For Travis is a fighter--yeah, I get that--who jumps easily to his feet to beat the hell out of anyone who attempts to get close to Abby. Twice he attacks a class mate in college, and TWICE, no action was taken?  No suspension, No teachers running in to break the fight?  That was the only implausible thing I found in the writing of this story.

I look back days after reading and think that Beautiful Disaster is a story of extremes: Extreme emotions, extreme drinking, extreme violence.

Did I love it? No
Did I hate it? No

Whatever the case, McGuire wrote a story that did compel me to read it, even though I felt like a passenger on a sinking ship. Even though I believe that Travis and Abby needed a heavy dose of therapy. Even though the ending was predicable and not very plausible. 

Even though I still have no clue exactly how I feel about it. 

6 comments:

  1. hmm I got this one from NetGalley because somehow dysfuntional relationships always get my attention. I can't wait to read it. I have a feeling I'm gna feel exactly what u said. Probably be sucked in the story while hating them at the same time lol

    Ning @ Reading by Kindle Fire

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ning,
      Let me know what you think---as this is ToTALLY dysfunctional in my opinion.
      Thanks for stopping by and commenting.

      Delete
  2. Oh my gosh, I could not agree more with you on your assesment of that book. I read it and have no idea if I even liked it or not. All sorts of crazy but it definitely had a hook to make you keep reading. Couldn't agree with you more!!

    Thank you for the opportunity!
    brunettelibrarian AT gmAil . c0m
    The Brunette Librarian Blog

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Brunette Librarian~
      Thanks for stopping by here and reading my review of Beautiful Disaster. I am glad I was not alone, lol. I still am shaking my head over this one.

      Delete
  3. o.O I saw this one on NetGalley but was hesitant to request it, so I didn't. WOW. I don't even know where to begin. I too am not a violent kind of person, and wouldn't condone it. As for the couple? *sigh* Open a big ol' can of therapy and call it a day! Great review :)

    Ana♥ @ Beach Bum Reads

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ana--
      I've since seen that there will be a book 2--However, it is a retelling of book one, Travis's point of view.
      I'll think I'll skip it, as I don't need the whiplash of emotions again, thankyouverymuch :)

      Delete

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