(Beautiful #1)
by Jamie McGuire
Publication Date: August 14th, 2012
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Pages: 356
ISBN: 9781466401884
From publisher for review.
B&N | Amazon | The Book Depository | 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, 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. (Goodreads)
Abby Abernathy has a secret past, one that she has run a long way from. A new school with new friends, a new beginning is exactly what she needs. All is well, until she catches the attention of the school bad boy, Travis Maddox, who is completely blown away by her resistance to him. Never one to be rejected, Travis does whatever he can to get Abby into his life. But can Abby live with the dominating Travis in her life?
Abby, the main character, was both headstrong and also extremely frustrating. I love that she stood up to Travis’s crazy ways, for the most part, especially when there were red flags going up all over the place. However, it was insanely frustrating that she used other guys just to hurt Travis. It really made me want to shake her and tell her to quit playing games. But other than that, I found her to be a likeable character.
The thing I love most in male characters is the tortured hero. I don’t know what it is, but I can’t get enough of them. Travis is definitely a tortured soul. My heart broke for him multiple times, but I also found him infuriating at times as well. He was such a completely complex character; I still haven’t completely figured him out. Yes, he was overbearing and quite dominant, but he also had a completely different side to him as well, and that’s the side that I fell in love with. He broke my heart more than a few times with his emotions. I love this man. (On a side note; I totally picture Travis as Channing Tatum! Check out his movie Fighter, and you will see why.)
The secondary characters were interesting as well, with my favorites being Shepley, Travis’s cousin and America, who was Abby’s best friend. America was a really great friend to Abby. There was also Finch, who Abby and America met on their first day of school, who was a loner just like Abby. I love him!
If you love a good love story, full of emotional angst and drama, this is definitely the book for you. I loved the storyline as well. That kept me hooked, and flying through the pages faster than I expected to.
There were a few small issues that I had with the book, however. As an adult that knows the difference between right and wrong, I found this book to be a fascinating read. As a mom to a teenage girl, I have many issues with the book. I can’t imagine a teenager reading this and understanding how many things were wrong with relationship. For that one reason, I wouldn’t recommend this for the younger YA crowd. (I had this problem with Twilight as well. While the story is romantic and understandable by most, younger girls that are easily swayed may not see the problems with the relationship; the possessiveness, the codependency, etc.) This book also contains a great deal of violence, sex, underage drinking, and vulgar language. As an adult, this doesn’t make me love the book any less, but as a parent, it makes me cautious with my extremely sheltered child. (That’s just me though!)
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, so much more than I expected to. This is a book that will stick with you long after you’ve read the last page. I can’t wait for my finished copy to arrive so that I can read it again! Also, we will also be getting a book in 2013 that is Beautiful Disaster from Travis’s perspective; Walking Disaster. I SO can’t wait to get my hands on it!
Happy Reading!
***I've decided to give away a copy of this book later this week as part of my 1500 Follower Giveaway, so keep checking back for that giveaway!***
This is on my TBR list. After reading your review, I'm anxious to get my hands on it! :-)
ReplyDeleteTamara @ Shelf Addiction
http://shelfaddiction.weebly.com
I love Beautiful Disaster! I think it features a highly dysfunctional relationship which like you I understand but I completely agree about a younger crowd wanting to read it and it not being appropriate. It's definitely an adult book, but Travis is great (and not so great) and I loved following Jamie on FB as she was writing Walking Disaster.
ReplyDeleteI'm just not sure about this one. I saw it on NetGalley but...I don't know. I have a hard time with damaged teen relationships, mostly because I picture teen girls reading the story and just not getting how toxic it really is.
ReplyDeleteI truly think that this is not a book which aims at Teenage Girls. It's definitely not YA.
ReplyDeleteAn I am so happy you liked it... I LOVED this book so much, it was incredibly! A very deep relationship and I liked the intensity! My heart broke for Travis too - especially when Abby (again) left him *sniffles*!
Ooh, this sounds so good! And it seems more new adult than YA to me, which I'm excited about.
ReplyDeleteI have this from NetGalley and I can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteKate @ Ex Libris
I totally agree with you on this. I loved this book, but would definitely not let young teens read it.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely ADORED this book and I'm so glad you loved it too!! I literally just finished reading it yesterday and I'm head over heels for it. I got it on Netgalley and I'm buying a physical copy ASASP!!
ReplyDeleteI agree that older teens and adults should read it. Those who understand how harmful these types of relationships can be. I thought this novel was fast paced, and insanely readable, but the relationship soured me a little.
ReplyDeleteI LOVED Finch and totally wish we had seen more of him!
Your review points out all that I enjoyed about the book, and the the elements that left me conflicted too! Great review.