Beautiful Disaster

By: Jamie McGuire

Narrated by: Emma Galvin

Length: 10 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

©2011 Jamie McGuire (P)2012 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

" Beautiful Disaster is insanely addictive. Beautifully sexy, beautifully intense, and beautifully perfect. Jamie McGuire has written a damn good book." (Jessica Park, author of the New York Times best seller Flat-Out Love)

One of my favorites

I read this for the first time YEARS ago. I have listened to this book at least 15 times and I’ve read it several times as well I love this book, I love the story and I love Jamie McGuire. I can’t wait for the movie!

Loved it!

The characters were so much more like-able and the story was great to read. The movie didn’t capture half of what was in the book

Must read

This book was a great read. It kept me engaged the throughout. I would highly recommend.

loved

Loved every single second of this book, even while I'm screaming at the top of my lungs at idiotic characters and choices loved every second

You want to read!

I had a hard time putting the book down, although I was very put off at the age of the characters. Would have been better and more believable had they been 24, not 18- turning 19.

It was still a good read.

i didn't want it to end...

typically i read books with sequels or that happen to be trilogies. i usually get lucky and find a good series where i'm able to get the first two books right away, only having to wait for the third for a couple months. with Beautiful Disaster i was thrilled to find out that it had another book coming out from Travis' POV but annoyed that i'd have to wait until next SPRING to find out more about the lives of Abby and Travis. boo.

this book took me right in, telling me about the characters lives and leaving little bits to keep me wondering what would happen as it went along. of course, there were a few parts where i was rolling my eyes in some of the scenes simply because these two young lovers were overreacting about silly nonsense. i was married young and i look back on my life then and think, "would i react that same way today?" and the answer is a profound, "no. absolutely not." i wouldn't get carried away like these two did, but you have to remember that they're barely 19 and i remember acting like an idiot at 19 so don't judge them too harshly.

i wanted more as i got to the end of the book. i wanted to know about their lives. i envisioned them having adventures and finally settling down to have a family. i wanted them to find their Ever After. as i got to that last 10 minutes of the book, i found myself excited to start it over, immediately... which i did, twice. sometimes i listen to a book a couple times before i let the characters go. this was one of those books i really fell in love with the Abby and Travis.... and i think you will too.

the narration was superb, and i found this book because i'd listened to Divergent, same narrator. fabulous.

Okay??

I'm not really sure why this was a suggested read after Fifty Shades; more of a teen read?

The story of a volatile relationship

This was a completely enthralling book. One of those you need to listen to on a weekend, so you can keep the ear-buds on, for the entirety of the book. The characters scoop you up into their world, and won't let you go. The two main characters of the book, Abby and Travis get involved in a volatile relationship, that neither can pull themselves away from, when the reader can easily see it would be for the best. It's not your typical romance novel, and I don't think I can even categorize this book. It's an emotional roller coaster for the characters and the listener. I try not to analyze it too much, and just chalk it up as one of those books, that I couldn't put down, and really don't understand why.

Story, narration, everything a PERFECT 10!!!!

What made the experience of listening to Beautiful Disaster the most enjoyable?

The narrator did a GREAT job, she really nailed distinct voices, but she also nailed emotion. And there was a LOT of emotion in this book!

What did you like best about this story?

This story will take you on an emotional ride....I hate him, I adore him, I want to kill him, I love him. Doesn't that sum up every truly great relationship? The characters have their very own distinct personalities and I have to say it was truly enjoyable to be on the roller coaster with them!

Any additional comments?

This book isn't as steamy as 50 shades, but the plot twists truly take you for a ride and it was just a beautiful book to listen to. I would recommend this book to anyone over the age of 18...it does have a lot of cursing but it was 100% appropriate! I LOVE THIS BOOK!

I AM IN LOVE WITH TRAVIS MADDOX!! NEW FAVOURITE!!

Where does Beautiful Disaster rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Right up there! This is my new absolute favourite of all the romances I've read so far.It offers a much fresher feel to the normal romance novel.

What did you like best about this story?

TRAVIS MADDOX!!! *SIGH* I'm completely head over heels in love with him now. He's a bad boy, hot, fit, wild, crazy, unstable and completely messed up but you cant help but fall for him because of the palpable desperation you can't feel within his soul for this girl.Their relationship is completely unhealthy and unstable but you can help but hope it works out because you want him to be happy.Love the way the story has been written, it feels young and appropriate for the age of its characters.

Which scene was your favorite?

ANYTHING WITH TRAVIS IN IT! Mostly the ones where you get a glimpse at the war going on inside his head, where you know his heart wants one thing and his head is fighting it.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I listened to it all the way through the first time and started straight back at the beginning the next day, have since listened to it about 4 times all the way through and now just go back to my favourite parts :)

Any additional comments?

I wish the book hadnt ended. I dont really see any way a sequal would work which is dissappointing but looking forward to reading more from the author. It was a refreshing read much different to your average romance novels.