Beautiful disaster by Jamie McGuire is the equivalent of crack cocaine! I could not put it down, I got the shakes, I experienced some sky-highs some hellish lows, and it ruined several nights of sleep. This book turned my life into a chaotic mess... and I loved every second of it! The characters were enthralling and the story was spellbinding.
The story begins at Eastern University with college freshmen Abby Abernathy, her feisty best friend America, and America's sweet boyfriend Shepley attending an underground fight club, called The Circle, run by a guy named Adam. The Circle is held in different basements on the Eastern U campus where bets are placed and big money is won. The fighters that evening were Eastern University's star wrestler Marek Young and Eastern University sophomore and undefeated underground boxing champion Travis 'Mad Dog' Maddox. Excited but unable to see the fight, Abby pushes her way ringside just in time to be splattered with Marek's blood. Travis wins the bout, sees Abby ringside, and is immediately enchanted. Travis wipes the blood from her face and stops her from being trampled by the unruly crowd. Wearing a cardigan and pearls and a wide-eyed expression Travis nicknames Abby, 'Pigeon'. Travis and Abby are thrown into each other's orbit when Shepley and America (Travis' cousin and roommate and Abby's best friend, respectively) begin dating.
I tried to ignore him as long as possible, but when I looked up, Travis was staring at me.
"You know her, Trav. America's best friend? She was with us the other night," Shepley said.
Travis smiled at me in what I assumed was his more charming expression. He oozed sex and rebelliousness with his buzzed cut brown hair and tattooed forearms, and I rolled my eyes at his attempt to lure me in.
"Don't you remember, Travis," Shepley continued, "you ruined her sweater."
"I ruin a lot of sweaters."
"Gross." I muttered.
"So you're the Pigeon, huh?
"No," I snapped, "I have a name."
"Well? What is it?" he asked.
I took a bite of the last apple spear on my plate, ignoring him.
"Pigeon it is, then," he said shrugging.
I glanced up at America, then turned to Travis. "I'm trying to eat here."Travis casts a big shadow because of his good looks, alluring charm, and repeated boxing wins. As a result,he's constantly pursued by giggling coeds who are more than willing to cater to his every desire, but Abby–annoyed by his smug confidence and disgusted by his numerous one-night stands–dislikes him immediately.
"What's wrong, Pidge? Hard day?"
"No. I'm thoroughly disgusted."
"With me?" He was smiling.
"Yes, you. How can you just use someone like that and treat them that way?"
"How did I treat her? She offered her number, I declined."
My mouth fell open at his lack of remorse."You'll have sex with her, but you won't take her number?"
"Why would I want her number if I'm not going to call her?"
"Why would you sleep with her if you're not going to call her?"
Puzzled by Abby's constant set-downs, and yearning to get close to her, Travis decides to find out why Abby dislikes him.
Travis leaned close. "I'm sorry... did I offend you in some way?"
I sighed and shook my head.
"Then what is your problem?"
"I'm not sleeping with you. You should give up, now."
A slow smile crept across his face before he spoke. "I haven't asked you to sleep with me. Have I?"
"I'm not a Barbie twin or one of your little groupies up there," I said, glancing at the girls behind us, "I'm not impressed with your tattoos or your boyish charm or your forced indifference, so you can stop the antics, okay?"
"Okay, Pigeon." He was infuriatingly impervious to my rudeness. "Why don't you come over with America tonight? I'm not trying to bag you. I just wanna hang out."
"Bag me? How do you ever get laid talking like that."
Travis burst out laughing, shaking his head. "Just come over. I won't even flirt with you, I swear."
"I'll think about it."Travis is intrigued by his Pigeon because she doesn't fall all over him like almost every other woman he encounters and decides he wants to spend time with her.
So what's your story, Pidge. Are you a man-hater in general or do you just hate me."
"I think it's just you," I grumbled.
He laughed once, amused at my mood. "I can't figure you out. You're the first girl that's ever been disgusted with me before sex. You don't get all flustered when you talk to me. and you don't try to get my attention."
"It's not a ploy. I just don't like you."
"You wouldn't be here if you didn't like me."
"I didn't say you're a bad person. I just don't like being a foregone conclusion for the sole reason of having a vagina." I focused on the grains of salt on the table until I heard a choking noise form Travis's direction. His eyes widened and he quivered with howling laughter.
"Oh my God! You're killing me! That's it. We have to be friends. I won't take no for an answer."
Travis and Abby's blossoming relationship is captivating. Once Abby lets her guard down and befriends Travis the story takes on a beautiful emotional element that's quite moving. She understands him and he can be the himself around her. They may argue, but ultimately they have each other's backs. Through friendship, Travis has found a place in Abby's heart and she doesn't even know it yet.
In the cafeteria, Travis set a can of orange juice in front of me.
"You didn't have to do that. I was going to grab one," I said peeling off my jacket.
"Well, now you don't have to," he said flashing the dimple on his left cheek.
Brazil snorted. "Did she turn you into a cabana boy, Travis? What's next, fanning her with a palm tree leaf, wearing a Speedo?"
Travis shot him a murderous glare, and I jumped to his defense. "You couldn't fill a Speedo, Brazil. Shut the hell up."
"Easy Abby... I was just kidding!" Brazil said, holding up his hands.
"Just... don't talk about him like that," I said frowning.
Travis's expression was a mixture of surprise and gratitude.
One afternoon the boiler in Abby and America's dorm leaving them without hot water. So, America eagerly arranges for them to stay at Travis and Shepley's apartment until it gets fixed. Abby and Travis' relationship becomes closer and they become more comfortable with each other. A complicated bond has developed between these two emotionally damaged people. Then, the boiler is repaired at the girls' dorm, but before Abby can move back, Travis bets Abby that if Travis can beat his next opponent without his opponent laying a finger on him then Abby will stay in his apartment for a month, if he loses the bet then he will remain abstinent for a month. Abby loses and promptly moves into Travis and Shepley's apartment. Unfortunately, Travis is a one-man tsunami. He literally takes a wrecking ball to his burgeoning relationship with Abby after she makes an honest assessment of their relationship that, unfortunately, hurts Travis' feelings. He's usually detached from everything except his family, so when he develops this instant, very raw, and very intense need for Abby he handles it badly. Travis does the worst, most disrespectful thing (outside of physical violence) that a man can do to a woman he's interested in. All I can say is W. T. F?!
Once the door closed behind me, I leaned against it and slid down to the floor.
A soft knock tapped on the door above me. "Pidge?" Travis said.
"Yeah?" I said, trying to sound normal.
"You're staying?"
"I can go if you want me to, but a bet's a bet."
The door vibrated with the soft bump of Travis's forehead against it. "I don't want you to leave, but I wouldn't blame you if you did."
"Are you saying I'm released from the bet?"
There was a long pause. "If I say yes, will you leave?"
"Well, yeah. I don't live here, silly," I said, forcing a small laugh.
"Then no, the bet's still in effect." I looked up and shook my head, feeling tears burn my eyes. I had no idea why I was crying, but I couldn't stop. "Can I take a shower, now?"
"Yeah..." he sighed.
I heard America's shoes enter the hall and stomp by Travis. "You're a selfish bastard," she growled, slamming Shepley's door behind her.
I cried right along with her. I was very shocked she stayed. The moth got a little too close to the flame and got burned. Watching Travis attempt to fight his attraction to Abby is mesmerizing. He earnestly tries to let her do what she wants (and date who she wants), but he can't quite let her go. There is an extraordinary push and pull between these two. It starts out as friendship, and even sort of stays in the friendship realm mostly out of stubbornness, yet there is always something more going on. Add to that the dark layers of fear, jealousy, danger, and co-dependency... this book is a revelation! Because they stubbornly refuse to face their feelings for each other, Abby decides that they will limit their relationship to friendship and begins dating a handsome blonde student, Parker, and it drives Travis CRAZY!
He rubbed his face and shook his head. "I can't stand this, Pigeon. I feel like I'm going crazy."
I threw my hands and let them hit my thighs. "You can't stand what?"
"If you sleep with him, I don't wanna know about it. I'll go to prison for a long time if I find out he... just don't tell me."
Travis frat brothers are inexplicably fascinated with his love life. Since he's usually indifferent toward the women in his life, Travis' protectiveness toward and friendship with Abby gets their attention. They'll soon learn not to mess with her because it makes Travis very angry. A crazy, wild Travis is a hot, sexy Travis!
"I heard you had quite a birthday party, Abby," Chris Jenks said, throwing a piece of lettuce on Travis's plate."Don't start with her, Jenks," Travis warned, glowering.Chris smiled, pushing up his round, pink cheeks. "I heard Parker was furious. He said he came by your apartment yesterday, and you and Travis were still in bed.""They were taking a nap, Chris," America sneered."So you guys really didn't do the deed?" Chris asked. "Damn that sucks. Here I thought Abby was right for you after all, Trav.""You better stop now," Shepley warned."If you didn't sleep with her. mind if I take a shot?" Chris said.My face burned with initial embarrassment, but then America screamed in my ear, reacting to Travis jumping from his seat. He reached over the table and grabbed Chris by the throat with one hand a fistful of T-shirt in the other. The linebacker slid across the table, and dozens of chairs grated across the floor as people stood to watch. Travis punched him repeatedly in the face, his elbow spiking high in the air before he landed each blow. The only thing Chris could do was cover his face with his hands. No one touched Travis. He was out of control, and his reputation left everyone afraid to get in his way."Travis," I screamed, running around the table.In midpunch, Travis withheld his fist and the released Chris's shirt, letting him fall to the floor.
Blunt, wild, brilliant, and incredibly sexy...Travis, Travis, Travis, I liked him, I was charmed by him, I loathed him, then I loved him! I don't usually go for the bulging muscle, buzz-cut type but Travis Maddox charmed the hell out of me in three seconds flat! He really is the tough guy whose marshmallow insides are exposed by the beautiful Abby. And his explosive temper is unparalleled! I felt like relocating to a bomb shelter when Travis got mad. Travis' explosions were scary, but very, very exciting!
"He looks awful happy. Did you finally give it up, Abby?"
"You're not very smart, Jenks?" Shepley said frowning.
The blood instantly rose to my cheeks, and I looked to Travis who had murder in his eyes. My embarrassment took a back seat to Travis's anger, and I shook my head dismissively.
"Just ignore him."
After another tense moment his shoulders relaxed a bit, he nodded once, taking a deep breath. After a few seconds he winked at me. I reached my hand across the table, sliding my fingers into his.
"You meant what you said last night, didn't you?"
He began to speak, but Chris's laughter filled the cafeteria. "Holy God. Travis Maddox is whipped?"
"Did you mean it when you said you didn't want me to change?" he asked, squeezing my hand.
I looked down at Chris laughing to his teammates and then turned to Travis.
"Absolutely. Teach that asshole some manners."
A mischievous grin spread across his face, and he walked down to the end of the table where Chris sat. Silence spread across the room, and Chris swallowed back his laughter.
"Apologize to Pidge," Travis said, glowering down at him.
Chris looked back at me with a nervous grin. "I... I was just kidding, Abby. I'm sorry."
I glared at him as he look up to Travis for approval.
When Travis walked away, Chris snickered and then whispered something to Brazil. My heart began to pound when I saw Travis stop in his tracks and ball his hands into fists at his side.
Brazil shook his head huffed in exasperated sigh.
"Just remember when you wake up, Chris... that you bring it on yourself."
Travis lifted Finch's tray off the table and swung it into Chris's 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 whale on him. Chris curled into a ball, and then Travis kicked him in his back. Chris arched, holding his hands out, allowing Travis to land several punches to his face. The blood began to flow, and Travis stood up, winded.
"If you even look at her, you piece of shit, I'll break your fuckin' jaw!" Travis yelled.
Abby is Travis' perfect match! She's feisty, smart, and doesn't allow Travis' incredible looks or volatile temper intimidate her in the least. Abby has her own issues as well. She makes a couple of decisions that made me wonder how she'd managed to live so long. After they have sex for the first time, Abby does a cowardly, silly thing and Travis reaction is equally idiotic. But I had to remind myself that these characters were really young (18, 19, 20, 21...) and that poor decision-making skills come with the territory.
Beautiful Disaster gives us a tantalizing look at a dysfunctional relationship. Abby and Travis's relationship is like wildfire. It's beautiful, disturbing, frightening, and uncontrollable. Disaster illustrates how two needy people are drawn to each other and how they feed off each other. Some people may not understand why Abby is attracted to Travis or vice versa. Each has what the other needs emotionally. Abby's like a moth to the flame; most moths get a little too close to the flame, recognize the danger, shift gears, and fly away. Not Abby, she keeps coming back for more. This book depicts the startling and acidic reality behind these relationships. My emotions where all over the place while reading this book and my feelings for the characters changed with each chapter. These characters stayed with me a long time after I finally put the book down.
BD got a little off track for me about halfway through. A big decision is made by Abby, then another one is made by Travis that made me feel as if I was reading another book. From there Abby takes dear, sexy Travis to hell and back. I didn't quite buy her reason for doing it. The emotional torture would've been more believable if Abby had been motivated by Travis' earlier callous treatment of her. There was entirely too much back and forth between these two mid-book. But a few chapters later the author manages to get back on track and deliver a heart-warming ending.
Currently, no sequel is in the works, but McGuire has recently finished writing Walking Disaster, a book telling Travis and Abby’s story from Travis’ point of view, and it's scheduled to be released April 16, 2013. You can read an excerpt from the upcoming book (it is fantastic!) on Jamie McGuire's website. In addition, Warner Bros. has acquired the film rights, so we might get a chance to see this exciting disaster unfold on the big screen!!
This book isn't a beautiful disaster, it's a gorgeous success.
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