ARC Review: BEAUTIFUL DISASTER by Jamie McGuire

Title: Beautiful Disaster

Author: Jamie McGuire

Series: Beautiful #1

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Publication Date: August 14, 2012

Source: NetGalley

Links: Goodreads | Amazon

Synopsis:
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.

Review:
Warning: This is not a regular review, but is a RANT-FEST and has SPOILERS-galore! YOU’VE BEEN WARNED!!

I’ve never, EVER, in my life, HATED someone so much as Abby Abernathy!! I hate her so much that I’ve gone out and found gifs for my review!!

This is how I feel most of the time reading about Abby:

And this is what I want to do: 

OK. *takes deep breath* Let’s see. Abby, she’s a life-ruiner!!! Not only does she ruin her own life and happiness, she ruins it for other people!! She makes the WORST decisions! I’m sure she’s a masochist and sadist! Otherwise why would she purposely do everything she can to possible make her life harder for herself and Travis!! It’s also IMPOSSIBLE to make her happy! I don’t understand her! For the first half of the book, her past wasn’t explained very well so I’m scratching my head about why she shouldn’t date Travis! Then, when Travis does what she asks and refuses the fight in Vegas, she still won’t get back with him! And when she makes it clear she won’t get back together with him, she’s mad when he tries to move on? I’m just like WTF?? WHAT DO YOU WANT?? What, is he supposed to just wait on you until you change your freaking mind? What can Travis do to make you happy, you ungrateful little-?? Ahhh! *go back to staring at the gifs*

Other than almost getting a brain aneurysm reading about Abby, the first half of the book wasn’t that interesting or new. I really didn’t understand what’s so special about Abby. So it’s your basic playboy hot god meets girl. Girl hates guy on sight and doesn’t swoon over him like the gazillion other girls. Of course the guy has to fall for so said special girl. Because she’s so different. Well, if she’s so different, then why does she still fall in love with you?? Anyway, it’s a way overdone kdrama plot. *roll eyes* Abby is also the densest girl ever and refuses to accept that Travis has any feelings for her when even a blind person can tell how he feels about her. *gif time again*

After reading about Eastern University, I’m wondering if I went to college in an alternate universe. University is not the same as high school, but apparently Eastern U. is just like any American high school. Yeah, cliques exist because not everyone can be friends, but Abby needs to get over herself. No one cares if she’s friends or if she’s sleeping with Travis! Certainly not the entire school! People have better things to do than wondering what fucked up decisions you’re making to ruin other people’s lives. Also, it's ridiculous that Travis beat up people in the school cafeteria without any consequences. He beat up this guy twice in the cafeteria! And no one comes to stop him? Everyone just looks on in “amusement”? Like it’s OK to just beat up some dude because he made a joke? And he and all the other guys Travis beat up don’t file assault charges? If a fight like that broke out in school, cops/security would be all over it.

Now it’s time to talk about Travis. He’s a badass and a fighter, dark and dangerous and tortured. He even rides a freaking Harley! Total hottie material! But he smokes! *ewwwww* It’s a personal pet peeve of mine when it comes to romantic interest! So moving on, he messes up a lot, and is possessive and stalkerish. But I felt bad for him! Why does he have to fall for Abby? Who just makes the relationship a lot harder? Travis is so sweet whenever things are going well! He says and does things that totally melted my heart! But I’m annoyed at how women are portrayed when it comes to Travis. And the insinuation that just because they want to talk with him they must want to sleep with him and therefore they must be sluts? A one-night stand does not make someone a slut/bimbo/whore. If that’s the case, what does that make Travis? Usually I let things like this slide, but with how furious I’m at Abby, this just added fuel to the fire!

Overall, I'm not that impressed. I love the ending because it’s a sappy romantic ending that actually took a lot of the steam out of my rant. After the disaster and disaster (it’s certainly not beautiful), Travis deserves the happy ending. NOT Abby. If I had a recorder for all my thoughts as I read this book, the rant would be a lot longer and angrier. I would NEVER recommend this book to teens. For most people, this book is definitely a love/hate relationship. I just happened to fall in the latter.

*Thanks to Simon & Schuster for providing a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not compensated for my review.