Review: Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire
Release Date: April 2, 2013
Format: eARC, 433 pages
Publisher: Atria Books
Series: Beautiful #2
Source: NetGalley

Description from Goodreads:
Finally, the highly anticipated follow-up to the New York Times bestseller Beautiful Disaster.

Can you love someone too much?

Travis Maddox learned two things from his mother before she died: Love hard. Fight harder.

In Walking Disaster, the life of Travis is full of fast women, underground gambling, and violence. But just when he thinks he is invincible, Abby Abernathy brings him to his knees.

Every story has two sides. In Beautiful Disaster, Abby had her say. Now it’s time to see the story through Travis’s eyes.

I LOVED Beautiful Disaster. It is one of my absolute favorite books and I just heart it so much. So OF COURSE when I found out there was going to be a book in Travis' POV, I rushed to get it. And then when I got approved, I did a stomping happy dance in public. Because it was THAT big of a deal to me.

And then I started the book. And...it was good. But it wasn't as good as I expected it to be. I was SO EXCITED to see what Travis was thinking throughout the story and see some of my favorite parts through his eyes. But some of those parts weren't even really IN this book, which made me sad. This book WAS a wonderful look into Travis' brain, though. For people who hated Travis in BD (I was not one of those people), this book makes it all fall into place.

And if you loved Travis in the first book? You will understand him better and love him even MORE.

Character Rundown:
Abby: I didn't really like Abby in BD. But now? I hate this freaking girl. She is such a beach. (Yes, I purposely messed up that word. You know what I meant.) She is so selfish and terrible and I literally do not like her at all. The only reason I tolerate her at all is because Travis loves her. I see nothing redeeming in this girl. #sorrynotsorry

Travis: Yep. I love him even MORE now. Because now he doesn't seem as random and explosive. In his mind, there was some kind of logic for everything, or a reasonable excuse. I felt bad for him so much more in this book, and I didn't get frustrated with him like I did in BD at certain parts. Probably because I didn't like Abby AT ALL this time. But Travis? I still love him. <3

Plot. This IS Beautiful Disaster. It is. Just in Travis' POV. That means we get some thing that he was doing when Abby wasn't around, things she didn't know about. But we did also get some of them together that was in BD and that was nice. A few specific parts I was excited to see in Travis' POV were glossed over, but still. The book was good. I don't prefer this one over BD, but it still made me happy in the end.

Romance. This book IS romance. It is about Travis and Abby's relationship and how they work it the frig out so they can be happy. Together. So, yeah, there is romance. There is also punching and arguing, but there is a good amount of kissing and smexy times, so don't you worry. As much as I hate Abby, I still wanted things to work out for them. If Travis is happy, I am happy.

The ending. Okay, so I lied. This book isn't EXACTLY Beautiful Disaster. Because it has a little more! At the end. And it is a VERY great ending. But I'm not telling you anything more. (HA!)

Overall, Walking Disaster was a good book that I definitely enjoyed. It wasn't as amazing as I thought it would be, but it was certainly nice to read after falling in love with Beautiful Disaster. I enjoyed the extra time with the wonderful Travis Maddox and getting to understand him better.

♥Jessica(:

Top Ten Books I've Read in 2013 So Far

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme host over at The Broke and the Bookish!

 

I'm not sure what order to put these in, so they aren't really in order. Also, Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A. Tucker is an honorable mention. So, yeah...

 

My Top Ten Books Read in 2013 So Far:

 

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

I rave about this book all the time. IT IS SO FANTASTIC OHMYGOSH AHHHHH

One of my favorite books EVER, not just this year. It's rare that I read a book and I can't think of anything I do not like about the book. But...I honestly have trouble thinking of anything negative about this book.

 

The Collector by Victoria Scott

Dante's MY BOY. Goodness, this boy. LOVE. His book also sits on my all-time favorites shelf. Both literally and figuratively (Goodreads).

Oh, and V. That girl can WRITE. Also, I heart her face, but that has nothing to do with the book.

 

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Travis Maddox. There's just something about that guy...I don't know what it is exactly, but I LOVE it.

 

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

I have no words. It is just so wonderful.

 

 The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Now I REALLY have no words. Just tears.

My first John Green book, and it has definitely ensured that I'm going to read more. I need to put time in between them, though. My heart can't take them all at once.

 

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

I read this book only because I couldn't find any spoilers to tell me just what the what happens in this book to make everyone cry so freaking much after reading it. But now...I adore Colleen Hoover. Holder is one of my favorite book boys of all time. And Hopeless is one of my favorite books. Well played, Colleen. Well played.

 

Wait For You by J. Lynn

It's a book by JLA. Obviously I expected to love it. But I didn't expect to love it THIS much. I think about this book all the time now. I'll be having a conversation and for no reason whatsoever be reminded of Cam and Avery. Or I'll be eating a freaking COOKIE and start giggling because of Cam's cookies.

 

Hehehe

 

Stolen by Lucy Christopher

Oh, this book. This book just affects me so much, there is no way I can't admit it's one of my favorites. I just THINK about this book...and Ty...enough and I start tearing up/CRYING MY FACE OFF. But I love it. And Ty. Even though I probably shouldn't.

AHH I'm so conflicted.

 

One Week Girlfriend by Monica Murphy

Drew + Fable just make me happy dance. That's all there is to it.

Monica Murphy's got skill, also.

 

A Different Blue by Amy Harmon

My favorite word to use when talking about this book is "stunning." Because it without a doubt IS. And I still want to name something Darcy. Or Wilson. Or one thing Darcy and another thing Wilson. *swoons*

 

And...that's ten!

 

What do you think of my picks? What would YOU pick?

 

♥Jessica(:

Review: Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire♥

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
Release Date: November 27, 2012 (first published 2011)
Format: Hardcover,Special Signed Edition, 432 pages
Publisher: Atria Books
Series: Beautiful #1
Source: Birthday gift from Vicki! <3

Description from Goodreads:
INTENSE. DANGEROUS. ADDICTIVE.

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 wants—and needs—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.

THIS BOOK. Guys...I understand that there are a lot of people out there who despise this book. They hate the alpha male and Travis and how Abby acts with Travis and a whole bunch of other stuff. Honestly? I don't care about that. I flipping adore the crap out of this book. At this moment, it's in my top 10 reads of this year.

Beautiful Disaster is everything I look for in a contemporary novel, with some extra stuff thrown in. It's sweet. It's unputdownable. It's interesting. There's a boy and a girl and a whole snap load of other things that complicate their lives and entertain me, as the reader. I had a great time watching their story unfold. Now, I'm not saying that if I were to see this in real life, I'd fully condone it. I'm just saying that IN THIS BOOK, I was amused and there's nothing wrong with that.

Character Rundown:
Abby: I don't like her or dislike her. She was pretty much just the girl to complete the couple I now love. Other than that..meh. She played her role and I liked it. I definitely prefer this over the many, many female MCs that bother me all the time.

Travis: Okay, I'm just going to say it--this boy's got issues. Seriously. ISSUES. But he's working through them. And he DOES make progress. He does. He does he does he does. Am I the only one that sees that? I loved Travis. He wasn't perfect, but we love him anyway. We do this all the time with book characters. I don't see why it should be any different with Travis. I had a great time getting to know him and just getting into his story with Abby. I heart Travis!

Plot. I don't think this was a very intricate, mysterious plot. It was just a story where the characters had to work through things. Where they had to grow together to reach the end of their story, whatever that may be. And just because this book isn't exactly a mysterious trill-ride, I am ecstatic that this book still held my attention and interest. Jamie McGuire writes well, my friends.

Travis & Abby. I think I've said this a zillion times already--these two are the best! They have problems/issues/whatever. They are not perfect. But who is? And yes, their relationsip isn't always the best. But it IS only a book and they DO actually make progress. I'd read another story about these two any day. They're so much fun! I have lots of love here.

The ending. Did we expect anything less? Like, really? LOVE. I am made happy here.

Also, PEREZ, YOU ARE WRONG. That is all.

Overall, Beautiful Disaster is a compelling story that may run on some people's nerves but was absolutely perfect for me and is now among my favorites. I already miss the characters and cannot wait to read Travis' side of the story in Walking Disaster!

♥Jessica(: