Disaster - Yes. Beautiful - No.

The book Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire has been all around the Blogosphere lately, it became available on Netgalley and many bloggers are currently reading it. This book has caused many controversy and has earned some really nasty reviews, still, the book has an average rating of 4.13

I recently stumbled upon a review that said very very no-so-nice things about Beautiful Disaster, and it also mentioned that everyone that rated this book with 5 stars was a @%#^&!#$% and insane. Well Hello! I'm a @%#^&!#$% and apparently also insane because I gave that book 5 Fat Stars. So sue me.

And now I am taking the time to make a second review for Beautiful Disaster explaining why I think this book was great and why I don't think it was a book encouraging abusive relationships and blah blah.

Review of Beautiful Disaster - Take Two.

I'm picking up my sword and helmet because I know lots of people won't agree with me. Anyways, here I go. *deep breath*

*Point One - Travis is an abusive and violent asshole.

I disagree. Yes, there is a scene in the book where he trashes his place because of a few situations with Abby where she left and lots of drama. Yes, that was violent but I don't think it was completely and utterly scandalous, some guys tend to break or hit things when they're angry, NOT people. I have 3 older brothers, One of them always, always hit a wall when he was angry, hence he always had a broken wrist. One of my other brothers would simply go to his room in silence and do nothing but stay dead silent, he would shut down. I cried, and Yelled to my pillow, and cried some more. My mom throws things at people, I'm not even kidding, every time mom got angry we all just yelled "Duck!" luckily she always missed - I still Love you mom! - So maybe Travis's way of releasing stress wasn't the best and maybe it was a bit over the top and you would consider it violent, but he never, EVER was violent towards Abbey in the books. Ever.

*Point Two - The Abusive and Twisted relationship of Travis and Abby.

Their relationship was probably not the best of the world, it was, in fact, a Disaster. And the author knows it and she mentions it in the book and wrote it in the title.

“It's dangerous to need someone that much. You're trying to save him and he's hoping you can. You two are a disaster." I smiled at the ceiling. "It doesn't matter what or why it is. When it's good, Kara... it's beautiful.” 

I don't think that the Author - or anyone for that matter, would ever encourage an abusive relationship. EVER. Abby and Travis relationship is very very far from perfect, but the beauty in it is that they both become the best versions of themselves when being together, and I think that's the idea of a relationship, being with someone that inspires you to be better each and every day.

“You know why I want you? I didn’t know I was lost until you found me. I didn’t know what alone was until the first night I spent without you in my bed. You’re the one thing I’ve got right. You’re what I’ve been waiting for"
-Beautiful Disaster

You are not supposed to enter into a relationship thinking the other person can save you or that you can save the other person. Because, eventually, if you think you're doing the saving you will probably realize that it's not possible and they'll become a weight on your shoulder, if you think you can be saved by the other, you'll realize no one can really save you but yourself. In the first quote mention, Travis thinks he can be save and, guess what? the relationship fails. It isn't until BOTH of them deal with their issues and learn their lessons that they get back together. And they are still not perfect, because perfection does not exist.

*Point Three - The Jealousy  

Travis is a very jealous guy, this is what I think about Jealousy:

“A person shows signs of clutching on too fast, of being needy, of not hearing the word "no," of jealousy, of guarding you and your freedom. But the signs can be so small they skitter right past you. Sometimes they dance past, looking satiny, something you should applaud. Someone's jealousy can make you feel good. Special. But it's not even about you. It's about a hand that is already gripping. It's about their need, circling around your throat” 
- Deb Caletti, Stay

No one could have said it better than Deb Caletti, Huge HUGE flaw in Travis, and I'll say it again: the relationship fails until he's able to pull his shit together.

*Point Four - A Bad Book.

This book will never be at a Shakespeare lever, that's for sure, but it's not a bad book with bad messages to YA readers, I think the total opposite. The author made this story for a reason, made the characters that way for a reason, and gave the book that title for a reason.  And I honestly think that when you place everything together, aside from being a good entertaining story, this book turns out to be genius in a quiet way.

I really did get a lot of thing out of this book, and I know that many many of you won't share the same thoughts and feelings with me, and that's perfectly normal, we're not the same and we don't think the same. But I definitely felt the need to explain this because I don't like the assumptions they are making of us Beautiful Disaster Lovers. Now I wave my 5 star flag with pride because this book - in my eyes - earned every single one of those stars. And I shall be forever grateful to Jennifer from Some Like It Paranormal and Header from Nightly Reading for insisting on me reading this book.

and now going back to fan girl mode: OH MY GOD!!! I Cannot wait for Walking Disaster!!!! Which is Beautiful Disaster told in Travis POV!!! *SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAL*

My First Review of Beautiful Disaster.