Book Review: Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire
Friday, April 05, 2013
Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire
#2 in Beautiful series
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: Ebook, 488 pages
Published On: April 2, 2013 by Atria Books
Source: Requested for review via NetGalley.
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First Sentence: "Even with the sweat on her forehead and the skip in her breath, she didn't look sick."
Walking Disaster
sequel companion novel retelling of Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire. In Beautiful Disaster we got a love story told by Abby and now we get the same story re-told by Travis, her love interest. And when I say the same story I mean THE SAME STORY. I read about 20% of this book before calling it a DNF but up until then 90% of events were the same, we just got a different perspective of them.
The main problem is that I didn't like the characters in Beautiful Disaster. Jamie McGuire is definitely a talented writer and Beautiful Disaster is a page-turner with one of the most dysfunctional couples I have even met. But the ending is so unrealistic without any improvements in psychological growth of main characters that I was shocked how could this be declared a great romance, when it was obviously a disaster. Beautiful Disaster was a pointer what to avoid and what not to do, and not a thing to wish if-only-it-could-happen-to-me...
If I didn't like the Beautiful Disaster, why did I pick up the sequel? Well, my damn curiosity for one. And I really hoped that the glimpse into Travis thoughts would help me to understand why so many girls thought him attractive. Well, tough luck. I just got irritated even more...
Here are just some of Travis's comments and my reactions:
"I admit, it turned me on a little hearing the sound of her skin slap against the ceramic."
This is his reaction after dropping a random girl who sat on his lap uninvited. The sound of slapping does not turn him on because he has bdsm tendencies, but because he likes to hit people.
"I used my shoulder to cut through the crowd, shamelessly knocking over a few innocent bystanders to let off steam."
What will happen when there are no innocent bystanders? Do you know who is he going to knock around? You! And then after he is going to say that he's sorry and cry and probably make YOU feel guilty.
*takes a deep calming breath*
I'm just going to stop talking before this turns into a giant rant about obsessive jealousy, possessive boyfriends and home violence.
If you are a Beautiful Disaster or Travis fan and feel like you could re-read the story for-ever-and-ever-again, then you are probably going to enjoy Walking Disaster
I recommend this book to fans of: Beautiful Disaster (There is really no point reading Walking Disaster
8 comments
What?! I didn't know it was still the same story! I just knew that this time Travis is the one telling the story. haha. Nice Review :)
ReplyDeleteI also thought that they would give us a little bit more before/after to make us realize what made Travis the way he is, but noooo it was almost all the time basically the same scenes and dialogue.
DeleteO_O
ReplyDeleteThat slap on ceramic thing. Yuck. If anything, this book sounds like it would be worse, because I'm pretty sure the world does not need to experience life in Travis' head.
Exactly! I didn't like Abby much I thought that she exaggerated some things in 'Beautiful Disaster' and that hearing things from Travis' point of view will help me understand why a lot of my bookish friends list him as a book crush... But no such luck, hearing first hand how he enjoys to hit people... Just too much.
DeleteI wonder if there would be as many Travis fans if this had been released first? I'll admit that I enjoyed Beautiful Disaster, like one enjoys things that they know are bad for them. But I was hoping that a peek into Travis' head would explain why some readers have professed their undying devotion for him; sounds like I'm going to be disappointed if I decide to give this one a shot!
ReplyDeleteI think there would be less of them, although I hate bullies and people prone to violence so maybe it's just me.
DeleteI also enjoyed reading Beautiful Disaster, at least until the wtf end. I think book would irritate me less if there was not such Travis-fangirl base and a lot of friends recommended this to me like the-best-romance-ever- you-re-gonna-want-him-in-your-bed etc...
I hoped too that peek into Travis' head would help, but I got more than I bargained for I guess. :/
I knew I made the right decision when I passed up on reading Beautiful Disaster - I got it from NetGalley, but in the end decided not to read it, because I realised I won't like it, and this only confirmes it. I thought this is a sequel, too, not the same story from the other MC's PoV, but it doesn't matter. Thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteI got it from NG too, they sent me an invite to read and I just could not say no... And then I was not sure if I should read it but in the end thought - I should give it a try.
DeleteI did not read all, just 20-25% of book, but that was enough. I think you made the right decision by skipping it - smart choice. ;)