If you're anything like me, you're always looking for something new to pass the time. My escape usually involves a stack of books. There's no better feeling than curling up with a really awesome book, a cup of hot tea and a literary universe that allows you to relax (and avoid your real life responsibilities).
As college students, most of us have a lot of time to kill between the New Year and the start of spring semester. If you're looking for your next book series to binge-read over break, try out my favorite series, Jamie McGuire's Beautiful Disaster books. Take note, if your a sucker for romance novels keep the tissue box nearby because I promise you there will be actual tear marks in your copy.
In most series, the first book is so amazing that the sequel can never live up to the reader's expectations. One of the best parts about McGuire's books, (besides the incredible love stories between characters) is the fact that each book is a good as the first. Here is the reading list and a short synopsis of all of McGuire's Beautiful series if you're interested (and trust me, you should be interested)!
1. "Beautiful Disaster"
"Beautiful Disaster" is the first novel in the series. It is set at Eastern University and narrated by the main character, Abby Abernathy. Abby and her best friend, America, decide on Eastern to leave behind Abby's past. Her freshman year she meets the exact type of guy she's trying to avoid -- Travis Maddox. Travis is known for his one-night-stands, his ability to charm anyone, fighting and unforgettable tattoos. The book follows the characters as their love story unfolds, despite Abby's protests.
2. "Walking Disaster"
Another really amazing technique McGuire uses is perspective. Walking Disaster is the same plot and story as the first novel, but is told through Travis' eyes as opposed to Abby's. Gaps that were in the first novel about Travis' feelings are filled and readers are able to get a stronger sense of connection to the characters.
3. "A Beautiful Wedding: A Novella"
SPOILER ALERT! Travis and Abby get married (awh, happy ending). This short novella not only describes the events that take place during the characters marriage but also the events of their first anniversary together.
Along with the original love story of Abby and Travis, McGuire also wrote 5 novels and a novella that follow the love stories of the other Maddox brothers as well as the Maddox family: Beautiful Oblivion, Beautiful Redemption, Beautiful Sacrifice, Beautiful Burn, Something Beautiful: A Novella, and A Beautiful Funeral. Each book will pull you in just as much as the first, and re-reading them makes it feel as if you're following the story for the first time.
If you're like me and have already read every book in the series, lets all take a minute to thank Jamie McGuire for creating the most extraordinary, bad-ass bunch of characters.
Every Abby needs a Travis, Happy reading, fellow bookworms!
