Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire (An Output of the Literature Circle by the 7 Deadly Beauties)

She would change everything for a "happy ever after"

Caught in the in between of Beautiful Disaster

Our 3rd book is entitled Beautiful Disaster 

written by Jamie McGuire

Rica Ann Colina

Beautiful Disaster begins with Abigail Abernathy (Abby) attends a Circle fight in her university with America and Shepley. There she catches the attention of fighter Travis Maddox. Travis immediately finds Abby interesting. They come into more frequent contact as a result of her best friend, America, dating Shepley, Travis’ cousin. The attraction between them is obvious as their friendship develops. But later on, their intimate friendship begins to have an effect on Abby’s reputation therefore she tries to get rid of Travis, but he will not allow it. Travis is upset when Abby begins dating a guy who happens to be his frat brother, Parker. Travis soon makes a bet with Abby that he will not take a hit during one of his fights and if he wins, she has to spend a month at his apartment.

Travis makes Abby’s experience dating parker miserable by continually calling her during dates and mocking Parker until she tells him not to ruin this for her. Though Parker doubts Travis and Abby’s friendship, Travis refuses to free Abby from the bet, admitting that he cannot stand the thought of her being with Parker. Rumors spread that Abby slept with both Parker and Travis, after the surprise birthday party Travis throws for Abby.

Travis throttles a guy who offended Abby, but Abby explains to her friend, Finch, that she cannot date Travis because he reminds her too much of her father and the past that she is trying to escape. Parker decides to stop seeing Abby until her month with Travis ends; but, on the last night, Abby makes love with Travis. When she leaves during the night and starts dating Parker again, Travis is upset. However, Abby’s feelings for Parker are completely covered by her affections towards Travis, so when Travis confesses that he is in love with her; she stops seeing Parker and becomes Travis’s girlfriend. Travis makes everything better because he wants Abby to be happy.

Travis and Abby’s relationship was tested when Mick visits Abby for help escaping from his debt. Abby and her friends fly to Las Vegas and Abby wins most of the money to pay Mick’s debt. To make up the remaining difference, Travis joins in a professional fight. Unfortunately, Benny wants Travis to continue fighting for him. Since Travis does not listen to Abby’s objections, she breaks up with him because she thinks that money is more important than she is.

During the last Circle fight of the year, Keaton Hall goes up in flame, and Abby and Travis hardly escape. This incident makes Abby realize that she and Travis belong together. They visit Las Vegas again to get married. After Abby gets a tattoo of her married name, she assures him of her everlasting love and devotion.

Kate Diosomito

“Make way! Move it, people! Let’s make room for this poor woman's hideously disfigured, ginormous brain! She's a fucking genius!” (Chapter 2, page 44)

This line was said by Travis after he knew that Abby got the third highest grade in her biology exam. Travis has been tutoring Abbey in her subjects and Travis was really happy when he heard the good news. Well, I picked this line because I really liked the way Travis described Abby.

“Let me guess, it’s the love of your life?” I said quoting Travis’ statement about his motorcycle. “No, it’s a car. The love of my life will be a woman with my last name.” (Chapter 5, page 137)

Parker was exaggerating his Porsche nine-one-one GT-three and even addressing it as she and this is why Abby Abernathy asked this question. I picked this line simply because I like the answer of Parker, that the love of his life will be the woman with his last name at the same time I find that line really attractive and sweet in a sense that it makes me squeal and gives me chills. 

“It's over. Go home. His eyebrows pulled in. "You're my home.” (Chapter 16, page 422)

Abby and Travis are having a quarrel at this part of the story because Travis wanted to work in Las Vegas as a fighter where he can have a big salary. I chose this line because I find this sweet and it gives me the chills. Travis was really desperate this time to win again Abby who was really mad at him and telling Abby that she’s her home is really sweet.

“To douchebags!" he said, gesturing to Brad. "And to girls that break your heart," he bowed his head to me. His eyes lost focus. "And to the absolute fucking horror of losing your best friend because you were stupid enough to fall in love with her.” (Chapter 20 page 516)

Abby and Travis are still not in good terms at this time, this conversation takes place when both Abby and Travis attended the Sig Tau Party, but even though they were in the same party Abby kept on ignoring Travis so Travis climb onto a chair and asked for a toast where he said this line. I chose this line because this is one of the lines that show how showy and sincere Travis is when it comes to Abby.

“I had experienced the happiest moments of my life while at Eastern, all of them with Travis. Fighting, laughing, loving or crying, if it was with him, I was where I wanted to be.” (Chapter 20 page 523)

           

I chose this part because I find it really amusing; throughout the story Abby had fought her feelings, guarded them, and bottled them up. She always acts strong and independent. I was amused how Abby expresses her feelings. She’s really not so vocal about how she feels not like how Travis always expresses how he felt for Abby and with this line it just sums up her inner feelings.

Jovie Ann Matanguihan

Discussion :

1. If you can compare Travis and Abby's relationship to a thing, what is it and why? 

Ara answered, "It would be a rubber band, no matter how hard you pull it apart it would still go back to its normal state. Just like Travis and Abby, no matter how hard the problems that comes to separate them, in the end they still went back to being together. "

Aica said, "For me, I could compare it to clay. Because, simple clay must be molded into different shapes to come up with a definite object. Just like Travis and Abby’s relationship, it was tested through different trials, there were changes that made their relationship come up with what they have desired."

Nadzla answered, "Travis and Abby’s relationship is like a tattoo, a painful thing. Once you want to have a tattoo, perhaps you have to endure the pain that it’ll cost you. If you want to put it on be sure that you really love to see it forever in you and be sure that in the end of the day you won’t regret it, not at all. I can compare the complicated established relationship of Travis and Abby when Abby was enduring the pain when she started to have feelings for Travis when he brought girls/sluts at his apartment, she was a bit jealous when Travis was with other girls and much worse when he had sex with them while Abby was pretending asleep in Travis’ bed and they were having sex at the couch. For Abby’s poor feeling, it pain her as it was painful as having a tattoo, it hurts all over her body and soul, but she suffer patiently everything about Travis, she endured his red flags. In the end, their relationship was just a tattoo that they always love to see, a relationship that they love to see every day in life. Like Slyvia Plath once said, “Wear your heart on your skin in this life” wear your tattoo and endure the pain."

Mae

Kate said, "I can compare their relationship to a diamond because the diamond is the strongest stone and even though how many times you try to knock it down, it will just remain from its original shape. Same with the relationship of Abby and Travis. The more you try to separate them, the more you will see how bonded they are for each other. Also, diamond is a rare item to have because of its price and value. Also the rareness of the diamond is not just because of the value but also the delicate beauty of the stone."

      Abby answered, "Abby and Travis’ relationship is like a candle.  They've been through a lot of things yet there they are, still standing, still hoping for a brighter side of their story.  Just like the candle, it may lessen its light due to some problems but it will still glow to give hope."

For me, their relationship was like a confetti. Although every bits of paper is never collected and just wasted, but the feeling when you see those confetti is just sensational. Just like their relationship, all those times that they had difficulties, it wasn't a waste for both of them because it became their stepping stone toward a better relationship in the future.

2. Do you think they had a healthy relationship? Explain your answer. What is your ideal relationship? 

Ara answered, "At first it was unhealthy because Abby is somewhat not yet into the real thing with Travis and Travis is full of insecurities and these things always get in the way in their relationship. But after the challenges that they had faced, their relationship became more serious and mature. So in the end it became a healthy relationship in which both of them are happy and both are making positive progress in their lives.."

Nadzla seconded, "Yes, they had established a healthy relationship although in some part of the story they  had a co-dependent and obsessive relationship. Travis’ obsession with Abby is somehow appalling. He is consumed by her and makes her his everything. But if we see it in reality, this is somehow a unhealthy relationship, his obsession becomes disturbing and immature. It was Abby who took courage to face all his RED FLAGS behavior in a mature and rational manner, even leaving him for a time. But in the end of the story, Travis’ some behavior  had changed and hoping to win Abby back. He succeeds and Abby returns to relationship. It means that they really established healthy relationship. Those problems, misunderstanding, challenges are just part or normal factors of  building a relationship,  thus it’s only both of you who just have the sensibility and courage to fight these complex situations and how to respond to it.

 "

Kate added, "Yes, I think they have a healthy relationship, they love, laugh, fight and cry which is for me the recipe of a healthy relationship. I can’t say it’s healthy if they just love and laugh at each other and there’s no fight and crying same with a relationship that only have fights and cries. I think the perfect mix of this four can be the recipe of a healthy relationship. In the story, Abby and Travis experiences all these in their relationship have lots of ups and downs but the good thing there is they learned from their mistakes and also repented. That’s why I think they have a healthy relationship."

Abby also agreed that they had a healthy relationship, "As what I have mentioned above, though they’ve been through a lot of circumstances, if they are destined to be together, then they would be. And it was proven because they got married in the end of the story."

Rica agreed, "I guess yes, because at the end they got married and they felt each other’s assurance that they are really destined for each other. Also, they did not let the trials ruin their relationship but instead it made their affections for each other grew stronger."

I agree that they, somehow, had a healthy relationship. They're drowned to their past when they first met and they are both trying to get it over with, they had weaknesses and they had flaws. Abby  was hesitant and afraid. Travis was persistent and impatient. Perfection does not define a healthy relationship, SACRIFICE AND DIFFICULTIES does. Their imperfections brought a hurricane to their relationship that gradually calmed, got settled and resulted into a rainbow.

What is your ideal relationship?

Ara's revelation, "I haven't thought about what my ideal relationship would be and this is the first time that I've been asked about this. So I don't know, maybe as long as were both happy and were both willing to mature together, learn things together and as long as we respect and trust each other. Also a relationship that will not change us and will not be a distraction to anything that we do..a relationship full of love and laughter."

Rica's idea is, "My ideal relationship? Maygaaash. HAHAHA. My ideal relationship would be not so romantic but full of surprises, less lies, mature enough to deal with problems, to know the limitations and look into the bright sides of life, inspiring.

I haven't thought of this deeply or seriously ever since because the idea of relationship never bothered me. My ideal relationship would be equivalent to the quote "expected the unexpected". Although I don't want such complications that might lead to break us up, I just want to have a relationship (that we'd both argue on what movie to watch and what flavor of ice cream to buy) that we experience both difficulties and happiness together, and by that, I think that make us both stronger and trust each other more. 

Nadzla's ideal relationship is simply imperfectly perfect relationship.

Abby stated," Talking about my ideal relationship, well, I just want us to be faithful to one another, to stand as one as we face problems,  to care about each other’s feelings’, no secrets and mostly, to love each other dearly."

3. What were the wrong choices that Abby has made? Give only 1 and explain how it affected their relationship. 

For Rica, one of the wrong choices Abby has made was trying to escape of her past. She was afraid to love or to be attached on Travis because he reminded her so much of her father. It affected their relationship in a way that her fear made her look into negative outcomes of their relationship. Abby agreed to this answer.

Nadzla, "When she leave Travis because of her fear that she might couldn't escape from her past. It really affects their relationship and her behavior towards Travis in a way that she has trust issues."

Kate answered, "I think the wrong choice she has made was to play push and pull against Travis. The time when she spent her holiday with Travis’ family she already recollected and realized how she felt towards Travis but in the end she didn’t express or show her feelings instead she kept it inside and untold. Well, because of that the misunderstanding started thanks to Abby, neglecting her feelings toward Travis. And Travis tried so hard to keep his feelings so that they both can stay as good friends."

Ara said, "Abby used (other boy) to get over Travis because its clearly obvious that she's so in love with him and getting over Travis would be so hard but anyway what she did with (other boy) is not the right way to deal with her problem. Its so selfish and immature of her to do it, she just made the problem bigger and she made Travis more eager to get back with her."

I agreed to what Ara have said. She doesn't have to use someone just to get revenge from Travis. First and foremost, revenge is such a cowardice and immature act. Abby's defense mechanism, which was using another guy just to get Travis jealous, was like a magnet that even urged Travis to get her back. She also deceives herself that she doesn't want Travis but deep inside, she's still madly in love with him. She was not afraid of Travis but the idea of her past just haunts her. Maybe Abby just needs a powerhouse of her courage.

4. Are they both lacking in some aspects? 

Ara stated, "For me its just Abby, she didnt really let Travis feel or see that she loves him so much that's why it made Travis so concious about everything that she do and made him a super jealous person. Maybe Travis lacks self control but its his nature and Abby should accept it."

Rica, Abby and Kate agreed. Kate added, "Yes, they’re both lacking in some aspects, I think that’s why old people are saying that there’s no such thing as “perfect relationship” there are always flaws and lapses in relationship and even though this is just a fiction there are still flaws in their relationship. Abby, being inexpressive or ineffable, I think being inexpressive can be consider as a flaw because being ineffable can cause misunderstanding in the relationship. While Travis, for me well I can say that he gets jealous easily and sometimes narrow-minded. And he also doesn't know how to control his temper. "

Nadlza said, "Yes, especially Abby when she believes she has enough distance from the darkness of her past, mainly due to her father, she developed trust issues, mainly towards guys like Travis. "

For me, they didn't lack anything. It was an imperfect relationship. What happened was all unintentional and it was fated to happen.

5. Describe Travis in three words. (Phrase) ex. Hopeless Romantic Prick

Ara, Amazingly yummy badass

Rica, romantic clever shitty

Kate, Ravishing Hot Gentleman

Nadzla, Intense Love Maker

Abby, He gets what he wants. VOLATILE. PASSIONATE.

Jovie, Cleverly Persistent Heartthrob 

Mae,

Mae Andrea Tabaosares

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. She is described as being 5'4" tall and attractive with long caramel-brown hair and gray eyes. Abby is a genius when it comes to math. This is shown when Parker Hayes makes a statement about her being only a freshman and in Calculus III. Due to her father, she developed trust issues, mainly towards guys like Travis. She can hold her liquor which is shown at her nineteenth birthday party. Despite being so, Travis is intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his appeal. He often pointed out that she is mysterious in a way that he can never guess what she is thinking because she is so different from him. Abby doesn't jump into things without thoroughly thinking it through. Despite her good girl act, she can be a hard chick to get according to Travis's friend. Abby also sees herself as not being good enough for Travis, likewise Travis sees himself as not good enough for her.


Travis Maddox is a 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. Moreover, he is the male lead of the story, and sophomore at Eastern State University. He is notorious at Eastern State for being quick to anger, tough, and avoids commitment. He is a member of the Sigma Tau fraternity, undefeated in The Circle--an underground fight ring where he is known as "Maddog", and is the youngest of five brothers. He is described as lean and muscular, and covered in tattoos. He's tall, has buzzed brown hair, brown eyes, and a deep dimple in his left cheek. Travis admits that Abby is the first woman he's ever wanted to want him, and It is hinted that there is a jealous side to him which includes resorting to violence against other men who try to get closer to Abby. He can be some what cocky, although changes are made when he meets Abby. He is very protective and passionate about the things he loves. Travis is described as intelligent, and seems to sail through his classes easily. This is proven true when he helps Abby study and passes her biology test. Travis seems to be horrible at poker, but makes up for it with fighting abilities. He's also an ace in pool. Abby calms him just as much as she gets under his skin. He becomes less violent and agressive once Abby offers some assurance. America Mason is Abby's best friend since thier junior year of high school. She is also the girlfriend of Shepley, Travis's roomate and cousin. America is described as thin and petite, and having long, blonde hair and blue eyes. He is a spitfire and fiercely protective of her best friend, Abby, who she also considers a sister. America is used many times as a voice of reason, and sometimes gives Abby seemingly bad advice, but in reality she is helping Abby realize a decision she has already made.

Kara Lin is Abby Abernathy's roomate at Eastern State University. She is very studeous. She is always doing her homework, and seems crabby most of the time. Moreover, not much is known about Kara's outside relationships. She is often very stuffy but seems to care for Abby, often giving her unsolicited advice. She does not seem to like Travis, claiming he is co-dependent on Abby. Her and America seem to also dislike each other. In the book Kara does a pretty good job of putting up with everyone around her. She seems to care about Abby as shown when she sends Finch after Abby when she rushes by looking upset. She is often annoyed whenever anyone bothers her in her dorm room and often leaves to shower whenever Abby has company.

Shepley "Shep" Maddox is the roommate and cousin of Travis Maddox. Shepley (Shep) is currently in a relationship with America. They were both why Abby met Travis in the first place. Shep loves America dearly, and their relationship progresses throughout the story. Shep and America were also the ones who knew about Travis' feelings for Abby, and they tried to hint that to Abby over and over again.

Ara Nneka Dialawi

Beautiful Disaster is a unique love story, unique because it has a different aura in it. Its a kind of love story between two young couple who deals with the world in a more mature way. Its not like those common love stories that you read in books because its has a touch of reality in it, that makes it more unique. However, the boyfriend, Travis Maddox is not part of the unique package. He is that kind of guy who plays with the things that he can easily acquire, for short he takes things for granted and those things are mostly called girls. He is a chick magnet because of course he's handsome and hot and handsome but the way he let those girls get to him and then dump them the next morning is unforgivable even though he's really hot.

Those attitude are not new to me because Ive read a lot of books and movies with those men in it and an example of it is Adrian Belikov in Vampire Academy and Colin Shea in What's Youre Number?, they are a carbon copy of Travis Maddox, just the older version. Travis do boxing while Adrian do compulsion because he is a vampire while Colin is just physically fit, you blend this together with their looks and you'll have the traits that make girls swoon. The three of them knows what are the effects that they have to girls and they use this to use them. But they don't play forever because when they found that one girl who didn't care about what they have and who didn't even gave them a second look, it posed as a challenged to them and on the long run made them fall in love and becomes so serious. These guys has their own soft spots too, that they only show to that special girl and they are also super sweet when they are serious, making super cute things for the one they love and saying the right words everytime. So I could really see Adrian and Colin in Travis Maddox and I realized that these guys are really those type of guys who would make girls fantasize of them even if they are fiction, so maybe that's why these type of guys are in several books and movies.

Nadzla Adal

"I need to hear you say it. I need to hear you're mine."

"I've been yours since the second we met."

Abbygayle Basio

Reason: The words I’ve chosen are the words that made the story more realistic and made the readers’ emotion rise. I’ve only chosen 5 not so ordinary words because some words are understandable.

Purpose:  The author’s purpose in using these words is to give emphasis on characters emotion towards such event. These words make the readers visualize the happenings.

1.    Throes

“…her body going slack in the throes of passion.”

Noun

a. Pang, spasm

b. Middle English thrawe, throwe, from Old English thrawu, threa threat, pang; akin to Old High German drawa threat.

c. First use: 13^th century

2.    Mirth

“The mirth in her look tells me she knows exactly what I’m talking about.”

Noun

a.Happiness and laughter.

b. gladness or gaiety as shown by or accompanied with laughter.

c. Middle English, from Old English myrgth, fom myrge merry- more at merry.

d. First use: before 12^th century.

3.    Eavesdrop

“, and it takes my uncanny knack for eavesdropping to make me realize that I don’t really believe her.”

 Intransitive Verb

a.To listen secretly to what other people are saying.

b. Origin: probably back- formation from eavesdropper, literally, one standing under the drip from the eaves.

c.First use: 1606

4.    Leeway

“I really want that answer without any leeway for me to worry.”

Noun

a.Freedom to do something the way you want to do it.

b.First use: 1669

5.    Atrocities

“Not some fat- free, low carb, no sugar atrocities, but normal, honest- to- God homemade chocolate chip cookies.”

Noun (Plural)

a.A very cruel or terrible acion.

b.First use: 1534