Beautiful Disaster

Patricia Passwaters, Executive Editor • Aug 17, 2012

Uncategorized

Abby and her childhood best friend America, who has stood by her side, have traveled down a long and bumpy road. One that consisted of Abby’s gambling father, alcoholic mother and dangerous childhood. That is, until college came along. Abby left with the attempt to be as far as possible from the crazy lifestyle she once had, and America followed to experience college life with her best friend. Abby lays low and remains conservative to avoid any spontaneous acts that may ruin her new beginning, but then she meets Travis.

When I began to read this book, I felt myself getting attached to the characters and the relationships the author built between them. America reminded me of my own best friend while Travis was the reminder that every girl dreams of romance. I’m not saying Travis is prince charming because he definitely is not. Throughout the book, he was an emotional wreck that used violence and sex as an answer to solve every question. However, isn’t putting an unattainable bad boy to rest what we all want?

The relationship constantly has ups and downs because of their way of avoiding their overwhelming feelings of intimacy due to the scars each of them hold. Yet, even so, the romance that blooms around them is beautiful in every way it possibly can be. After all, if relationships were perfect then they’d be boring.

Though I believe that Beautiful Disaster is a must-read, I also think that the author should’ve included more about Abby’s past to emphasize what the big deal was about getting away and never speaking to her father. She constantly brings up the past, but when she introduces what the past actually is it isn’t detailed enough to come across as the reason for many of Abby’s actions. The book also held a couple of typos that bothered me, but once I flipped through the first couple of pages I was hooked and placed upon a roller coaster of emotions. Jaime McGuire showed us through Abby’s voice that the broken can heal.

About the Contributor

Patricia Passwaters, Editor in Chief

Patty Passwaters is a senior in the Communication, Arts, Film and Digital Media Academy at Coral Gables Senior High School. Ever since freshman year she has taken every opportunity to become involved. She is not only the Editor-in-Chief / News Editor of CavsConnect, but is also a member of Interact and NHS, an honorary member of Yearbook, President of Quill & Scroll, Managing Editor of Catharsis, Treasurer of the Creative Writing Club, and Student Council President. Patty is almost always described as a "what you see is what you get kind of girl". She is dedicated, hard working, passionate about what she does, genuine and a hopeless romantic. Even when she has a lot going on if you ever need a helping hand her's would be the first to reach out to you. One of her biggest weaknesses is wanting to make everyone happy. In her opinion, one of the worst feelings someone can feel is letting someone else down. In the rare occasion that she isn't juggling her academics and extra curricular activities at once, you will find her reading. Close friends know that the perfect gift to give her is a Barnes & Noble gift card because there is nothing more that she loves than books. It is her outlet, she loves getting lost in a world full of romance (which set her expectations far too high). Her senior year is definitely going to be bittersweet, although she doesn't want high school to come to an end, she can't wait to see what else is in store for her. She is grateful to everyone who has made her high school experience one that she will never forget.

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