Release Date: April 2, 2013
Publisher: Atria Books
Pages: 448
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Source: Netgalley
Purchase: Amazon
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Finally, the highly anticipated follow-up to the New York Times bestseller Beautiful Disaster. Can you love someone too much?
Travis Maddox learned two things from his mother before she died: Love hard. Fight harder.
In Walking Disaster, the life of Travis is full of fast women, underground gambling, and violence. But just when he thinks he is invincible, Abby Abernathy brings him to his knees.
Every story has two sides. In Beautiful Disaster, Abby had her say. Now it’s time to see the story through Travis’s eyes.
Beautiful Disaster was a bit of a love it or hate it book but I really enjoyed it. I was super excited to see things from Travis' POV. Readers have been pretty hard on Travis and while I definitely think he has flaws and has made many mistakes I wouldn't say he is any worse than many other fictional characters. He probably wouldn't be my first choice to date in real life but I'd much rather date him over Will Herondale and a ton of other beloved fictional characters that I think are scum. LOL But moving on to the the actual book...
I think you definitely have to read Beautiful Disaster first. The relationship felt a bit rushed in this one. I understand that the author probably didn't want to repeat every little thing and I was looking forward to new scenes but I think it made the relationship suffer a little bit. If you read the first then it shouldn't matter too much. I loved getting extra scenes with Travis and Shepley and Travis and his brothers. Some of the repeat stuff was a little tiresome at times.
While in Beautiful Disaster I kind of thought Travis over reacted to things, in this book I felt what he felt so it seemed kind of like a normal reaction. True that when you are hurt and mad you probably shouldn't go out and drink and find someone else, but I admit when I'm hurt this is sometimes my reaction. Travis completely owns up to his mistakes and anger and violence. He knows he royally f*ucked up by bringing those two girls back to his place after Abby said those hurtful things about him. But people make mistakes.
Abby was rather annoying from the other side. I didn't completely hate her in the first book but I did think she played too many games and went back and forth on her feelings way too much. Seeing it from Travis' side I really can't blame him for being totally confused! One day she's into him the next she is pulling away. He just knew what he wanted and tried to fight for her I think. Like with the first book, at times I was annoyed with the overly dramatic but it was just as addicting to watch their disaster romance unfold again. I loved the extra scenes and the extended ending and epilogue. I still kind of want to get back into their beautiful disaster love story. Dysfunction or not it is just fiction and I enjoyed the ride of both books! I definitely came out of it understanding Travis more.
"You, Mad Dog, are exactly what I came here to protect her from. But you know what? We're all broken some way or another. Even with your epic fuckup, you just might be exactly what she needs. You get one more chance," she said, holding up her index finger an inch from my nose." Just one. Don't mess it up...you know...more than usual."
"I'll never love anyone the way I love you, Pigeon."
"Now that it's over, I wish I could have all the bad stuff back...just so I could have the good."
"I need to hear you say it. I need to know you're mine."
"I've been yours since the second we met," she said, begging.
"And crazy is exactly the way I like it," she said, leaning up to kiss my lips.
"Obviously," America muttered under her breath.
"Even though we'd put each other through hell, we'd found heaven. Maybe that was more than a couple of sinners deserved, but I wasn't going to complain."
Rating: 4/5
I kind of felt the same way about this, it wasn't so much a love story like BD was, more an understanding of how Travis ticks. Which, is what the readers wanted.
ReplyDeleteThe extra scenes (mainly the prologue and epilogue) were by far my favorite parts. And I agree, I didn't like Abby as much after reading this one. I saw a whole new side of her that I didn't see or just didn't pick up on in BD. It was pretty interesting for sure. I do think this is a must read for any BD fan.
Great honest review!!
I can't tell you how many times I have wanted to pick up BD> I bought it when it was self pubbed and had that wacky cover with the tongue. THen I read all the reviews and people love it or hate it. Anyway I was lucky enough to grab this off NG that morning and now I have no excuse time to dig in and see what all the fuss is about.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed Beautuful Disaster & am looking forward to reading this at some point. I just really adored Travis. So happy you liked it!
ReplyDeleteI loved this one, but I'm sure you aren't surprised. LOL Great quotes! Can't wait for the Maddox Brothers!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm kind of thinking that I might not like these books. It seems like there are some things that usually piss me off in books. Even though I see mostly good reviews just knowing some of the content kind of turns me off. I'm glad you really like them though!
ReplyDeleteThis book was repetitive at times which I didn't really care for. I thought the author would include more new things to the story to add to it. Instead she repeated a lot of the same storyline. I do think I understand Travis more now though and I did still like this book.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great review!
I stil have to read Beautiful Disaster and I have heard nothing but amazing things about it so I can't wait! And then I'll have to pick this one up and see things from Travis' side. Glad you enjoyed this!
ReplyDeleteLovely review! :D
~ Maida
Literary Love Affair
Oh boy. I know I need to pick up and read BD. I'm just a little hesitant. -sigh- I will though!
ReplyDeleteOMG you called Will Herondale scum! I love him! lol
ReplyDeleteI haven't read the first book, but I am curious about all the hoopla I've seen. I'm not sure I am a fan of a whole book from a different perspective (except Midnight Sun, get on that Stephenie Meyer!) but I do find it interesting how characters and situations can be seen in a different light through new eyes. Great review! :)
I havne't read the first, but am very curious. Glad you understand Travis more, and got a chance to be in his head.
ReplyDeleteBrandi @ Blkosiner’s Book Blog
You know I love dysfunctional relationships, but I truly, truly started to hate Travis in this one, and the entire relationship got somewhat sullied in my mind. I don't know.. it really disappointed me. :/ I had hoped for something better. *sigh* Well, I'm glad you enjoyed the read, and I agree about the new scenes and Abby coming across as a really freaking confusing person! :)
ReplyDeleteI read Beautiful Disaster and I was one of the one who didn't really enjoy it. While I thought it was a quick read and it was interesting, the characters kind of drove me crazy, especially Travis. I am willing to give this a chance because I am curious to see Travis's side of things and maybe it will help to understand him better. I'm glad to hear that not everything from the first book is repeated. I'm glad you enjoyed it, maybe I'll give it a chance. Thanks for the review :)
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