I have been anxiously counting down the days for Walking Disaster to be released, to read the re-tell of the beautiful story of Travis and Abby from Beautiful Disaster, but from Traviss point of view. In Beautiful Disaster Abby and Travis captured my heart and it became one of my favorite books to date. I had such great expectations for this book but it pains me to say that Walking Disaster didnt reach those expectations at all. Throughout my reading of the book I felt real disappointment as there were key moments from Beautiful Disaster that were either left out or glossed over, and when I finished the book, I was left feeling frustrated, disappointment and overall flat!



Walking Disaster is a re-tell of the story of Beautiful Disaster from Traviss point of view. Travis Maddox, the youngest of five brothers, at the age of three lost his mother to cancer. Unfortunately, after his mothers death his Dad didnt handle the loss of his wife very well, so it was up to his older brothers to raise Travis. Now in collage, Travis - known as the bad boy, keeps his heart and emotions shielded at all times. He bags a lot of girls but forms no attachment and makes a living out of taking his inner turmoil of emotions and frustrations into fighting at an underground fighting ring called The Circle. Its at one of his fights, that Abby makes a lasting impression on Travis. When he catches up with his cousin and roommate, Shepley, after the fight he discovers that Abby is actually the best friend of Shepleys girlfriend, America. Abby is the first girl who doesnt fall for Traviss charm and for that he falls in love with her, leading Travis to fight for her attention and affection and to make Abby see she is in love with him too. Travis and Abby bring out the best and worst in each other and really have to fight to keep their relationship together.



The highlight about this story, in my opinion, was the prologue, presenting his mums final words to Travis. That really touched my heart. The Epilogue was also pleasantly surprising and very interesting causing me to wonder if this has anything to do with Jamie McGuires next installment in the Beautiful Disaster Series about Traviss brother Thomas. Also the explanation and meaning behind what Pigeon means to Travis I found to be very unique and true.



One of the things that disappointed me most in Walking Disaster was the flow and overall content, certain parts of the book felt really rushed and just slopped together. I feel that Jamie McGuire focused a lot on insignificant and irrelevant details, such as the texting between Travis and Brazil? Then left out or glossed over some key moments between Abby and Travis from Beautiful Disaster. Moments such as; Travis knocking out Chris Jenks at lunch after discovering Abby and Travis are finally together and Abby has to settle Travis down, or when Abby dragged Travis into the lab room for some alone time, or when Travis asks Abby to come to his fight while on a date with Parker and then Abby getting attacked at that fight, or when Shepley and America were broken up but got back together at The Red. I believe if you are going to re-tell a story from the other characters point of view, then you need to re-tell the whole story with inclusions not deletions, because the reader already knows the story and is expecting and looking forward to reading certain scenes as experienced by the other character. I also felt the inclusion parts of the story was lacking as well. I wanted to know when and how Travis came to the conclusion of buying that engagement ring? I thought there would be more deep and meaning conversations about Traviss feeling towards Abby with Shepley or his Dad or brother Trent. I guess overall I just wanted more.



I felt Abby, Shepley and Americas characters lacked depth in the re-telling of this story, versus Beautiful Disaster, in which all the characters came to life. I felt no real emotional connection to them this time. Abby was interesting to see through Travis eyes, but at times, if I didnt know her side of the story she could come across as confusingeven misleading towards Travis. But it was Shepleys character that was my biggest disappointment in this story, I thought he would be so much more of a lead player in the story from Traviss point of view but I felt his presence was more rewarding, once again, in Beautiful Disaster.



What I did enjoy was being inside Traviss head, to see his point of view, his understanding of the situation, his emotions and feelingsbut I wanted more from him, more detail, just more of what I loved in Beautiful Disaster



Overall I am sad to say, I will continue to rave on and recommend Beautiful Disaster to the world but Walking Disaster will be sadly not be mentioned.