What happened in Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire - Recaptains

The basics

Title: Beautiful Disaster

Author: Jamie McGuire

Series: Beautiful #1

- Beautiful Disaster (2011)
- Walking Disaster (2013)
- Almost Beautiful (2022)

Add it: Goodreads

Goodreads Summary:

The new 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.

Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby needs—and wants—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.

Read a full summary of Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire below. If you can’t remember what happened in Beautiful Disaster and you need a refresher, then you’re in the right place.

What happened in Beautiful Disaster?

• Abby and her best friend America move to a small town together for a fresh start. They attend Eastern University.
• Abby meets a guy called Travis, who is the resident ~bad boy~. She tries to avoid him at first because she’s trying to leave that kind of person behind.
• Abby, America, and America’s boyfriend Shepley head to an underground fighting club. She properly meets Travis there, as he’s Shepley’s roommate and cousin.
• Travis is a little offended by Abby not being interested in him, but he himself is intrigued.
• Abby and Travis slowly become friends. Abby is hesitant at first, especially because Travis is a creep, but eventually she begins to let him in. Her own reputation is at risk, though, and she attempts to distance herself.
• Travis doesn’t like this.
• Abby tries to fate Parker, one of Travis’ frat brothers. Travis likes this even less.
• Travis makes a bet with Abby. If he doesn’t take a hit in his next fight, Abby will have to spend a month living in his apartment. If he loses, he will be abstinent for a month.
• Abby loses the bet and has to stay with him.
• Abby tells America that she doesn’t want to date Travis for the reasons stated above. It’s kind of obvious.
• Travis overhears this conversation and sleeps with two girls. Travis tells Abby he won’t back down from his bet because he doesn’t want to see her spending time with Parker.
• Travis throws a surprise party for Abby. Parker attends and gets with Abby.
• People on campus spread rumours about Abby sleeping with both Travis and Parker.
• Parker asks Abby to go on a break until Abby moves out of Travis’ apartment.
• The night before Abby is going to move out, she sleeps with Travis.
• Abby gets back together with Parker, but the romance doesn’t last because Abby realises she has such strong feelings for Travis.
• Travis tells Abby he loves her. Abby breaks up with Parker, and she and Travis get together, despite Travis because a massive dickhead and reminding Abby of her father.
• Abby and Travis go to see his family. Abby opens up about her traumatic past and Travis tries to be supportive, I guess. He tells Abby that she deserves to be happy.
• Mick, Abby’s father, visits. It’s revealed that he has a gambling addiction and he wants some money to repay a debt. Abby agrees to help her dad, but she doesn’t have any money herself.
• Abby and her friends travel to Las Vegas and win a load of money there. Travis fights for the rest of the money.
• Travis wants to continue to fight professionally, but Abby gets upset about this. They break up.
• Abby and Travis, still broken up, attend a Thanksgiving celebration where they pretend to be together. They consider getting back together, but Abby sees Travis getting with another girl.
• Abby and Parker plan to go to dinner together. Travis invites Abby to see one of his fights instead.
• Abby attends a frat party and gets wasted. Travis helps her leave and admits that he loves her.
• Travis takes part in another fight, but a fire interrupts it. The entire building burns down. Travis and Abby are almost trapped and die, but they do manage to escape.
• Abby realises she has to be with Travis. She proposes to him and they get married in Vegas. She gets a tattoo of his surname.

Thank you for reading our recap of Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire. Check out our recap list for more recaps. If you can’t find what you need, you can request a recap from us!