Author: Jamie McGuire
Title: All the Little Lights
Genre: YA, Romance
Pages: ebook
Published: May 29th 2018
Where I Got It: My shelf (Amazon)
The first time Elliott Youngblood spots Catherine Calhoun, he’s just a boy with a camera, and he’s never seen a sadder and more beautiful sight. Both Elliott and Catherine feel like outcasts, yet they find an easy friendship with each other. But when Catherine needs him most, Elliott is forced to leave town.
Elliott finally returns, but he and Catherine are now different people. He’s a star high school athlete, and she spends all her free time working at her mother’s mysterious bed-and-breakfast. Catherine hasn’t forgiven Elliott for abandoning her, but he’s determined to win back her friendship…and her heart.
Just when Catherine is ready to fully trust Elliott, he becomes the prime suspect in a local tragedy. Despite the town’s growing suspicions, Catherine clings to her love for Elliott. But a devastating secret that Catherine has buried could destroy whatever chance of happiness they have left.
I read a book previously by this author and I remember liking it, so when I saw the good reviews flooding in for this, I could not stop myself on checking it out!
The story follows Catherine and Elliot who are so different, but so similar. They meet each other when they are young and they become fast friends. They grow to love each other. Things happen and Elliot forced away by his mom. She doesn't allow him to talk to her, write to her, or see her for no real good reason. Finally, Elliot moves back to town with his Aunt and Uncle. But it takes forever for Catherine to be able to trust him right away. Just as things are getting good...something bad happens and it could ruin everything.
I liked Elliot a lot, but Catherine? She rubbed me the wrong way from page one. By the end, she didn't annoy me anymore, but I still never warmed up to her. Yes, I felt bad for her and rooted for her, but I wasn't a fan.
Ugh. What is wrong with these parents??????!!!! I still don't fully understand WHY his mom was a jerk. Even Catherine's mom was a jerk. A crappy childhood for sure.
It wasn't even the parents ALL the adults and people in this world were jerks and assholes. The only good eggs were Catherine (even though she was a jerk sometimes too), Elliot, and a couple of their friends. This town needs to burn down to the ground. They are all idiots. Especially Presly. I wasn't sad for her AT all. Nasty little wench.
The best part of this book was the last half. The first half was all build-up and it was slow, but it was worth it and needed. The ending had me glued. I was in utter shock when what happened happened and then the big twist!? WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA? Did NOT expect that at all. So good, so good.
I had no idea what was going to happen. It was sad, but so good. I was in utter shock!
In the end, this was really, really good. I hated the town and the people, but it sure made it interesting. Catherine got better as the story went along, but there was something about her that I didn't like. I can't pinpoint it. But I adored Elliot. The ending was a shocker and I am still in awe over here. I highly recommend this. I'll give this 5 stars.
Author: Jamie McGuire
Title: Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful #1)
Genre: YA & Romance
Pages: 319
First Published: May 2011
Where I Got It: Borrowed from friend
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.
This love story truly made me appreciate my own love life. Oh my goodness. This not a beautiful disaster....this was a hot, crazy, insane mess. I figured there would be some drama and craziness, but I was really in for it.
Abby is a complex character (which I liked a lot). She came from a crappy home and she decided to travel with her friend to a faraway college. She just wants to get her degree and make something of herself, but Travis stumbles onto her path.
Then there is Travis...On the outside he is a major hottie and loves one night stands with the girls. However, on the inside he is a walking time bomb. And that is being nice. Sure he had some bad stuff happen to him in his youth, but....yeah....not cool. He was an idiot, overly protective, overly jealous, major anger issues, selfish, and sometimes creepy. OKAY I will admit I like alpha males myself. A little protectiveness is always nice BUT he was on whole different level. He did get better near the end, so I'm glad the author gave him some sort of character development. Huzzah.
The back and forth was annoying. They loved breaking each other's hearts....Travis was an idiot and Abby was rude and confusing in her decisions. Honestly, they should have just stayed friends. It reminds me of a quote, "Even if you love each other, sometimes you shouldn't be together." I think this was from a show? mhm. But yes. They are disasters and their journey is not going to be an easy one...which DID make it interesting to read for sure.
There is a second book? I hope its a book about Finch. Finch deserves to find the man of his dreams. Finch had to deal with so much crap in this book. Same with America and Shep. Poor side characters getting caught up in the hurricane that is known as Trabby. *looks on Goodreads* Ugh all of the books except one of the short stories is about Trabby. Bummer. I wouldn't mind reading the short story about American and Shep.
I did really love the side characters...I was more interested in their stories. I especially loved Travis' dad and his brothers.
HOWEVER, I will say that I could not put this down. I read this in a couple sittings. It was like a tornado I couldn't stop watching. The author's writing style is good and I do want to read something else from her. I needed to know what was going to happen next.
In the end, this was pretty addicting. I couldn't put the book down to save my life even though the Travis and Abby drama killed me. I loved the side characters and I want to learn more about them. I'm looking forward to the other books by the author. Out of five stars, I'll give this 3. It would've been two, but I really do feel the secondary characters helped keep the book together so they deserve a star themselves. I recommend this for those looking something dramatic.
