Wonderful disaster is the translation given to the book Beautiful Disaster, an American romance novel that was a bestseller when it was published in 2011.
Now it is back in fashion due to its film adaptation (released on April 12, 2023. So, how about we talk to you about the book?
Who wrote Wonderful Disaster
The person to whom we owe the book Wonderful Disaster, and all the others in the saga as well as many others, is Jamie McGuire. This American author was born in 1978 and graduated in Radiography (as you see, nothing very related to literature).
In 2009 he began writing the story of Wonderful Disaster. And two years later, once it was finished, he decided to publish it on his own account. That was the before and after because once published, success came. There were so many sales that publishers noticed her and this novel. And a year later the publisher Atria Books, belonging to Simon & Schuster, released it on paper.
McGuire has many novels to his credit. Not only other books in the saga, but other romantic series like A Million Stars, Red Hill (about zombies)…
What is it about? Wonderful disaster
Wonderful disaster focuses us on the story of two young people. On the one hand, Abby Abernathy, an 18-year-old woman who moves to a new city where she tries to escape her past.. So, she comes to Wichita with her best friend. She doesn't drink, she doesn't get into trouble and she tries to do the best she can for her future. They both start at Eastern University and hope that, when they move, those memories they have lived will be forgotten.
At University he meets Travis Maddox, better known as "Mad Dog" since, to earn money, he participates in clandestine fights at night. He's tall, with tattoos, and Abby's type. Just what she wants to avoid.
The moment Travis tries to flirt with her, Abby rejects him. AND That rejection makes her even more attractive to him, making him not want to leave her and get to know her more thoroughly. Even if that puts them both in danger. For this reason, and to achieve her goal, he proposes a bet to Abby. And fulfilling it can become an ordeal for her, especially because he will be closer to that “temptation.”
We leave you its synopsis:
«THE GOOD GIRL
Abby Abernathy doesn't drink, she doesn't get into trouble, and she works very hard. She believes she has buried her dark past, but when she arrives at college, a heartthrob known for his one-night stands jeopardizes her dream of a new life.
THE BAD BOY
Travis Maddox, sexy, muscular and covered in tattoos, is just the type of guy Abby is attracted to, exactly what she wants to avoid. He spends his nights earning money in a traveling fight club, and his days being the exemplary student and the most popular charmer on campus. Quite an explosive mixture.
AN IMMINENT DISASTER…
Intrigued by Abby's rejection, Travis tries to sneak into her life by proposing a bet that will turn their worlds upside down and change everything.
…OR THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING WONDERFUL?
In any case, Travis has no idea that he has started a tornado of emotions, obsessions and games that will end up damaging them..., although it may also unite them forever.
Is it a unique book?
The truth is that no. Wonderful Disaster is the first book in the saga called The Maddox Brothers. composed of nine books. However, there are three books about the story of Wonderful Disaster.
Then the author began to write about other characters, always keeping one of the Maddox brothers as the protagonist. In other words, They are books that tell us about the love story of all the brothers.
The titles are as follows:
- Beautiful disaster.
- Walking disaster (Inevitable disaster).
- A beautiful wedding (A disaster is forever).
- Beautiful oblivion.
- Beautiful redemption.
- Beautiful sacrifice.
- Something beautiful.
- Beautiful burn.
- A beautiful funeral.
Still, we could say that Within The Maddox Brothers saga there are also sub-sagas. On the one hand, the trilogy with the first three books. On the other hand, the next two books would be "The Maddox Brothers." And finally, the last three books (which we have not been able to find in Spanish), which would be from the Beautiful saga.
The film adaptation of Wonderful Disaster, is it worth it?
Many times books are sources to create books and movies. But as they say, it is never better than the book itself.
In the case of the Wonderful Disaster book and the movie, the truth is that there has been a lot of criticism. First because of the “toxic relationship” that is narrated. Then, because the film fails to capture the essence of the story. In other words, it does not convey enough what is really achieved with words.
Many who have read the book and seen it have thought that the plot in the film is too superficial, that they have eliminated dialogue that further deepened the relationship and gave more realism to the romance.
We must not forget that we are talking about a film with a limited time. And telling the whole story in a short space, making it commercial at the same time, means that not everything can be told. But from there to losing important parts and conversations… This has caused the thread to be lost and the romance itself to appear almost by magic, perhaps focusing more on the desire between the two protagonists than on true love.
Of course, there will be those who liked it. But few who read the book will think that it was a good adaptation (it's okay, but it's not one of the best). To this we must add the differences between the book and the movie. One of the most important, the change of genre from a romantic novel to a romantic comedy.
Have you read Wonderful Disaster? What did you think of the book? And the movie?