Beautiful Disaster, a captivating novel by Jamie McGuire, has taken the literary world by storm with its intense romance and gripping storyline. This is a contemporary romance with many tropes like chasing/bullying, friends to lovers, one-night stands, and fake relationships.
The main characters are Abby Abernathy and Travis Maddox. Abby and her best friend, America, go to school at Eastern. America’s boyfriend is Shipley, and then he has his cousin, Travis Maddox. He is a walking one-night stand tattoo, but he’s smart. We start to grow and understand him as a character. Then we see his change, and it’s great to see his growth.
As a fan of this book, I can attest that it leaves a lasting impact and leaves you craving more. The raw emotions, complex characters, and heart-wrenching moments make it an unforgettable read. In this article, we will dive into the appeal of Beautiful Disaster and explore other books in the romance genre that will provide you with a similar reading experience.
10 Books Like Beautiful Disaster (Chasing/Bullying Romance)
Beautiful Disaster is one of the most emotional and funny books ever. I like both Abby and Travis, though they are the opposite character. Travis watches out for Abby, and he stands up for Abby. He won’t let her wear low-cut things out unless he’s with her to protect her. If you are looking to recreate the magic of Beautiful Disaster and are searching for similar books, you are in luck.
Several authors have captured the essence of intense romance and created stories that will leave you breathless. Here are a few recommendations for your reading pleasure. Like “Beautiful Disaster,” these books feature intense, tumultuous romantic relationships that can be captivating. If you enjoy reading about complex dynamics between characters, these stories deliver. Let’s begin!
| Name | Storyline | Tropes |
|---|---|---|
| The Hating Game by Sally Thorne | The intense rivalry and romantic tension between two co-workers escalate into a love story. | Enemies-to-lovers, workplace romance, opposites attract, romantic comedy, banter-filled relationships, competition, office politics, character growth through love. |
| Bully by Penelope Douglas | A turbulent and passionate enemies-to-lovers romance between a teenage girl and her childhood friend turned tormentor. | Enemies-to-lovers, high school setting, bullying, second-chance romance, dark romance, redemption arc, strong female lead, complex male protagonist, emotional growth, power dynamics, angsty love story. |
| Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas | An intense and emotional romance between two pen pals who meet in real life under false identities, navigating their true selves and hidden feelings. | Friends-to-lovers, mistaken identity, high school drama, secret correspondence, bad boy/good girl dynamic, emotional turmoil, self-discovery, social themes, dark romance, angsty relationships, rebellious protagonists. |
| Sweet Temptation by Cora Reilly | A passionate and tumultuous arranged marriage story set in the Mafia world, blending danger with desire. | Mafia romance, arranged marriage, forbidden love, alpha male protagonist, strong female lead, family loyalty, power dynamics, danger and protection, sexual tension, cultural conflict, emotional complexity. |
| Room Hate by Penelope Ward | A captivating story of two former best friends who unexpectedly become roommates, navigating past grievances and emerging romantic feelings. | Friends-to-lovers, second-chance romance, forced proximity, contemporary setting, emotional baggage, unresolved past, slow burn romance, love-hate dynamics, strong character development, sexual tension, humorous undertones. |
| Shameless King by Maya Hughes | A steamy enemies-to-lovers romance between a hockey star and his academic rival, filled with tension and unexpected chemistry. | Enemies-to-lovers, sports romance (hockey), college setting, academic rivalry, opposites attract, banter and wit, sexual tension, character growth, dual perspectives, strong female lead, redemption themes. |
| Vicious by L.J. Shen | A complex and intense romance between a fierce, brooding alpha male and a strong-willed woman, marked by past animosity and deep-seated attraction. | Enemies-to-lovers, bad boy hero, wealthy and powerful male lead, strong female protagonist, dark romance, high school turned adult romance, redemption arc, emotional turmoil, complex relationships, intense character dynamics. |
| The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata | A slow-burn romance between a professional football player and his personal assistant, evolving from a business arrangement to deep emotional connection. | Slow burn romance, sports romance (football), marriage of convenience, grumpy/sunshine dynamics, strong and independent female lead, character-driven story, workplace relationship, fake relationship, minimal drama, gradual emotional development. |
| The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller | A dark and strategic romance between a cunning young woman plotting to win a king’s heart and throne, and the enigmatic ruler with secrets of his own. | Fantasy romance, court intrigue, enemies-to-lovers, strong female protagonist, power dynamics, royal politics, assassination plots, hidden agendas, mysterious male lead, moral ambiguity, strategic mind games. |
| You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle | A humorous and heartwarming story of an engaged couple rediscovering their love through a series of pranks and challenges, turning a seemingly doomed relationship into a deeper connection. | Romantic comedy, enemies-to-lovers, second chance romance, engaged couple, relationship struggles, personal growth, humorous conflicts, light-hearted pranks, emotional healing, rekindling romance, contemporary setting. |
1. The Hating Game
Lucy is playing the main character, and she is funny. It’s a workplace romance, and Lucy and Josh are both assistants to the co-CEOs of a company. So they’re working together in the same office. Also, they have had a weird rivalry tension since the first day she started working there. Josh’s a serious businessman, but Lucy is a chill girl.
They have banter throughout the book, where they don’t get along and hate each other. But Josh teaches her how to be more assertive with her employees, and she teaches them how to lighten up. It’s such a cute dynamic.
Author: Sally Thorne
Average Rating: 4.5/5
Category: Self-Help & Psychology Humor
Number Of Pages: 384
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Mass Market Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD
2. Bully (Fall Away)
This is a childhood friends and enemies to lovers book. Penelope Douglas is a good writer, and most books are about chasing. The story follows Tate and Jared. I like how they used to be friends. Jared moved away, and when he returned, he acted completely different from Tate. He started tormenting her and bullying her at school.
One day, Tate decides she’s done with it. So she stands up for herself, and she goes and talks to him. Then, they have this competitive relationship. It’s a whole series after that, but you can read the first book, and if you like it, you continue the series. Beautiful Disaster’s character, Abby, is similar to our Tate, where both have a tough life.
Author: Penelope Douglas
Average Rating: 4.5/5
Category: Contemporary Romance Fiction
Number Of Pages: 333
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD
3. Punk 57
This book is about Misha and Ryen. Since they were young, these two kids have been pen-pals and have unisex names. So they got paired together, thinking that they were both boys. But they’re not. They decide to have this dynamic where they will send letters to each other for the rest of their lives. But they promised that they never meet up in real life.
They talk about their problems, get unbiased advice, and open up to each other. But they’ve never met until Misha from the letters transfers to Ryen’s school and finds out who she is. Ryen doesn’t know who he is. Misha realizes he doesn’t like her at all in person. She’s completely different than how she came across in her letter. So they start to chase each other and build a strong connection. There are many secrets, plot twists, and crazy stuff in book two.
Author: Penelope Douglas
Average Rating: 4.5/5
Category: College Romance
Number Of Pages: 341
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD
4. Sweet Temptation
This is a mafia romance, where all the roles and stuff are within the mafia. There was an arranged marriage or marriage of convenience, is the story’s main twist. Our heroine, Giulia, turns 18, and she gets arranged to marry an older man whose wife died and who has two kids. She’s supposed to be the kids’ caretaker while he (Cassio) is out doing his mafia job.
Cassio is super cold towards her and seems to have no attraction to her. But over time, he realizes how good she is with the kids, and everything is adorable. Try this book if you like mafia romances with a slow-burn theme.
Author: Cora Reilly
Average Rating: 4.5/5
Category: Coming of Age Fiction & Billionaire Romance
Number Of Pages: 292
Available: Paperback | Kindle
5. Room Hate
This is also childhood friends to lovers. Justin and Ameli have been friends since they were kids. Something happens when they’re no longer friends. They fall out of touch with each other. Then, they inherit a house from her grandma. Also, they both end up moving into this house for the same summer. Justin has a girlfriend or fiancee.
So there’s a lot of tension with that because she hates her. Justin acts as if he hates her and is so mean for what happened in the past. Slowly but surely, a romance unfolds, and it’s super cute. There are also many tropes and crazy plot twists, like Beautiful Disaster. This book is a good choice if you like the dynamic when they’re forced to be together.
Author: Penelope Ward
Average Rating: 4.4/5
Category: Contemporary Romance Fiction
Number Of Pages: 281
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle
6. Shameless King (Kings of Rittenhouse)
This is a second-chance romance, brother’s best friend, and accidental pregnancy trope. The main characters, Declan and Makenna, met in high school. They were rivals in high school. Makenna did not like him. She’s a strong personality who is not afraid to say anything. Also, she’s super smart and ends up helping him to stay on the hockey team.
It’s a great first book in the series. You should read the whole series, though I recommend the Kings of Rittenhouse series. But if you like chasing or playing, you’ll love the first book. So check out that series and book.
Author: Maya Hughes
Average Rating: 4.3/5
Category: Sports Romance
Number Of Pages: 308
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle
7. Vicious (Sinners of Saint)
Each book in the series is a different version. Also, each book is about a different boy in a friend group. Vicious is very much a friend to lovers. Our hero, Vicious, has a tragic past. He loves Emilia, but he’s so mean to her. Though she dates his best friend, there’s tension. Then it shows them ten years later when they’re adults meeting again.
So, after high school, it turns into an office romance. When they first meet, they act like strangers, but both have the same feelings. It’s also the first book in a series, which is so good.
Author: L.J. Shen
Average Rating: 4.5/5
Category: Action & Adventure Romance Fiction
Number Of Pages: 340
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD
8. The Wall of Winnipeg and Me
Mariana Zapata is one of my favorite authors who only writes slow burns and second chance romance. This book is about a woman named Vanessa. She is the assistant to a pro football player named Aiden Graves. He treats her very badly and doesn’t pay attention to her. One day, she quits, and he comes to her, asking her to return and proposition her for something new.
That’s a plot twist. Does that make sense? Vanessa agrees with his proposal but gives him some conditions/rules. But they are secretly competing with each other. Both are the same as Abby and Travis, like Beautiful Disaster. So, the book is so worth it, and it is very long. But if you have patience for slow burns, this is everything.
Author: Mariana Zapata
Average Rating: 4.6/5
Category: Contemporary Sports Romance
Number Of Pages: 672
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD
9. The Shadows Between Us
This one is about Alessandra, who is the ego woman. Also, it is about how feminism is portrayed through her because she lives in a time when women weren’t allowed to be anything but wives. So she challenges that. It’s about her wanting to kill the Shadow King to enter the kingdom.
She plans to marry the Shadow King and then kill him. Is her plan going to work? Do they fall in love or kill each other? If you want to know these answers, then read this book. Every book in the series makes exciting questions/moments to forward you into the whole series.
Author: Tricia Levenseller
Average Rating: 4.4/5
Category: Wizards & Witches Fantasy
Number Of Pages: 336
Available: Audiobook | Hardcover | Kindle | Audio CD
10. You Deserve Each Other
This book follows Naomi and Nicholas. They are engaged, and they’re going to be married in a couple of months. However, they have fallen out of love with each other, but neither one wants to be the one to call off this wedding for pride reasons. It is because they don’t want to pay the wedding bills.
So, since neither one wants to call it off, they start doing pranks and sabotaging each other to see which one will give in first. In the midst of all of this, they find the couple that they were meant to be in the first place. The book is not talked about enough, and that’s a crime upon society. It is told from Naomi’s point of view that it is hilarious. There are so many plot twists, and I don’t know how to explain them. Also, you will feel so much emotional toxicity, but funny, similar to Beautiful Disaster.
Author: Sarah Hogle
Average Rating: 4.3/5
Category: Women’s Humorous Fiction
Number Of Pages: 367
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle
Last Words
In conclusion, if you are a fan of Beautiful Disaster and are searching for books that offer a similarly unforgettable reading experience, the recommendations above will satisfy your literary cravings. Whether you are looking for intense romance, complex relationships, or themes of love and passion, these books will capture your heart and leave you yearning for more.
So, grab a cozy blanket a cup of your favorite beverage, and immerse yourself in the captivating worlds created by these talented authors. Happy reading!
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