Beautiful Oblivion (Maddox Brothers, #1)

by Jamie McGuire

[Cocktails and Books]

4.5 Cocktails

I couldn't wait to read and review this book. I adored Beautiful Disaster, Walking Disaster and a Beautiful Wedding. I loved Travis Maddox just like the rest of the women of the world. But if I am honest with myself, I thought some of the crazy things Abby and Travis did just didn't seem "real". Now, most of us would say, that we read fiction to escape the realities of the world. This is true and believe me, I enjoy the fantasties that all my favorite authors create especially Jamie McGuire.

Beautiful Oblivion was "real" to me. You ask what that means. It just means that Jamie McGuire wrote a story that wasn't filled with so much drama and angst. Instead, the relationship felt as if I would hear about the ins and outs over a glass of wine with my friends. It felt relatable and honest. A relationship that any of us could have been in.

The official blurb states:

Fiercely independent Camille "Cami" Camlin gladly moved on from her childhood before it was over. She has held down a job since before she could drive, and moved into her own apartment after her freshman year of college. Now tending bar at The Red Door, Cami doesn’t have time for much else besides work and classes, until a trip to see her boyfriend is cancelled, leaving her with a first weekend off in almost a year.

Trenton Maddox was the king of Eastern State University, dating co-eds before he even graduated high school. His friends wanted to be him, and women wanted to tame him, but after a tragic accident turned his world upside down, Trenton leaves campus to come to grips with the crushing guilt.

Eighteen months later, Trenton is living at home with his widower father, and works full-time at a local tattoo parlor to help with the bills. Just when he thinks his life is returning to normal, he notices Cami sitting alone at a table at The Red.

As the baby sister of four rowdy brothers, Cami believes she’ll have no problem keeping her new friendship with Trenton Maddox strictly platonic. But when a Maddox boy falls in love, he loves forever—even if she is the only reason their already broken family could fall apart.

In the first installment of the Maddox Brothers books, readers can experience the rush of reading Beautiful Disaster for the first time, all over again.

I actually disagree with the official blurb. Beautiful Oblivion gives you a completely different love story from Beautiful Disaster and it is just as enjoyable. Most of us loved the small snippets we got of Trent in the other three books. You will adore him in this one. Trent seems grounded, trustworthy, fiercely loyal to those he loves but still has a good deal of the bad boy Maddox in his personality.

Trent's relationship with Cami develops slowly and it goes through bumps and bruises which to me mirrored what a normal relationship would go through in the beginning. I loved seeing Cami's feelings deepen for Trent over time and I thought it was brilliant of Jamie to give Cami a boyfriend (T.J) who she truly loved and care for but her relationship had hit a rough spot. The way that Cami and T.J. handle their relationship is exceptionally mature and I don't think you see this often in romance novels. The plot twist for this book (not giving away too much information in this review) wasn't surprising to me. I figured it out pretty early and I would have enjoyed a bit more drama in that particular part of the book but I think the less contention fit better with the overall story.

When I finished this book, I talked with my husband extensively about the story because I needed to voice my thoughts before I started my review. I was worried that it might come off as I didn't love this book as much as Beautiful Disaster. I can say in all honesty, I loved this book as much as Beautiful Diaster. I was worried that Jamie wouldn't be able to tell Trent's story without it sounding like a repeat of Travis's but hands down, she accomplished it. Different stories, different emotions, different brothers. It make me look forward to the rest of the Maddox brothers even more. Jamie McGuire, you suprised me with Trent and my expectations are even higher for the next Maddox brother book.

Reviewed by Candace for Cocktails and Books