Beautiful Oblivion (Maddox Brothers, #1) by Jamie McGuire
Romance Contemporary
E book
July 1, 2014
Atria Books

Reviewed by Tori

Favorite Quote: “As your friend, I can’t be concerned about your STD status?”

Camille “Cami” Camlin had to grow up fast due to her severely dysfunctional family. A junior at Eastern State University, she and her roommate tend bar at a popular college hangout. When her boyfriend cancels yet another one of their weekend getaways, she and her roommate decide to have a girls night out and Cami runs into the illustrious Trenton Maddox.

Trenton (Trent) Maddox was the king of Eastern State University until tragedy and guilt forced him to drop out of college and move back in with his dad. Now working as a tattoo artist and helping his dad with the bills, Trent feels like his life is finally returning to normal…then he sees Cami.

Though Cami has a boyfriend, she decides she can maintain a platonic only friendship with Trent and tries hard to stick to her edict. As she and Trent spend more time together, she begins to feel things for him that far surpasses what she feels for her always absent boyfriend. However, Cami has a secret. A secret that could tear the already damaged Maddox family apart.

Beautiful Oblivion is the first book in Jamie McGuire’s Maddox Brothers series; a spin off from her best seller- Beautiful Disaster. These books run parallel with Beautiful Disaster, giving us some interesting insights into Travis’s and Abby’s relationship from an external point of view. Both books focusing on with those super sexy Maddox boys was the only similarity between the two. Cami and Trent’s story was far more romantic, sexy, humorous and most important of all…more mature. Fans loved seeing Travis’s brothers-especially Trent and McGuire more than delivers with a well written story that touches on some serious subject matters with heart, heat, drama, intrigue, romance, and humor.

A fluid and engaging storyline ebbs and flows seamlessly as we are submerged into the lives of the protagonists-Cami and Trent. McGuire’s choice to build a friends to lovers scenario with the added spice of a love triangle works well in here despite my inherent dislike of that trope. McGuire has a gift in her ability to make her characters realistic and three dimensional. This gift enables McGuire to structure the storyline and main characters in a way we understand completely why Cami and Trent gravitate towards one another without the normal flavoring of emotionally draining, overly dramatic offerings that seems to permeate this particular storyline.  They aren’t perfect and while we do see some drama and angst, it’s not a continuous onslaught or used as merely a plot device. She digs beneath stereotypical behavior and gives us the real story behind it. Witty dialogue, dynamic scenes, and a well plotted swoon worthy romance serve to make this story a delight to read.

Heavily character driven, we are instantly smitten with our hero and heroine from their first meeting. I loved Cami and Trent. Cami, with her four older obnoxious brothers, is extremely independent. As soon as she could, she left her abusive home and struck out on her own. She is strong, intelligent, loyal, and filled with snarky goodness.

“You’re missing your shirt.”
[…]
“Are you saying you don’t approve of my attire?”
Trenton began to speak, but I put my finger against his lips.
“Aw, that’s cute. You thought I was really asking.”

Though Trent is initially portrayed as the ultimate “player” bad boy like his brother Travis, he isn’t button holedinto the stereotypical role of the heartbreaker. He has a sweet compelling honesty that contradicts your first impressions of him.Though arrogant, self assured, and phenomenally determined to get what or in this case who he wants… we do see moments of vulnerability in him that appeals to the protectiveness in us all.

“I’m it for you. I know because you’re it for me.”

McGuire slowly builds the romance between Cami and Trent, letting them become friends first. Heavy sexual tension co exists with some truly memorable funny moments. She uses their personalities and personal lives to show us that they are more similar than they first imagined. Though the romance and it’s conflict remains a heavy part of the storyline, McCarthy intertwines it with the various subplots, to further elevate the romance and guide it along. There are no heavy dramatics or theatrics. No game playing. They both communicate their feelings; letting us and each other know how they felt and what they wanted. Character development is at a premium as we watch Cami and Trent both begin to realise that they can’t change the past but they can choose their futures.

Cami and Trent’s friends add depth, humor, and realism to the story. Cami has a strong support system through her friends. They give it to her straight but always have her back.

You mind-fucked him so hard.”
I sighed. “I didn’t mean to.”
“It’s good for him. No man should get every woman he wants. Keeps their douchebaggery to a tolerable level.”

Trent’s friend Olive practically steals the show. Cami’s family and the role she is forced into playing with them goes far in explaining her reluctance to be with Trent.I do hope we see more of them in the future and get some solutions to the events that occur in here.

Beautiful Oblivion is a bittersweet romance filled with laughter, joy, heartache, and hope. McGuire manages perfectly to avoid the dreaded series repetition and creates two fabulous characters whose personalities, emotions, and journey to happiness are 100% their own. I’m looking forward to meeting the next Maddox brother- title and release date to be announced. I hope it’s Thomas.

Overall Rating: B+

The Beautiful Disaster and Walking Disaster phenomenon continues in the first heart-pounding new adult romance in The Maddox Brothers series.

JAMIE McGUIRE is the New York Times bestselling author of A Beautiful Wedding, Red Hill, Walking Disaster, Beautiful Disaster, andThe Providence trilogy. She and her husband, Jeff, live with their children just outside Enid, Oklahoma, with three dogs, six horses, and a cat named Rooster.

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