“It wasn’t just me, and it wasn’t just him, it was what we were together that was the exception.”
The first book in her Beautiful series, Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire is one of the most acclaimed Young Adult Contemporary Romance stories. A nominee for Best Young Adult Fiction and Best Goodreads Author in the Choice Awards, McGuire tells the story of Abby Abernathy, the archetypal good girl. She doesn’t drink, smoke or swear but soon encounters her polar opposite when she arrives at Eastern University.
Travis is covered in tattoos, earns money by fighting in a floating fight ring and beds a different girl every night. Intrigued by how Abby is able to resist his advances, Travis makes a bet with Abby: if he loses, he will remain abstinent for a month, if he wins, she has to live with him for the same time. For those who loved McGuire’s books, here are some of the best romance books like Beautiful Disaster at What We Reading!
The Deal (Off-Campus #1)
Another book like Beautiful Disaster nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award, The Deal is the first entry in Elle Kennedy’s Off-Campus series. The New York Times bestselling author and famous TikTok sensation tells the story of Hannah Wells, a young woman confident and booming in every aspect of her life, apart from the art of seduction.
Aiming to get her crush’s attention, she pushes herself out of her comfort zone by agreeing to tutor the boisterous, cocky Hockey team captain, Garrett Graham. However, after one chance kiss between the pair, the two of them soon realise that there might be more than meets the eye compared to what they first thought of each other.
After (After #1) – Anna Todd
The first entry in Anna Todd’s five-book series and now a major motion picture, After tells the story of Tess, a good girl with a stable relationship back at home. Her drive and ambition are suddenly threatened however when she encounters Hardin, a brown-haired punk whose rudeness toward her borders on cruelty.
But, after a passionate kiss one night, the spark and connection between the pair becomes undeniable. Tess has the perfect model life already mapped out for her, so why does she feel herself pulled towards the local bad boy? Racking up over a billion views online, After was a viral fanfic back in the day, and is still one of the best books like Beautiful Disaster.
Did I Mention I Love You? (DIMILY #1) – Estelle Maskame
Book 1 in her bestselling Dimily series, Estelle Maskame introduces readers to sixteen-year-old Eden Munro in Did I Mention I Love You? Moving to her estranged father’s home in Santa Monica, California, Estelle is introduced to her new step-brother, Tyler.
Tyler is brash and loud, but Estelle can tell that there is much more than meets the eye with him. Lured in by his mystery, she is taken under his wing and attempts to try and make sense of Tyler and why she suddenly feels so compelled by him. Throw in on top attention from one of Tyler’s friends as well as his clingy girlfriend, and Maskame kicks off her Dimily trilogy with a book like Beautiful Disaster that is jam-packed with heart-wrenching secrets, lies and drama.
It Ends With Us (It Ends with Us #1) – Colleen Hoover
A Goodreads Winner from one of the best Romance writers in the world, Colleen Hoover’s It Ends With Us is still one of the best books for fans of Beautiful Disaster. In it, Hoover introduces readers to Lily, a hard-working and accomplished young woman whose life seems to be completed when she feels a spark with neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid.
Ryle is stubborn and arrogant, though the shared connection between himself and Lily is enough for him to break his no-dating rule. But, as their relationship continues to grow, Lily can’t help but wonder what caused her partner to be the way he is, leaving the pair open to being completely overwhelmed.
Check Out The Best Books Like It Ends With Us
The Year We Fell Down – Sarina Bowen
The USA bestseller from Sarina Bowen, The Year We Fell Down is another heart-wrenching College Romance book like Beautiful Disaster. Corey Callahan was expecting to start term at Harkness College as a varsity Ice Hockey player but, after a serious injury, she’s going to start it in a wheelchair. Whilst lying in her hospital bed, she encounters the too-good-to-be-real Adam Hartley, a fellow Hockey pro who is also recuperating from an injury.
Through their shared love of everything from video games to the pains of injury, Adam gets Corey in a way that no one else can and she soon finds herself falling further and further in love. But, will Adam leave his trophy girlfriend for a life with someone as broken as Corey?
The Partnership (Extra Credit #1) – Charlotte Penn Clark
Charlotte Penn Clark’s Extra Credit series is a collection of New Adult novellas set on a college campus that throws unlikely couples together to see what relationships develop. In the opening book of the series, Clark introduces readers to Kyle and Lani. Kyle is angry, restless and impatient, whilst Lani is introverted and bookish.
When the two of them are paired together, it looks like they have no chance of getting through their extra credit class. But, their opposites soon start to pull them together and this partnership born out of necessity soon blossoms into an unexpected romance.
The Love Game (The Game #1) – Emma Hart
Emma Hart’s New York Times bestselling Contemporary Romance series tells the story of Maddie Stevens and Braden Carter. Ever since she first laid eyes on him, the fiery Maddie hated Braden.
He’s egotistical, arrogant and the ultimate playboy of their university. One of the best books like Beautiful Disaster for nailing an unlikely couple where there is more than what meets the eye behind both partners, it is a hot and sometimes steamy affair that any romance lover will enjoy!
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
