Spin-off Saturdays: On Saturdays, I will review a series that is a spin-off series. It is recommended that you read the original series first in order to get the most out of the spin-off series. Here is this week’s offering:
The Maddox Brothers Series is a spin-off of the Beautiful Series
SERIESous’ Top Picks: Cover Love
Series: The Maddox Brothers
This is a spinoff of the Beautiful Series.
Author: Jamie McGuire
# of Books: 5 (Full Reading Order Here)
Book Order: Connected
Complete?: Yes
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Drama
Heat Rating: toasty
Point of View: First Person, Single
Publication Date: July 2014 – August 2016
Source & Format: Public Library–Audiobook (Beautiful Oblivion)
WARNING: If you have not finished the original series, this review may have spoilers!
Disclaimer: I only read the first book of the series, Beautiful Oblivion, and have opted not to pick up the sequels. Find out why below…
My Expectations?
It had been a long time since I read Beautiful Disaster but I remembered being very excited for the spin-off series when it was announced. Given my review of that book, I went into this series expecting some slightly over the top drama but with a cute, swoon-worthy romance nonetheless.
How Does It Compare To The Original?
Beautiful Oblivion kinda felt like the slightly more grown-up version of the original series (though I’m not necessarily talking about character maturity). They chemistry between Cami and Trenton is off the charts and I was totally in love with their love story.
And when I compare the dramatics here to the original series, they seem more convoluted and messier. The stakes just seem higher for our leads and I love the tension that brought about…until I didn’t.
Anything I Didn’t Like?
Well, the love triangle in Beautiful Oblivion (Book #1) really killed that book for me. The whole situation was overly cryptic and though I can see why with some of the developments, it still was a little much for me. I guess I didn’t understand the struggle or what the big deal was.
My Audiobook Experience:
I really loved the audiobook so I was a little bummed that my library didn’t have the read of the books as audio.
Why I Won’t Be Continuing the Series:
I actually planned on reading the sequels once I finished Beautiful Oblivion. While certain things irked me, I felt like I knew what to expect for the sequels so I was willing to give them a chance. But as time passed, I really only remembered the things that drove me nuts about the book and so I’ve decided to just let this series go…well, into oblivion.
Series Rating: DNF
Beautiful Oblivion 3/5 | Beautiful Redemption N/A| Beautiful Sacrifice N/A | Beautiful Burn N/A |Beautiful Funeral N/A
If you are into melodrama and have enjoyed McGuire’s other titles, this will be right up your alley.
Read if You Like: romances around family, melodramatics
Avoid if You: dislike love triangles
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Synopsis for Beautiful Oblivion (from Goodreads):
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.
