Jamie McGuire

*sigh*
When you were in high school, could you not wait to get out and get away from the mean girls?  Yeah, me too.  But guess what I found out?  The mean girls never go away.
Jamie McGuire wrote a book.  A book called Beautiful Disaster.  Here is Goodreads synopsis:

The new Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate percentage of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance between her and the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend America, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University’s Walking One-Night Stand.

Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby needs—and wants—to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the charming college co-ed. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his charms, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’ apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match.
There are some who didn't like this book.  I'm definitely not one of them but there are some who didn't care for it.  And guess what?  That's okay.  Ms. McGuire understands that not everyone is going to like her books.  She doesn't have a problem with that.  And she shouldn't.  
As Abraham Lincoln stated:"You can please some of the people some of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time."
There are a few women out there who have decided to declare a Witch Hunt against Ms. McGuire.  They didn't like the book and it's main character, Travis Maddox.  They also don't feel it's appropriate to be classified as YA.  The good news is is that Beautiful Disaster is not under the YA category.  Ms. McGuire has never once stated it's YA or classified it under that title.  As far as Mr. Maddox, you have the right to your opinion of him.  But where I'm having a hard time is where you think it's okay to rip Ms. McGuire to shreds?  
This baffles me.  I realize we live in America, the "It's a free country" line we all so love to declare in our defense.  And it is.  It is a free country where we have the right to state exactly how we feel.  So while it's true you can say how you feel however you want, why would you want to in such an ugly fashion?
My first thought is that it's jealousy.  Jealousy of Ms. McGuire and her success.  Jealousy of just how popular her book and it's main character have become.  
Or it really could be that you feel Travis is abusive.  While I don't agree at all, I respect your opinion.  Tell me why you think he is?  He never once hit Abby.  He never once called her names.  He never once demeaned her in any way.  
In fact, Travis stands up for her.  He protects her.  He does not treat her one bit like "just another girl."  He shows her love and respect.  
Yes, Travis is very strong in personality and passionate in his feelings.  He does come on strong and definitely lets his feelings and wants be known but I did not see him as abusive, ever.  I saw a man deeply in love and fighting for the girl of his dreams. 
A point I want to make is this:  Why do we still have the "mean girl" mentality?  What is the point?  Would you want a group of people slamming your work?  The work you put your heart and soul into?  Really, how do you think you'd feel reading a bad review?  That would be tough right?  But you also knew it came with the territory of your chosen career so you deal with it as best you can.  The part that gets me is think of how you would feel when not only are you reading a bad review of your beloved book, but then you have to continue reading crap about you personally, your personal life and your upbringing?  Then as if that isn't enough, having to see every move you make being ridiculed and criticized.  You do one thing thinking it will help ease the situation, only to have these women mock you.  You do another thing, mocked again.  Enough is enough.  Mean girl syndrome has got to go.  I really challenge all of us to stop slinging the mud and start showing respect, even to those who may have rubbed us wrong or who we don't agree with.  We can have debates and disagreements but demeaning someone is never okay.
There will always be an author we don't care for.  There will always be a book we hate.  We may even write a review for one on our blog.  We may go as far as writing the author him/herself expressing our distaste for their book, and that's fine.  But think about this, put yourself in their shoes and think twice before you push that send button.  Remember once you do, it's off into cyberspace and there's no getting it back.  Just think before you speak.