July 06, 2012

Review: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry
Hardcover; 384 pages
Expected publication: July 31, 2012 by Harlequin Teen

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So wrong for each other...and yet so right.
No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal. But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.  Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

Pushing the Limits has everything I look for in a young adult contemporary romance. Characters you can empathize with, an engrossing plot, sexual tension, pacing, structure, depth—it was all there for me.

The romance takes the front seat in Pushing the Limits, but it isn’t all there is to the story and I loved that. Both Echo and Noah have their personal issues that they’re dealing with, and they deal with them very differently. Their actions and circumstances make them opposites but in many ways they are a lot alike. I enjoyed watching them push through their problems, together and apart. The secondary characters were great as well, and I’m looking forward to reading Beth’s story (Dare You To).

While this book is ultimately a romance, the plot is raw and engrossing. There is nothing sugar-coated about Echo and Noah’s lives.  Their circumstances were very believable, but they were also done in a way that didn’t feel cliché, as these things can sometimes seem.  It was extremely well-written, and all of the pieces came together perfectly.

There isn’t a single thing I can think of to complain about. Pushing the Limits is the epitome of what contemporary YA should be, and Katie McGarry has made a fan out of me.

There’s a part of the story that has stuck with me, and I feel the need to share a teaser from it.
“Her shoulders never shook. No tears streamed down her face. The worst type of crying wasn’t the kind everyone could see—the wailing on street corners, the tearing at clothes. No, the worst kind happened when your soul wept and no matter what you did, there was no way to comfort it. A section withered and became a scar on the part of your soul that survived. For people like me and Echo, our souls contained more scar tissue than life.” –Page 278 
5/5 Stars





25 comments:

  1. I am so excited for this book-I love YA contemp romance and Harlequin Teen has been putting out some amazing books lately!

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  2. I've so been wanting to read this, so I'm really glad that it has so many great reviews. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

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  4. Oh I think I'll fall in love with Noah! This story has gotten awesome reviews!

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  5. GAH....I've been needing a YA contemporary to blow me away. I immediately added this to my wishlist. Sounds like a must have!

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  6. Wow, I really enjoyed that part you shared. Great review, this sounds like something I would love, can't wait to get my hands on it

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  7. Great review! I absolutely ADORED this book and I'm glad you did too! :D

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  8. Found nothing to complain about either! I was totally wrapped up in their stories.
    Thanks for review.
    Brandi from Blkosiner’s Book Blog

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  9. Great review! I makes me want to read this novel very badly!

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  10. This sounds like a really good story. Now I want to read it. Thanks for sharing your review!

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  11. I've seen this book around a lot recently. A great review thank you.

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  12. This book touched me in a way few books have touched me. It was an awesome ride!

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  13. I might be willing to read it--I have heard of it. Thanks for the review!

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  14. I bought this book because I saw the cover on the B&N website and I kept coming back to it for about a week or so. I still didn't read the description. When I ordered it, I didn't read it right away...I actually waited a couple of days. When I started, I was hooked within the first three pages. I didn't move or go to the bathroom until it was finished. When I finished, I wanted to read it over right away!! This book was so very amazing and real. The above excerpt from page 278 was a moment in the book that just felt like it touched my soul!!!!

    So I guess I can say that I LOVED this book!! :)

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  15. I loved this book! Your review was great :)
    I can't wait to reread this haha

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  16. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book. I have never been a huge fan of contemporaru novels, especially in YA. But then I read Beautiful Disaster, and Easy, and yeah I know they're now classified as NA (new adult), but I totally got sucked into contemporary because of them! This book, even though it's YA, is AMAZING. I love this book! Thanks for the review!!!

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  17. I want to read this book I have heard good things about this story. I have this book in my book wish list.

    jmesparza821(at)gmail(dot)com

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  18. What a great review I heard so much about this book can't wait to read it on the top of my wishlist!

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  19. Thank you for the wonderful review. I received an ARC of this book and I really liked it..

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  20. Wow. I'd read the blurb for this one before and knew I wanted to read it, but after this review, I really want to get my hands on this book! I love the excerpt you selected...so powerful. Thanks!

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  21. I am so glad you liked this! I received this for my birthday, and I cannot wait to read it. :)

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  22. OMG I am currently reading this book and I am LOVING it. I got the hardcover and it looks AMAZING :)

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  23. This is a great review. I have been thinking about buying it. After reading your review I know for sure I have to buy it. THank you for the great review

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  24. I've had this book for a few weeks now but haven't rushed into it. I've heard a lot of good things about it, I think I'll read it next. I like the whole concept it has. I liked this review! So honest

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  25. The cover immediately caught my attention, and looked like something I would like. I read the summary, and it sounds so good. You're review convinced me to read it, thanks!!!

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