Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry Series: Pushing the Limits #1
Published by Harlequin Teen on July 31, 2012
Genres: Contemporary
Pages: 384
Format: ARC
Source: BEA
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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.
2012 is turning out to be the year for awesome contemporary books. Pushing The Limits, Katie McGarry’s debut novel, is one of the best contemporary books I have read. I can already tell that this is one author I will completely adore. I’m already super stoked for her next book, a companion to Pushing The Limits!
Echo is one severely damaged girl. Something traumatic happened to her one night close to the end of her sophomore year. She has scars on both her arms but she doesn’t remember anything about how she got them. That night changed everything for her and she has never been the same girl since. Now it’s her senior year and she’s finally trying to get back her life. She is scared, confused, lonely, and a lot of the time angry. Life has gone on without her and everyone is trying to shove her back into her old life and she just doesn’t fit. She’s such an easy character to like and connect with. She’s very raw and real and she’s very sarcastic inside her head (and sometimes out of it.) She may be damaged but she still has a great sense of humor and it’s clear that she’s a very smart girl. She’s a well-rounded, supremely awesome main character.
Then there is Noah. What is it about guys named Noah? So far every one that I have read about, I have loved and this Noah is no exception. He’s the quintessential bad boy but there is so much more to him. The book is told in alternating point-of-views so you get a glimpse inside Noah’s head and he’s a wonderful guy no matter how he acts on the outside. Sure I liked Echo but I was so invested in everything that happened with Noah. I have to say that his story may have been more interesting to me. Everything that happened to him broke my heart and I found myself sobbing by the end of the book, both about what happened to Echo and what happened to Noah. They are both very broken people but together they are so perfect. Also, Noah’s friends, Isaiah and Beth help make this book so awesome. They are hilarious and they really are like family to Noah. Beth’s story is the next book and I have very high hopes.
The romance in Pushing the Limits is some of the hottest I have read. Simone Elkeles blurbed this book and that kind of gave me a clue but I was still surprised by how sexy and steamy it was. I would honestly have to compare this one to a Simone Elkeles book, both with the romance and with how much I loved it. The story is addicting and I dare you to put this one down once you’ve started it. It’s damn near impossible.
Overall, Pushing The Limits is a must-read for every YA reader out there. Heck, even if you aren’t a YA reader (if you aren’t, why are you on my blog?) you must check this one out. Katie McGarry is an author to watch!
Looking for more reviews of Pushing The Limits?
I got this one from NetGalley this week and can’t wait to read it! I just read a review over on April’s blog and not yours … both are gushing! Might have to bump it up and read it next. 🙂
Great review, Katie!
I get how the comment contest is now: Comment on each August post for an entry. Ok. I’ve noticed how this book, Pushing The Limits is like the Romeo and Julliete story. They can’t be with each other, yet can’t resist the pulling urge. But that one night Echo changed still is a case unsolved… Love the review! Explains more than the summary! Also, I’m a follower of this blog. Check in almost every day.
sudhamalee@hotmail.com
Still me! But if we don’t put our email everywhere we comment, his will you know who gets how many points???
Edit now… ~Sudha
I cannot wait to read this one! I have heard nothing but great things and after reading this review I am even more excited. It’s funny because I’ve read a couple of books with a Noah and they were all amazing!
I have heard so many wonderful things about this book and can’t wait to start my own copy– it sounds great!
I also really loved this book! I didn’t know that their was going to be a companion novel, that’s so awesome! Great review 🙂
I loved this book so much! It was my favorite Contemp this year so far!
I have heard nothing but good things about this one, I can’t wait to get to read it! Great review!
I am currently reading this, i planned to finish it by 31st july when it was released in the uk but i have failed, i am 70% through it and OMG i just absolutely love it. My review will just be full of gushing passion for the book and for Noah lol, it properly won’t even make sense lol xx Great review as ever Katie x
What is it about the bad boy that is so intriguing… you can’t resist lol! I LOVED Pushing the Limits…. It was literally the ONLY book I read in June because after I read it I could get into anything else. Love you review… I cried over what happened to them both too. They both went through SO MUCH and I felt so bad for them. The romance scenes were super steamy though (loved those) this book definitely reminds me of Simone Elkeles’ Perfect Chemistry and I can’t wait until Beth’s story releases either!
I really, really liked this book! The characters and their individual stories were AMAZING and I LOVED how they were thoroughly fleshed out. Can’t wait to read about Beth too!
I initially passed over this book because it didn’t seem like my kind of read but I’ve been hearing nothing but great reviews so I may have to give it a shot.
A fabulous review thank you. I’m looking forward to this read.
Noahs rock, I totally agree!!
I loved this romance, not only because it was a slow burn but because the characters were fully realized people individually who were good for each other.
Loved the brothers 🙂
Lovely review 🙂