Sunday, July 29, 2012

Book Review: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry



Pushing the Limits

by Katie McGarry
Release date: 31st July, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 384 (eARC thanks to NetGalley)

Summary from Goodreads:

"I won't tell anyone, Echo. I promise." Noah tucked a curl behind my ear. It had been so long since someone touched me like he did. Why did it have to be Noah Hutchins? His dark brown eyes shifted to my covered arms. "You didn't do that-did you? It was done to you?" No one ever asked that question. They stared. They whispered. They laughed. But they never asked.

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.

Review By Alaiel Kreuz:
After being attacked by her mother -and almost killed- Echo only adds a new painful moment to her life since her brother's death. Aires was her advocate, the person that helped her and stood by her side no matter what.
But now he is dead, her dad married again with whom used to be her babysitter, Emma, and they are expecting a child. A perfect child that wouldn't bear the scars she does... the scars that are the constant reminder that something horrible happened to her even if she can't remember what and how. And no one would tell her.

That is until Mrs. Collins, her new therapist, gets involved in her life and talks about taking baby steps and working together to get her memories back. She also asks her to tutor Noah if she wants to get some money and repair Aire's car.
But Noah means trouble, he is the kid that do drugs, goes to wild parties and has sex with one girl almost every night.
The problem is the reality is not that simple: Noah's problem began when his parents died in a fire and his little brothers were taken away by the system. A system that put him with a foster father that was abusive. A system that Noah doesn't trust. That's why he wants to prove that he can be all the family the boys need.

When a single moments destroys your perfect life, what can you do to put it back together knowing that is impossible to have it all back?
Somehow these two broken souls realize that although normal doesn't really exists maybe, together, they can find a place where happiness is not impossible.

Personal Opinion:
I don't think there are enough words to describe how beautiful, amazing, mesmerizing and heartbreaking was every second reading this book.

Why? The characters will feel so real you are going to want to be a part of their lives no matter what, that's why.
But I have to be honest about something: The first 50 pages were - at least for me- kind of slow and it was easy to put the book down. For one second I even thought about stoping... But I'm SO glad I didn't 'cause that would have been a huge and horrible mistake. So if this happens to you, don't stop please, I promise you will love this book!

What makes this book so special are both main characters, Echo and Noah, whom we see struggle to put their lives back together, are afraid of being hurt again and fight their own demons.
They never thought that being together meant healing. How could they? He became the bad boy every girl should stay away from and Echo went from popular girl dating the king of school to a social paria in a heart beat.

Have you ever met a person that makes you want to be better? That you want nothing more than to help, heal and treasure? Well, this is want happens here. Echo is, deep inside, a strong girl and Noah is a a caring soul that only needs to find a place to blossom again.

My favorite character? Hum... can I say all of them? Not only Noah or Echo but also Isaac and Beth (Noah's best friends), Lila (Echo best friend) and Mrs.Collins, they all won a special place in my heart and I'm planning on keeping them there for a very long, long time.

To summom up: Best contemporary romance of the year! This genre, that usually is about love, a few problems and a happy-ending evolves to the next level with Pushing the Limits. Serious problems like child abuse, drugs, sex, death and traumas are very present in the whole book and the ending, although happy, was also bittersweet. But it was the right ending, the ending all the characters needed and I felt completely happy with it.

Alaiel's Rating:

If you really liked it, you can pre-order it here:

11 comments:

  1. This book was one that had totally surprised me. Just loved it! Lovely review!

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  2. I heard about this book, but haven't yet read it. Thanks for the detailed review, however, as now I feel better acquainted with the story !

    Great post! Thanks!

    p.s. Just found your blog and LOVE the design! The mouse is as cute as button!! :))

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  3. @Erin W: Glad you liked it too, Erin :D It really is amazing, isn't it?!

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  4. @Musings in Red: Always glad to help ;) I promise you won't regret reading this book at all, is beautiful to say the least! :]

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  5. I really can't wait to get my hands on this book. Reading your review makes me more excited. waa! Hopefully I'll have a copy of this soon!
    Great review by the way.

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  6. Isn't this book amazing? I actually might have loved the beginning the most. For me it just started full force and never really let go.

    It's really a brilliant book.

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  7. This book sounds soooo amazing and I love everything everyone has said about it!

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  8. Lovely review! I'm on a contemporary stretch lately and I'm definitely looking forward to reading it.

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  9. This book must be beautiful! it's on my way already from TBD, and I'm going to read immediately! Thanks for the review!

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  10. This books is on my TBR list now. I just have to find time to read it *sigh

    By the way, nice review. Simple yet intriguing :)

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  11. Although I am not in the YA age group, I still enjoy reading a good YA book. Star crossed lover stories are good. Will read PTL soon.



    Bonnie Yee

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Something to share? (cheese would be awesome!) I love to read your comments :]