Dec 5, 2012

Review: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry


Title: Pushing the Limits
Author: Katie McGarry
Publisher: HarlequinTeen
Publication Date: 7.31.2012
Pages: 392
Genre: Contemporary
Series: No
Source: ARC from BEA

Rating: A-

Summary:
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:
I think I can credit this book with jump starting my renewed obsession with contemporary novels. I got through cycles where I obsess over a certain genre and read it to death. I hadn’t read a contemporary novel in months before this one, and Katie McGarry totally restored my faith and love for this type of book. Heady, romantic, and down-right drool-worthy, Pushing the Limits could easily be compared to every other bad-boy-meets-wounded-girl novel, with the singular exception that it was written with McGarry’s flawless grace.

Echo is a damaged girl, repressing memories of how she came by these winding scars etched into her arms. Noah is a boy that’s been beaten down by the system repeatedly. Together these two collide and explode like a 4th of July fireworks display. Maybe I’m just a sucker for this ‘type’ of story, but there is so much more to it than that.

This is one of those novels where the alternating perspectives just worked. Getting into Echo’s head and then Noah’s was intensely revealing and really added to the overall appeal of the novel. Watching them fall in love, and not just getting a one-sided perspective, was fantastic. I loved it.

The only fault I found with the novel were Echo’s father and step-mother. I get that these two were supposed to be overbearing and somewhat villainous, but after a while I was just flat out fed up with them. They truly started to irritate the bejeezus out of me.

Pushing the Limits is a fabulously romantic story with a mysterious twist. Definitely a book to check out sooner rather than later.

12 comments:

  1. I loved this book too! I love to see alternate POV's in a romance so I can see/feel things from both sides. I'm starting to read a lot more contemporary romances as well, but still trying to split my time with paranormal romances.

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  2. "This is one of those novels where the alternating perspectives just worked."

    YES!!! I absolutely LOVED the dual POV in this book, it was so nice to get into both Noah and Echo's heads and see what was rattling around in there. And I'm mildly in love with Noah. Just saying. Can't wait for Beth's story!

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  3. I love alternating POV and I completely agree with you that it worked in this book. This book was one of my top reads this year. It was amazing.

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  4. I really must read this book. The sad thing is, it is sitting on my bookshelf and it stares at me day after day, begging to be read. I rarely hear so much positive being thrown around about a book by so many people. Now this review. I really need to hurry it up, already!

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  5. Huh. I haven't found contemporary books appealing at ALL recently. Maybe this will re-ignite my interest for them like it did yours :)

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  6. Great review!!! I just got my hands on this book and cannot wait to dive in! Sounds amazing!!!

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  7. I got 2 copies of this at BEA and my BBF (best blogger friend) kayla almost walked to my house from n carolina to get it..lolz..didnt want to wait for the mail..lol..
    I am sad to say I did not read it, I began it and like it a lot. its awesome actually. I need to finish it.

    I know I will adore it too. Book 2 i coming out in the next few months I am excited about that.
    Bella's Bookshelf

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  8. Awesome review :)
    This book is already on my TBR list but I haven't got the time to read it *sigh
    Hopefully I could read it ASAP!

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  9. Great review! :)
    Love this book! :) Will definitely re-read it someday :)

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  10. Great Review! I loved this book soooo much!
    ~Reality Bites! Lets's Get Lost!!

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  11. I loved this book! One of the best contemporary books I've ever read!

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  12. I so want to read this one. Especially after your review! :D

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