Pushing the Limits
by Katie McGarry
Series: Pushing the Limits #1
Genre: YA, contemporary, romance
Published July 31st 2012 by Harlequin Teen
Source: Won
Purchase: Amazon * Barnes and Noble * Book Depository
Local purchase: Fullybooked * National Bookstore
Blurb (Goodreads):
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.
My Thoughts:
Pushing The Limits was one of the books people highly recommend to me since it was (or before) published. I've heard a lot of great things about it. Since this book sounds like Simone Elkeles' Perfect Chemistry--the trilogy which I loved, I knew I have to read this too.
When I started to read this book, I realized that the plot, the intro, and the characters are common. I've read them in a book or two, that's why it's not new to me and I felt a little disappointed. But despite the similarities to other books, I also saw that Pushing The Limits has it's own gem.
This book was told in two perspectives: Echo and Noah's. Each living in different worlds, each have a broken past, each have a different personality. The first chapter was told in Echo's perspective. I didn't liked her when I first read her first few sentences. My first impression was she's a spoiled and ungrateful child. I found myself hating her thoughts. But as continue reading, I found out why she hates her stepmother, and I end up hating her too and start understanding Echo. She suffers in a past she doesn't even remember and tries to be normal in the present, just so the people in her school would like her back. Noah, on the other hand, was the kind of guy any sane girl wouldn't want to be with. He also have a past that made him a bad boy. I wasn't impressed with him either at first because his mouth (and mind) contains foul words and pervert-ness. He's a big jerk (except when he's around with his friends and brothers) but I understood him because I had a head-start of what he'll be, and the author made a good portrayal of her kind of Noah.
They both had a tragic past and because of this, they found each other and have an understanding. I like the fact that they found and have each other, but I didn't like how soon they 'fell in love'. I saw that the power of lust was stronger and the 'understanding each other' was like an add-on. However, I turned to really like this book, in overall.
One of the main reasons why I liked this book was the heartfelt stories of the main characters. Their stories made a huge emotional impact on me and I often found myself hating and crying while reading. Especially on Noah's story. Whenever I'm in Noah's perspective, I cry. I am not even aware of it. His story about his parents, especially on his brothers broke my heart. I don't relate to him, but his story was powerful enough for me to come undone. Whenever I found myself crying, I always scream to my head, Katie McGarry, why are you doing this to Noah?? To me??? Up until the last page, I wept. I'm such an emotional mess.
Despite of the happy ending, I still beg the book to undo their stories. Because that cannot happen. It hurts my heart too much.
Judging Pushing The Limits was hard for me. There are good things in this book, and there are also things that I didn't liked. But when I focused on my reading journey, I know that it had a huge impact to me--which was a good thing for a book-reader relationship--and I realized I really liked it. Pushing The Limits would break you and make you stronger again. It will make you also fall in love and have the feels. Get ready to have an emotional journey with this book.
When I started to read this book, I realized that the plot, the intro, and the characters are common. I've read them in a book or two, that's why it's not new to me and I felt a little disappointed. But despite the similarities to other books, I also saw that Pushing The Limits has it's own gem.
This book was told in two perspectives: Echo and Noah's. Each living in different worlds, each have a broken past, each have a different personality. The first chapter was told in Echo's perspective. I didn't liked her when I first read her first few sentences. My first impression was she's a spoiled and ungrateful child. I found myself hating her thoughts. But as continue reading, I found out why she hates her stepmother, and I end up hating her too and start understanding Echo. She suffers in a past she doesn't even remember and tries to be normal in the present, just so the people in her school would like her back. Noah, on the other hand, was the kind of guy any sane girl wouldn't want to be with. He also have a past that made him a bad boy. I wasn't impressed with him either at first because his mouth (and mind) contains foul words and pervert-ness. He's a big jerk (except when he's around with his friends and brothers) but I understood him because I had a head-start of what he'll be, and the author made a good portrayal of her kind of Noah.
They both had a tragic past and because of this, they found each other and have an understanding. I like the fact that they found and have each other, but I didn't like how soon they 'fell in love'. I saw that the power of lust was stronger and the 'understanding each other' was like an add-on. However, I turned to really like this book, in overall.
One of the main reasons why I liked this book was the heartfelt stories of the main characters. Their stories made a huge emotional impact on me and I often found myself hating and crying while reading. Especially on Noah's story. Whenever I'm in Noah's perspective, I cry. I am not even aware of it. His story about his parents, especially on his brothers broke my heart. I don't relate to him, but his story was powerful enough for me to come undone. Whenever I found myself crying, I always scream to my head, Katie McGarry, why are you doing this to Noah?? To me??? Up until the last page, I wept. I'm such an emotional mess.
Despite of the happy ending, I still beg the book to undo their stories. Because that cannot happen. It hurts my heart too much.
Judging Pushing The Limits was hard for me. There are good things in this book, and there are also things that I didn't liked. But when I focused on my reading journey, I know that it had a huge impact to me--which was a good thing for a book-reader relationship--and I realized I really liked it. Pushing The Limits would break you and make you stronger again. It will make you also fall in love and have the feels. Get ready to have an emotional journey with this book.
Rating:
Cute blog layout, Michelle! Very fairy-tale like! I'm very interested in reading this book. Do you recommend it? :)
ReplyDeleteArra
Style Reader
I have actually aimed for fairytale-lish, so thanks Arra!
DeleteYes, I recommend it, especially if you like YA contemporary [hot] romance. ;)
I felt the same about this book, but I really enjoy these type of romances! I'm interested in reading the spinoffs of this...
ReplyDeleteYou mean, hot romance?
DeleteThey're okay with me, as long as not too much, and NO insta-love. I'm also okay with spinoffs, if I have time to watch them, unlike these past months.
Good review. I liked this story, but Crash Into You by Katie McGarry is my favorite. ;)
ReplyDelete