Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release date: July 31, 2012
Pages: 384

Two years ago, Echo woke up in the hospital covered in scars—and no memory of what happened. She’s been enrolled in a special program at school, which will hopefully unlock her repressed memory and help her understand how her mother was involved in her “accident”. Noah is an orphan who recently lost visitation rights to his younger brothers. He’s also working with the school counselor. Echo and Noah are thrown together by circumstance, but end up forming an unbreakable bond.

Fans of Simone Elkeles, rejoice! Katie McGarry has written a steamy, emotional story about an unlikely couple that will fill the void that Perfect Chemistry left. Haven’t read Perfect Chemistry? That’s fine; you’ll still love Pushing the Limits. Let me break it down for you:

The story is like candy. The kind of candy that you suck on for a while because it tastes so darn good. Pushing the Limits is the kind of book that is easy to indulge in. Constantly. I was instantly hooked by Katie McGarry’s simple writing style and the manner in which she told her story. Therefore, I read Pushing the Limits in every spare moment I could—even on my ten minute breaks at work.

The characters make you feel. Both protagonists—Echo and Noah—have tragic lives. Katie McGarry doesn’t dramatize the tragedy, but it’s there, and it makes your heart go out to the characters. Plus, Echo and Noah have great personalities, so despite their yucky home lives, they’re fun people to read about. You can’t help but root for these two, both individually and as a couple.

Which brings me to… The romance is sizzling hot! If you enjoy some steaminess in your YA, Pushing the Limits will be right up your alley. The chemistry between Echo and Noah is off the charts—and it’s believable, too. Their relationship isn’t perfect, which keeps with the gritty, down-to-earth tone of the book, but it’s gosh darn cute.

I hope you’ll give Pushing the Limits a read sometime! It’s an absolutely fabulous book, both because of the family issues it deals with and because of how fuzzy the romance makes you feel. Four for you, Katie McGarry!

4.5/5 stars
For those who like: romance, issue books, emotional storylines

Check back tomorrow for a giveaway of Pushing the Limits!