Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry Review and Giveaway

"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.
Okay, *clears throat and stands up* I have an admission to make... one of the reasons I don't read contemporary YA very much is because of all the talk about popularity. I honestly don't understand it and it often comes off as whining. However, I was curious about this one and I'm so glad I tried this book.

So, after my confession you may be wondering if there was that age old popular kids against the downtrodden? Yes, there was and no, I didn't like it, but it didn't mess with my enjoyment of the book and I will admit the author did use it skillfully to enhance other areas of the book. Plus, the book wasn't about this, it was about the two well developed and realistic feeling characters of Echo and Noah.

Told in alternating POV you get a glimpse into both lives you become entwined with them both. You really feel what happens in their lives and I have to say that even the foster care scenarios felt real to me. The way the characters played out was realistic and what I really loved is how this whole story ended. You were left with knowing ALL the players and their motivations. While it was an HEA, all story problems were solved, but not all of life's problems. It was a very satisfying ending. I loved that we got to know the motivations of all the players including the ones we thought would end up as one dimensional bullies.

This was also a bit of an emotional ride. Both main characters had considerable losses. I admit to tearing up and having to put the book down when Echo was finally dealing with her brother's death. It also had a lot to do with invisible scar tissue. The kind that life gives us as well as those we give ourselves. My favorite quote about this came from Noah:
The worst type of crying wasn't the kind everyone could see~ the wailing on the street corners, the tearing at clothes. No, the worst kind happened when your soul wept and no matter what you did, there was no way to comfort it. A section withered and became a scar on the part of your soul that survived. for people like me and Echo, our souls contained more scar tissue than life. (p. 278)
I give this contemporary YA 5 stars. I admit I was totally captivated by the lush characters and I loved the completeness of the ending.
I received this book from the Media Masters Publicity and no compensation for my review was given.
Katie McGarry's website
Where to buy the book:

Oh and guess what??? I have a book from MMPublicity to giveaway!! It's US/Canada only. Just fill out the rafflecopter form below to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

26 comments:

  1. Do you know that when I saw the book I decided to not read it? Now I think I was wrong, but too many persons post about it and I'm afraid to expect a little too much about it. Though I'm so glad you enjoyed it. great review!

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  2. YEAH! You loved it! :) :) :)

    Gotta love when a read just does it for you!

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  3. I love the realness of YA Cont. Hooks you in quickly!

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  4. Oh, gosh that quote is a great one: The kind of weeping when your "soul wept" - very touching.

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  5. I know exactly what you mean about contemporary YA as I feel this way about prize winning fiction.

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  6. Great review. This sounds like a great read! I love stories that are told in alternating point of view. Thanks for the give away!

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  7. YEAH MELISSA!!! So glad you loved this one too, I just feel head over heels for Noah and Echo. I think you described the ending beautifully - with the story resolved but life not. Brilliant:) I can't wait for Beth's story, it's sure to be dark and emotional and intense as well!

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  8. I love contemporary YA because it takes me back to when I was a teen, when the "rest of my life" stretched out before me in a long, exciting and scary path, when I felt like I could do anything and be anything I wanted to.

    I've heard great things about this book and am looking forward to reading it!

    Cyndi

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  9. I hear you, that's the reason why i avoid YA conte too. The drama, whining and ohh popularity. It's not gonna matter in the end.

    but this one sounds different

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  10. Yes! Thank you. I don't understand the popularity angle either. I guess it's because of the school I came from. Everyone knew everyone from birth so popularity wasn't really an issue.

    I love that quote from Noah too. It's so powerful.

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  11. YAY! I loved this book soooo much! Echo is my fave :)

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  12. The popularity angle and dealing with the mean girls are just so overly done. So I totally get you. I was unsure of this one thought I'd give it 20 pages and yeah, I didn't stop there. I'm about good hundred pages into it and I really like the characters. I had to put it down because I had other reads that I had to finish it. Going to pick it up soon!

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  13. I like YA because then my sister and I can read the same book. I won't let her read some of my steamier reads ;) Thanks for the chance.

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  14. i can say thtt i love to read yay a book
    i love the way authro do them and ten they can be read a by alot o young and old
    i gave yaya bok to a guy and her read it and then gave it to his grand duaghter and then she let her mom read it

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  15. It's pretty simple really, these are stories that a lot of readers can relate to. Many people tend to be experiencing similar situations in their own lives and it helps them to feel less isolated. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  16. I like to read YA because...I'm old and it makes me feel young??

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  17. I love anything YA!!! I really love dystopian, paranormal and all of that but at time I feel that it gets to heavy and I love that contemporary usually is a little lighter to read. Also it is nice to be in a real life situation, that could really happen!

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  18. I've actually been on a contemporary YA kick lately because I've been in the mood for some romance and I find the romance in YA books a lot more satisfying than in adult novels. I'll definitely be reading this book soon.

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  19. This does sound good. But not sure it's for me, but does sound really good. Glad you enjoyed it so much. :) And I've had troubles with contemporary too.

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  20. The best part of contemporary is knowing that it could be real. :))

    Thanks for the awesome giveaway!

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  21. I love YA because it usually is a story about firsts: first love, heartache, loss, etc,. There's something to be said for reading a story that isn't jaded yet by adult views. Thanks for the lovely giveaway. :)

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  22. I've actually just gotten into reading YA contemporary books. They're a nice break, or maybe I should just say different, from the paranormal books I usually read.

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  23. I recently got into reading YA contemporary and it is slowly becoming one of my favorite genre's. I love simplicity of a good YA romantic novel when tying to veer away from the paranormal books I read most.

    - Beckie

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  24. I love reading contemporary YA during the summer, I don't why. I guess reading books take me back to my teenage years....and I love it. Thank you for a chance to win a copy. There are a lot of high reviews on this book.

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  25. There is something about these books that bring me back to my younger years! Plus my daughter loves them too so they get double the love!

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