Monday, May 27, 2013

Dare You To (Pushing the Limits #2) by Katie McGarry

Second in a series
462 p.
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
TBP: 5/28/13
Source: eARC from NetGalley and publisher for review
If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does.... 
Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him. 
But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all...
My thoughts:
 As many of you know I don't read contemporary YA. I read the first book, Pushing the Limits and just loved that book. The world read very real to me and I was surprised that many people criticized it for not feeling real. As someone who has had friends in the system as well as working with kids in the system for a short time, I can tell you it did feel real to me. Still, as much as I loved that book, I admit I worried that I would not love this one as much. Thought maybe it would suffer from second book syndrome.

Oh but I did love this book! I even loved the fact that it took me a little more than half the book to even like Ryan and Scott. I felt that they had potential, but didn't like the way they treated Beth. Ryan had to prove himself to me and Beth which he does with flying colors. Scott had to stop paving that road to hell and really listen and express himself to Beth. Both had to stop forcing Beth into a mold she either didn't fit into or wasn't ready to try out. Both finally won me over. However, I don't want to say to much more or I'll end up spoiling so much of the book. I figure letting you in on the HEA wasn't a problem since I knew there would be one before I even picked up this book.

I give this book 4 1/2 stars. Ms. McGarry has found a fan in me and is one author I wouldn't hesitate to read any of her contemporary YA books. I can't wait for Isaiah's story which is next.

28 comments:

  1. I don't read contemporary YA when I can avoid it either, but this series was pretty much unavoidable. Damn peer pressure. I DID like both books, but I didn't love them, unfortunately. There's something about McGarry's characterizaton that always strikes me as dishonest, unrealistic. But her stories are always enjoyable, and I'll be reading Isaiah's book too, of course.
    Great review, Melissa.

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    1. I was mostly referring to the situation for Noah people didn't say was real, but does happen. I agree with you about the characters though. However, almost all YA appears to me like that. If it wasn't we wouldn't get our HEA at the end of the book. :) Hopefully you will find a contemp one day to love. :D

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  2. I should but then YA and I...eh

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    1. Yea... probably you would need at least a fantasy element. I do understand. :D

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  3. I tend to avoid contemporary YA as well... still not sure but glad you liked it and it rang true for you!

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    1. Yea, it usually has to have some sort of creative element for me to enjoy, but having read the last book I had to have this one. :)

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  4. Glad to hear that it didn't suffer from second book syndrome. I'm reading lots of good reviews about this one with most bloggers saying that it is an even stronger story than the first book.

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    1. I actually don't think it was a stronger story. It was a good story though. :)

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  5. YEAH MELISSA! We're review twins today and I absolutely adored this book as well. It took me a long time to make my peace with Scott as well, Ryan I warmed too fairly quickly, but Scott had some things to prove to Beth before he won me over, but I so loved that relationship. It was another layer to an already layered story and it just made things even better. Fabulous review!

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    1. Jinx! ;)

      I still have some problems with Scott, but I did make total peace with Ryan. He did win me over. :)

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  6. Glad you ended up loving. Both of these felt so real to me and some of the best ya contemp (dark) out there in my opinion

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    1. I agree! Simplistic in the darkness, but it still worked.

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  7. I so need to read this book ASAP! Glad you enjoyed it.

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  8. I'm excited to get to know Beth better! And I don't get how people thought the first one didn't feel real, I think everyone's experiences are all different. So glad you enjoyed this one!

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    1. I agree with you. I think it is about experiences. I am curious about Isaiah now. :)

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  9. I so need to get going with this series. I want to experience the love for these books that everyone else seems to have. Thanks for the great review!

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  10. Oh I'll have to try this series too!

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  11. Yay, I'm so glad you enjoyed this one, Melissa! I really enjoyed it myself and was so impressed by the pairing. It wasn't as poignant as Pushing the Limits, but it WAS really good. Great review!(:

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    1. I agree, wasn't as poignant, but still had me in tears on occasion. We need the next now! :)

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  12. Melissa, I am not a fan of contemporary YA, but loved this series too! I think because it pushes the limits and could easily fall in the new adult category. Another author who rocks it and is an exception is Colleen Hoover. Awesome review, mine posts tomorrow and I agree with your review!

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  13. This series isn't my favorite because it's a bit too melodramatic for me (I tend to prefer comedy) but I did really like this book-Beth and Ryan brought the swoon hard for me!

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  14. I am also not the biggest fan of NA or contemp YA because it is so much drama and angst, but I do like Mcgarry and PTL. I am reading this one next week and I am looking forward to it!

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  15. I'm so glad you loved this book and it didn't suffer from second book syndrome! I agree, Ryan and Scott had to win me over, but they did in the end. "Both had to stop forcing Beth into a mold she either didn't fit into or wasn't ready to try out." <---I totally agree with this, they had to change their attitude towards Beth and stop trying to changer her completely, but work with her. Beautifully put! I love this series and am dying to read the next book. Fantastic review!! :-)

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  16. It does sound good, glad you enjoyed it.

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  17. Excellent review!! I did have a hard time at first with Ryan until I realized he wasn't the player he was pretending to be. I loved these two together. I would have liked a little more clarity on Scott and Beth's previous relationship, but it all worked out. You know what bothered me the most- Beth's hair!!!

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