Pushing the Limits (Pushing the Limits, #1) in We Stand-Alone Reading Challenge

Feb 10, 2012 Adriana rated it it was amazing

Shelves: wish-list, favorites, ebook, own, romance-all-types, definately-going-to-re-read, emotional-rollercoaster, tear-jerker, heartbreaking, recommend-to-everyone

Wow what can I say about this book without going OMG IT WAS FANTASTIC Wow :). I had heard great reviews about this book and wanted to read it to see what all the hype was about and Damm it did not dissapoint I loved every second of this book I didn't want to put it down .

I loved Echo and Noah and the sizzling chemistry they had . It was hot but apart from that they had a very raw emotional connection. Like they were only themselves when they were together , they could tell each other anything ...more

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Aug 30, 2012 Holly Letson rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Sometimes, you just need to break away from your past in order to have a wonderful future. But, that is easier said than done for Noah Hutchins and Echo Emerson. Noah's lost his parents, so his brothers are the only blood relatives we thinks he has left. And, a dreadful "accident" has been clouding over Echo's mind for months.

Could meeting each other....and, falling in love....be what saves them both from their "Inner Demons"?

Enter Mrs. Collins, a Harvard-educated counselor, who will quickly b ...more

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May 30, 2012 Andrea at Reading Lark rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, read-in-2012, 5-stars, young-adult, arc, netgalley, contemporary

Review Posted on Reading Lark 6/27/12: http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2012/...

I almost didn't read this one because the cover just screams cheesy. That would have been such a stupid mistake. I have yet again been reminded that judging a book by its cover isn't a good idea. Pushing the Limits is one of the best contemporary romances I have read since discovering Simone Elkeles and the Fuentes brothers. I have to admit that I might like Noah just a tiny bit more than the Fuentes brothers. You do Review Posted on Reading Lark 6/27/12: http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2012/...

I almost didn't read this one because the cover just screams cheesy. That would have been such a stupid mistake. I have yet again been reminded that judging a book by its cover isn't a good idea. Pushing the Limits is one of the best contemporary romances I have read since discovering Simone Elkeles and the Fuentes brothers. I have to admit that I might like Noah just a tiny bit more than the Fuentes brothers. You do get that sense of starcrossed lovers that the Elkeles books bring to mind, but its for very different reasons.

One of the things that I really love about this book is it is not just a cookie cutter romance with a gorgeous girl and a hot boy. Echo and Noah are teens with some serious emotional issues to overcome. Their lives are not easy and they know that being together comes with its own set of obstacles. The relationship between these two is real and isn't of the cotton candy variety. I loved seeing Noah and Echo shed their insecurities and learn how to be a couple. It was also nice that the novel bounced between Echo and Noah's perspectives so you could really understand their thoughts and actions.

I went through the emotional gauntlet with this one. I laughed. I cried. I got angry. Only a talented writer and compelling writer can create such a response. I was rooting for a happy ending for both Echo and Noah from the first moment I met them. These are two kids who have been through so much. The supporting characters were also memorable and helped evoke many emotions as well.

Pushing the Limits, at its core, is a story of survival, hope, and love. Life can really suck sometimes, but its the moments with those we love that can make all the difference. I am inspired to appreciate my loved ones a bit more after reading this novel.

A word of caution - Keep in mind that Echo and Noah are Seniors in high school so their relationship veers more in the adult direction. Be warned that this one fogged up my Kindle screen at a few points and might be a bit much for younger teens. There are also numerous instances of the F-word and lots of drug references. Is this typical of high school? Sure. Is this a book every parent will want their teen to read? Not so much. Did I enjoy it? Immensely.

Katie McGarry is a force to be reckoned with in the YA world and I cannot wait to read her next book. She doesn't sugar coat the harsh aspects of life. I find that to be tremendously valuable in YA fiction. This is a novel that I had to force myself to read slowly because I knew the end was coming far too soon for my liking. This should be at the top of your pre-order list.

One Last Gripe: I was really frustrated by the foster system and how it often lets kids like Noah down.

My Favorite Thing About This Book: The chemistry between Echo and Noah

First Sentence: "My father is a control freak, I hate my stepmother, my brother is dead and my mother has... well... issues."

Favorite Character: Noah

Least Favorite Character: Grace
...more

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