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Pushing the Limits (Pushing the Limits, #1)

Katie McGarry

Start date: September 1, 2012

Finish date: October 1, 2012

Discussion: Book Of The Month

Discussion leader: Zee

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What Members Thought

Aug 06, 2012 Janus the Erudite Artist rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley-edelweiss

This book triggered the one thing most important to me in a book, Empathy. And man, did I empathize! There were moments between chapters that I was reading through teary eyes trying not to cry. That didn't last long. By the end of the book my eyes were puffy and my nose was clogged. Damn!

I gotta say Katie McGarry knows how to build her characters well. Echo and Noah's issues may not be something I experienced personally but the author's technique in telling their stories and showing their indivi This book triggered the one thing most important to me in a book, Empathy. And man, did I empathize! There were moments between chapters that I was reading through teary eyes trying not to cry. That didn't last long. By the end of the book my eyes were puffy and my nose was clogged. Damn!

I gotta say Katie McGarry knows how to build her characters well. Echo and Noah's issues may not be something I experienced personally but the author's technique in telling their stories and showing their individual personalities was raw and enticing. And while I know this book focuses on both of their lives and romance between them, I can't help but notice how well the minor characters were established as well. Each one with a different voice, a different issue and has distinguishable characteristics. Very, very commendable. It's not often I find myself engrosses with not only the protagonists but all the people around them as well.

I always love a good love story. And this was definitely amazing! Okay so maybe I was a little irked over Noah's pet name for Echo but I'll let that slide. I love the idea that Noah and Echo not only grew into better people in the end but saw them make sacrifices for each other's future, no matter how painful the choice was. I love how their relationship matured along with them.

This story was set in high school. Our characters are about to graduate. Ah, high school. The life of peer pressure and nonsensical insecurity. I think you can guess I've had a pretty 'eventful' high school life with that statement. Ha! Long story. Anyway, I think the environment was well suited for a plot such as this. I can understand the pressure that Noah and Echo were feeling towards everything that has been happening in their lives, between handling high school and dealing with personal demons, I'd give Mrs. Collins a hug for all that she did to help these two.

Pushing the Limits is an emotional roller coaster. I loved every experience of reading it: the romance, the slow unraveling of Echo's repressed memories, Noah's maturity, everything! This is was absolutely beautiful!

*Thank you, Mira Ink and Netgalley for granting my request to view Pushing the Limits.

For more of my reviews, please visit my blog:
The Blair Book Project @ www.theblairbookproject.blogspot.com ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Jul 31, 2012 Erika rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, sad, realistic, epic, epic-love

“She gave me the same smile I'd seen on Saturday night. That type of smile caused men to write those pussy-ass songs that Isaiah and I made fun of. I'd sit in Mrs. Collins's office for hours and wake my ass up early to go to calculus in order to see that smile again.”

BEFORE:
I can't wait to read this!!!!

AFTER:
OMG this book was insanely good! Take everything you know about love and life away and read.. It gives a new perspective about the struggles of life. Unfortunately these two teenagers had ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jan 09, 2013 Shubba The Emo Reader rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Reviewed On Totally Bookalicious: http://totally-bookalicious.blogspot....

I got this book AGES ago for review while it was up on netgalley for review. At the time I couldn't get into it but I now I know it was just my mood. When I seen the UK kindle version for only 20p before Christmas I decided to buy it. As I prefer reading a finished copy. Now I am kicking myself for waiting!! Pushing The Limits has got to be one of the best contemporary YA books I have EVER read!

Pushing The Limits is told Reviewed On Totally Bookalicious: http://totally-bookalicious.blogspot....

I got this book AGES ago for review while it was up on netgalley for review. At the time I couldn't get into it but I now I know it was just my mood. When I seen the UK kindle version for only 20p before Christmas I decided to buy it. As I prefer reading a finished copy. Now I am kicking myself for waiting!! Pushing The Limits has got to be one of the best contemporary YA books I have EVER read!

Pushing The Limits is told from two POVs. Echo and Noah. On the outside they are both polar opposites to each other but when they thrown together as part of their therapy sessions they realise they have more in common than they think. And pretty soon they are helping one another overcome things in their pasts and trying to make sense of the future.

Echo and Noah, awwwwwww. They are so cute! Echo, she is hurting so much. She is fragile but strong at the same time. She wants to remember what happened to her but is also terrified of what she will discover. Noah, oh lordy lord. Can I have me a Noah Please?!? He is so lovely. Yeah, he comes across as bad boy but he has a good heart when it comes to those to cares about. Together, Echo and Noah, they bring the best out in each other. And they just so sweet. And they chemistry between them? *swoon* It is hot!!

Katie McGarry? Lady, you kept me up until 2.45 to finish this freaking amazing, outstanding, fantastic, heartwrenching story. She has such a talent for making the reader truly feel everything (boy do I mean everything) that the characters went through. I cried so much during this, sad tears, painful tears and happy tears. I was a big blubbering mess. And I loved it!!

As I mentioned the first time I read this I couldn't get into. It was ALL me and the weird mood I was in at the time because Pushing The Limits was nothing short of mindblowing! The story is exciting and emotional. For a book that is around 400 pages I read in one night!! Pushing The Limits isn't one of those books that has twists and turns. It's more about two teenagers discovering who they really are and growing up. About loving yourself and no letting what other people think get to you and putting those who love first and doing what's best for them. And I think Katie McGarry is conveyed this wonderfully!!

Overall, I CANNOT recommend this book enough. If you haven't read it then please go now!! It's super cheap on Kindle if you aren't sure about it. If you have read it then you know my review has did this book no justice at all!! There aren't enough word in the world in truly express my feelings on this novel.

I am going to talk a little about both the UK cover and US. Now, I do kind of like the UK cover. I think is portrays the characters looks very well. And anyone else agree that Echo looks like Lily Collins (Mirror MIrror/City of Bones) And Noah looks like Jack O'Connell (Skins) I think they are just perfect and I totally picture them while reading. HOWEVER, have you seen the US Hardback?? It's fits the story perfectly. It's just amazing and really gets across the relationship between Echo and Noah. ...more

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Jan 04, 2013 Patricia (Night Readings) rated it it was amazing

This review can also be found on my book review blog Night Readings.

Wow. It's been a few days since I read Pushing the Limits, but my awe and amazement still hasn't faded. I admit that I, in the beginning, was slightly put off by the cover of Pushing the Limits. I thought "Oh no, not another cheesy high school drama, disguised behind an interesting sounding blurb," but my fear was squashed after reading just a couple of pages.

Echo is traumatized by an event that she cannot even remember, but if This review can also be found on my book review blog Night Readings.

Wow. It's been a few days since I read Pushing the Limits, but my awe and amazement still hasn't faded. I admit that I, in the beginning, was slightly put off by the cover of Pushing the Limits. I thought "Oh no, not another cheesy high school drama, disguised behind an interesting sounding blurb," but my fear was squashed after reading just a couple of pages.

Echo is traumatized by an event that she cannot even remember, but if she is ever going to be able to face her demons, she needs to know what happened to her. She finds an unexpected ally and confidant in Noah, the resident bad-boy with a girl-using reputation and an attitude to match. Or so she thought. Noah has his own demons to battle and is the person who seems to understand Echo the most. After his parents died in a fire Noah has jumped from foster home to foster home, one more awful than the other. He fights desperately to get more visiting hours to see his two younger brother's who he was separated from. He hopes that he will eventually be able to gain custody of his brothers, so that they can go back to being a family again.

This is by no means a light hearted read. We follow Echo and Noah as they struggle to come to terms with the trauma and difficulties that they have each faced. The pacing was unrushed and gave the opportunity to explore the relationship between the characters, which was what made Pushing the Limits so good. Katie really made her characters come to life, and I felt like I got to know them not just as characters in a book, but real persons.

The more I read, the harder it was to put down. Though the story itself is very serious, there was still room for some humor. There is a scene in particular, involving pasta and a seriously pissed of girl, that I found very entertaining, but I will say no more to spoil it. Grab a copy and read it yourself!

I'd recommend Pushing the Limits to anyone who likes a romance with just the right mix of angst and drama. Be prepared to fall completely in love with the characters. ...more

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Aug 12, 2012 Yona Racheva rated it liked it

Shelves: new-adult

3.5 stars
This book wasn't a very easy read. There are a lot of issues.
Both Echo and Noah have very messed up lifes. They have a lot of things to figure out.
The book didn't grab me but it shows a part of the real life. That things are not perfect, that there are real problems and the happily ever after is not always possible.
The end of the book was not a bad one. And it was perfect for the book, but I'm a romantic I want everything to be perfect all the time and in this case it is just not pos ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Oct 13, 2012 Marissa rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

this book is just AMAZING like so fucking amazing i want a Noah in my life right now.

but seriously this book is just wholesome-ly, completely beautiful where it mainly revolves aroud the lives of two teenagers.

At the end of the book i saw there was some interview content from the author and she said to listen to the song "Free" by the Zac Brown Band (well i think that's their band name) to know and have a little feel about what happens at the end of the book.

AND OH MY GOD. i listened to the da ...more

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Aug 20, 2012 Alexandra rated it did not like it

Shelves: not-finished

I couldnt finish it. Sorry, I dont know what all the hype is... I guess Im a little heartless. The only thing that made me feel the slightest form of pity was Noah and his brothers. But Echo? (stupid name btw) gtfo.

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