Dare You To (Pushing the Limits, #2) in Sophomore Reading Challenge

May 08, 2013 Jen Ryland (jenrylandreviews & yaallday) added it

Shelves: netgalley

*Thanks to Harlequin for allowing me to read an advance e-ARC via Netgalley*

If you love contemporary YA that leans toward NA -- romance that really ramps up both the emotion and the sexual tension -- you should definitely check out Katie McGarry's novels.

Dare You To is a companion book to Pushing the Limits and focuses on Beth, a character from that book. I think it's preferable to read Pushing the Limits before Dare You To, but it's not absolutely necessary.

I love odd couple romances, and Beth *Thanks to Harlequin for allowing me to read an advance e-ARC via Netgalley*

If you love contemporary YA that leans toward NA -- romance that really ramps up both the emotion and the sexual tension -- you should definitely check out Katie McGarry's novels.

Dare You To is a companion book to Pushing the Limits and focuses on Beth, a character from that book. I think it's preferable to read Pushing the Limits before Dare You To, but it's not absolutely necessary.

I love odd couple romances, and Beth and Ryan are just that. She's angry and rebellious, while he's a talented baseball player and parent-pleasing kind of guy. However, it definitely took a while for me to feel any sparks or chemistry between the two of them, and I think that may have been the result of the whole "dare" motif. The dare/bet plot is a well-known one in teen movies and chick flicks like She's All That, Cruel Intentions, or How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days. It's a tried-and-true way to bring two seemingly mismatched characters together, to let them fall in love, and then let the reader watch the emotional fireworks as bet or dare is revealed.

In the case of Dare You To, I thought the dare concept detracted somewhat from the main story. As the book opens, Ryan and his best friend Chris are having a contest to see who can collect the most phone numbers. Fine, except that Chris has a girlfriend and claims he's madly in love, and Ryan is supposed to be his best friend. Right off, I'm not favorably disposed to either guy. Chris dares Ryan to ask Beth for her number and -- to her credit -- she shoots him down. Then Chris proceeds to dare Ryan to get Beth to go out with him.

The dare subplot did eventually fall by the wayside so the book could focus on all the other stuff going on. Just as in Pushing the Limits, there are Issues with a capital I: Beth's junkie mother, friction between Ryan's parents over his brother, Ryan's mean girl ex. All the characters have traumas and problems and resentments and loads of angst. Beth curses and rages and tries to protect her train wreck of a mother while Ryan tries to please everyone around him. Ryan tries to get closer to Beth, and she shoves him away. At times these kinds of books can get to be too much of an emo-fest for my taste, but I like the way that Katie McGarry allows the hard edge of reality to cut through all the emotional drama. She doesn't always try to tie everything up in a neat bow. For example, it's clear that Beth still isn't crazy about Echo, the main character from Pushing the Limits. Things stay unresolved with Beth's mother, and that felt realistic to me.

And … what about Isaiah?

I love that guy! For me, the most moving parts of Dare You To were the scenes between Beth and Isaiah, and I wish there had been more of them. I could feel the emotion between the two of them, and my heart broke as they tried to sort out their feelings for each other. ...more

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Jul 09, 2012 Andi (Andi's ABCs) rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley

4.5 Stars

I heart Beth's story! She was so lost and alone. Ryan was just what he needed. Although similar to McGarry's first book, it also was a book all of its own too. Sure Beth and Ryan were opposites like Noah and Echo from Pushing the Limits, but there was something more believable about Ryan and Beth's connection. As they say opposites attract and Beth and Ryan were complete opposites.

Dare You To is the story of Beth, who we were first introduced to in Pushing the Limit. Beth has been relyi 4.5 Stars

I heart Beth's story! She was so lost and alone. Ryan was just what he needed. Although similar to McGarry's first book, it also was a book all of its own too. Sure Beth and Ryan were opposites like Noah and Echo from Pushing the Limits, but there was something more believable about Ryan and Beth's connection. As they say opposites attract and Beth and Ryan were complete opposites.

Dare You To is the story of Beth, who we were first introduced to in Pushing the Limit. Beth has been relying on herself for a really long time and has grown used to it. With her mother being an alcoholic and her mom's boyfriend being abusive and flat out creepy, Beth has only Isiah and Noah as a support system and the aunt that allows her to stay at her place. But when Beth's mom is in trouble and Beth sticks up for her, her uncle steps in and makes a deal. Her mom can either go to jail or Beth can come and live with him. Not wanting to send her mom away Beth agrees to go with her uncle where she meets Ryan. Cocky, arrogant, adorable Ryan that never passes up a dare and loves to get under Beth's skin. Stuck between two worlds Beth has to decide what is more important herself or what everyone else need/wants from her.

Seriously I wanted to just hug Beth through almost all of this book. She was so lost and was constantly trying to do the right thing even if it was the wrong way. Her walls were so high and so reinforced it is near impossible to get through them and then Ryan comes in and Beth really doesn't know what to do. She has never been treated the way that Ryan treats her and suddenly she doesn't know what to feel. The poor thing was so torn on everything in her life. She really broke my heart. But I loved watching her blossom with her uncle and Ryan's support and to see her finally see she can be more.

All in all I really enjoyed McGarry's second book and I loved how she weaved the two stories together without confusing the reader if they happened to read this one first. I look forward to McGarry's next book and definitely recommend both Pushing the Limit and Dare to You.
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May 19, 2012 Hannah rated it really liked it

Shelves: own-signed, 2013, own-finished-copy

I liked Pushing the Limits, but I wasn't as in love with it as most of the YA blogosphere. I really liked the characters' individual stories in Pushing the Limits but had some issues with the romance. So I was both excited and nervous when I started Dare You To. And while I still had some of the same issues as I'd had with Pushing the Limits, I actually liked Dare You To better!

As in Pushing the Limits, the characters in Dare You To are so real you sometimes forget they're fictional. Ryan and Be I liked Pushing the Limits, but I wasn't as in love with it as most of the YA blogosphere. I really liked the characters' individual stories in Pushing the Limits but had some issues with the romance. So I was both excited and nervous when I started Dare You To. And while I still had some of the same issues as I'd had with Pushing the Limits, I actually liked Dare You To better!

As in Pushing the Limits, the characters in Dare You To are so real you sometimes forget they're fictional. Ryan and Beth are not the easiest characters to like - they're messed up, stubborn, and in many ways it feels like they're just trying to piss of the reader. But even when they're annoying, they're real, and that's what matters. Especially the way we get to know the characters and their pasts impressed me - Katie McGarry is a master of showing instead of telling. So much so that you don't know exactly what is going on with Beth's family until the very end, and you find out in a way that feels completely natural, not just orchestrated to cause drama, which I really appreciated.

The romance had some of the same aspects that bugged me in Pushing the Limits. Again, there is a strong focus on all things physical and the characters' appearance - Beth goes on and on about how hot Ryan is and Ryan mentions again and again how he likes Beth because she looks so different from all the other girls he knows. After a while, it just got old - we get it. And again, I felt like the whole thing was just a little too melodramatic. I don't want to sound heartless, but big romantic gestures and declarations of love just aren't my thing. The ups and downs in Ryan's and Beth's relationship go on a little too long for my taste, mainly because of Beth's stubbornness. I get that Beth's refusal to open up is necessary for the story, but the way she keeps ruining things for herself still bugged me because it made the story drag a little. Other than that, though, the romance is great - Beth and Ryan have amazing chemistry.

Like in Pushing the Limits, though, the romance wasn't my favorite part; I enjoyed the individual stories relating family and personal growth a lot more. I don't want to say too much about this because, like I said, I really like the way we slowly discover the extent of the characters' issues, but both of their stories are fascinating.

I always love companion novels because you get to see previous books' characters again, and Dare You To is no exception - I loved seeing Echo and Noah again! I especially enjoyed reading about Isaiah - I can't wait to read his story next!

Despite the smaller issues I had with the romance, I liked this one even more than Pushing the Limits. I love how Katie McGarry combines such dark issues and messed-up characters with such sweet romance. I can't wait for the third book in this series!

Reviewed at http://www.paperbacktreasures.blogspo... ...more

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Dec 25, 2012 Rachael rated it really liked it

Shelves: romance, chick-lit, books-i-own, review-copy, arc, reviewed, 2013, 2013-favorites, 2013-sarc

See more of my reviews @ Moosubi Reviews!

Last year when I read Pushing the Limits , I wasn’t completely wowed as so many others had. But, I had received an ARC of Dare You To from Harlequin Teen Panel, so I decided to give this one a try. And of course, Dare You To surpassed my expectations and proved to be a really sweet and engrossing read!

Beth was a broken and standoffish character, but she’s also one that’s completely believable and caring. At the beginning of the book, she’s, of See more of my reviews @ Moosubi Reviews!

Last year when I read Pushing the Limits , I wasn’t completely wowed as so many others had. But, I had received an ARC of Dare You To from Harlequin Teen Panel, so I decided to give this one a try. And of course, Dare You To surpassed my expectations and proved to be a really sweet and engrossing read!

Beth was a broken and standoffish character, but she’s also one that’s completely believable and caring. At the beginning of the book, she’s, of course, a bit rude, but for good reason. Fiercely devoted to her mother, the only real family she had left, Beth would do anything to fight for her, and I really admired that about her. As a result, sometimes you’ll see Beth throw tantrums, sneak out and do all sorts of crazy things. But it’s also what makes her seem like a real person, and one that’s kind at heart. While she seemed simply like a mean, b-girl in the first book, I felt like we really got to know more about her here.

Ryan, on the other hand, is your classic “golden boy”. He’s charming, sweet and, of course, ridiculously good looking. But inside, he still faced problems of his own. Even if he appeared perfect on the outside, there were struggles he had to deal with both at school and at home. For one, his dad, the mayor, is having troubles with his mother, though they keep the façade of a perfect family for the public. Ryan’s also expected to enter professional baseball as soon as he leaves high school, instead of potentially pursuing his passions in literature. And of course, there’s the classic girl trouble. With the exception of the last, I really felt like I could relate to Ryan to an extent – who doesn’t, at some point, feel like their parents’ and peers’ expectations could really get to them? It was actually pretty surprising for me to find a male character I felt like I could really relate to!

My favorite part, though, was seeing Ryan and Beth together. Not only do they have a great chemistry, but I also feel like they bring the best out of each other. Beth, though a really caring and sweet character, really had trouble opening up to others. With Ryan’s help, however, she’s able to lose some of that hard exterior in order to trust others more. Beth, on the other hand, is able to help Ryan in his path towards adulthood. In the beginning of the book, Ryan’s focused on getting a pro baseball job, mainly because it’s what’s expected of him. Yet, he still finds an interest in writing. I feel like Beth is really able to give courage to him to finally stand up to his parents for what he really wants and become a more independent person.

The only issue I had with the novel was Isaiah! This definitely wasn’t too big of an issue, but I really felt bad for him :( It’s pretty clear from the beginning that Beth would end up with Ryan, though, so I couldn’t help wondering what had happened to him. I can’t wait for Isaiah’s story!

Dare You To was not only a really sweet love story, but also one about finding yourself, letting go of your past and living for only those that really matter and for the future. If you’re a YA contemporary fan and somehow have not put this book on your TBR, do so ASAP – you’ll fall for Ryan and feel for Beth as I did!

* A copy of the novel was provided through Harlequin Teen Panel, the publisher’s outlet to reach out to teenage readers. This did not affect my opinion of the book. My review expresses my honest opinions. ...more

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Apr 16, 2013 Stephanie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: contemporary, ya-fiction, realistic, young-adult

Finished this very early this morning (or late last night)...review to come but all I can say is I loved it. Ms. McGarry has been added onto my sure-bet list. :)

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