"Dare You To" by Katie McGarry

Katie McGarry is back, only this time the story is told from the perspectives of Beth and Ryan. While I liked  Pushing the Limit alright, I wasn't super crazy about it. When Dare You To came in at the library, I checked it out, but it was more from a place of always feeling the need to finish series than anything else. I am really glad I picked this book up. I was so much more engaged in this book and in Beth and Ryan story (especially Beth's) than I was in Echo and Noah's.

Beth can't let anyone know what is actually going on in her life. Her mother is on probation and has a horribly abusive boyfriend, but Beth is still going to do whatever it takes to keep her mother out of jail, even if it means taking the blame for her mother's mistakes- which leads to Beth's uncle taking custody of her. Ryan meets Beth when his friends dare him to ask a random girl at Taco Bell for her phone number. She turns him down but their lives are destined to intertwine once again. Soon Beth starts going to school with Ryan and he continues to try and win the dare which leads to their turbulent love story.

I am so glad that I decided to give this book a read. Before reading it, I wasn't looking forward to the rest of this series, but not I am kind of anxious for more books by McGarry, especially Crash Into You (so many books, so little time). This is one book you won't want to miss!




Happy Reading!
-Melly

In Honor of Talk Like a Pirate Day...

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

I heard so many great thin's about this book prior t' readin' it. Just about every review gave it 5+ stars and made it sound like t' book o' t' year. I guess I went into it with too high expectations since I felt like it didn't quite live up t' t' hype. I'd be quite surprised if haven't heard about Katie McGarry's Pushin' t' Limits.

Noah lost both o' his parents in a house fire and since then has lost his younger brothers t' foster care. He gets supervised visits, but wants more. Echo has lost all memory from t' horrible night that port her almost went t' Davy Jones' locker. All she knows be that she be no longer allowed t' see her mother and her father and new stepmother have become over-protective.  She be now on a strict track towards business school and be no longer allowed t' pursue her dream o' bein' an artist. o' course t' two defy t' odds and fall madly in love.

 

This book deals with some uncommon topics and I appreciated that. It's not often that I come across a book about someone in foster care or one that puts aside all o' his needs in hopes o' gainin' custody o' someone else (at least not at this age). It's also not often that I come across a book where t' "bad parent" be t' mother. McGarry does give her characters and lot o' dept and a lot o' feelin'. I guess I struggled with how often I was frustrated at Echo and Noah.  It seems that they would do anythin' t' deny t' help offered by t' adults in their lives. Aye, I be all for characters that independent and self-sufficient, but when they have resources, they need t' use them! This was a really good book, but thar were several aggravatin' moments where I just wanted Noah and Echo t' get a clue and let others help them! 

 

This be certainly one o' those books that be a must read for t' year. There's always those books that define t' literature o' t' year and this book definitely makes that list! If you don't typically read many books, make aye this be one o' t' ones you do pick up.

 Happy Readin'!
-Melly

"Pushing the Limits" by Katie McGarry

I heard so many great things about this book prior to reading it.  Just about every review gave it 5+ stars and made it sound like the book of the year.  I guess I went into it with too high expectations since I felt like it didn't quite live up to the hype.  I'd be quite surprised if you haven't heard about Katie McGarry's Pushing the Limits.

Noah lost both of his parents in a house fire and since then has lost his younger brothers to foster care.  He gets supervised visits, but wants more.  Echo has lost all memory from the horrible night that left her almost dead.  All she knows is that she is no longer allowed to see her mother and her father and new stepmother have become over-protective.  She is now on a strict track towards business school and is no longer allowed to pursue her dream of being an artist.  Of course the two defy the odds and fall madly in love.  

This book deals with some uncommon topics and I appreciated that.  It's not often that I come across a book about someone in foster care or one that puts aside all of his needs in hopes of gaining custody of someone else (at least not at this age).  It's also not often that I come across a book where the "bad parent" is the mother.    McGarry does give her characters and lot of dept and a lot of feeling.  I guess I struggled with how often I was frustrated at Echo and Noah.  It seems that they would do anything to deny the help offered by the adults in their lives.  Sure, I am all for characters that independent and self-sufficient, but when they have resources, they need to use them!  This was a really good book, but there were several aggravating moments where I just wanted Noah and Echo to get a clue and let others help them!  

This is certainly one of those books that is a must read for the year.  There's always those books that define the literature of the year and this book definitely makes that list!  If you don't typically read many books, make sure this is one of the ones you do pick up.



Happy Reading!
-Melly