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anyalillyb's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bookishmadness's review against another edition
4.0
What it's about: Beth is back and this story the story is hers. After a stint with her mum and her mums boyfriend lands her in the guardianship of her uncle, Beth's life is turned upside down. Her uncle Scott has all these rules, not to mention she can't see her mum, Isaiah or Noah, and Scott's wife clearly hates her, she also has to start out at a different school. There she meets Ryan - a jock baseball player who loves nothing more than to win a challenge, and that dare is directed at her.
What I thought: I was a bit worried at how this book was going to go - don't get me wrong, I was super excited because I loved Pushing the Limits, but Beth is such a moody character, I wasn't sure I would be able to read a whole book from her point of view. Turns out I had nothing to worry about, because Katie McGarry is such a wicked writer. Sure, Beth is still moody and likes to swear and chuck a tantrum, but we get to see the other side of her, the vulnerable side. We also have Ryan's point of view to even it out, but Ryan has problems of his own, including falling for Beth. It should be easy - he likes her, she seems to like him, but Beth only knows about keeping people at arms length - she's been burned before and doesn't intend to let it happen again.
Ryan is a soft, well-meaning character and I couldn't help but fall for him instantly. Sure, he loves a good dare and he's a jock and all that jazz, but when he realised his feelings for Beth, it was game over for him. His friends give the story some extra bang, pulling him in all different directions. We get to learn more about Beth, and all her little secrets about her old home life and who she used to be. We watch her struggle with herself and her choices, proving to us all that there is a lot more beneath the surface. This is another wonderful romantic story, with it's issues just like in Pushing the Limits.
If you loved Pushing the Limits then I definitely suggest picking this one up - or even if you love a good contemporary story. Go on, I Dare You To.
The Good: Another fast paced, action packed love story to lose your heart to.
The Bad: That feeling you get when you realise you won't have any more Ryan!
Rating: 5 bookstacks
What I thought: I was a bit worried at how this book was going to go - don't get me wrong, I was super excited because I loved Pushing the Limits, but Beth is such a moody character, I wasn't sure I would be able to read a whole book from her point of view. Turns out I had nothing to worry about, because Katie McGarry is such a wicked writer. Sure, Beth is still moody and likes to swear and chuck a tantrum, but we get to see the other side of her, the vulnerable side. We also have Ryan's point of view to even it out, but Ryan has problems of his own, including falling for Beth. It should be easy - he likes her, she seems to like him, but Beth only knows about keeping people at arms length - she's been burned before and doesn't intend to let it happen again.
Ryan is a soft, well-meaning character and I couldn't help but fall for him instantly. Sure, he loves a good dare and he's a jock and all that jazz, but when he realised his feelings for Beth, it was game over for him. His friends give the story some extra bang, pulling him in all different directions. We get to learn more about Beth, and all her little secrets about her old home life and who she used to be. We watch her struggle with herself and her choices, proving to us all that there is a lot more beneath the surface. This is another wonderful romantic story, with it's issues just like in Pushing the Limits.
If you loved Pushing the Limits then I definitely suggest picking this one up - or even if you love a good contemporary story. Go on, I Dare You To.
The Good: Another fast paced, action packed love story to lose your heart to.
The Bad: That feeling you get when you realise you won't have any more Ryan!
Rating: 5 bookstacks
viviennemorgain's review against another edition
5.0
The stuff may have been heavier in Pushing the Limits, but this story is darker.
samrushingbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Probably a 4.5 overall. I liked the story and the character development, but I wasn't as drawn into the story as I was with Echo and Noah. It was still nice to follow the growing relationship and to get to peek more behind the wall Beth had firmly in place to keep from being hurt. The story picked up in the second half and I was hooked at the end. Seriously, that's how you end the book? I actually really wanted the announcement of who won homecoming king and queen. Is there a cut epilogue or something out anywhere? Anyway, as soon as my library has an available copy I'll be able to read book 3.
jackiehorne's review against another edition
3.0
See full review at:
http://romancenovelsforfeminists.blogspot.com/2013/07/new-adult-or-young-adult-katie-mcgarrys.html
http://romancenovelsforfeminists.blogspot.com/2013/07/new-adult-or-young-adult-katie-mcgarrys.html
shirleymak's review against another edition
5.0
H O L Y C R A P. OHMYGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD. I FREAKING LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH LIKE YOU DO NOT EVEN UNDERSTAND. AT FIRST I TOTALLY WAS FOR ISAIAH AND BETH BUT NOW I'M LIKE NO GO AWAY ISAIAH I LOVE RYAN RYAN PLEASE BE MINE. RYANNNNNN T____T SO BEAUTIFUL WHY DO PEOPLE LIKE HIM NOT EXIST. I WISH I WAS IN THEIR FRIEND CIRCLE. AND ALSO. WHY AM I ALWAYS THE EVIL AUNT. I WANT TO MARRY THIS BOOK
caitlinxreads's review against another edition
5.0
This was so amazing! I loved this one even better than the first and can't wait to read the third book.
kara44212's review against another edition
4.0
This is a guilty pleasure read for sure. I remember reading Pushing the Limits years ago and I’m pretty sure I liked it, but I’m definitely sure that I like this one. It’s problematic in spots, as are a lot of YA romances. The whole “even after a girl rejects me I’m going to keep harassing her until I get what I want” thing is played off as romantic and I really wish that would die, but other than that this was an enjoyable read.
brittnb08's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed this book. Between this book (Dare You To) and Pushing the Limits this one is my favorite. I absolutely love the good guy/bad girl aspect. It's different and refreshing. I have read so many bad guy/good girl book aspects and it just becomes repetitive because we all know that the bad guy is going to fall in love with the good girl and he is willing to change for her. But in Dare You To, Beth was constantly changing her mind that I had no idea what was going to happen. Ryan of course played his role perfectly.
I'm still trying to decide if I want to read the next book in this companion series. Crash Into You. It's about Isaiah and his journey to find love, but I was never really a fan of Isaiah (especially in Dare You To). If anyone has read it and felt the same way I did please comment and let me know if I should read it. Or if anyone has read and didn't feel the same way as I do about Isaiah leave a comment.
I'm still trying to decide if I want to read the next book in this companion series. Crash Into You. It's about Isaiah and his journey to find love, but I was never really a fan of Isaiah (especially in Dare You To). If anyone has read it and felt the same way I did please comment and let me know if I should read it. Or if anyone has read and didn't feel the same way as I do about Isaiah leave a comment.
sandeeisreading's review against another edition
4.0
Screw what Mom and Dad think. Screw the rest of the town. Screw perfection. This girl is mine.
~Ryan
REACTION AFTER READING THE BOOK
Totally happy and a little bit teary-eyed.
*clap. clap. clap*
Oh and I have a playlist for this book:
Ryan to Beth: Kiss Me Slowly by Parachute
Isaiah to Beth: What I know by Parachute
For Beth: Broken Angel by Boyce Avenue
Beth to Ryan: Who Knew by Pink or Terrified by Katharine McPhee
This book wasn't perfect. There were stuff here and there that made me want to throw the book out the window but I stuck with it and is totally happy that I did.
THE GIST
Beth Risk lives a life not everyone would be able to handle.
At 17, she's been through a lot and those things made her tough. It made her strong. She knew she had to be strong to protect her mother. But something happened and she got sent off to live with her uncle who used to be her favorite person in the world that is until he left her when he promised not to.
Everyone thinks Ryan Stone was perfect. He was good-lookingand hot. He was a great pitcher. He had the perfect family. He was popular. He wasn't on the top of the class but he was smart.
But if you ask him.. He'll say...
Everyone thinks his life was perfect but what they didn't know was what was happening behind closed doors. Ryan was tired of pretending.
Because of a dare, Beth and Ryan's paths crossed. Because of a dare, their lives took a 360 degree turn. But was it for the good or the bad?
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
This would have to be my first book by Katie McGarry and I am totally hooked. Honestly, I had no intention of reading this series at all even though I've read a lot of good reviews about it. I wasn't really sure why but Allen Grace's(thanks girl!! *high five*) review made me change my mind. I was so intrigued by the guy she called Taco Bell boy.
THE CHARACTERS
I think the characters are all awesome. I liked the main ones and the secondary ones. Let me start with.
Beth
Beth was one of those characters you'll hate but love at the same time. She was b*tchy most of the time. She had a dirty mouth. She drinks. She parties too much. She smokes weed. Eventhough she was pretty, she wasn't the type of girl you'd want to take home to meet your parents.
<
As you read through the book though, you'll understand why she has to be that way. You'll eventually see what her struggles are and why she has trust issues. She was the type of girl who looks tough on the outside but a real softie in the inside. What she went through in life is definitely not easy. She had to experience the harsh reality of life at a young age. She felt being unwanted by the people who should be taking care of her and not the other way around.
I kind of didn't like her at first but then who could blame her for all her insecurities and uncertainty with herself. No one was there to tell her that she was beautiful and buy her pretty dresses and give her ribbons (that she loves so much) when she was younger. Her good for nothing mother was useless. Her father was a good for nothing sperm donor who doesn't give a f*ck which was why he ran away. She has good friends though and I think they are the ones that kept her sane. That kept her moving forward. And then.. Ryan came. ^__^
Ryan aka Taco Bell boy
*note: i didn't intentionally picked this guy because he was shirtless. LOL*
Taco Bell boy was the reason I read this book and I was so not disappointed. I absolutely love him. He was far from the cliche-ish bad-boy-turned-good-boy male lead in most YA books. Actually, he was the good boy and he really owned up to it.
At first, I really thought he was perfect but he wasn't. He was far from perfect. He was dependent with his brother but he went away and left him which actually broke him. He felt alone with his parents who were too busy pretending that everything was perfect when it was not. He felt dependent on them too as to what he thinks he wants to do with his life. His father controlled him and he didn't even notice it.
What I loved most about Ryan was how serious he was when it comes to relationship. He was a real sweetheart.
Everything with Beth started as a dare but he then called it off when he started falling for her and he wasn't scared to admit that to his friends, his schoolmates and his family *at least towards the end*.
Oh did I forget to mention that Ryan is one hell of a writer?! That even makes him more sexier. A writer with a sexy six pack abs. *I absolutely love it!*
Isaiah
*note: sorry about that. another shirtless guy here. LOL*
Isaiah. Well, I liked him really. He did nothing but do what is best for Beth but... I really think there was not enough chemistry with them as it is with Beth and Ryan. I haven't read the first book so I had no idea if they looked sweeter there or if Beth was different with Isaiah there but I really just thought of him as Beth's friend.. nothing more.
Sorry guys. I know a lot of you would have and have loved Isaiah but I don't like him for Beth. He doesn't bring out the best in her like Ryan can. But I do agree that he is a good friend. What I wouldn't give to have a friend like him. Sexy. Dependent.HOT. Cool. And a lot more. :)
I'm just so happy to hear that the next book will be about him. He does deserve a happy ending too!
Secondary Characters
I liked Noah and Echo. Although I haven't really read their story, I kind of like how supportive they are of Beth. Especially Noah.
Gwen. I hated her. She thinks she could make everything go how she wants to because she's pretty and popular. Unfortunately, that is so not true.
Uncle Scott. I liked him. He admitted he was wrong when he left and wanted to make it up to Beth. He was very admirable.
Ryan's parents. Meeh. They are crazy perfectionist it's absolutely insane.
Mark. I liked him. He wasn't afraid to go after who he really is. He didn't let his parents tell him what he is
RYAN + BETH = SWEET AND SEXY
This was the type of book that doesn't need to be smutty to be sexy.
Ryan and Beth's relationship was not insta-love. Thank goodness. They were attracted to each other physically yes but that doesn't mean they liked each other. In fact, they hated each other's guts and that is what makes their relationship work for me I guess. They got to know each other more before they fell for each other.
Makes me all dreamy about it really. LOL
I wish I had my own Ryan that would sweep me off my feet and write me poems or stories or whatever. :D
Anyways, there were scenes where they showed how much they liked and wanted to be close to each other but nothing more than that and that's kind of refreshing. I liked that.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I liked this one and will remember Ryan and Beth for a long time. It's one of those stories that will stick to your brain and will remember and smile because it was good.
I liked Beth and Ryan's love story but what I really liked the most was the way it shows how life is never as it seems. Some things you can just see above the surface. Not everything is what it seems. Like with the case of Ryan's family. You think they have everything but they don't. Inside their house, someone was gay, someone was angry, someone was disappointed and someone felt completely alone. But if you look at their perfect family facade, you never would know, unless of course, they tell you or you are a nosy next door neighbor who likes to snoop on other people's lives. Haha.
Beth's case was different. Everyone knows what she is going through but not a lot of people were willing to help. The person she was trying to save doesn't really want to be saved and that is sh*tty. She was endangering her life for someone who doesn't give a f*ck.
Books are really a good thing. It takes you to the mind of another person and see things the way they see. It's an eye opener. And Dare You To is not just a typical YA contemporary romance with a feisty heroine and a swoon-worthy hero but it was also about life and its troubles and how they overcame it.
FINAL RATING
~Ryan
REACTION AFTER READING THE BOOK
Totally happy and a little bit teary-eyed.
*clap. clap. clap*
Oh and I have a playlist for this book:
Ryan to Beth: Kiss Me Slowly by Parachute
Isaiah to Beth: What I know by Parachute
For Beth: Broken Angel by Boyce Avenue
Beth to Ryan: Who Knew by Pink or Terrified by Katharine McPhee
This book wasn't perfect. There were stuff here and there that made me want to throw the book out the window but I stuck with it and is totally happy that I did.
THE GIST
Beth Risk lives a life not everyone would be able to handle.
At 17, she's been through a lot and those things made her tough. It made her strong. She knew she had to be strong to protect her mother. But something happened and she got sent off to live with her uncle who used to be her favorite person in the world that is until he left her when he promised not to.
Everyone thinks Ryan Stone was perfect. He was good-looking
But if you ask him.. He'll say...
Everyone thinks his life was perfect but what they didn't know was what was happening behind closed doors. Ryan was tired of pretending.
Because of a dare, Beth and Ryan's paths crossed. Because of a dare, their lives took a 360 degree turn. But was it for the good or the bad?
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
This would have to be my first book by Katie McGarry and I am totally hooked. Honestly, I had no intention of reading this series at all even though I've read a lot of good reviews about it. I wasn't really sure why but Allen Grace's(thanks girl!! *high five*) review made me change my mind. I was so intrigued by the guy she called Taco Bell boy.
THE CHARACTERS
I think the characters are all awesome. I liked the main ones and the secondary ones. Let me start with.
Beth
Beth was one of those characters you'll hate but love at the same time. She was b*tchy most of the time. She had a dirty mouth. She drinks. She parties too much. She smokes weed. Eventhough she was pretty, she wasn't the type of girl you'd want to take home to meet your parents.
<As you read through the book though, you'll understand why she has to be that way. You'll eventually see what her struggles are and why she has trust issues. She was the type of girl who looks tough on the outside but a real softie in the inside. What she went through in life is definitely not easy. She had to experience the harsh reality of life at a young age. She felt being unwanted by the people who should be taking care of her and not the other way around.
I kind of didn't like her at first but then who could blame her for all her insecurities and uncertainty with herself. No one was there to tell her that she was beautiful and buy her pretty dresses and give her ribbons (that she loves so much) when she was younger. Her good for nothing mother was useless. Her father was a good for nothing sperm donor who doesn't give a f*ck which was why he ran away. She has good friends though and I think they are the ones that kept her sane. That kept her moving forward. And then.. Ryan came. ^__^
Ryan aka Taco Bell boy
*note: i didn't intentionally picked this guy because he was shirtless. LOL*
Taco Bell boy was the reason I read this book and I was so not disappointed. I absolutely love him. He was far from the cliche-ish bad-boy-turned-good-boy male lead in most YA books. Actually, he was the good boy and he really owned up to it.
At first, I really thought he was perfect but he wasn't. He was far from perfect. He was dependent with his brother but he went away and left him which actually broke him. He felt alone with his parents who were too busy pretending that everything was perfect when it was not. He felt dependent on them too as to what he thinks he wants to do with his life. His father controlled him and he didn't even notice it.
What I loved most about Ryan was how serious he was when it comes to relationship. He was a real sweetheart.
Spoiler
"Because I love you. Beth - you're everything I want to be. You're alive and live without apology. I never would have made love to you if I thought you didn't trust me... or love me. And I never would have done it if I didn't trust and love you.Everything with Beth started as a dare but he then called it off when he started falling for her and he wasn't scared to admit that to his friends, his schoolmates and his family *at least towards the end*.
Oh did I forget to mention that Ryan is one hell of a writer?! That even makes him more sexier. A writer with a sexy six pack abs. *I absolutely love it!*
Isaiah
*note: sorry about that. another shirtless guy here. LOL*
Isaiah. Well, I liked him really. He did nothing but do what is best for Beth but... I really think there was not enough chemistry with them as it is with Beth and Ryan. I haven't read the first book so I had no idea if they looked sweeter there or if Beth was different with Isaiah there but I really just thought of him as Beth's friend.. nothing more.
Sorry guys. I know a lot of you would have and have loved Isaiah but I don't like him for Beth. He doesn't bring out the best in her like Ryan can. But I do agree that he is a good friend. What I wouldn't give to have a friend like him. Sexy. Dependent.
I'm just so happy to hear that the next book will be about him. He does deserve a happy ending too!
Secondary Characters
I liked Noah and Echo. Although I haven't really read their story, I kind of like how supportive they are of Beth. Especially Noah.
Gwen. I hated her. She thinks she could make everything go how she wants to because she's pretty and popular. Unfortunately, that is so not true.
Uncle Scott. I liked him. He admitted he was wrong when he left and wanted to make it up to Beth. He was very admirable.
Ryan's parents. Meeh. They are crazy perfectionist it's absolutely insane.
Mark. I liked him. He wasn't afraid to go after who he really is. He didn't let his parents tell him what he is
RYAN + BETH = SWEET AND SEXY
This was the type of book that doesn't need to be smutty to be sexy.
Ryan and Beth's relationship was not insta-love. Thank goodness. They were attracted to each other physically yes but that doesn't mean they liked each other. In fact, they hated each other's guts and that is what makes their relationship work for me I guess. They got to know each other more before they fell for each other.
Makes me all dreamy about it really. LOL
I wish I had my own Ryan that would sweep me off my feet and write me poems or stories or whatever. :D
Anyways, there were scenes where they showed how much they liked and wanted to be close to each other but nothing more than that and that's kind of refreshing. I liked that.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I liked this one and will remember Ryan and Beth for a long time. It's one of those stories that will stick to your brain and will remember and smile because it was good.
I liked Beth and Ryan's love story but what I really liked the most was the way it shows how life is never as it seems. Some things you can just see above the surface. Not everything is what it seems. Like with the case of Ryan's family. You think they have everything but they don't. Inside their house, someone was gay, someone was angry, someone was disappointed and someone felt completely alone. But if you look at their perfect family facade, you never would know, unless of course, they tell you or you are a nosy next door neighbor who likes to snoop on other people's lives. Haha.
Beth's case was different. Everyone knows what she is going through but not a lot of people were willing to help. The person she was trying to save doesn't really want to be saved and that is sh*tty. She was endangering her life for someone who doesn't give a f*ck.
Books are really a good thing. It takes you to the mind of another person and see things the way they see. It's an eye opener. And Dare You To is not just a typical YA contemporary romance with a feisty heroine and a swoon-worthy hero but it was also about life and its troubles and how they overcame it.
FINAL RATING
