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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
2.5 I can see why this would appeal to many teen readers. Not badly written, and very high on the angst/melodrama (not just divorce, but new stepmother & baby, mother with mental health issues, brother dead in the war, and situational amnesia, just to name the heroine's problems...) but not too far over the top to be embarrassing. The story kept me reading, but neither the characters nor their fairly predictable plot felt truly memorable.
Noah will be interesting to write about for my ChLA conference talk on masculinity in YA romance -- his words and his character don't seem to match up, serving more as a wish-fulfillment of a boy than a fully-rounded character.
Noah will be interesting to write about for my ChLA conference talk on masculinity in YA romance -- his words and his character don't seem to match up, serving more as a wish-fulfillment of a boy than a fully-rounded character.
OHMYGOOOOOSHHHHHHH FAVORITE BOOK EVER! T_T THIS BOOK IS AMAAZINGG. IT MADE ME CRY 4 TIMES NOW LOL
NOAH IS LIKE THE PERFECT SPECIMEN. HE IS THE CUTEST BOY EVER OOOOHHHMMMMGGGGGGGG. T_T I WANT YOU IN MY LIFEE. The excerpt of the book where it's about Beth doesn't sound that good...idk, it might be amaziiing too though! lol. But yeah. It seemed kinda weird. idk.
BOTTOM LIINE IS THAT I FREAKING LOVE THIS BOOK!
Spoiler
omg at the end when Echo's talking to her dad after she visits Ashley? I WAS BAWLING SO HARD OHMYGOSH. *sniff* and then when Noah was in Jacob's room and saw the picture of his parents and he was like "Men don't cry. My parents. Men don't cry. Men don't cry. Fuck. Men don't cry"(Yes I totally copied this from the book) I WAS CRYING SO HARD OMG I was like crying, and then like..laughing. So I had tears streaming down my face while I was laughing. And it was so cute that Echo broke into the school to save Noah. And the part where Ashley & Echo's dad named the baby after Aires made me cry so much. AIRES SOUNDS LIKE SUCH AN AMAZING OLDER BROTHER :'( Isaiah is so cute too! LOL he's so funny!NOAH IS LIKE THE PERFECT SPECIMEN. HE IS THE CUTEST BOY EVER OOOOHHHMMMMGGGGGGGG. T_T I WANT YOU IN MY LIFEE. The excerpt of the book where it's about Beth doesn't sound that good...idk, it might be amaziiing too though! lol. But yeah. It seemed kinda weird. idk.
BOTTOM LIINE IS THAT I FREAKING LOVE THIS BOOK!
She’s traumatised after what happened with her bipolar mum, he’s traumatised as a kid raised in foster care after parents died in a fire.
Started off well but then I lost interest and started skimming.
The writing was pretty good overall but I didn’t care for the characters all that much.
The chemistry was good but needed more angst.
Started off well but then I lost interest and started skimming.
The writing was pretty good overall but I didn’t care for the characters all that much.
The chemistry was good but needed more angst.
I rarely cry at books but I did at the end of this one. I cannot believe I waited so long to read this one.
Pushing the Limits is the first book in the Pushing the Limits series by author Katie McGarry. The main characters in this book are Echo Emerson and Noah Hutchins.
You see that boot over there? That would be the boot that left the red mark on my behind for waiting so long to read this book. What was the matter with me? I had heard great things about this book, but for some reason I had waited to start it. I am so glad I finally got to sit down and read Echo and Noah's story.
Echo was attacked by her mother and left with scars on the outside. Mentally, she has the incident blocked and can't remember what exactly happened that fateful night that changed her life entirely. She had recently lost her brother while fighting in the Marines, and then her mother does the unthinkable to her. Afterwards, she saw a therapist who pushed her mind too fast to remember that night. She ends up having a nervous breakdown from it. When she starts school again, she is now the outsider. She used to be one of the most popular girls in school, but now she finds herself withdrawn and hiding from everyone. The kids at school call her freak and have basically cast her aside from their social circles. Not only has she lost family, but now she must cope with being a freak with no friends.
Enter Noah Hutchins. Noah, the sexiest stoner in school who is also known as a ladies man that pleases the women and then leaves the women when he is done with them. When Echo finds herself tutoring Noah, they both find an attraction that shouldn't be there. Noah lost his parents in a house fire. He saved his two younger brothers from the fire, but they were eventually torn apart in the foster system. His main goal is to get his brothers back and make them a family again. To increase visitation with his brothers, he must apply himself to school work and be tutored by Echo.
I loved the character of Noah. I really liked how he was willing to put everything before himself. He wanted his brothers back and was willing to give up college and his dreams to raise them. He was also willing to help Echo with her problem of rediscovering that lost night that ruined her life. Echo seemed a little self absorbed and whiny at times, but overall it wasn't too bad. Luke -- Echo's ex-boyfriend -- was a jerk and I couldn't stand him when he was given page time. Grace -- Echo's ex-best friend -- was also one I wish we could have erased from the story. I didn't like how her reputation of being the popular girl was more important than her friendship with Echo. She treated Echo horribly and was glad that she wasn't featured as much as I thought she would be. The rest of side characters were great. I loved Isiah, Beth and Lila. I loved the bickering and the wit each of them showed. They were engaging characters that really helped move the book forward. I am looking forward to reading more about those side characters in future books.
Again, I wish I had read this book sooner. I am still going to be kicking myself in the pants for a few days while thinking about Noah and Echo's story. I can't wait to start the next book in the series! An engaging read that will keep you up all night reading!
You see that boot over there? That would be the boot that left the red mark on my behind for waiting so long to read this book. What was the matter with me? I had heard great things about this book, but for some reason I had waited to start it. I am so glad I finally got to sit down and read Echo and Noah's story.
Echo was attacked by her mother and left with scars on the outside. Mentally, she has the incident blocked and can't remember what exactly happened that fateful night that changed her life entirely. She had recently lost her brother while fighting in the Marines, and then her mother does the unthinkable to her. Afterwards, she saw a therapist who pushed her mind too fast to remember that night. She ends up having a nervous breakdown from it. When she starts school again, she is now the outsider. She used to be one of the most popular girls in school, but now she finds herself withdrawn and hiding from everyone. The kids at school call her freak and have basically cast her aside from their social circles. Not only has she lost family, but now she must cope with being a freak with no friends.
Enter Noah Hutchins. Noah, the sexiest stoner in school who is also known as a ladies man that pleases the women and then leaves the women when he is done with them. When Echo finds herself tutoring Noah, they both find an attraction that shouldn't be there. Noah lost his parents in a house fire. He saved his two younger brothers from the fire, but they were eventually torn apart in the foster system. His main goal is to get his brothers back and make them a family again. To increase visitation with his brothers, he must apply himself to school work and be tutored by Echo.
I loved the character of Noah. I really liked how he was willing to put everything before himself. He wanted his brothers back and was willing to give up college and his dreams to raise them. He was also willing to help Echo with her problem of rediscovering that lost night that ruined her life. Echo seemed a little self absorbed and whiny at times, but overall it wasn't too bad. Luke -- Echo's ex-boyfriend -- was a jerk and I couldn't stand him when he was given page time. Grace -- Echo's ex-best friend -- was also one I wish we could have erased from the story. I didn't like how her reputation of being the popular girl was more important than her friendship with Echo. She treated Echo horribly and was glad that she wasn't featured as much as I thought she would be. The rest of side characters were great. I loved Isiah, Beth and Lila. I loved the bickering and the wit each of them showed. They were engaging characters that really helped move the book forward. I am looking forward to reading more about those side characters in future books.
Again, I wish I had read this book sooner. I am still going to be kicking myself in the pants for a few days while thinking about Noah and Echo's story. I can't wait to start the next book in the series! An engaging read that will keep you up all night reading!
This review also posted at A Bookish Compulsion
Two broken people trying to find a way to put themselves and their world back together again. That, to me, is what Pushing the Limits gives to its readers and it is a sweet, heartbreaking, moving, fun, joyful and terrifying experience. Because no matter how hard you try, you can’t change the past…and you have to move beyond it if you want a future.
Pushing the Limits is very much a young adult novel rife with the “joys” of high-school drama from clicks to crushes to body image. Thankfully the story dove deeper, portraying both the sinister and sweet side of love and family, the trials of growing up and becoming your own person and the strength it takes to fight for the life you want.
It took me a little while to get into the rhythm of reading Pushing the Limits. Having alternating chapters from Echo’s and Noah’s points of view broke my immersion in story a bit until I had a better handle on each of their personalities and stories. However, once I did get the rhythm down and had them both clicked into my mind, I really enjoyed the depth and byplay that the alternating point of view was able to give me. I feel it added greater complexity both to the story and to the characters themselves seeing the world from two vastly different sets of eyes.
I experienced so many different emotions while reading Pushing the Limits it is hard to wrangle them all onto a page. It made me laugh, cry, swear and even took my breath away. With such providence it is easy to understand why I could give in nothing less than four bright and shiny stars. ★★★★
Two broken people trying to find a way to put themselves and their world back together again. That, to me, is what Pushing the Limits gives to its readers and it is a sweet, heartbreaking, moving, fun, joyful and terrifying experience. Because no matter how hard you try, you can’t change the past…and you have to move beyond it if you want a future.
Pushing the Limits is very much a young adult novel rife with the “joys” of high-school drama from clicks to crushes to body image. Thankfully the story dove deeper, portraying both the sinister and sweet side of love and family, the trials of growing up and becoming your own person and the strength it takes to fight for the life you want.
It took me a little while to get into the rhythm of reading Pushing the Limits. Having alternating chapters from Echo’s and Noah’s points of view broke my immersion in story a bit until I had a better handle on each of their personalities and stories. However, once I did get the rhythm down and had them both clicked into my mind, I really enjoyed the depth and byplay that the alternating point of view was able to give me. I feel it added greater complexity both to the story and to the characters themselves seeing the world from two vastly different sets of eyes.
I experienced so many different emotions while reading Pushing the Limits it is hard to wrangle them all onto a page. It made me laugh, cry, swear and even took my breath away. With such providence it is easy to understand why I could give in nothing less than four bright and shiny stars. ★★★★
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
original review on http://fangirlsoffiction.blogspot.com/2013/03/pushing-limits-book-review_11.html
So, if you guys haven't noticed, I love young adult romance novels. I like the character development that occurs in these stories and I love the way the relationship between the two protagonists transforms from
when they first meet, to where the novel ends. Anyways, my friend told me to read Pushing the Limits and since she usually recommends me great books I gave this one a try. Thank goodness I did!
From the moment I started the book I was instantly drawn into Echo's story. She is plagued with these terrible scars and haunted by a night she does't remember. Noah's story was also tragic and mysterious. With his dark hair and dark eyes, he is the normal bad boy, but unlike most, this bad boy wasn't always so bad. I guess being social outcasts drew the two together, but it was love and hope of a new and normal life that kept them together. That might sound really cheesy, but this book was cleverly written and had a deep plot (unlike some romance books)
Noah's two best friends, Beth and Isaiah, were both interesting yet loyal to Noah unlike Echo's so called friends whom I wanted to punch in the face several times during the novel. Mrs. Collins, the psychiatrist, was really the only main adult in the novel, but with her utter determination to help Noah and Echo made me love her at the end. Now I'm babbling so just go to the bookstore or whatever and buy this wonderful book.
P.S the second comes out in May and is called Dare to You
ENJOY. --AMANDA
So, if you guys haven't noticed, I love young adult romance novels. I like the character development that occurs in these stories and I love the way the relationship between the two protagonists transforms from
when they first meet, to where the novel ends. Anyways, my friend told me to read Pushing the Limits and since she usually recommends me great books I gave this one a try. Thank goodness I did!
From the moment I started the book I was instantly drawn into Echo's story. She is plagued with these terrible scars and haunted by a night she does't remember. Noah's story was also tragic and mysterious. With his dark hair and dark eyes, he is the normal bad boy, but unlike most, this bad boy wasn't always so bad. I guess being social outcasts drew the two together, but it was love and hope of a new and normal life that kept them together. That might sound really cheesy, but this book was cleverly written and had a deep plot (unlike some romance books)
Noah's two best friends, Beth and Isaiah, were both interesting yet loyal to Noah unlike Echo's so called friends whom I wanted to punch in the face several times during the novel. Mrs. Collins, the psychiatrist, was really the only main adult in the novel, but with her utter determination to help Noah and Echo made me love her at the end. Now I'm babbling so just go to the bookstore or whatever and buy this wonderful book.
P.S the second comes out in May and is called Dare to You
ENJOY. --AMANDA
Man sollte meinen, dass ich nach [b:Perfect Chemistry|4268157|Perfect Chemistry (Perfect Chemistry, #1)|Simone Elkeles|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1316637352s/4268157.jpg|4315675] gelernt habe, dass diese Teenieliebesschnulzen in Buchformat nichts für mich sind. Pushing The Limits war aber schon auf dem Kindle (99 Cent Schnäppchen), also wieso kein zweiter Versuch?
Ich erklär euch wieso:
1. Protagonistin Echo hat schreckliche Freunde. Hin und wieder flattern sie zwar besorgt um sie rum, aber meistens dreht sich bei ihren Gesprächen alles um Echos Ruf und wie man den bloß wieder herstellen kann. Lila ist angeblich Echos beste Freundin, aber das wirkte mehr wie „ach ja, Echo ist ein Teenager, klar hat die ne beste Freundin“. In keiner Situation habe ich diese Freundschaft spüren können.
Ganz zu schweigen von ihrer „Freundin“ Grace, die nach außen immer so tut als hätte sie nichts mit Echo am Hut, um dann ab und zu heimlich mit ihr zu reden. Außerdem versuchen ihre „Freundinnen“ ihr ständig einzureden, dass sie wieder mit Oberarschloch Luke (ihr Exfreund) zusammenkommen soll. Nur des guten Rufes wegen. Es interessiert niemanden, ob Echo überhaupt etwas für Luke empfindet.
2. Die Familiensituation ist so klischeebehaftet, dass sie nicht zu überraschen weiß. Ashley mimt die böse Stiefmutter (und es ist unglaublich wie unverschämt Echo sie behandelt), ihr Vater ist leistungsorientiert und hat verlernt Zuneigung zu zeigen. Blabla. Das einzig spannende ist Echos psychisch kranke Mutter, doch selbst die schießt am Ende den Vogel ab (zugegeben, nicht nach Klischeevorlage, dafür einfach nur bescheuert).
3. Echos Besessenheit mit ihren Narben. Ich verstehe, dass es für Echo wichtig ist und dass es sich hier um einen zentralen Punkt im Plot handelt, aber irgendwann ging es mir nur noch auf die Nerven. Echo denkt ununterbrochen über ihre Narben nach und was die Leute von ihr denken könnten. Hätte sie nicht ein bisschen mehr Selbstvertrauen abbekommen können? Das war ja schlimm. Oder hätten ihre Gedanken nicht ein wenig vielschichtiger sein können? Es schien immer nur darum zu gehen, was andere über sie denken.
4. Echo sagt nie, was sie denkt. Vielleicht bin ich verwöhnt, weil ich kurz zuvor Confessions of An Angry Girl gelesen habe und da sagt die Protagonistin immer laut, was sie denkt. Hier war es echt nicht mehr lustig. Man bekommt live mit, was Echo denkt und wie sie genau das Gegenteil davon laut sagt. Wieso? GEBT DEM MÄDCHEN DOCH ETWAS SELBSTVERTRAUEN BITTE!
5. Noah nennt Echo „baby“. Ungefähr zwanzig Mal zu oft.
6. Während die Beziehung zwischen Echo und Noah am Anfang noch ein angenehmes Tempo anschlägt, ist nachdem sie – wie lange? Eine Woche? – zusammen sind, schon von Liebe die Rede. Unrealistisch und blöd. Vor allem, weil die Story auch funktioniert, wenn man sich damit mehr Zeit gelassen hätte.
7. Da Noah den Bad Boy mimt, muss er hin und wieder auch fluchen. Wirkte für mich total aufgesetzt.
8. Diese kitschigen, pathetischen Formulierungen:
Bäääh.
Zugegeben, insgesamt fand ich das Buch immerhin noch besser als Perfect Chemistry. Die Charaktere waren zugänglich und nett. Außerdem fand ich Echos Backstory mit ihrer Mutter originell und interessant.
Aber nichtsdestotrotz weiß ich jetzt, dass diese ziemlich hoch gelobten YA Romanzen nicht mein Fall sind. Da bleibe ich lieber bei meinen Contemporary-Favoriten.
Ich erklär euch wieso:
1. Protagonistin Echo hat schreckliche Freunde. Hin und wieder flattern sie zwar besorgt um sie rum, aber meistens dreht sich bei ihren Gesprächen alles um Echos Ruf und wie man den bloß wieder herstellen kann. Lila ist angeblich Echos beste Freundin, aber das wirkte mehr wie „ach ja, Echo ist ein Teenager, klar hat die ne beste Freundin“. In keiner Situation habe ich diese Freundschaft spüren können.
Ganz zu schweigen von ihrer „Freundin“ Grace, die nach außen immer so tut als hätte sie nichts mit Echo am Hut, um dann ab und zu heimlich mit ihr zu reden. Außerdem versuchen ihre „Freundinnen“ ihr ständig einzureden, dass sie wieder mit Oberarschloch Luke (ihr Exfreund) zusammenkommen soll. Nur des guten Rufes wegen. Es interessiert niemanden, ob Echo überhaupt etwas für Luke empfindet.
2. Die Familiensituation ist so klischeebehaftet, dass sie nicht zu überraschen weiß. Ashley mimt die böse Stiefmutter (und es ist unglaublich wie unverschämt Echo sie behandelt), ihr Vater ist leistungsorientiert und hat verlernt Zuneigung zu zeigen. Blabla. Das einzig spannende ist Echos psychisch kranke Mutter, doch selbst die schießt am Ende den Vogel ab (zugegeben, nicht nach Klischeevorlage, dafür einfach nur bescheuert).
3. Echos Besessenheit mit ihren Narben. Ich verstehe, dass es für Echo wichtig ist und dass es sich hier um einen zentralen Punkt im Plot handelt, aber irgendwann ging es mir nur noch auf die Nerven. Echo denkt ununterbrochen über ihre Narben nach und was die Leute von ihr denken könnten. Hätte sie nicht ein bisschen mehr Selbstvertrauen abbekommen können? Das war ja schlimm. Oder hätten ihre Gedanken nicht ein wenig vielschichtiger sein können? Es schien immer nur darum zu gehen, was andere über sie denken.
4. Echo sagt nie, was sie denkt. Vielleicht bin ich verwöhnt, weil ich kurz zuvor Confessions of An Angry Girl gelesen habe und da sagt die Protagonistin immer laut, was sie denkt. Hier war es echt nicht mehr lustig. Man bekommt live mit, was Echo denkt und wie sie genau das Gegenteil davon laut sagt. Wieso? GEBT DEM MÄDCHEN DOCH ETWAS SELBSTVERTRAUEN BITTE!
5. Noah nennt Echo „baby“. Ungefähr zwanzig Mal zu oft.
6. Während die Beziehung zwischen Echo und Noah am Anfang noch ein angenehmes Tempo anschlägt, ist nachdem sie – wie lange? Eine Woche? – zusammen sind, schon von Liebe die Rede. Unrealistisch und blöd. Vor allem, weil die Story auch funktioniert, wenn man sich damit mehr Zeit gelassen hätte.
7. Da Noah den Bad Boy mimt, muss er hin und wieder auch fluchen. Wirkte für mich total aufgesetzt.
8. Diese kitschigen, pathetischen Formulierungen:
„This girl owned my soul and stole my heart. She’d opened herself to me, giving me love and never asked for anything in return.“
Bäääh.
Zugegeben, insgesamt fand ich das Buch immerhin noch besser als Perfect Chemistry. Die Charaktere waren zugänglich und nett. Außerdem fand ich Echos Backstory mit ihrer Mutter originell und interessant.
Aber nichtsdestotrotz weiß ich jetzt, dass diese ziemlich hoch gelobten YA Romanzen nicht mein Fall sind. Da bleibe ich lieber bei meinen Contemporary-Favoriten.
This was a really good book. I finished it in a day because I refused to put the book down.