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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
Longer review to come, but this is definitely one of my favorites of 2012. McGarry's ability to create such authentic and likable characters as well as capture their voices perfectly (so spot on!) is amazing.
HOLY SHIT! THIS BOOK WAS JUST AWESOME!
Ahead when I read the description my first thought was that this book is going to be completely like 'Perfect Chemistry' but after reading the first few chapters I noticed that this book is taking a whole different way than the books of Simone Elkeles.
The main characters were all so likeable. Echo..with her special name didn't annoy me a second and that doesn't happen often in YA books. I felt sorry for her at the time because she couldn't remember what happened to her and why she got her scars.
And Noah...sigh. Is this a curse or what? Why do all Noah's have to be that beautiful and just fantastic?
Ahead when I read the description my first thought was that this book is going to be completely like 'Perfect Chemistry' but after reading the first few chapters I noticed that this book is taking a whole different way than the books of Simone Elkeles.
The main characters were all so likeable. Echo..with her special name didn't annoy me a second and that doesn't happen often in YA books. I felt sorry for her at the time because she couldn't remember what happened to her and why she got her scars.
And Noah...sigh. Is this a curse or what? Why do all Noah's have to be that beautiful and just fantastic?
First read: 8/28/12
Second read: 7/7/14
It’s hard to think of where to start with this review, because I am still so caught up in the story. I’ve been looking forward to this book since I first read the summary about six months ago, so I was so excited when the publisher asked if I would review it. Pushing the Limits did not disappoint. In fact, it completely blew me away. I thought I had the plot figured out going in, but I was wonderfully surprised that it did not play out how I expected.
Poor Echo. She’s had the most miserable life for the past few years, and it’s impossible not to feel sorry for her. At the same time, however, she is ultimately such a strong character that I must admire her as well. Noah drove me crazy sometimes with his impulsiveness, but I respected the reasoning behind his choices. Both characters have such complex and well-developed back stories, and I loved the variety of supporting characters, all of whom had great depth. The relationship between Echo and Noah develops naturally, but explodes into something that is so much more than just friendship. Sparks certainly do fly between the two of them.
I love the edge of mystery that played out through the book. I was continually making guesses as to what really happened with Echo that night, and if Noah’s brothers were actually in danger. It was fascinating and compelling with both plotlines weaving together quite naturally. The fact that this book tackles and actually deals with some heavy issues- mental illness, foster care- was impressive.
Overall, what can I say? I am head-0ver-heels in love with this book, and I would highly, highly recommend it. It reminds me somewhat of Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles or an edgier (much edgier) Sarah Dessen story. This was so worth the read; I will definitely be buying it as soon as possible. Katie McGarry is an author to watch!
Second read: 7/7/14
It’s hard to think of where to start with this review, because I am still so caught up in the story. I’ve been looking forward to this book since I first read the summary about six months ago, so I was so excited when the publisher asked if I would review it. Pushing the Limits did not disappoint. In fact, it completely blew me away. I thought I had the plot figured out going in, but I was wonderfully surprised that it did not play out how I expected.
Poor Echo. She’s had the most miserable life for the past few years, and it’s impossible not to feel sorry for her. At the same time, however, she is ultimately such a strong character that I must admire her as well. Noah drove me crazy sometimes with his impulsiveness, but I respected the reasoning behind his choices. Both characters have such complex and well-developed back stories, and I loved the variety of supporting characters, all of whom had great depth. The relationship between Echo and Noah develops naturally, but explodes into something that is so much more than just friendship. Sparks certainly do fly between the two of them.
I love the edge of mystery that played out through the book. I was continually making guesses as to what really happened with Echo that night, and if Noah’s brothers were actually in danger. It was fascinating and compelling with both plotlines weaving together quite naturally. The fact that this book tackles and actually deals with some heavy issues- mental illness, foster care- was impressive.
Overall, what can I say? I am head-0ver-heels in love with this book, and I would highly, highly recommend it. It reminds me somewhat of Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles or an edgier (much edgier) Sarah Dessen story. This was so worth the read; I will definitely be buying it as soon as possible. Katie McGarry is an author to watch!
Ok at first I loved this book but by the end I'd say I only liked it so I gave it 4 stars. I ended up wanting to read Noah's chapters more than Echos, mainly because I thought the story with his brothers was heartbreaking and the emotions he was going through really got to me. I definately had tears more than once!
I hated Echo's friend Grace, such a nasty piece of work. I couldn't believe Echo even gave her the time of day, how can you be so superficial and cruel to someone who was your friend?!? I think Echo put up with it for way to long! I was cheering Echo on at the end.
Also Echo's relationship with her father was very odd, he seemed so cold for most of the book and I was surprised when she softened towards him. I did love Echo's devotion to her brother and I thought McGarry conveyed Echos lonliness excellently throughout the book. I would definately recommend this book as the characters have a lot more depth than some of the angsty romances that are getting published at the moment! (not mentioning any names!)
I hated Echo's friend Grace, such a nasty piece of work. I couldn't believe Echo even gave her the time of day, how can you be so superficial and cruel to someone who was your friend?!? I think Echo put up with it for way to long! I was cheering Echo on at the end.
Also Echo's relationship with her father was very odd, he seemed so cold for most of the book and I was surprised when she softened towards him. I did love Echo's devotion to her brother and I thought McGarry conveyed Echos lonliness excellently throughout the book. I would definately recommend this book as the characters have a lot more depth than some of the angsty romances that are getting published at the moment! (not mentioning any names!)
I'm teetering on the edge with this review, as I can't decide which rating to give it! Admittedly, I read the blurb and wasn't wowed by the concept of it - it was just another contemporary novel to me. However, the entirety of Book World seemed to go crazy about it, and five star reviews were being thrown all over the place - so, being the sheep that I am, I decided to jump at the chance to review it. Now, I completely understand the hype.
I honestly don't know where to start! From the synopsis, the story seems very cliched - tormented girl with a big secret finds solace in the dark and broody hero who has secrets of his own. And I suppose, if you get down to the base of it, then that is what the story is about. But as you begin to read it and start to peel back the layers, the realization strikes you that this is a book that actually deals with serious topics - mental illness, death, suicide, murder, drug abuse, sex, becoming orphaned...I feel like the synopsis doesn't give the proper image of the novel, and makes it less appealing. However, that's just my opinion.
I felt that the plot was fantastic. Whilst quite dramatic, I felt that McGarry still kept it realistic, which helped me to be able to relate to not just the characters, but also the story. If she'd overdone it, readers would not be able to grasp how much of a lifeline Noah and Echo were to one another, and would therefore not be able to understand half of the significance of the story. The message I thought she was trying to put across was that even in the darkest of times, there is always someone there to pull you out of it, however unlikely; you've just got to be willing to let them. It was a story about falling in love, and for once, the romance aspect of it didn't make me want to shudder. Quite the opposite, actually - it made me want to embrace it, and I genuinely felt the character's emotions through my Kindle, which was incredibly powerful.
The characters were excellent. As soon as I saw Echo's name, I thought this would be a novel where the author picked a whacky name for a "super awesome" (this is sarcasm) character who is obsessed with her looks and is obviously gawjuss. Thankfully, this wasn't the idea at all - in fact, Echo's name had a lot of backstory to it, and her character was grounded and strong. At the beginning, I hated how submissive she was to her father, and how she wanted to please everyone at every twist and turn - however, now that I've finished the book, I can see the significance of those first few chapters. McGarry created a main character that girl's of all ages would be able to relate to in some way, no matter how tiny - and I felt like I could definitely sympathize with her, and my heart honestly went out to the girl. Fictitious or not, there are people out there who deal with things like Echo, and I thought the author has created a definitely eye-opening novel.
The other main protagonist Noah Hutchins, was also pretty fantastic. Reading the synopsis, I couldn't help but roll my eyes - he was going to be the typical bad-boy-loser-freak-loner-whatever who Echo would fall head-over-heels for, even though, as the strong and sexy heroine of the story, she would try to deny her feelings. Well, I was proved wrong by this book, yet again. Noah had depth - depth that myself as the reader couldn't see to begin with, but at the end my sympathy for him stretched out into infinity. As a child, I loved The Story of Tracy Beaker, and so I kind of know what happens in and around foster care, and I know that it isn't always that great. Not a lot of authors I've come across really delve into the harsh reality of the care system, and so it was again a bit of an eye-opener - not just for me, but for many others, I'm sure. Yes he was hot and drool-worthy, but there was a lot more to his character, which was nice to see.
McGarry's writing was easy to read, and I found myself being able to slip back into the story as soon as I picked the book back up. She did a good job at changing her tone from one character to the next, as I find that in some books from several different points of view, the characters tend to just blend together in the end. This wasn't the case - Noah chapters and Echo chapters were easily distinguishable, as their personalities, genders, and background came out through her writing. That's a talent that's hard to pick up, and for McGarry to do that for her debut novel...well, I'm impressed.
I think I've finally decided on the rating I will give this book. The emotion was so raw throughout the read, that on occasions I found myself unable to stop crying. Some scenes were really heartbreaking, and it just made my heart go out to all the kids out there who have to deal with situations like this on a day-to-day basis. If you love realistic and contemporary fiction, this is definitely a novel you have to pick up. However, for me there was just something missing - though what that is, I have no idea. What I do know is that although I loved that read, I still haven't added Dare You To, the next instalment to this series, onto my TBR list just yet.
I honestly don't know where to start! From the synopsis, the story seems very cliched - tormented girl with a big secret finds solace in the dark and broody hero who has secrets of his own. And I suppose, if you get down to the base of it, then that is what the story is about. But as you begin to read it and start to peel back the layers, the realization strikes you that this is a book that actually deals with serious topics - mental illness, death, suicide, murder, drug abuse, sex, becoming orphaned...I feel like the synopsis doesn't give the proper image of the novel, and makes it less appealing. However, that's just my opinion.
I felt that the plot was fantastic. Whilst quite dramatic, I felt that McGarry still kept it realistic, which helped me to be able to relate to not just the characters, but also the story. If she'd overdone it, readers would not be able to grasp how much of a lifeline Noah and Echo were to one another, and would therefore not be able to understand half of the significance of the story. The message I thought she was trying to put across was that even in the darkest of times, there is always someone there to pull you out of it, however unlikely; you've just got to be willing to let them. It was a story about falling in love, and for once, the romance aspect of it didn't make me want to shudder. Quite the opposite, actually - it made me want to embrace it, and I genuinely felt the character's emotions through my Kindle, which was incredibly powerful.
The characters were excellent. As soon as I saw Echo's name, I thought this would be a novel where the author picked a whacky name for a "super awesome" (this is sarcasm) character who is obsessed with her looks and is obviously gawjuss. Thankfully, this wasn't the idea at all - in fact, Echo's name had a lot of backstory to it, and her character was grounded and strong. At the beginning, I hated how submissive she was to her father, and how she wanted to please everyone at every twist and turn - however, now that I've finished the book, I can see the significance of those first few chapters. McGarry created a main character that girl's of all ages would be able to relate to in some way, no matter how tiny - and I felt like I could definitely sympathize with her, and my heart honestly went out to the girl. Fictitious or not, there are people out there who deal with things like Echo, and I thought the author has created a definitely eye-opening novel.
The other main protagonist Noah Hutchins, was also pretty fantastic. Reading the synopsis, I couldn't help but roll my eyes - he was going to be the typical bad-boy-loser-freak-loner-whatever who Echo would fall head-over-heels for, even though, as the strong and sexy heroine of the story, she would try to deny her feelings. Well, I was proved wrong by this book, yet again. Noah had depth - depth that myself as the reader couldn't see to begin with, but at the end my sympathy for him stretched out into infinity. As a child, I loved The Story of Tracy Beaker, and so I kind of know what happens in and around foster care, and I know that it isn't always that great. Not a lot of authors I've come across really delve into the harsh reality of the care system, and so it was again a bit of an eye-opener - not just for me, but for many others, I'm sure. Yes he was hot and drool-worthy, but there was a lot more to his character, which was nice to see.
McGarry's writing was easy to read, and I found myself being able to slip back into the story as soon as I picked the book back up. She did a good job at changing her tone from one character to the next, as I find that in some books from several different points of view, the characters tend to just blend together in the end. This wasn't the case - Noah chapters and Echo chapters were easily distinguishable, as their personalities, genders, and background came out through her writing. That's a talent that's hard to pick up, and for McGarry to do that for her debut novel...well, I'm impressed.
I think I've finally decided on the rating I will give this book. The emotion was so raw throughout the read, that on occasions I found myself unable to stop crying. Some scenes were really heartbreaking, and it just made my heart go out to all the kids out there who have to deal with situations like this on a day-to-day basis. If you love realistic and contemporary fiction, this is definitely a novel you have to pick up. However, for me there was just something missing - though what that is, I have no idea. What I do know is that although I loved that read, I still haven't added Dare You To, the next instalment to this series, onto my TBR list just yet.
OK. This was another case of a book that EVERYONE has read and EVERYONE loved. The raving about its awesomeness made me skeptical. CRAZY, huh? I thought there is no way I’m going to get caught up in the hype. But you present me with an awesome ebook deal and I can’t pass it up. Hook, Line and Sinker. I am glad to say that I fell for Pushing the Limits too. Though I’m not sure I fell for it for the same reasons as many. I kept seeing HOT plastered every where, but for me it was the depth as you can see from my goodread’s updates.
Echo and Noah have experienced way too much, especially for their age. Both have lost family and experienced soul wrenching tragedy and have to overcome extreme obstacles to find home in the family they have left. I am so thankful for Mrs. Collins. She is the social worker that really prods them into dealing with their pasts and pushes them into realizing their future. She is a positive force and one that is often missing from YA, which tends to paint adults and the system with a negative brush.
ON MY SOAPBOX: In the light of recent tragic events, we should be putting money into counseling and therapy that can reach at-risk students while they are in the school system. The resources allotted for this is almost non-existent in a world driven by test scores. If we can reach the angry, misunderstood and disenfranchised youth, we could minimize their pain and the pain or tragedy they might cause others because they don’t know how to cope or deal.
Pushing the Limits is full of discussion possibilities. Death. Bullying and Abuse. Foster System. Sex and Date Rape. Drugs. Coping. Healing and Moving Forward.
I teach at a school that is 100% At-Risk. My heart is often heavy with some of the baggage and burdens these students carry. McGarry wrote a book about surviving, fighting, healing and coming out the other side of overwhelming obstacles and pain. I feel that this book will touch their hearts.
Healing is being able to see the beauty reflected back from the scars.
Echo and Noah have experienced way too much, especially for their age. Both have lost family and experienced soul wrenching tragedy and have to overcome extreme obstacles to find home in the family they have left. I am so thankful for Mrs. Collins. She is the social worker that really prods them into dealing with their pasts and pushes them into realizing their future. She is a positive force and one that is often missing from YA, which tends to paint adults and the system with a negative brush.
ON MY SOAPBOX: In the light of recent tragic events, we should be putting money into counseling and therapy that can reach at-risk students while they are in the school system. The resources allotted for this is almost non-existent in a world driven by test scores. If we can reach the angry, misunderstood and disenfranchised youth, we could minimize their pain and the pain or tragedy they might cause others because they don’t know how to cope or deal.
Pushing the Limits is full of discussion possibilities. Death. Bullying and Abuse. Foster System. Sex and Date Rape. Drugs. Coping. Healing and Moving Forward.
I teach at a school that is 100% At-Risk. My heart is often heavy with some of the baggage and burdens these students carry. McGarry wrote a book about surviving, fighting, healing and coming out the other side of overwhelming obstacles and pain. I feel that this book will touch their hearts.
Healing is being able to see the beauty reflected back from the scars.
Loved it. Brought tears to my eyes. Too much drama for sure, but beautifully written. I just couldn't put this book down... I look forward to reading the companion novel because Beth is an intriguing character.
*4.5 stars*
I loved this book. I am kind of a sucker for the bad boy falls for good girl love story. But this was different. The issues that Noah and Echo had were real and they were hard to deal with, even for the reader. I loved how strongly Noah wanted to keep what was left of his family together and hoe Echo just to be rid of most of hers, except for her brother. I really felt for Echo with losing her brother because a cousin of mine passed away young last year and it hit me hard. I would recommend this book for anyone who loves the bad boys.
I loved this book. I am kind of a sucker for the bad boy falls for good girl love story. But this was different. The issues that Noah and Echo had were real and they were hard to deal with, even for the reader. I loved how strongly Noah wanted to keep what was left of his family together and hoe Echo just to be rid of most of hers, except for her brother. I really felt for Echo with losing her brother because a cousin of mine passed away young last year and it hit me hard. I would recommend this book for anyone who loves the bad boys.
This Review can also be read on my blog Conversations of a Reading Addict
I really don't know where to start with this book. I loved so much about it that I just want to talk about all of it at the same time. The main reason why I think I liked it so much was its realism and the emotions that played out throughout the book. Pushing the Limits was the first book I've read in a long time that hasn't included something paranormal or sci-fi/fantasy, and I have to say it was a lovely change of pace.
The book was told in two narrative voices, Noah and Echo, and that aspect gave an already emotional story and gave it another dimension. Noah and Echo are two very different characters, yet their lives seem to intertwine in a way that neither thought possible. They brought the best, and worst, out of each other. I loved that both main characters had believable and real issues that made me feel for them and hurt for them. Noah's family situation was heartbreaking at some points, and I always wished that he would calm his emotions so he could see the whole picture.
I very much admire Katie McGarry's technique of writing Noah's character, he is flawed in many ways, but the more time he spent with Echo, the more amazing he became. Noah is a typical teenage boy, obsessed with Echos body parts and the way she moved, and told us exactly how he felt and what he wanted to do. This was a very interesting way of showing a characters personality and I especially liked that Noah grew as a man throughout the book and eventually realized his potential.
Echo on the other hand had a whole other set of worries on top of her very interesting and frustrating family situation. Her so called "Deformity" was something I actually loved about Echos character. It separated her from her friends and showcased her real personality. Throughout the book I found it very frustrating that Echo continued to hang out with her old friends, because they never accepted her for who she became after the accident, and it hurt me to see that she didn't see it sooner. I just wanted her to love herself the way Noah did.
I also loved the secondary characters, I thought they played a huge role in this book. They were extremely well developed and added a lot of depth to an already complex story. Noah's friends were always in direct comparison to Echo's friends and it was through this comparison that we see different sides of Noah and Echo. Out of all the secondary characters I have to say that my favorite would have to be Beth because even though her home life is nothing short of horrific, she still has the copacity for love and friendship, whch was a very big redemable quality in her character.
Overall this book blew me away, it encompassed everything I love about Contemporary YA Fiction. Drama, Romance, and a whole lot of amazing characters. This book is worth reading immediately, it will reinforce your view on love and its healing powers. Go read it now! Amazing read!
I really don't know where to start with this book. I loved so much about it that I just want to talk about all of it at the same time. The main reason why I think I liked it so much was its realism and the emotions that played out throughout the book. Pushing the Limits was the first book I've read in a long time that hasn't included something paranormal or sci-fi/fantasy, and I have to say it was a lovely change of pace.
The book was told in two narrative voices, Noah and Echo, and that aspect gave an already emotional story and gave it another dimension. Noah and Echo are two very different characters, yet their lives seem to intertwine in a way that neither thought possible. They brought the best, and worst, out of each other. I loved that both main characters had believable and real issues that made me feel for them and hurt for them. Noah's family situation was heartbreaking at some points, and I always wished that he would calm his emotions so he could see the whole picture.
I very much admire Katie McGarry's technique of writing Noah's character, he is flawed in many ways, but the more time he spent with Echo, the more amazing he became. Noah is a typical teenage boy, obsessed with Echos body parts and the way she moved, and told us exactly how he felt and what he wanted to do. This was a very interesting way of showing a characters personality and I especially liked that Noah grew as a man throughout the book and eventually realized his potential.
Echo on the other hand had a whole other set of worries on top of her very interesting and frustrating family situation. Her so called "Deformity" was something I actually loved about Echos character. It separated her from her friends and showcased her real personality. Throughout the book I found it very frustrating that Echo continued to hang out with her old friends, because they never accepted her for who she became after the accident, and it hurt me to see that she didn't see it sooner. I just wanted her to love herself the way Noah did.
I also loved the secondary characters, I thought they played a huge role in this book. They were extremely well developed and added a lot of depth to an already complex story. Noah's friends were always in direct comparison to Echo's friends and it was through this comparison that we see different sides of Noah and Echo. Out of all the secondary characters I have to say that my favorite would have to be Beth because even though her home life is nothing short of horrific, she still has the copacity for love and friendship, whch was a very big redemable quality in her character.
Overall this book blew me away, it encompassed everything I love about Contemporary YA Fiction. Drama, Romance, and a whole lot of amazing characters. This book is worth reading immediately, it will reinforce your view on love and its healing powers. Go read it now! Amazing read!
I loved the writing and thought the characters and story were well developed. It explored serious issues and managed to be meaningful without turning into an after school special. I'm excited to read the next book.