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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
Solid YA romance, good for the Simone Elkeles/Sarah Dessen readers.
Again, my quibble is an issue that I have been having with many books lately--the ending is tied up a little too tidily, a little too easily to feel real-to me. A younger reader may accept character changes of heart more readily.
Again, my quibble is an issue that I have been having with many books lately--the ending is tied up a little too tidily, a little too easily to feel real-to me. A younger reader may accept character changes of heart more readily.
I'm in love with this book. It's pushed my emotions to the brink with every page.
It has this tortured soul vibe. i love that Echo is able to finally fin peace for her troubled past by helping Noah with his. I especially like that It din't end in some "I hate my stepmother because my father cheated on my mother with her". It's much more complex and realistic. I love the epiphany that Echo receives about moving on with your life after facing even the worse of problems. She realizes that her mom isn't the poor tortured soul that she paints her out be and is in fact just as psychotic and bipolar as her dad points her out to be. This book has multiple themes but the most touching one is that just because your parents are a certain way it does not mean that you have to be that way. Pushing The Limits could be the next classic novel.
OMFG KATIE MCGARRY IS AN AMAZING AUTHOR WHOSE BOOKS WILL BE ON MY SHELVES FOREVER (REAL AND VIRTUAL)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rating: A ... Heat: Sweet
Pushing the Limits is a story about two teenagers who have been let down by the adults in their lives. The cause and effect of grown-ups utterly failing them. Miz McGarry really explores the trauma, the… wounds… adults can cause. And how the wounds can fester and grow if nothing is done about it.
Echo Emerson and Noah Hutchins most certainly have their fair share of festering wounds. Told in the first person, Echo and Noah take turns narrating.
Echo Emerson, from the very first line, had my heart. Her thoughts… they hit very close to home.
Echo is very introverted, very internalized. Which, considering her support system—or lack thereof—is not surprising. She also has a strong desire to please everyone, particularly her dad. It rang very true in light of how closed-off, emotionally, he is with her. And, like many teens, Echo is desperate to be normal… and very uncomfortable in her own skin. Unlike other teens, however, she is haunted by night terrors. Plagued by repressed memories.
Echo has gone through hell—emotionally and physically—and has the scars to prove it. But she doesn’t have the memories. There is a big, gaping, yawning hole in her mind where the horrible memory of an unspeakable act should be. Because of that blank space, Echo is left drifting—trying to remember, trying to cope with the after-effects.
Noah Hutchins, in the beginning, comes across as a somewhat a-typical pot smoking, smart-mouthed ‘bad boy’.
Then you see his mouthiness for what it really is—armor. Noah is very closed off… an introvert like Echo. And he doesn’t trust easily. Life has taught him that lesson well. Noah has been used and abused by the system. After standing up for what was right—and throwing a punch at his first foster father—Noah has been labeled a menace. He’s been passed from one foster family to the next. And, the much bigger issue, his right to visit his younger brothers has been revoked. Noah doesn’t care what his peers think of him, he no longer cares what grades he gets in school. Noah no longer cares about anything… except for his brothers. They are his entire focus.
Thankfully, a wise and determined therapist—Mrs. Collins—decides to throw Echo and Noah together. Sure, it’s a bit like mixing vinegar and baking soda but, in the end, they are exactly what the other needs.
Together, Echo and Noah find a common goal. To get their personal files from Mrs. Collins. The files hold information both are desperate to get their hands on. While working together, hesitantly, especially on Echo’s part, they grow to like each other. Though there is attraction, a friendship blooms first. Trust takes root, which is essential for both. Echo realizes what was normal, what she used to want, no longer applies. She wants Noah, no matter the baggage they both have. And Noah begins to see that he can’t continue to be careless and neglectful. He has to makes plans, truly care, and actually work toward a future. These two are very mature for their age. I enjoyed watching them grow and uncover new aspects of themselves while also learned to trust each other and open up.
Now, I have to admit, one of my biggest emotional kyrptonites is any and all parental issues. If Pushing the Limits was a finger, it would have constantly been poking at my heart. This book found all my soft spots. I can’t say how this story will touch those who don’t have parental angst in their past (or present), but it turned my heart into complete mush. It has a very gentle and thoughtful quality to it and handles some pretty touch issues with care and ease. And the romance between Echo and Noah, it simmers and teases and flirts and had me rooting for them the entire book.
Favorite Quote:
-- A Romantic Book Affairs Review.
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Pushing the Limits is a story about two teenagers who have been let down by the adults in their lives. The cause and effect of grown-ups utterly failing them. Miz McGarry really explores the trauma, the… wounds… adults can cause. And how the wounds can fester and grow if nothing is done about it.
Echo Emerson and Noah Hutchins most certainly have their fair share of festering wounds. Told in the first person, Echo and Noah take turns narrating.
Echo Emerson, from the very first line, had my heart. Her thoughts… they hit very close to home.
“My father is a control freak, I hate my stepmother, my brother is dead and my mother has... well... issues. How do you think I’m doing?”
Echo is very introverted, very internalized. Which, considering her support system—or lack thereof—is not surprising. She also has a strong desire to please everyone, particularly her dad. It rang very true in light of how closed-off, emotionally, he is with her. And, like many teens, Echo is desperate to be normal… and very uncomfortable in her own skin. Unlike other teens, however, she is haunted by night terrors. Plagued by repressed memories.
Echo has gone through hell—emotionally and physically—and has the scars to prove it. But she doesn’t have the memories. There is a big, gaping, yawning hole in her mind where the horrible memory of an unspeakable act should be. Because of that blank space, Echo is left drifting—trying to remember, trying to cope with the after-effects.
Noah Hutchins, in the beginning, comes across as a somewhat a-typical pot smoking, smart-mouthed ‘bad boy’.
“You’ve got a fucked-up name,” I mumbled. I didn’t know why I wanted to rattle her, I just did.
Then you see his mouthiness for what it really is—armor. Noah is very closed off… an introvert like Echo. And he doesn’t trust easily. Life has taught him that lesson well. Noah has been used and abused by the system. After standing up for what was right—and throwing a punch at his first foster father—Noah has been labeled a menace. He’s been passed from one foster family to the next. And, the much bigger issue, his right to visit his younger brothers has been revoked. Noah doesn’t care what his peers think of him, he no longer cares what grades he gets in school. Noah no longer cares about anything… except for his brothers. They are his entire focus.
Thankfully, a wise and determined therapist—Mrs. Collins—decides to throw Echo and Noah together. Sure, it’s a bit like mixing vinegar and baking soda but, in the end, they are exactly what the other needs.
Together, Echo and Noah find a common goal. To get their personal files from Mrs. Collins. The files hold information both are desperate to get their hands on. While working together, hesitantly, especially on Echo’s part, they grow to like each other. Though there is attraction, a friendship blooms first. Trust takes root, which is essential for both. Echo realizes what was normal, what she used to want, no longer applies. She wants Noah, no matter the baggage they both have. And Noah begins to see that he can’t continue to be careless and neglectful. He has to makes plans, truly care, and actually work toward a future. These two are very mature for their age. I enjoyed watching them grow and uncover new aspects of themselves while also learned to trust each other and open up.
Now, I have to admit, one of my biggest emotional kyrptonites is any and all parental issues. If Pushing the Limits was a finger, it would have constantly been poking at my heart. This book found all my soft spots. I can’t say how this story will touch those who don’t have parental angst in their past (or present), but it turned my heart into complete mush. It has a very gentle and thoughtful quality to it and handles some pretty touch issues with care and ease. And the romance between Echo and Noah, it simmers and teases and flirts and had me rooting for them the entire book.
Favorite Quote:
“Noah,” she breathed out, unknowingly fulfilling one of my many fantasies involving Echo. If I played my cards right, maybe she’d fulfill a couple more. I barely brushed my lips down her cheek as I moved toward her mouth. Her nails tickled my chest, driving me insane. Kissing her became my single reason for breathing.
-- A Romantic Book Affairs Review.
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I really wanted to love this book because everyone else just raves about it. Instead, this book just fell flat for me.
The characters were just infuriating. Echo just whines the whole time and hides behind everyone else, and Noah... I can't even. "The court won't give me custody of my brothers. I don't understand why- all I do is smoke pot every night, drink, get in fist fights, and sleep with every girl." I just wanted to throw my Kindle against a wall, but I wouldn't do that because it's my baby. Also, am I the only one who found their romance a little... awkward and creepy? Every time Noah would say something "sweet and sexy" or touch Echo, I made a face and resisted the urge to groan. The only character I semi-liked was Isaiah, and I still wanted to knock some sense into him. Even the mystery wasn't that good or exciting, and the writing didn't stand out to me in any way.
The only reason I gave this book two stars was the ending, which was the only part I did enjoy besides the occasional banter or parts thrown in for comic relief. I can see why so many people loved this book, but it just wasn't for me. I wish I could say I loved it, but I probably won't be picking up the next book.
The characters were just infuriating. Echo just whines the whole time and hides behind everyone else, and Noah... I can't even. "The court won't give me custody of my brothers. I don't understand why- all I do is smoke pot every night, drink, get in fist fights, and sleep with every girl." I just wanted to throw my Kindle against a wall, but I wouldn't do that because it's my baby. Also, am I the only one who found their romance a little... awkward and creepy? Every time Noah would say something "sweet and sexy" or touch Echo, I made a face and resisted the urge to groan. The only character I semi-liked was Isaiah, and I still wanted to knock some sense into him. Even the mystery wasn't that good or exciting, and the writing didn't stand out to me in any way.
The only reason I gave this book two stars was the ending, which was the only part I did enjoy besides the occasional banter or parts thrown in for comic relief. I can see why so many people loved this book, but it just wasn't for me. I wish I could say I loved it, but I probably won't be picking up the next book.
OHMYGOD! Someone help, because Noah and Echo are just too dang adorable and I just can't even... The happy ending made me so, well, happy and melty on the inside. Everything just feel into place for everyone and it was awesome. Echo's stuff with her mom was pretty intense. But that just made the whole book so much better and more real, almost.
I need the other ones ASAP. (I already read Isiah's story, though, on accident... I didn't realize they were connected.)
I need the other ones ASAP. (I already read Isiah's story, though, on accident... I didn't realize they were connected.)
I had never read anything by Katie before and I must say I am absolutely thrilled that I chose this book (series). The characters are rough around the edges but you can't help but love them and want more for them than they expect for themselves. Loved it!
To be honest, I didn't think this would be THAT good. I mean, it's a YA and I am not big into YA anymore. However, I wanted to give it a shot since it's been on my TBR for a long time.
I loved this books. I loved everything about it. I loved Echo and Noah. My heart ached for Echo and her relationships with her father, Ashley, her friends. My heart hurt for her because she felt like she couldn't be herself. I hated her friends for that. I hated that she felt like she would be judged. Then again, that's high school for you. Man, I am glad I am over that time in my life.
Noah, I love you. I cried during EVERY SINGLE scene between him and his brothers. I loved his personality. I loved his love for his brothers. I loved how he didn't care what people thought about him. I loved how much he tried to help Echo. I loved how he saw Echo and her scars didn't faze him.
The worst type of crying wasn't the kind everyone could see--the wailing on the street corners, the tearing at clothes. No, the worst kind happened when your soul wept and no matter what you did, there was no way to comfort it. A section withered and became a scar on the part of your soul that survived...For people like me and Echo, our souls contained more scars than life.
“Because growing up means making tough choices, and doing the right thing doesn't necessarily mean doing the thing that feels good.”
I also loved Mrs. Collins (and Noah's constant need to tell her how badly she drove).
“If you’re scared, tell me. If you need to cry and scream, then do it. And you sure as hell don’t walk away from us because you think it would be better for me. Here’s the reality, Echo: I want to be by your side. If you want to go to the mall stark naked so you can show the world your scars, then let me hold your hand. If you want to see your mom, then tell me that too. I may not always understand, but damn, baby, I’ll try.”
I loved this books. I loved everything about it. I loved Echo and Noah. My heart ached for Echo and her relationships with her father, Ashley, her friends. My heart hurt for her because she felt like she couldn't be herself. I hated her friends for that. I hated that she felt like she would be judged. Then again, that's high school for you. Man, I am glad I am over that time in my life.
Noah, I love you. I cried during EVERY SINGLE scene between him and his brothers. I loved his personality. I loved his love for his brothers. I loved how he didn't care what people thought about him. I loved how much he tried to help Echo. I loved how he saw Echo and her scars didn't faze him.
The worst type of crying wasn't the kind everyone could see--the wailing on the street corners, the tearing at clothes. No, the worst kind happened when your soul wept and no matter what you did, there was no way to comfort it. A section withered and became a scar on the part of your soul that survived...For people like me and Echo, our souls contained more scars than life.
“Because growing up means making tough choices, and doing the right thing doesn't necessarily mean doing the thing that feels good.”
I also loved Mrs. Collins (and Noah's constant need to tell her how badly she drove).
“If you’re scared, tell me. If you need to cry and scream, then do it. And you sure as hell don’t walk away from us because you think it would be better for me. Here’s the reality, Echo: I want to be by your side. If you want to go to the mall stark naked so you can show the world your scars, then let me hold your hand. If you want to see your mom, then tell me that too. I may not always understand, but damn, baby, I’ll try.”
I was so excited to pick this book up! Three main reasons for that: 1. Lots of buzz from other bloggers including those who don't normally read much contemporary; 2. the fact that I do read a good amount of contemporary and have a special soft spot for it; and 3. I have read and loved a lot of HarlequinTeen books lately and I think they are just hitting it out of the ballpark with their lists of books. But I was also nervous because it seems like heavily hyped books tend to let me down...what would be the case for Pushing the Limits?
As it turns out, I am not one of the people who will gush over this book: not because it was bad or because I didn't like it. It has a lot of good points and I am comfortable giving it four stars. But it is very much not my kind of story. There is drama on top of drama on top of more drama with little humor to lighten the plot and lift my spirits.
I mean, so much drama! One of our narrators (did I mention this was dually narrated between the lead characters? That was a definite plus for me-I love multiple narrators!) is Echo, former popular girl who lost her status following the news of the death of her brother in Afghanistan and then a night she can't remember but that resulted in serious scars on her arms and a restraining order against her mother. The other narrator is bad boy Noah, orphan, druggie, and foster kid who is trying to fight the system to gain custody of his two younger brothers.
Now that is a lot to take in, right? But it's only a snippet of the drama these two go through. Every time I thought they might catch a break, something else had to break. It added layers and ratcheted up the intensity of their circumstances but it ended up feeling too much for me. I know some people love these melodramatic romantic contemporaries but I'm not one of those people. If you are that kind of person, then I definitely recommend this for you!
Another thing is that while I liked the two narrators, I didn't love them. My love is reserved for supporting characters Mrs. Collins, the slightly off-beat school psychiatrist who just might be an adult they can trust; Isaiah and Beth, Noah's two friends who have been as battered by the foster care system as him; and Lila, a true friend to Echo. In fact, one of my favorite parts of this reading experience ended up being the sneak peek at a companion novel following Beth due in 2013; I can't wait for that!
Overall: A strong contemporary if heavy on the drama and light on the comedy.
Cover: Love Echo's hair-very true to the story. Personally I don't think the cover is very dynamic but it suggests a contemporary love story.
As it turns out, I am not one of the people who will gush over this book: not because it was bad or because I didn't like it. It has a lot of good points and I am comfortable giving it four stars. But it is very much not my kind of story. There is drama on top of drama on top of more drama with little humor to lighten the plot and lift my spirits.
I mean, so much drama! One of our narrators (did I mention this was dually narrated between the lead characters? That was a definite plus for me-I love multiple narrators!) is Echo, former popular girl who lost her status following the news of the death of her brother in Afghanistan and then a night she can't remember but that resulted in serious scars on her arms and a restraining order against her mother. The other narrator is bad boy Noah, orphan, druggie, and foster kid who is trying to fight the system to gain custody of his two younger brothers.
Now that is a lot to take in, right? But it's only a snippet of the drama these two go through. Every time I thought they might catch a break, something else had to break. It added layers and ratcheted up the intensity of their circumstances but it ended up feeling too much for me. I know some people love these melodramatic romantic contemporaries but I'm not one of those people. If you are that kind of person, then I definitely recommend this for you!
Another thing is that while I liked the two narrators, I didn't love them. My love is reserved for supporting characters Mrs. Collins, the slightly off-beat school psychiatrist who just might be an adult they can trust; Isaiah and Beth, Noah's two friends who have been as battered by the foster care system as him; and Lila, a true friend to Echo. In fact, one of my favorite parts of this reading experience ended up being the sneak peek at a companion novel following Beth due in 2013; I can't wait for that!
Overall: A strong contemporary if heavy on the drama and light on the comedy.
Cover: Love Echo's hair-very true to the story. Personally I don't think the cover is very dynamic but it suggests a contemporary love story.
This review was originally published at Fluttering Butterflies
I know I've already listed this book on my favourite books of the year so far list and I've gushed about it to most everybody since I finished it, but it really must be said again. Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry is a beautiful book, an absolute favourite of mine and one that I cannot recommend enough!
This book is so very beautiful emotional and absolutely heartbreaking in its rawness and its honesty. Echo and Noah are such great characters, I found it very easy to fall into their head and into their stories. And in doing so, my heart ached alongside theirs and I became fully immersed into this book. I was bereft when it finished, completely wrung-out with emotion.
I do love a good love story, but stories like Echo's and Noah's grab me harder and longer than most because they are characters who are very broken in so many different ways. Echo used to be popular and outgoing with a great boyfriend. But all of that goes away after Echo is the victim of a violent crime that results in her arm covered in scars. But the worst thing is that Echo cannot recall anything about what happened, only that it occurred at the hands of somebody who loved her. I found Echo's journey throughout this book to be painful in so many ways. Her attempts at learning the details of the incident, her PTSD, her troubled mental state are all absolute agony to read at times. But it was also very real and tangible. Together with her physical scars and the loss of her memory, Echo is dealing with the emotional pain of losing her brother in the recent past. All that grief and confusion and pain make Echo a wreck of a character, but one is very sympathetic and somebody that I was rooting for right from the very beginning.
And that's just Echo! Pushing the Limits splits the narrative between both Echo's perspective and Noah's. And Noah is dealing with his own hardships. He's not your typical bad boy, Noah. Sure, he's hot and he smokes pot and has plenty of experience with the ladies, but he also just really wants his family back. After his parents died in a fire, Noah and his two younger brothers have all been put in care and Noah is determined to graduate high school and become their legal guardian. But it isn't as simple as that and he's holding onto some serious secrets.
They shouldn't work together, this damaged girl and this bad boy. But together, Echo and Noah heat up the pages of this book! The chemistry between them is unbelievable! Really, this book comes so highly recommended from me! It is an incredible book with its emotion and its intensity! Read it, you won't be sorry!
I know I've already listed this book on my favourite books of the year so far list and I've gushed about it to most everybody since I finished it, but it really must be said again. Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry is a beautiful book, an absolute favourite of mine and one that I cannot recommend enough!
This book is so very beautiful emotional and absolutely heartbreaking in its rawness and its honesty. Echo and Noah are such great characters, I found it very easy to fall into their head and into their stories. And in doing so, my heart ached alongside theirs and I became fully immersed into this book. I was bereft when it finished, completely wrung-out with emotion.
I do love a good love story, but stories like Echo's and Noah's grab me harder and longer than most because they are characters who are very broken in so many different ways. Echo used to be popular and outgoing with a great boyfriend. But all of that goes away after Echo is the victim of a violent crime that results in her arm covered in scars. But the worst thing is that Echo cannot recall anything about what happened, only that it occurred at the hands of somebody who loved her. I found Echo's journey throughout this book to be painful in so many ways. Her attempts at learning the details of the incident, her PTSD, her troubled mental state are all absolute agony to read at times. But it was also very real and tangible. Together with her physical scars and the loss of her memory, Echo is dealing with the emotional pain of losing her brother in the recent past. All that grief and confusion and pain make Echo a wreck of a character, but one is very sympathetic and somebody that I was rooting for right from the very beginning.
And that's just Echo! Pushing the Limits splits the narrative between both Echo's perspective and Noah's. And Noah is dealing with his own hardships. He's not your typical bad boy, Noah. Sure, he's hot and he smokes pot and has plenty of experience with the ladies, but he also just really wants his family back. After his parents died in a fire, Noah and his two younger brothers have all been put in care and Noah is determined to graduate high school and become their legal guardian. But it isn't as simple as that and he's holding onto some serious secrets.
They shouldn't work together, this damaged girl and this bad boy. But together, Echo and Noah heat up the pages of this book! The chemistry between them is unbelievable! Really, this book comes so highly recommended from me! It is an incredible book with its emotion and its intensity! Read it, you won't be sorry!