Book Review: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Pushing the Limits
Pushing the Limits #1
Author: Katie McGarry
Reading Level: YA
Genre: Contemporary/Romance
Released: July 31st 2012
Review Source: Harlequin Teen
Available: Amazon

Summary: (from goodreads) No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.

Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

Pushing the Limits pushed my limits in a very good way. Was that a bit too cheesy? It seems the more I like books lately the harder it is to write a review for them, so Pushing the Limits is included. Again I have been surprised by a book that's not a genre that I go to first for my reading choice. So when I began the book, I was skeptical at first, then I ask around to those who had read it to make sure I wasn't going to be disappointed. I now fall in the same category of those who recommend that I should read it because it was great. The way McGarry writes the struggles these characters go through are so realistic and meaningful. Even though its a heart-wrenching tale, you just cant help yourself but fall in love with the story and its characters thanks to McGarry's writing. 

Pushing the Limits follows the story of Echo and Noah. Echo comes from a pretty messed up family. She has lost her brother, has a mother that is gone from her life for many reason being one she is ill mentally and then she has the controlling father of the millennia. So I for one can understand why Echo is not in her right place of mind. Now Noah is your hot headed sexy boy. Noah has been through one of life's worse case scenario. He lost both his parent in an accident. Noah and his younger brother were separated when they were sent into the foster system. All Noah wants is his brother back, to him everyone is out to hurt his little brother, so he retaliates being bad. So when Noah and Echo end up having to visit the same therapist at school, their paths collide in a very unexpected way. Will this therapist help these kids? or will it just knock them deeper within their personal demons. 

This book just has so many positive aspects to make it great: alternating POVs, intense relationship between Noah and Echo, drama for your mama, brotherly love at it finest, ect... Just watching how both Echo and Noah grow and deal with all the demons in their closets makes for a great book. I loved that McGarry did not sugar coat any of the real life issues, she doesn't give any kind of false hope. Its as real as it can get. Pick this one up no matter who you are and what you like to read. It will deliver.