#127 Book Review: Pushing the Limits [ARC]

Pushing the Limits [ARC]
Release Date: August 3rd 2012
Author: Katie McGarry
Publisher: Harlequin Teen Australia
Source: Publisher for Review
Format: Paperback
Where to Buy: Fishpond | Booktopia |
More Info: Goodreads

Summary from Goodreads:

SO WRONG FOR EACH OTHER...AND YET SO RIGHT.

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.

Cover:
I like the cover! I think it represents the characters in the book quite well. I love Echo's red hair and how Noah is also featured in the cover. I prefer the US cover a bit more but the AUS cover is pretty good too!

Story:

How far are you willing to go to push the limits? 

When I first saw Pushing the Limits in Goodreads, I knew I had to read this book. The summary and the cover absolutely convinced me to read it. The last couple of books I've read were all not contemporary so I really hoped I would love Pushing the Limits. And I did!


Pushing the Limits was a heart-breaking story of two different people who never thought they would fall in love with each other. Noah and Echo both had their own problems and troubles, but these problems and troubles brought them together. The book was written from both Noah and Echo's POV. This book reminded me a little of Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles with the concept of two people who have nothing in common falling for each other and their future together which seems impossible. From the very first page, I wanted to know what was going on with Echo and her troubles. The story goes at a steady pace, exploring the troubles of Echo and Noah, how their attraction developed into something more and how their problems were resolved towards the end of the book. This book was written very well and also made me a little teary. I loved McGarry's writing. It's solid, confident and it pulled me into the book completely. The ending wrapped up the whole book beautifully.

Characters:
The characters were very well-written and felt so real to me. Echo was a character I completely connected with. I wanted to know more about her, what caused her pains and what truly happened the night she completely changed. She was pressured with her father's expectations while she was unable to do the thing she loved most, art. I loved her growing relationship with Noah. It was filled with chemistry and I loved how Noah completely understood Echo. Noah was just wow. He was the bad-boy type but deep down, he was something more than that. Echo's father was a bit too strict on Echo but it all worked out in the end. Ashley, Echo's stepmother was okay but I don't think she was a good mother to Echo. I also really liked Isaiah, Noah's bestfriend and Beth. They were great addition to the story and to Noah's life. Apparently, I just found out in Goodreads that there will be a novel about Beth's story and I can't wait to read it!

Overall:
Pushing the Limits is a heart-breaking story of two different people who have nothing in common, brought together because of their troubles and sorrow. The chemistry between Noah and Echo was like an explosion. It was amazing and simply: real. McGarry's writing completely hooked me from the first page until the very last page.

5 Forget-Me-Not flowers for Pushing the Limits!

Thank you Harlequin Teen Australia for the review copy!

Check out the book trailer!