Friday, August 24, 2012

Review & Giveaway: Pushing The Limits, by Katie McGarry


Published: August 3, 2012
Publisher: MIRA Ink
Format: Paperback, 392 pages


Goodreads description:
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.


The following review is a bit different from how I usually write them. I wanted to try a slightly more concise way of reviewing where I combine my assessment with some personal thoughts, but can still keep it spoiler-free. Not sure I succeeded with trying to keep it short though :P Do you like this type of review or do you prefer my usual one? I'll probably keep using both in the future depending on what suits the book, but I'm curious.

My review is based on a copy provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Review (no spoilers):
This is definitely the best contemporary YA novel I’ve read all year. I was unable to stop and finished it in a day.

The story is told alternately from Echo’s and Noah’s point of view, which gives you a diverse perspective of both of them as well as the secondary characters. Noah and Echo come from very different backgrounds but both of them are damaged in similar ways, derailed from what they wanted in life and branded as outcasts.

I could really empathize with how maddening Echo found her situation. Her arms are scarred, something her fellow students think she did to herself but which she knows was actually done to her by a person she trusted. The problem? She cannot remember a single thing about the entire day when it happened.
But her father, his new pregnant wife, and her therapist can. It’s all right there in her thick file, lying tauntingly in front of her on the therapist’s desk. So when said therapist groups her together with Noah Hutchins so she can tutor him, they strike up a deal and make plans for one of them to steal or at least have a peek at both their files.

Noah hasn’t always been a bad boy. However, after his parents died and he got separated from his two younger brothers in the foster system and is now rarely allowed to even see them, he has been slacking off. He used to be a star athlete. Now he’s a stoner with a reputation of only using girls for one night stands (he’s upfront with them about that). However, what he wants most is to take care of his brothers and save them from what happened to him in the system. He wants his family back together. And Echo might be able to help him with that.

The chemistry between Echo and Noah was amazing right off the bat. It was clear they both wanted each other. However, they also both had reasons to try and stay away from the other. I loved to see their relationship develop and how they learned to become better people and stand up for themselves and their goals. Especially for Echo, this involved going against the wishes of many people close to her who were hanging on to an image of what they thought she should be like.

Not only the main characters but also many of the supporting ones where very well fleshed out. I always knew exactly who was who, how they ticked, what they wanted. They didn’t fall flat for me and they weren’t all the same. I especially liked the therapist, Mrs Collins. She truly had the backs of Noah and Echo and tried her best to help them. There are many novels out there where the ‘shrinks’ are portrayed in a negative light and I’m sure there are those kinds of therapists around, but I really liked that this one was different and really had her clients’ (not the system’s, not the parents’) best interests in mind. She was understanding. She pushed. She listened. She tried to help them so they could help themselves and heal.

I also had a big place in my heart for Isaiah and Beth, Noah’s best friends. They’ve had it rough but the three of them really stick together no matter what, unlike some of Echo’s ‘friends’ like Grace, who will only acknowledge her if she goes back to dating Luke, her idiot but socially acceptable ex. Beth will also be a protagonist in Dare You To, which will be out next year. I've read the snippet attached to my Negalley version and I'm excited to read the rest!

Both Noah and Echo were such strong characters, good people trying to be better than their flaws and face down their fears. To discover themselves and their true potential instead of taking the easiest road. This book was so much more than just a romance. It was an exploration of love, friendship, family, and being true to what you really want. It was a story of heartbreak and how it can be mended. It was a story about how to deal with the death of a beloved person and how nothing is ever the same afterwards. It was real and gritty and didn’t gloss over the hurtful parts. I felt involved with the characters and cried more than just once. The ending was different from what I’d expected but perfect for the book. It leaves room for a sequel but can also stand on its own.

Pushing The Limits is a fast-paced, raw and honest story about teens with real problems. It’s not a light read, but there’s nevertheless a share of humor in there, mostly in Noah’s well-placed comments and the banter between him and Echo. I’d recommend the story to a more mature YA audience, especially those about to finish highschool who are faced with the question of what they really want out of life and what comes next.

Connect with Katie McGarry on twitter or facebook.

Have you read Pushing The Limits? Post your thoughts about the book and/or my review of it below! I love to hear from you guys :)

Annnnd... because I loved this book so much, I've decided give away one UK version paperback or kindle copy - winner's choice (this giveaway is not sponsored by the publisher). Just fill out the rafflecopter form to enter. And yes, it's INTERNATIONAL. See below for the rest of the rules.


Rules:
  • open internationally provided The Book Depository ships to you
  • you must be at least 13 years old
  • only one entry per person / household
  • the first entry is free but you have to follow me to unlock the rest
  • giveaway ends on August 30, 12:01 a.m.
  • the winner will be contacted by email and has 48 hours to respond, otherwise I'll pick someone else 
  • I reserve the right to change entry options or end the giveaway early
  • I'm not liable for what happens to your book once The Book Depository has shipped it 
  • cheaters will be DISQUALIFIED, meaning I'll delete all their entries and not just the cheating one 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

33 comments:

  1. I've been wanting to read this one and it frustrates me whenever I see a US/Canada ONLY giveaway. Thanks for making it INT! :)

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    1. You're welcome :) I had the same problem... really wanted it, but nearly all giveaways were sponsored by the publisher and therefore US/CAN only. Good luck!

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  2. I accidentally entered twice. I had opened the URL twice so it didn't register that I'd just entered. I stopped when it started to look familiar. Sorry, not trying to cheat :)

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    1. I checked the rafflecopter and your entry registered only once, so don't worry ;) Thanks for telling me though! The cheating concerns people saying they followed/liked but actually didn't, or entering with different names (which I still notice because they have the same IP address) or always posting the URL of the same tweet and stuff like that. I delete all those entries before picking a winner because the cheaters change the odds or everyone even if they don't win. *rant over*

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  3. This promises to be an amazing book! I want to read it!

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  4. Thanks for the review. I've been seeing this book everywhere and it's really peeked my intrest. I like that it's from the two different points of view. I read Crossed this summer by Ally Condie that was like that and i loved it.

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    1. Yup, it really was everywhere, but deservedly so ;)
      I still haven't read that Ally Condie series but I want to!

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  5. Thanks for making this giveaway international! I've wanted this book forever & it was always US/Canada only!! You are great!!

    Loving your review! It only makes me want to read it so much more!

    xx

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    1. *blushes* So happy you liked the review :)
      And yup, pretty much ALL the giveaways I saw for this one were US only, so I wanted to have an international one to give everyone the chance to enter!

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  6. Thank you for the giveaway. This book has been showing up all over the place and is getting fantastic reviews. I'm looking forward to it!

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  7. Awesome review, i have this sitting in my tbr pile and cannot wait to meet Echo and Noah. I liked the format you used for your review:)

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    1. The two of them are worth the wait though ;) And thanks for the feedback on the review format!

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  8. I've heard many compliment about this book, that's why I look forward to read it. ;)
    I prefer this cover instead of the hardback one ;)

    ladymilano

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  9. I haven't read it yet but got quiet curious because people talk about it. And now I'm more curious because though you recommend it to those about to finish high school, I think it suits me just fine since right now I'm faced with the question of what I really want out of life and what comes next. :) Great review.
    Thanks for the giveaway.

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    1. I think you'll still enjoy it! I'm about halfway through my MA degree at university but the question 'what next' and what I really want to do with my life is present as ever. This book made me think, and I hope it can do the same for you :)

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  10. i want to read pushing the limits....oh i hope i win this giveaway :p
    thx u for the chance of win..
    nice story !!!

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  11. thank you so much , been waiting to read this book:), aretha zhen

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  12. This is one of my fav books of the year! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  13. Thanks for hosting this giveaway!
    Pushing The Limits is already on my TBR list and it would be great if I could get it for free ;D

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  14. Thank you for the international giveaway! I heard so many great things about the books and I'm only reading raving reviews. I hope I like it as well :)

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  15. I'm seeing this book everywhere and am dying to read it, especially after your review! Thanks for offering the giveaway!

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  16. I never read this kind of book but I'm looking forward to read it ^^. thanks for hosting this international giveaway.

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  17. Great review! I also loved this book! Echo and Noah are a match made in heaven. They are perfect for each other and instead of being a burden to each other, they made each other stronger. :) Crossing my fingers that I win this giveaway! >.<

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    1. Yes!! They fit together so well! They're strong on their own already but together they're up to anything :D I love how equally matched they are and I'd love to read about their road trip ^^'

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  18. I've had this one my list for awhile and I really want to read it. And you definitely should read the Matched series!

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  19. Thanks for the giveaway!Pushing the limits has amazing covers :)

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  20. Amazing Review... it has been on my tbr for about two months thanks you very much for 'International' giveaway... :)

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  21. I just finished reading Pushing The Limits yesterday and I read it in one sitting! This book is amazing! I couldn't put it down!

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    1. It is! I wanted to read it in one sitting but kept getting interrupted by people. But I still read it in a day :)

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  22. This book has been sitting on my wish list for a while now. I am hoping christmas comes with amazon gift cards so that I can finally read it!!

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  23. I have this book on my "to read" list. It sounds really good. I liked your review, I think from what I have read in other reviews about this book, that your character description is spot on.

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  24. This is currently on my e-reader and I'll be reading it next!:D Thanks for a great review:) I'm excited to get started on it:)

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  25. I've had Pushing the Limits on my TBR pile forever. The way you make Noah and Echo's relationship sound...omg...I NEED to read it!!!

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