Review ~ Pushing the Limits

Pushing the Limits

By Katie McGarry

5 out of 5 STARS

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.

ARC provided by Harlequin Teen

Published July 31st, 2012

I don't read YA very often and I was completely blown away with how emotional and beautiful this story was.    Pushing the Limits chronicles the tale of two high school students with two very different backgrounds that merge together in this heartwarming story.

This was beautiful yet heart wrenching as we read about Echo Emerson and Noah Hutchins.  

Echo is an 18 year old senior with a dark and mysterious past.  She has scars, both physical and emotional and a big gaping hole in her memory when what she really wants is answers.

Noah Hutchins has been in foster care for the past couple of years after a very unfortunate accident left him and his two young brothers orphaned.  The foster care system has not been easy on him, changing his lifestyle and behavior for the worse.

Mrs. Collins is the new counselor at school and soon gets the ball rolling for both of these characters...

We learn so much about these characters, the side they present to the world and the side they keep hidden whether intentional or not.  I really enjoyed this story.  The plot covered lots of emotions: despair and loneliness to finally happiness and trust and it was not an easy journey to get there.  I loved this very much and highly recommend it!

Favorite quotes:

My father checked his watch from the chair to my right and, on my left, the Wicked Witch of the West shifted impatiently.  I was missing first period calculus, my father was missing some very important meeting, and my stepmother from Oz?  I'm sure she was missing her brain.

He shifted so that his body rested beside mine, his leg and arm still draped over me.  I felt small under his wamrth and strength.  His chocolate-brown eyes softened.  "Being with you feels good.  Touching you-" he tucked a curl behind my ear "-feels good.  I have never wanted anyone like I want you.  There's nothing you can do wrong when just breathing makes everything right."

Pushing the Limits available at: Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Book Depository