Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
Harlequin Teen (2012), Hardcover, 416 pages
Description
Romance. Young Adult Fiction. HTML: Book 1 in Katie McGarry's award winning Pushing The Limits series 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. But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. 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..… (more)
Media reviews
I never went to bed last night and I just slept for an hour or two this morning but ever since I woke up I was avoiding this moment.
I simply can't do that any longer but I have no idea how to start describing the raw emotions that racked my heart and soul while I was reading the book. I know that
If I had to describe the book in a few words they would probably be real, believable, easy to relate to, emotional, heartbreaking! It made me smile, it made me cry and it settled in my heart as my favorite book so far. Definitely the most meaningful book I've read in a while!
It's really and unbelievable read. The way Ketie McGarry has described her characters, the world she's build around Echo Emerson and Noah Hutchins, that it was so easy to slip into their lives and experience everything right along with them (and when I say everything I mean it, the love, the heart-wrecking pain, the anger...).
The two main characters, were so different from each other at the time they met. Before their lives fell apart they were pretty similar but right now they are both living and their own personal hell, going trough it day by day. They were wrong for each other but the connection between them was so strong, due to the fact that they felt that pain I mentioned earlier. The both new loss and the were there for each other liken no one else could be for them.
Echo was the girl everyone new about, everyone talked about, everyone wanted her life and then she lost everything she cared about in just a few months. Her life changed inevitably after her brother's death and the horrible accident she can't remember.
Now her life consists of having very little sleep, doing what her father wants her to do, pretend she's normal at school and hiding her scars from the rest of the world. Simple, but that routine changed very quickly when the gorgeous, incredibly sexy and completely off limits, Noah Hutchins walked into her life teasing and trying to rattle her cage. That's when everything changed again for her, maybe this time for the better...
When you look at Noah, you see the sexy body, you see him as a stunner, a guy who uses girls for sex and that's all. But deep inside he is scarred just as Echo is on the outside. His fate was to lose his parents in a fire and his brothers to the foster system. A system he hated and fight with everyday. His one goal in life is to save money, find a semi-good job and take custody of his brothers. He can't stand the fact that he can't see them and he is hurting but by the way he acted with everyone you wouldn't be able to understand his pain. Only Echo did, she was the only one besides his friends that managed to break through the wall around his heart and she stole it away with her siren smile and guarded actions.
What I loved most about the book was the sincerity of the characters. Noah had a f****d up life and swearing was his a constant part of him. He rebelled and he messed up and he was far from perfect but he was real.
I particularly love one of his lines and here it is:
"It had been so long since I'd let myself fall for someone. I gazed into her beautiful green eyes and her fear melted. A shy smile tugged at her lips and at my heart. Fuck me and the rest of the world. I was in love."
I don't know what is it about bad guys that makes them so appealing. There is something amazing in each of them. In the end they turned out to have the biggest. kindest hearts and maybe that's because they've already been trough hell and the tough demeanor was his way of coping. But they always doubt themselves when it comes to being with the good girls and they always try so hard to prove that they're worthy. That makes them so sweet and gentle and pretty much every girl's dream. They don't even see the goodness inside themselves. Noah was just like that, trying, having doubt, expecting that Echo will snap out of her momentary daze and she'll leave. Little did he know, how much she loved him.
Everything in Noah made me smile from how good he is with Echo, and his brothers, to his love for Beth and Isaiah, to his tattoo as a tribute to his family(oh that tattoo alone made me cry).
And here's the quote that broke my heart:
"I want my mom and dad," I couldn't suck in air. "I just want my family back."
It really is impossible for me to describe just how I feel about this book. It was the best book I've read in a while, so full of love and heart-wrecking pain. It was an emotional roller-coaster and constant struggle but the characters fought their battle and survived! I loved every single second of it! ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!!!
I simply can't do that any longer but I have no idea how to start describing the raw emotions that racked my heart and soul while I was reading the book. I know that
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these are strong words but if you don't get it then you haven't read the book. This morning after my tears dried up I was trying to sum up something that will make you guys understand how much I loved this book but I'll just improvise now...If I had to describe the book in a few words they would probably be real, believable, easy to relate to, emotional, heartbreaking! It made me smile, it made me cry and it settled in my heart as my favorite book so far. Definitely the most meaningful book I've read in a while!
It's really and unbelievable read. The way Ketie McGarry has described her characters, the world she's build around Echo Emerson and Noah Hutchins, that it was so easy to slip into their lives and experience everything right along with them (and when I say everything I mean it, the love, the heart-wrecking pain, the anger...).
The two main characters, were so different from each other at the time they met. Before their lives fell apart they were pretty similar but right now they are both living and their own personal hell, going trough it day by day. They were wrong for each other but the connection between them was so strong, due to the fact that they felt that pain I mentioned earlier. The both new loss and the were there for each other liken no one else could be for them.
Echo was the girl everyone new about, everyone talked about, everyone wanted her life and then she lost everything she cared about in just a few months. Her life changed inevitably after her brother's death and the horrible accident she can't remember.
Now her life consists of having very little sleep, doing what her father wants her to do, pretend she's normal at school and hiding her scars from the rest of the world. Simple, but that routine changed very quickly when the gorgeous, incredibly sexy and completely off limits, Noah Hutchins walked into her life teasing and trying to rattle her cage. That's when everything changed again for her, maybe this time for the better...
When you look at Noah, you see the sexy body, you see him as a stunner, a guy who uses girls for sex and that's all. But deep inside he is scarred just as Echo is on the outside. His fate was to lose his parents in a fire and his brothers to the foster system. A system he hated and fight with everyday. His one goal in life is to save money, find a semi-good job and take custody of his brothers. He can't stand the fact that he can't see them and he is hurting but by the way he acted with everyone you wouldn't be able to understand his pain. Only Echo did, she was the only one besides his friends that managed to break through the wall around his heart and she stole it away with her siren smile and guarded actions.
What I loved most about the book was the sincerity of the characters. Noah had a f****d up life and swearing was his a constant part of him. He rebelled and he messed up and he was far from perfect but he was real.
I particularly love one of his lines and here it is:
"It had been so long since I'd let myself fall for someone. I gazed into her beautiful green eyes and her fear melted. A shy smile tugged at her lips and at my heart. Fuck me and the rest of the world. I was in love."
I don't know what is it about bad guys that makes them so appealing. There is something amazing in each of them. In the end they turned out to have the biggest. kindest hearts and maybe that's because they've already been trough hell and the tough demeanor was his way of coping. But they always doubt themselves when it comes to being with the good girls and they always try so hard to prove that they're worthy. That makes them so sweet and gentle and pretty much every girl's dream. They don't even see the goodness inside themselves. Noah was just like that, trying, having doubt, expecting that Echo will snap out of her momentary daze and she'll leave. Little did he know, how much she loved him.
Everything in Noah made me smile from how good he is with Echo, and his brothers, to his love for Beth and Isaiah, to his tattoo as a tribute to his family(oh that tattoo alone made me cry).
And here's the quote that broke my heart:
"I want my mom and dad," I couldn't suck in air. "I just want my family back."
It really is impossible for me to describe just how I feel about this book. It was the best book I've read in a while, so full of love and heart-wrecking pain. It was an emotional roller-coaster and constant struggle but the characters fought their battle and survived! I loved every single second of it! ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!!!
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User reviews
LibraryThing member breakingdownslowly
I was wary going into this one. It sounded too issue-y. But I'd heard nothing but rave reviews about it from trusted sources and the romance was supposed to be epic, so I went for it.
And oh this book. It hit my Right. In. The. Feels. I read this on my Kindle and pretty much cried through the last
Echo. Oh Echo. Her story made my heart hurt, that poor girl. She'd been through so much and suffered so much and I just wanted to hug her and then help her draw again. And then Noah. Freaking Noah. He wants you to hate him but you can't because he is secretly the sweetest, bestest boy on earth. I love Noah Hutchins so, so much. He is probably one of my new favorite YA boys.
And this story? Jesus. I kept thinking the romance was going to be the best part of the book, the part that pulled me through. But there was no "best part." There was Awesome Part A, Awesome Part B, and Awesome Part C. Echo's story, Noah's story, Echo and Noah's story. Both of the characters had really intense, horrible stories that no teenager should have to deal with. I was utterly hooked on both stories and was just so hungry for more, for their happiness. And then their romance was like the shining beacon, the happiness they couldn't find elsewhere. And it was cute and adorable and intense and passionate and dhjdhsklgndjsnsg STOP I CANNOT.
The writing was told from alternating first POV between Noah and Echo. Katie McGarry really knew what she was doing by going back and forth. Both perspectives were crucial, obviously, and both characters had their own distinct voice and life and personality.
Guys, I don't think I can gush about this book enough. It is now one of my favorite books ever and you will seriously regret it if you don't pick it up. It's like no other contemporary I've read and oh how I adore it. Please, please, PLEASE pick up this book.
And oh this book. It hit my Right. In. The. Feels. I read this on my Kindle and pretty much cried through the last
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quarter of it.Echo. Oh Echo. Her story made my heart hurt, that poor girl. She'd been through so much and suffered so much and I just wanted to hug her and then help her draw again. And then Noah. Freaking Noah. He wants you to hate him but you can't because he is secretly the sweetest, bestest boy on earth. I love Noah Hutchins so, so much. He is probably one of my new favorite YA boys.
And this story? Jesus. I kept thinking the romance was going to be the best part of the book, the part that pulled me through. But there was no "best part." There was Awesome Part A, Awesome Part B, and Awesome Part C. Echo's story, Noah's story, Echo and Noah's story. Both of the characters had really intense, horrible stories that no teenager should have to deal with. I was utterly hooked on both stories and was just so hungry for more, for their happiness. And then their romance was like the shining beacon, the happiness they couldn't find elsewhere. And it was cute and adorable and intense and passionate and dhjdhsklgndjsnsg STOP I CANNOT.
The writing was told from alternating first POV between Noah and Echo. Katie McGarry really knew what she was doing by going back and forth. Both perspectives were crucial, obviously, and both characters had their own distinct voice and life and personality.
Guys, I don't think I can gush about this book enough. It is now one of my favorite books ever and you will seriously regret it if you don't pick it up. It's like no other contemporary I've read and oh how I adore it. Please, please, PLEASE pick up this book.
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LibraryThing member booktwirps
Echo Emerson used to be one of the popular girls. She was well-liked, had a great circle of friends and dated one of the most popular jocks. Then, one day, she stopped coming to school, and when she returned everything had changed. Suddenly, she was the freaky girl with unexplained scars covering
Noah Hutchins has always been a bit of a bad boy. Shuffled between foster homes since his parents died, Noah can't wait to graduate so he can get his little brothers back and restart their lives.
When Noah is thrust into Echo's life by a well-meaning school counselor, the two of them don't exactly get along. Echo wants things to go back to normal. She wants her old life back and that's kind of hard to do when everyone at school sees you hanging out with the notorious bad boy. Noah isn't exactly happy about the situation himself, but he can't help but feel drawn to this tragically broken girl. What the two of them will soon discover is that each of them may hold the key to putting the pieces of their broken lives back together.
This book absolutely blew me away. The story is gritty and compelling, the characters tragically, yet realistically flawed and it is all delivered with a hefty emotional punch. I was afraid going into this that it wouldn't live up to the hype, but I'm happy to say that it did. In spades. I was deeply moved by both Echo and Noah's story. The book is alternately told through Echo and Noah's perspective, which gives the reader a deeper understanding of the pain, as well as the hope wrestling within them. The two of them are beautiful people with deep emotional scars and I found myself rooting for them the entire way. These two belonged together and I loved watching them discover this. The supporting characters are just as well-rounded which made the story even more engaging.
Ms. McGarry has written an emotionally charged, unconventional love story that is not to be missed. There are only a handful of books (namely Laura Wiess' Ordinary Beauty and Kelley York's Hushed) that literally left me breathless and thinking about them for days after I turned the last page. I'm happy to add Pushing the Limits to that list. This one is a must read.
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her arms, gossiped about by everyone.Noah Hutchins has always been a bit of a bad boy. Shuffled between foster homes since his parents died, Noah can't wait to graduate so he can get his little brothers back and restart their lives.
When Noah is thrust into Echo's life by a well-meaning school counselor, the two of them don't exactly get along. Echo wants things to go back to normal. She wants her old life back and that's kind of hard to do when everyone at school sees you hanging out with the notorious bad boy. Noah isn't exactly happy about the situation himself, but he can't help but feel drawn to this tragically broken girl. What the two of them will soon discover is that each of them may hold the key to putting the pieces of their broken lives back together.
This book absolutely blew me away. The story is gritty and compelling, the characters tragically, yet realistically flawed and it is all delivered with a hefty emotional punch. I was afraid going into this that it wouldn't live up to the hype, but I'm happy to say that it did. In spades. I was deeply moved by both Echo and Noah's story. The book is alternately told through Echo and Noah's perspective, which gives the reader a deeper understanding of the pain, as well as the hope wrestling within them. The two of them are beautiful people with deep emotional scars and I found myself rooting for them the entire way. These two belonged together and I loved watching them discover this. The supporting characters are just as well-rounded which made the story even more engaging.
Ms. McGarry has written an emotionally charged, unconventional love story that is not to be missed. There are only a handful of books (namely Laura Wiess' Ordinary Beauty and Kelley York's Hushed) that literally left me breathless and thinking about them for days after I turned the last page. I'm happy to add Pushing the Limits to that list. This one is a must read.
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LibraryThing member Annejhoyce
I love me some Contemporary Romance so when I read the synopsis on Goodreads, I just knew I had to read this. See, this book is more than your typical teenage romance. It does play on cliche things but there is mystery beyond what is presented. The romance part itself, was just.... If I let out a
First, We have Echo Emerson. A girl who was once the it-girl, had the it-boyfriend, was in the it-circle, had a full family until a tragic night during her Sophomore year. The mystery of it is that she cannot remember what happened on her own. She was so emotionally and physically scarred by the experience that her mind shielded her away from the memories of it. She kept to herself and eventually became a loner. Until the last semester of her senior year, she almost find herself in verge of "normality"...
Then we have Noah Hutchinson. The bad boy. The stoner. The walking one night stand. But there's more to the boy than the smoke that comes from his mouth or his bad grades in Physics. Once upon a time, he was once your typical "Homecoming King". He had popularity, played for the basketball team and most importantly, a loving home with a beautiful family but all was lost after the fire that took both of his parents. All he was left with was his little brothers but they we're eventually taken from him as well. As graduation nears, he's counting the days where he will get full custody and be with them again but nothing is as simple as it seems...
Through circumstances, those two we're forced to work with each other. Tutoring set up by none other than, Mrs. Collins. The new social services counselor dead set to help both of them. Echo with her memory block and Noah with his fight for himself and his brothers. As they spend more time together, they find out that they are so much more similar than they have thought. Eventually, an intense attraction builds up between the two and even with their own denials, the fire that has been set cannot be extinguished.
They have both gone through so much and it was hard not to have an instant soft spot for them. So as for character development, my heart just melted into tiny little bubbles of happiness. This book did not disappoint. They grew as individuals and with each other. It was done without any lack of emotional turmoil but done tastefully.
With emotions being said, let me get out the easiest one, and that is ANGER. There's a few things I didn't like but I don't think they we're meant to be liked anyway. I cannot get over the whole "public" friend BS. I'm sorry, her friends we're so worried about her social status rather than her actual needs? They might have meant well but I can't even get past that one except for Lila. Lastly, Echo's parents and Ashley? Well, I'll leave that one for you to find out because I have a few choice words that won't sound too good right now.
But with Anger, there is also LOVE. Love for that everything that's happened because I officially love this book! I shed a tear or two at some emotional points, swooned over Noah and his love for Echo & his brothers, for Echo to find her backbone. I love the fact that this was written in alternating POVs. It confuses readers when they're not done right but in this case, they blended in so smoothly! I can still hear Noah's thoughts in my head right now..... *starts daydreaming. Call me cheesy or hopeless romantic but I would have never thought the word "Siren" could be such a sweet endearment but Ms. McGarry definitely made that work for Noah. Despite the weirdness of it, I loved Echo and Aires' name. So unique and pretty. I loved Isaiah and Beth's character. They're the best sub-characters you will ever get from this book! Maybe, besides Mrs. Collins. Everyone else was... difficult.
The book was simple enough for a contemporary read but the contents we're pretty potent that I'm sure I won't forget about this one anytime soon. In fact, I could use a little bit more of Echo and Noah in my life! Definitely purchasing a paperback copy of my own and I'll make sure to watch out for Ms. Katie McGarry's future work because Pushing The Limits have exceeded expectations.
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dreamy sigh, will that get the point across?First, We have Echo Emerson. A girl who was once the it-girl, had the it-boyfriend, was in the it-circle, had a full family until a tragic night during her Sophomore year. The mystery of it is that she cannot remember what happened on her own. She was so emotionally and physically scarred by the experience that her mind shielded her away from the memories of it. She kept to herself and eventually became a loner. Until the last semester of her senior year, she almost find herself in verge of "normality"...
Then we have Noah Hutchinson. The bad boy. The stoner. The walking one night stand. But there's more to the boy than the smoke that comes from his mouth or his bad grades in Physics. Once upon a time, he was once your typical "Homecoming King". He had popularity, played for the basketball team and most importantly, a loving home with a beautiful family but all was lost after the fire that took both of his parents. All he was left with was his little brothers but they we're eventually taken from him as well. As graduation nears, he's counting the days where he will get full custody and be with them again but nothing is as simple as it seems...
Through circumstances, those two we're forced to work with each other. Tutoring set up by none other than, Mrs. Collins. The new social services counselor dead set to help both of them. Echo with her memory block and Noah with his fight for himself and his brothers. As they spend more time together, they find out that they are so much more similar than they have thought. Eventually, an intense attraction builds up between the two and even with their own denials, the fire that has been set cannot be extinguished.
They have both gone through so much and it was hard not to have an instant soft spot for them. So as for character development, my heart just melted into tiny little bubbles of happiness. This book did not disappoint. They grew as individuals and with each other. It was done without any lack of emotional turmoil but done tastefully.
With emotions being said, let me get out the easiest one, and that is ANGER. There's a few things I didn't like but I don't think they we're meant to be liked anyway. I cannot get over the whole "public" friend BS. I'm sorry, her friends we're so worried about her social status rather than her actual needs? They might have meant well but I can't even get past that one except for Lila. Lastly, Echo's parents and Ashley? Well, I'll leave that one for you to find out because I have a few choice words that won't sound too good right now.
But with Anger, there is also LOVE. Love for that everything that's happened because I officially love this book! I shed a tear or two at some emotional points, swooned over Noah and his love for Echo & his brothers, for Echo to find her backbone. I love the fact that this was written in alternating POVs. It confuses readers when they're not done right but in this case, they blended in so smoothly! I can still hear Noah's thoughts in my head right now..... *starts daydreaming. Call me cheesy or hopeless romantic but I would have never thought the word "Siren" could be such a sweet endearment but Ms. McGarry definitely made that work for Noah. Despite the weirdness of it, I loved Echo and Aires' name. So unique and pretty. I loved Isaiah and Beth's character. They're the best sub-characters you will ever get from this book! Maybe, besides Mrs. Collins. Everyone else was... difficult.
The book was simple enough for a contemporary read but the contents we're pretty potent that I'm sure I won't forget about this one anytime soon. In fact, I could use a little bit more of Echo and Noah in my life! Definitely purchasing a paperback copy of my own and I'll make sure to watch out for Ms. Katie McGarry's future work because Pushing The Limits have exceeded expectations.
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LibraryThing member BookWhisperer
This novel offered a very similar feel to my beloved favorite Beautiful Disaster. The abruptness and volume of intensity overflowing from these pages affected me just as deeply throughout. Pushing the Limits is the type of the story that will capture your attention long after the last page. These
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characters will imprint and influence readers with their deeply devotional stories. With the mysterious history for these two victims readers will be captivated and enticed through the rough beginning. Unknowingly, by passing the rough new start to a relationship, and jumping right into the meat of the story. As I raced for the end I fell in love with this story inside and out. Out is the overview of a victimized young girl and man that just happen to be thrown together. The outcome is obviously the powerful romance that will offers a brighter ending for our two characters. The inside is the perfectness of these two characters their finding just what they need. After the continuous failure of Noah's efforts, after the loss of his parents, he has all but given up. With the sole goal of obtaining custody of his two younger brothers; he slides through life just to get by. Until he meets Echo. Echo is the complete opposite with her over baring Father, and dysfunctional family. This is where things really began to get interesting. It is easy to tell you what we know: Echo has arms covered in scars that she knows her Mother has something to do with, but everyone that can refuses to give her any information. The one other person that could provide this information would be her Mother, but the restraining order has forbidden her from even speaking to her. We also know that as if her life was not dysfunctional enough she has had to endure the tragic loss of her brother Ares. Lastly, and to pour salt in open wounds her longtime babysitter is her new Stepmother. All of these developments occurred in the same length of time creating quite a story that Echo has to contend with. As I am sure is easy to grasp that all of these facts load up to a big pile of CRAP!!!! This story is about unfolding each one of these areas, and forming each of the finite details into a clearer picture. As well as, building this heart stopping romance that will leave readers breathless. I loved every inch of this story, and would absolutely list it as a BOOKWHISPERER RECOMMENDATION!!!! Show Less
LibraryThing member brandileigh2003
This is one of the best contemporaries that I have read in a long time. Both of the main characters have been through so much and show so much strength and determination to live and press through. It is amazing how Katie McGarry wrote them to both be in so much pain and deal with things differently
Echo really came into her own throughout the book, and the journey was hard, emotional and affirming to watch. She was a character that I connected with right away and I rooted for her to stand up to her dad in the right ways, connect with Mrs Collins who is her councelor working through things with her, and to find her own normal. It really does add an element to the story about her brother Aries. He was a Marine and died in service. I feel for her loss, but I feel that through her memories he made such an impression. His sacrifice, and his love for his sister when he was there. This is such an important topic to read about too, I have friends who are serving and I used to be in JROTC, but honestly, I have no idea what it's like to sacrifice so much for our freedom, both the men and women serving, the families back home waiting or the ones who have died and again the families feeling the loss.
Noah personifies bad boy, but we get to see his soft spots, his love for his brothers, and how he slowly lets people in. Like the councelor said to him at the beginning there is so much potential in him, academic and otherwise. I really loved how he admired Echo, and how he treated her with respect. He brings out the best in her, and that is quite a quality in a guy. Sure, he has his moments where he is a jerk, especially before he knows her, but when their friendship really develops, its beautiful to watch. It really melts my heart how he doesn't define her by what happened to her, and how comfortable he is with her scars, where it freaks most others out. He really did it for me, and I loved the hotness going on between them. There were some really swoon worthy moments, hotness and sweetness both were covered.
The layers to Noah really amazed me though. It wasn't only his attitude and actions towards Echo, but his all encompassing love for his brothers. It is such a beautiful relationship drawn out here, and I can't say much without spoiling, but Noah's heart and motivations where they were concerned made me almost cry. Katie McGarry painted some amazing pictures here about family--through Ashley and Echo, how their relationship changed, to Echo and her brother Aries relationship. Also with Noah and his blood brothers that he is seperated from (in different foster homes) to his non-blood brother and sister Isaiah and Beth, how circumstance can really draw people together, closer than family in some ways.
I love the dual perspective of the book, hearing from both Noah and Echo really adds to the story, and it also attributes to the good pacing. We have all of these internal battles going on, but it never feels repetitive, and it plays on my emotions.
Once I picked this book up, I did not want to stop reading it. Their story was like crack and I couldn't get enough.
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but still connect on such a deep level.Echo really came into her own throughout the book, and the journey was hard, emotional and affirming to watch. She was a character that I connected with right away and I rooted for her to stand up to her dad in the right ways, connect with Mrs Collins who is her councelor working through things with her, and to find her own normal. It really does add an element to the story about her brother Aries. He was a Marine and died in service. I feel for her loss, but I feel that through her memories he made such an impression. His sacrifice, and his love for his sister when he was there. This is such an important topic to read about too, I have friends who are serving and I used to be in JROTC, but honestly, I have no idea what it's like to sacrifice so much for our freedom, both the men and women serving, the families back home waiting or the ones who have died and again the families feeling the loss.
Noah personifies bad boy, but we get to see his soft spots, his love for his brothers, and how he slowly lets people in. Like the councelor said to him at the beginning there is so much potential in him, academic and otherwise. I really loved how he admired Echo, and how he treated her with respect. He brings out the best in her, and that is quite a quality in a guy. Sure, he has his moments where he is a jerk, especially before he knows her, but when their friendship really develops, its beautiful to watch. It really melts my heart how he doesn't define her by what happened to her, and how comfortable he is with her scars, where it freaks most others out. He really did it for me, and I loved the hotness going on between them. There were some really swoon worthy moments, hotness and sweetness both were covered.
The layers to Noah really amazed me though. It wasn't only his attitude and actions towards Echo, but his all encompassing love for his brothers. It is such a beautiful relationship drawn out here, and I can't say much without spoiling, but Noah's heart and motivations where they were concerned made me almost cry. Katie McGarry painted some amazing pictures here about family--through Ashley and Echo, how their relationship changed, to Echo and her brother Aries relationship. Also with Noah and his blood brothers that he is seperated from (in different foster homes) to his non-blood brother and sister Isaiah and Beth, how circumstance can really draw people together, closer than family in some ways.
I love the dual perspective of the book, hearing from both Noah and Echo really adds to the story, and it also attributes to the good pacing. We have all of these internal battles going on, but it never feels repetitive, and it plays on my emotions.
Once I picked this book up, I did not want to stop reading it. Their story was like crack and I couldn't get enough.
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LibraryThing member Bookswithbite
Is it just me or books just getting greater and greater? I ADORED this book. With so many emotions thrusting forward through a mysterious plot line, I found myself truly amazed of how well this book swept me off my feet!
What I adored most about this book is the great plot line. It moves with such
The characters of the book are sweet! I enjoyed getting into their minds and their emotions. Each transition to each character is smooth yet addicting. I remember reading one section and couldn't help myself by wanting to get to the other character already. I was that excited while reading it!
What amazed me in this book is the awesome redemption. That is the part I loved the most. Where the characters can turn their mess into a message. It is bittersweet cause you know as the reader, how much they struggled. How much you deeply wanted things for them just to go their way. In life, we can do nothing but make the best out of what we have. Echo and Noah surpassed everything that came their way, tackling life head on.
Their love is even better. I loved how they are able to find solace in one another. The amount of trust, peace, and love flowed out of the pages and into my heart. It so heart-moving.
Pushing The Limits is an genuine story that is off the charts. The intimate look into the lives of two strangers falling in love and fighting for each other is what life is about. Delievered with high intensity plotline, Pushing The Limits is astounding!
What I adored most about this book is the great plot line. It moves with such
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emotion that the reader can't help but be entranced. Both point of views are intense. I love that the author created an ample amount of time to allow the reader the soak into the characters shoes. Each of their story is like peeling back another layer of their life only pushing me further into their core being.The characters of the book are sweet! I enjoyed getting into their minds and their emotions. Each transition to each character is smooth yet addicting. I remember reading one section and couldn't help myself by wanting to get to the other character already. I was that excited while reading it!
What amazed me in this book is the awesome redemption. That is the part I loved the most. Where the characters can turn their mess into a message. It is bittersweet cause you know as the reader, how much they struggled. How much you deeply wanted things for them just to go their way. In life, we can do nothing but make the best out of what we have. Echo and Noah surpassed everything that came their way, tackling life head on.
Their love is even better. I loved how they are able to find solace in one another. The amount of trust, peace, and love flowed out of the pages and into my heart. It so heart-moving.
Pushing The Limits is an genuine story that is off the charts. The intimate look into the lives of two strangers falling in love and fighting for each other is what life is about. Delievered with high intensity plotline, Pushing The Limits is astounding!
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LibraryThing member AngelaFristoe
This has got to be one of my favorite YA contemporary romances this year, if not ever! It is a fast read, made so by McGarry's strong voice, and her brilliantly crafted characters.
When I started reading Pushing the Limits I was expecting something a little softer. I'm not sure exactly why, but it
It's really hard to pin point specific things I loved about the story, because doing so would reveal spoilers, and this is definitely a book I would hate to spoil for anyone. I will say that I cried for about the last third of the book, I got angry, and ultimately I felt hope that Noah and Echo wouldn't forever be defined by the things that happened to them, but by how they survived. Despite my tears, and the obvious serious nature of both Echo and Noah's lives, I wasn't left with a heavy feeling. Pushing the Limits is an amazing debut novel for McGarry.
When I started reading Pushing the Limits I was expecting something a little softer. I'm not sure exactly why, but it
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just seemed more of a fluffy good girl falls for bad boy story. Pushing the Limits is so much more. Noah and Echo come from completely different backgrounds, but both had their lives torn apart, and now they are struggling to survive in the lives they've created for themselves. There is no insta-love, and there is no game playing. They come across as genuine people trying to understand what happened to them and why. Even the secondary characters were beautifully developed. Noah's friend Beth is even getting a book of her own, and I can't wait to read it!It's really hard to pin point specific things I loved about the story, because doing so would reveal spoilers, and this is definitely a book I would hate to spoil for anyone. I will say that I cried for about the last third of the book, I got angry, and ultimately I felt hope that Noah and Echo wouldn't forever be defined by the things that happened to them, but by how they survived. Despite my tears, and the obvious serious nature of both Echo and Noah's lives, I wasn't left with a heavy feeling. Pushing the Limits is an amazing debut novel for McGarry.
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LibraryThing member ilikethesebooks
Holy wow is this novel filled with emotions. From steamy sexy times, to painful therapy trying to uncover an event too traumatic to remember, Katie McGarry's debut, Pushing the Limits, really covers the full spectrum of emotions. This novel is a must read for any contemporary lover.
This is going to
Noah and Echo have such a perfect and realistic relationship because their relationship is not perfect. Echo is having a hard time dealing with change. She wants normal, but she doesn't really even know what that is now. The closer she gets to Noah, the more she resents him for both making her move on and changing her perspective of normal. It takes a lot for these two to accept each other and accept the new versions of themselves. Their relationship is rocky, yet incredibly sweet. I loved Noah because he is definitely a boy (because so many YA heroes don't resemble real teenage boys) and in no way is he perfect.
Although this seems somewhat inconsequential, I really loved the structure of the novel. Each chapter switches between Noah and Echo's point of views, which really worked in this instance. In addition, the chapters are not titled or numbered, something that adds a surprising amount to the story for being something so little and easily looked over. It makes the story seem continuous; less of a story and more of the truth.
Overall? You'd be crazy if you skip over this one. Read it. Enough said.
This is going to
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be a short review because I honestly cannot think of a single thing that I didn't like in this novel. Everything aspect that makes up a great contemporary story is here and the level of emotional depth is consuming. The main characters, Echo and Noah are each trying to recover from their perspective trauma, the only difference is Noah remembers and Echo does not. Little do they know that to get through their past, they need to do it together. Noah and Echo have such a perfect and realistic relationship because their relationship is not perfect. Echo is having a hard time dealing with change. She wants normal, but she doesn't really even know what that is now. The closer she gets to Noah, the more she resents him for both making her move on and changing her perspective of normal. It takes a lot for these two to accept each other and accept the new versions of themselves. Their relationship is rocky, yet incredibly sweet. I loved Noah because he is definitely a boy (because so many YA heroes don't resemble real teenage boys) and in no way is he perfect.
Although this seems somewhat inconsequential, I really loved the structure of the novel. Each chapter switches between Noah and Echo's point of views, which really worked in this instance. In addition, the chapters are not titled or numbered, something that adds a surprising amount to the story for being something so little and easily looked over. It makes the story seem continuous; less of a story and more of the truth.
Overall? You'd be crazy if you skip over this one. Read it. Enough said.
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LibraryThing member dpchapman
I was excited and a little bit nervous when I received my copy of Pushing the Limits. I had read so many wonderful, glowing reviews that I was worried it would not live up to the hype. I am relieved to say that Pushing the Limits not only lived up to all the hype but for me, it surpassed it!
This
This was a very emotional read for me. I was moved and brought to tears several times while reading. Yet I couldn’t put it down. This is one of the best books by a debut author that I have read in a long time.
Due to the language, sex, drugs and alcohol I would recommend this book to older YA readers.
This
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book revolves around two troubled teens, Echo and Noah. Both have had devastating events in their lives that they need help in overcoming. Their family and friends are not the best support system that the teens need so they start seeing Mrs. Collins the high school new clinical social worker. With her help their lives slowly change and the secrets they have been keeping start to come to light.This was a very emotional read for me. I was moved and brought to tears several times while reading. Yet I couldn’t put it down. This is one of the best books by a debut author that I have read in a long time.
Due to the language, sex, drugs and alcohol I would recommend this book to older YA readers.
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LibraryThing member hrose2931
Oh, you're gonna want this one, today! The romance is amazing, the suffering is heartbreaking and the characters are amazing. Let's take things slow. First the romance, a somewhat scandalous romance between bad-boy Noah and used to be popular Echo. How did that happen? Mutual need for information
The suffering, they have both experienced great loss. Echo has lost her family in a different way than Noah, but Noah, Oh God, Noah! He's trying to be so strong and keep things together and he has dreams for his life but he can't have them and be who he thinks he's supposed to be. When his full story finally comes out, get your tissues out. I have never wanted to reach through a book more and let a character cry on my shoulder than I did Noah. He cried and I was okay with that. I didn't think any less of him for it because anyone in his situation would do the same way before he did. I didn't have quite as much sympathy for Echo only because she was constantly whining about her stepmother. Granted that stepmother used to be her babysitter, but it got just a bit old. I did think she was in a tough spot though. And her losses were no less than Noah's just different.
So there is Noah and Echo telling the story, which I love! But the side characters are so great and you can see how they add to Noah's and Echo's lives either making it harder or easier. Lila was Echo's friend before and after that night. Lila is the kind of friend you want to have your back. She doesn't care about popularity or the risks of dating someone unpopular, she cares about Echo. She knows that Echo is not a self injurer like the rumors say, that she isn't a freak and she pulls her over to their old table where the cheerleaders sit, where Grace sits, the one who cares how it looks even if they used to be bffs. Then Noah has his own little crew, Isaiah and Beth, they are his little family in foster care. They all look out for each other. They contribute to Noah's bad reputation but they are all making the best of a bad situation.
Can I just say that I couldn't turn the pages fast enough on this one to see how it ended? I saw no way for a happy ending for anyone. Not with what Noah wanted and what Echo needed. Katie McGarry knows how to deliver a deeply emotional novel with characters that will leave you thinking about them long after you've closed the book. I've been thinking about this novel for a few weeks now. I wanted to write a worthy review. I think I felt every emotion I could reading this novel. I've never pulled for two characters more than these two. I was so divested in the outcome...that's all I can say.
There is a sneak preview of Katie McGarry's next novel in the back of this novel and I hope she can deliver the same caliber of novel as this one. I'm sure it will be in a top ten of mine this year. So did I make you want to read it? Do you want to know what they lost? What would make bad boy Noah Hutchins cry? Why would Miss Popularity's life change overnight? Don't skip this one. It lives up to the hype and then some!
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that turned into something more. But then there's Noah's understanding of Echo's situation. They are both broken, almost beyond repair. But somehow, they came into each other's lives. And like it or not, they have something between them.The suffering, they have both experienced great loss. Echo has lost her family in a different way than Noah, but Noah, Oh God, Noah! He's trying to be so strong and keep things together and he has dreams for his life but he can't have them and be who he thinks he's supposed to be. When his full story finally comes out, get your tissues out. I have never wanted to reach through a book more and let a character cry on my shoulder than I did Noah. He cried and I was okay with that. I didn't think any less of him for it because anyone in his situation would do the same way before he did. I didn't have quite as much sympathy for Echo only because she was constantly whining about her stepmother. Granted that stepmother used to be her babysitter, but it got just a bit old. I did think she was in a tough spot though. And her losses were no less than Noah's just different.
So there is Noah and Echo telling the story, which I love! But the side characters are so great and you can see how they add to Noah's and Echo's lives either making it harder or easier. Lila was Echo's friend before and after that night. Lila is the kind of friend you want to have your back. She doesn't care about popularity or the risks of dating someone unpopular, she cares about Echo. She knows that Echo is not a self injurer like the rumors say, that she isn't a freak and she pulls her over to their old table where the cheerleaders sit, where Grace sits, the one who cares how it looks even if they used to be bffs. Then Noah has his own little crew, Isaiah and Beth, they are his little family in foster care. They all look out for each other. They contribute to Noah's bad reputation but they are all making the best of a bad situation.
Can I just say that I couldn't turn the pages fast enough on this one to see how it ended? I saw no way for a happy ending for anyone. Not with what Noah wanted and what Echo needed. Katie McGarry knows how to deliver a deeply emotional novel with characters that will leave you thinking about them long after you've closed the book. I've been thinking about this novel for a few weeks now. I wanted to write a worthy review. I think I felt every emotion I could reading this novel. I've never pulled for two characters more than these two. I was so divested in the outcome...that's all I can say.
There is a sneak preview of Katie McGarry's next novel in the back of this novel and I hope she can deliver the same caliber of novel as this one. I'm sure it will be in a top ten of mine this year. So did I make you want to read it? Do you want to know what they lost? What would make bad boy Noah Hutchins cry? Why would Miss Popularity's life change overnight? Don't skip this one. It lives up to the hype and then some!
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LibraryThing member AmberFIB
Pushing the Limits is a beautiful story of love, loss, and forgiveness. Told in alternating points of view, switching between first-person Noah and first-person Echo, Pushing the Limits tells the story of two broken teenagers who find strength within each other. Both Echo and Noah have their own
I think that almost everyone has been picked on in high school. Because of that, Echo is easy to relate to. You can't help but feel bad for her. She used to have it all, then after something horrible happened to her, she lost everything. Her desire for normalcy annoyed me, but that is only because I know (now that I'm an old woman of 30) that normal is overrated and doesn't actually exist. It seems to be one of those things that most people strive for, but no one can achieve. However, she's a likable character, and she grows so much over the course of the novel. I really enjoyed watching her come to terms with her past and figure out her future.
Noah is a bit frustrating, too, but also likable. He's definitely a flawed hero. He's extremely emotionally damaged from the death of his parents and loss of his brothers to the foster system. He's in the system, too, and has had awful luck with foster parents. Because of this, he tends to lash out at people and be a jerk for no reason. He, also, wanted to get his version of normal and wanted to rebuild his family. I wanted to shake him at times and tell him that you can't go back in time. He grows as much as Echo does throughout the novel, and I also enjoyed watching him come to terms with everything.
The plot itself is beautiful, and the romance is sweet. The way Noah and Echo supported each other and never judged one another is touching. The story line is intriguing. Echo lost her memory of the night she received her scars, and throughout the book she remembers more and more from that fateful day. Because of that, I was engaged throughout the novel, putting the pieces together, right along with Echo. Everyone in her family, and her counselor, knew what happened, but they wouldn't tell her. She'd tried to remember once before, and she had a mental breakdown. It was extremely suspenseful every time she remembered something. It was almost as if I felt her worry of another mental breakdown, right along with her. While this is going on, we also get to witness Noah trying to put his life back together, even though he was labeled as "emotionally unstable" by the foster system after he hit his first foster father. I enjoyed learning his reasoning behind his actions and watching him try to be the person he wants to be. The pacing for the story was perfect, and the ending ties everything up wonderfully.
Warnings: Drug use, underage drinking, obscenities, and a sex scene (though it's barely skimmed over. Nothing smutty or trashy, and no detail) do occur in the novel, so this book may be best for 14+. The drug use isn't glamorized, though. I appreciated that.
Overall, I'd recommend Pushing the Limits to almost anyone. If you enjoy good contemporary romances that have characters who are trying to overcome extreme obstacles, then this book is definitely for you.
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unique, tragic, and heartbreaking stories of loss. McGarry switches from one POV to the next smoothly, and all of the characters are well-developed. There is just enough suspense and mystery to keep the book interesting, but not so much that it overwhelms the romance between Noah and Echo. This is truly a story for everyone. I think that almost everyone has been picked on in high school. Because of that, Echo is easy to relate to. You can't help but feel bad for her. She used to have it all, then after something horrible happened to her, she lost everything. Her desire for normalcy annoyed me, but that is only because I know (now that I'm an old woman of 30) that normal is overrated and doesn't actually exist. It seems to be one of those things that most people strive for, but no one can achieve. However, she's a likable character, and she grows so much over the course of the novel. I really enjoyed watching her come to terms with her past and figure out her future.
Noah is a bit frustrating, too, but also likable. He's definitely a flawed hero. He's extremely emotionally damaged from the death of his parents and loss of his brothers to the foster system. He's in the system, too, and has had awful luck with foster parents. Because of this, he tends to lash out at people and be a jerk for no reason. He, also, wanted to get his version of normal and wanted to rebuild his family. I wanted to shake him at times and tell him that you can't go back in time. He grows as much as Echo does throughout the novel, and I also enjoyed watching him come to terms with everything.
The plot itself is beautiful, and the romance is sweet. The way Noah and Echo supported each other and never judged one another is touching. The story line is intriguing. Echo lost her memory of the night she received her scars, and throughout the book she remembers more and more from that fateful day. Because of that, I was engaged throughout the novel, putting the pieces together, right along with Echo. Everyone in her family, and her counselor, knew what happened, but they wouldn't tell her. She'd tried to remember once before, and she had a mental breakdown. It was extremely suspenseful every time she remembered something. It was almost as if I felt her worry of another mental breakdown, right along with her. While this is going on, we also get to witness Noah trying to put his life back together, even though he was labeled as "emotionally unstable" by the foster system after he hit his first foster father. I enjoyed learning his reasoning behind his actions and watching him try to be the person he wants to be. The pacing for the story was perfect, and the ending ties everything up wonderfully.
Warnings: Drug use, underage drinking, obscenities, and a sex scene (though it's barely skimmed over. Nothing smutty or trashy, and no detail) do occur in the novel, so this book may be best for 14+. The drug use isn't glamorized, though. I appreciated that.
Overall, I'd recommend Pushing the Limits to almost anyone. If you enjoy good contemporary romances that have characters who are trying to overcome extreme obstacles, then this book is definitely for you.
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LibraryThing member alaiel.kreuz
Review By Alaiel Kreuz:
After being attacked by her mother -and almost killed- Echo only adds a new painful moment to her life since her brother's death. Aires was her advocate, the person that helped her and stood by her side no matter what.
But now he is dead, her dad married again with whom used
That is until Mrs. Collins, her new therapist, gets involved in her life and talks about taking baby steps and working together to get her memories back. She also asks her to tutor Noah if she wants to get some money and repair Aire's car.
But Noah means trouble, he is the kid that do drugs, goes to wild parties and has sex with one girl almost every night.
The problem is the reality is not that simple: Noah's problem began when his parents died in a fire and his little brothers were taken away by the system. A system that put him with a foster father that was abusive. A system that Noah doesn't trust. That's why he wants to prove that he can be all the family the boys need.
When a single moments destroys your perfect life, what can you do to put it back together knowing that is impossible to have it all back?
Somehow these two broken souls realize that although normal doesn't really exists maybe, together, they can find a place where happiness is not impossible.
Personal Opinion:
I don't think there are enough words to describe how beautiful, amazing, mesmerizing and heartbreaking was every second reading this book.
Why? The characters will feel so real you are going to want to be a part of their lives no matter what, that's why.
But I have to be honest about something: The first 50 pages were - at least for me- kind of slow and it was easy to put the book down. For one second I even thought about stoping... But I'm SO glad I didn't 'cause that would have been a huge and horrible mistake. So if this happens to you, don't stop please, I promise you will love this book!
What makes this book so special are both main characters, Echo and Noah, whom we see struggle to put their lives back together, are afraid of being hurt again and fight their own demons.
They never thought that being together meant healing. How could they? He became the bad boy every girl should stay away from and Echo went from popular girl dating the king of school to a social paria in a heart beat.
Have you ever met a person that makes you want to be better? That you want nothing more than to help, heal and treasure? Well, this is want happens here. Echo is, deep inside, a strong girl and Noah is a a caring soul that only needs to find a place to blossom again.
My favorite character? Hum... can I say all of them? Not only Noah or Echo but also Isaac and Beth (Noah's best friends), Lila (Echo best friend) and Mrs.Collins, they all won a special place in my heart and I'm planning on keeping them there for a very long, long time.
To summom up: Best contemporary romance of the year! This genre, that usually is about love, a few problems and a happy-ending evolves to the next level with Pushing the Limits. Serious problems like child abuse, drugs, sex, death and traumas are very present in the whole book and the ending, although happy, was also bittersweet. But it was the right ending, the ending all the characters needed and I felt completely happy with it.
After being attacked by her mother -and almost killed- Echo only adds a new painful moment to her life since her brother's death. Aires was her advocate, the person that helped her and stood by her side no matter what.
But now he is dead, her dad married again with whom used
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to be her babysitter, Emma, and they are expecting a child. A perfect child that wouldn't bear the scars she does... the scars that are the constant reminder that something horrible happened to her even if she can't remember what and how. And no one would tell her.That is until Mrs. Collins, her new therapist, gets involved in her life and talks about taking baby steps and working together to get her memories back. She also asks her to tutor Noah if she wants to get some money and repair Aire's car.
But Noah means trouble, he is the kid that do drugs, goes to wild parties and has sex with one girl almost every night.
The problem is the reality is not that simple: Noah's problem began when his parents died in a fire and his little brothers were taken away by the system. A system that put him with a foster father that was abusive. A system that Noah doesn't trust. That's why he wants to prove that he can be all the family the boys need.
When a single moments destroys your perfect life, what can you do to put it back together knowing that is impossible to have it all back?
Somehow these two broken souls realize that although normal doesn't really exists maybe, together, they can find a place where happiness is not impossible.
Personal Opinion:
I don't think there are enough words to describe how beautiful, amazing, mesmerizing and heartbreaking was every second reading this book.
Why? The characters will feel so real you are going to want to be a part of their lives no matter what, that's why.
But I have to be honest about something: The first 50 pages were - at least for me- kind of slow and it was easy to put the book down. For one second I even thought about stoping... But I'm SO glad I didn't 'cause that would have been a huge and horrible mistake. So if this happens to you, don't stop please, I promise you will love this book!
What makes this book so special are both main characters, Echo and Noah, whom we see struggle to put their lives back together, are afraid of being hurt again and fight their own demons.
They never thought that being together meant healing. How could they? He became the bad boy every girl should stay away from and Echo went from popular girl dating the king of school to a social paria in a heart beat.
Have you ever met a person that makes you want to be better? That you want nothing more than to help, heal and treasure? Well, this is want happens here. Echo is, deep inside, a strong girl and Noah is a a caring soul that only needs to find a place to blossom again.
My favorite character? Hum... can I say all of them? Not only Noah or Echo but also Isaac and Beth (Noah's best friends), Lila (Echo best friend) and Mrs.Collins, they all won a special place in my heart and I'm planning on keeping them there for a very long, long time.
To summom up: Best contemporary romance of the year! This genre, that usually is about love, a few problems and a happy-ending evolves to the next level with Pushing the Limits. Serious problems like child abuse, drugs, sex, death and traumas are very present in the whole book and the ending, although happy, was also bittersweet. But it was the right ending, the ending all the characters needed and I felt completely happy with it.
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LibraryThing member bishhy
Having been through a traumatic event in her life, Echo finds herself wanting to know what happened that night she ended up in the hospital, fighting for her life. What she wants? To be normal again. And she isn't finding normal going back to her douche ex boyfriend, nope, not that dumb jock. But
I absolutely loved this book. It kept me turning the page in anticipation. Gahh. If Noah Hutchins was real... and a bit older, I would be all over that and STAT! Noah Hutchins is a bad boy with a heart of gold. Slacker ways but the most beautiful brown eyes that show the most caring you'll ever need! *sigh* I'm telling you.. sigh now, and prepare to do a lot more sighing when you read this book! Noah Hutchins will pull at your heartstrings ladies! We're first introduced to Echo in the beginning of the book, talking with her counselor/therapist/psycho driver and afterwards runs into Noah, whom exudes badass with ease. I found Echo to be really weak. I understand she's been through some shit and has lost nearly everything in her life, but my gaaawd! Grow a back bone! She practically let herself be talked into certain situations where a simple "no" would have sufficed. But, no. Because she's the victim and will forever play the victim, she'll lay down and play dead when you tell her to. Her friends? What friends? Don't even wanna walk down that alley. I loved this book, but the characters drove me nuts! Which then made me love the book even more. But seriously? The adults in this book needed some major smacking around a time or two.
What I liked about this book was that it was really easy to read. Aside from the heart-wrenching moments and the sighing (YES, MORE SIGHING!!), Ms. McGarry really knew how to draw you in AND keep you in. Yeah, I disliked the adults with a passion. Yeah, I wanted to throw a fit and smack some sense into some of the characters. BUT, I wouldn't change a thing about this book. The character speak to you, the words practically pop out and paint a vivid image for you, making you want to reach in and do a lot of cooing and cuddling to ease the pain going on. What I didn't like... well, this should be obvious. THE ADULTS. Seriously, not adults at all. I'm not even going to go into more detail with that one.
I would definitely recommend this book. It's heart-wrenching and totally throws some perspective in your eyes. If you don't mind a few of your heartstrings being plucked at, or keeping a box of tissues by you, then by all means, go out and get this book! You wont regret it.
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bad-boy Noah Hutchins, leather jacket wearing, weed smoking, butterfly pterodactyls making boy whom Echo finds total and utter peace with. But Echo isn't the only one with problems, no siree. Noah Hutchins used to be that all star kid with popularity running through his veins, up until losing both his parents in a fire and placed into foster care. Noah finds himself jumping from foster home to foster home, losing himself with each passing day. The only thing making him try? His brothers... and Echo.I absolutely loved this book. It kept me turning the page in anticipation. Gahh. If Noah Hutchins was real... and a bit older, I would be all over that and STAT! Noah Hutchins is a bad boy with a heart of gold. Slacker ways but the most beautiful brown eyes that show the most caring you'll ever need! *sigh* I'm telling you.. sigh now, and prepare to do a lot more sighing when you read this book! Noah Hutchins will pull at your heartstrings ladies! We're first introduced to Echo in the beginning of the book, talking with her counselor/therapist/psycho driver and afterwards runs into Noah, whom exudes badass with ease. I found Echo to be really weak. I understand she's been through some shit and has lost nearly everything in her life, but my gaaawd! Grow a back bone! She practically let herself be talked into certain situations where a simple "no" would have sufficed. But, no. Because she's the victim and will forever play the victim, she'll lay down and play dead when you tell her to. Her friends? What friends? Don't even wanna walk down that alley. I loved this book, but the characters drove me nuts! Which then made me love the book even more. But seriously? The adults in this book needed some major smacking around a time or two.
What I liked about this book was that it was really easy to read. Aside from the heart-wrenching moments and the sighing (YES, MORE SIGHING!!), Ms. McGarry really knew how to draw you in AND keep you in. Yeah, I disliked the adults with a passion. Yeah, I wanted to throw a fit and smack some sense into some of the characters. BUT, I wouldn't change a thing about this book. The character speak to you, the words practically pop out and paint a vivid image for you, making you want to reach in and do a lot of cooing and cuddling to ease the pain going on. What I didn't like... well, this should be obvious. THE ADULTS. Seriously, not adults at all. I'm not even going to go into more detail with that one.
I would definitely recommend this book. It's heart-wrenching and totally throws some perspective in your eyes. If you don't mind a few of your heartstrings being plucked at, or keeping a box of tissues by you, then by all means, go out and get this book! You wont regret it.
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LibraryThing member dgoo
A heartbreaking, engrossing story of two teens torn from their families, both sufferers of traumas. Though seemingly from opposites sides of the tracks--or lunchroom, more apt--they find solace, love and family in each other. Though no paranormal romance, there is plenty to be of realistic interest
I'd probably give this 3.75 stars here if I could, but I'll go ahead with the four, since for the non-paranormal young adult coming of age/romance/with likely a larger audience to include adults novels, it's one of the better ones I've read.
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here. Teens coming of age in a super extraordinary set of circumstances instead of a supernatural world. I'm a big fan of young adult literature that deals with complex issues, and this novel delivers. I'd probably give this 3.75 stars here if I could, but I'll go ahead with the four, since for the non-paranormal young adult coming of age/romance/with likely a larger audience to include adults novels, it's one of the better ones I've read.
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LibraryThing member LindsforLit
This book was unique in its deliverance. Each chapter is from the viewpoint of either Echo or Noah, and I’d have to say that it worked for me. Most of the time you only get one point of view and by doing it this way I was able to grow closer to both main characters and understand where each one
I couldn’t really relate to either of the characters as I’ve never been in either of their positions before but the pain they felt seemed real to me. I do feel like Echo and Noah were almost too mature for high school students in some aspects and then the author would turn around and “dumb” them down a bit. There was a bit of inconsistency there.
One aspect of the book that I loved is in the back of the book where the author listed songs she listened for inspiration for each of the characters and some of the scenes in the book. It was really neat to get some insight into the mind of the author. There will be another book coming out with Beth’s story and I will read it based on what I read in Pushing The Limits.
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was coming from.I couldn’t really relate to either of the characters as I’ve never been in either of their positions before but the pain they felt seemed real to me. I do feel like Echo and Noah were almost too mature for high school students in some aspects and then the author would turn around and “dumb” them down a bit. There was a bit of inconsistency there.
One aspect of the book that I loved is in the back of the book where the author listed songs she listened for inspiration for each of the characters and some of the scenes in the book. It was really neat to get some insight into the mind of the author. There will be another book coming out with Beth’s story and I will read it based on what I read in Pushing The Limits.
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LibraryThing member catiesmoviesinmyhead
I have to admit, I had reservations about this book. The cover and the title made it seem a bit cheesy and the synopsis didn't really grab my attention. I'm not a huge fan of contemporary romance anyway so initially I decided to pass this one up. Then I saw some super early reactions from bloggers
LIKES:
Story is told from both Noah's and Echo's perspectives: I really love it when stories are told from multiple perspectives. It really adds to the reader's understanding of a story and makes it feel more dynamic. Echo and Noah each had their own unique voice and their own story to tell and it was really great to be able to understand Noah's view on the evolution of their relationship and not just Echo's. I think this writing style makes you more attached to the secondary characters as well and therefore more invested in the story as a whole.
McGarry shows the humanity of all characters, even the "villains": I was a little worried when I first started this book that the author would focus on the short-comings of Echo's parents and ignore the fact that their life experiences and concern for their children influenced their parenting decisions (this is a common pitfall in a good portion of YA literature). McGarry left me pleasantly surprised when she really delved into why Echo's dad (along with other secondary characters) acted the way he did and why he made the, sometimes wrong, decisions that he made.
Realistic romance, not star-crossed lovers: Echo and Noah are from different worlds and they certainly don't seem like they are meant for each other at the beginning of the book. Their relationship is tumultuous and they have completely different personalities. I was very happy that instead of a perfect, simplistic "bad boy falls in love with good girl" romance they had a real connection and realistic arguments about their relationship. I didn't feel like their love story was over-idealized. Their issues and fights were all the more heart-wrenching because of this realism and it allowed for an even bigger pay-off.
DISLIKES:
An abundance of f-bombs: If I've said it once, I've said it a hundred times: don't overuse the f-bomb. Whenever you use a word over and over it takes away its meaning and impact. This is especially true with "shocking language". After awhile it just gets old reading "eff this, eff that" constantly. For me, it isn't a matter of offensiveness, it's a matter of creativity.
Not enough closure: I felt like there wasn't quite enough resolution with Echo's mother. I would have liked to see that explored and settled more. Then again, I suppose that was on purpose.
I am so happy I gave this one a shot. There is enough suspense and drama to keep everyone interested but the romance is realistic and sweet. Even if you don't love contemporary romance I would definitely pick this book up. You won't regret it.
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whose opinions I generally tend to agree with and I decided to go ahead and give it a shot. For being a book I wasn't even interested in trying at first I was really blown away. The story was not cheesy in the least, the characters were dynamic and interesting and the drama sucked me right in. I fell in love with Echo and Noah and found myself devouring this story. Best of all, the book had real depth and the romance was not the least bit one dimensional. I loved this book!LIKES:
Story is told from both Noah's and Echo's perspectives: I really love it when stories are told from multiple perspectives. It really adds to the reader's understanding of a story and makes it feel more dynamic. Echo and Noah each had their own unique voice and their own story to tell and it was really great to be able to understand Noah's view on the evolution of their relationship and not just Echo's. I think this writing style makes you more attached to the secondary characters as well and therefore more invested in the story as a whole.
McGarry shows the humanity of all characters, even the "villains": I was a little worried when I first started this book that the author would focus on the short-comings of Echo's parents and ignore the fact that their life experiences and concern for their children influenced their parenting decisions (this is a common pitfall in a good portion of YA literature). McGarry left me pleasantly surprised when she really delved into why Echo's dad (along with other secondary characters) acted the way he did and why he made the, sometimes wrong, decisions that he made.
Realistic romance, not star-crossed lovers: Echo and Noah are from different worlds and they certainly don't seem like they are meant for each other at the beginning of the book. Their relationship is tumultuous and they have completely different personalities. I was very happy that instead of a perfect, simplistic "bad boy falls in love with good girl" romance they had a real connection and realistic arguments about their relationship. I didn't feel like their love story was over-idealized. Their issues and fights were all the more heart-wrenching because of this realism and it allowed for an even bigger pay-off.
DISLIKES:
An abundance of f-bombs: If I've said it once, I've said it a hundred times: don't overuse the f-bomb. Whenever you use a word over and over it takes away its meaning and impact. This is especially true with "shocking language". After awhile it just gets old reading "eff this, eff that" constantly. For me, it isn't a matter of offensiveness, it's a matter of creativity.
Not enough closure: I felt like there wasn't quite enough resolution with Echo's mother. I would have liked to see that explored and settled more. Then again, I suppose that was on purpose.
I am so happy I gave this one a shot. There is enough suspense and drama to keep everyone interested but the romance is realistic and sweet. Even if you don't love contemporary romance I would definitely pick this book up. You won't regret it.
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LibraryThing member alwaysyaatheart
I just want to confirm that all the wonderful reviews that I've been reading and seeing all over the internet about this book are definitely well deserved. It is so good. That being said, what can I write or say that hasn't already been said, other than reiterate the fact that this is one book you
Two teens, Echo Emerson and Noah Hutchins, living the typical normal teenage life, at least the one most teenagers dream of, that is until tragedy strikes both of their lives leaving them scarred both physically and emotionally, those scars that are unseen sometimes much worse than those that are. Echo doesn't remember the events behind the tragedy that left her scarred. They tell her that it is her mind's way of protecting her until she is ready to handle the truth. Noah, however, remembers every detail of what happened to his family. He lives with it every day, especially when he thinks about his little brothers, Jacob and Tyler. All three brothers are in foster care now, but Noah's experience has not been pleasant, and he fears his brothers may not be either. Noah has become the bad boy that every girl is dying to love. He doesn't do relationships, just hook-ups. He is totally smoking hot, and definitely someone Echo would normally never get involved with. Echo has isolated herself from her friends since the incident. Now she is the freak that everyone seems to make fun of and gossip about. The catalyst that brings these two together is Ms. Collins, guidance counselor/therapist/social worker, that neither Noah or Echo are happy about having to see. Ms. Collins asks Echo to tutor someone for her, and Echo wants to make some money to fix her brother's car, so she agrees. Ms. Collins wants Noah to get some tutoring so he can pass his classes and possibly go to college. Though he doesn't want to, Noah agrees. Neither realize that the other will be the one they are paired with, and little do they know that this will bring them together in a way that will transform both of their lives.
This is not your typical love story, the emotions are intense and raw, they go from high to low, and leave you reeling. You can't help but fall in love with both Echo and Noah. The chemistry between these two is off the charts. I felt like I experienced every emotion they did. Katie McGarry has done an excellent job in writing these characters in a way that enables you to become part of them, and I haven't even touched on the secondary characters in the book, which are equally well portrayed. As they each fight to find the truth in the midst of the overwhelming darkness and situations that consume them, they find each other. The hot bad boy helps brings healing to the brokenhearted and beautiful popular girl, and she in turn cracks the hardness in his heart, a heart that has forgotten what it is like to feel, to be happy, and to love. Despite their dysfunctional families and their emotional issues and trials, they become determined to find the normal in their abnormal, and through it all, despite the ups and the downs, despite the hurt and the pain, they find love, real love, the kind that is patient and kind and never ends. Pushing the Limits is an emotional roller coaster, but it's so good you just want to ride it again. I was completely consumed with this book and devoured it, unable to put it down. This is one contemporary romance you won't want to miss.
Favorite Quotes from Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry.
“Her shoulders never shook. No tears streamed down her face. The worst type of crying wasn't the kind everyone could see--the wailing on 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 scar tissue than life.”
"Luke used to give me butterflies. Noah spawned mutant pterodactyls."
His lips curved into a sexy smile and I became lost in him. “I love you, Echo Emerson.”
“Wrapping my arms around her, I walked her backward into the brick. “Tell me you chose me, Echo.”
She licked her lips. Those green eyes smoldered, calling me to her. “I chose you.”
“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.”
“She gave me the same smile I'd seen on Saturday night. That type of smile caused men to write those pussy-ass songs that Isaiah and I made fun of. I'd sit in Mrs. Collins' office for hours and wake my ass up early to go to calculus in order to see that smile again.”
“Normal. She wanted normal and so did I. "You know what's normal?"
"What?" She wiped away her remaining tears. "Calculus.”
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really need to read. Two teens, Echo Emerson and Noah Hutchins, living the typical normal teenage life, at least the one most teenagers dream of, that is until tragedy strikes both of their lives leaving them scarred both physically and emotionally, those scars that are unseen sometimes much worse than those that are. Echo doesn't remember the events behind the tragedy that left her scarred. They tell her that it is her mind's way of protecting her until she is ready to handle the truth. Noah, however, remembers every detail of what happened to his family. He lives with it every day, especially when he thinks about his little brothers, Jacob and Tyler. All three brothers are in foster care now, but Noah's experience has not been pleasant, and he fears his brothers may not be either. Noah has become the bad boy that every girl is dying to love. He doesn't do relationships, just hook-ups. He is totally smoking hot, and definitely someone Echo would normally never get involved with. Echo has isolated herself from her friends since the incident. Now she is the freak that everyone seems to make fun of and gossip about. The catalyst that brings these two together is Ms. Collins, guidance counselor/therapist/social worker, that neither Noah or Echo are happy about having to see. Ms. Collins asks Echo to tutor someone for her, and Echo wants to make some money to fix her brother's car, so she agrees. Ms. Collins wants Noah to get some tutoring so he can pass his classes and possibly go to college. Though he doesn't want to, Noah agrees. Neither realize that the other will be the one they are paired with, and little do they know that this will bring them together in a way that will transform both of their lives.
This is not your typical love story, the emotions are intense and raw, they go from high to low, and leave you reeling. You can't help but fall in love with both Echo and Noah. The chemistry between these two is off the charts. I felt like I experienced every emotion they did. Katie McGarry has done an excellent job in writing these characters in a way that enables you to become part of them, and I haven't even touched on the secondary characters in the book, which are equally well portrayed. As they each fight to find the truth in the midst of the overwhelming darkness and situations that consume them, they find each other. The hot bad boy helps brings healing to the brokenhearted and beautiful popular girl, and she in turn cracks the hardness in his heart, a heart that has forgotten what it is like to feel, to be happy, and to love. Despite their dysfunctional families and their emotional issues and trials, they become determined to find the normal in their abnormal, and through it all, despite the ups and the downs, despite the hurt and the pain, they find love, real love, the kind that is patient and kind and never ends. Pushing the Limits is an emotional roller coaster, but it's so good you just want to ride it again. I was completely consumed with this book and devoured it, unable to put it down. This is one contemporary romance you won't want to miss.
Favorite Quotes from Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry.
“Her shoulders never shook. No tears streamed down her face. The worst type of crying wasn't the kind everyone could see--the wailing on 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 scar tissue than life.”
"Luke used to give me butterflies. Noah spawned mutant pterodactyls."
His lips curved into a sexy smile and I became lost in him. “I love you, Echo Emerson.”
“Wrapping my arms around her, I walked her backward into the brick. “Tell me you chose me, Echo.”
She licked her lips. Those green eyes smoldered, calling me to her. “I chose you.”
“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.”
“She gave me the same smile I'd seen on Saturday night. That type of smile caused men to write those pussy-ass songs that Isaiah and I made fun of. I'd sit in Mrs. Collins' office for hours and wake my ass up early to go to calculus in order to see that smile again.”
“Normal. She wanted normal and so did I. "You know what's normal?"
"What?" She wiped away her remaining tears. "Calculus.”
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LibraryThing member TabathaV
Oh Sweet Freaking EPIC. McGarry literally rocked my life with Pushing the Limits. I read this in one sitting, which we all know doesn't happen to often with me. I just couldn't put it down! Think about your favorite book, now duplicate that epic and you get the epic that is Pushing the Limits. (You
Echo - is one amazing girl. She went through HELL and, unfortunately, remembers nothing. All she has to show for that night are the scars she keeps covered on her arms, and a mother she is not allowed to see. Her dad.. well, he is something else altogether. To Echo, the aftermath of that night caused her to lose everything. Her mother, her social life, her boyfriend, her friends.... Stuff like that is hard to bounce back from, but don't count her out just yet. She started seeing Mrs. Collins, the counselor at school - and this woman is all kinds of awesome. She starts working with Echo to get her to "remember" that nights events, so maybe Echo could begin to move forward and not be "stuck" in that one night.
Then you have Noah. Oh.Em.Gee! (Where can I get me one of him?! Seriously.) Like Echo, Noah went through his own version of hell. Now him and his two brothers are in foster care. While his brothers were placed together, Noah has been bounced around from home to home, finally ending up in a home where he meets the two people who become "family" - Isiah and Beth. Noah is interesting, to say the least. The way his mind works fascinates me. I constantly want to know what he's thinking! He's like a buried treasure, you have to dig and dig and dig, but when you get to the inner thoughts, it was totally worth the wait! All Noah is concentrating on right now is turning 18 and getting his brothers back, aside from that - he could careless about things. Then Echo comes into his life in the form of a tutor, assigned to him by the lovely Mrs. Collins - who Noah also happens to see.
Neither one of them are considered popular - so life gets a tad complicated when Echo's old boyfriend and friends try to reappear in the picture. (This is where my love for Noah jumps FULL FORCE into freaking awesome!) These two literally complete each other. I loved watching them fight, deny, and overcome everything to finally end up where they did. & if you haven't read this book, let me just tell you, it's an amazing ride to watch! Noah sees Echo for the girl she is NOW, unlike everyone else who wants her to be the girl she WAS. He sees HER and all anyone else sees are the scars. On the same hand, Echo gives Noah something more to look forward to.. a new reason to want to be.. better.
McGarry also happened to write some amazing secondary characters. I LOVE LOVE LOVE me some Beth. She is so interesting and I cannot wait to read her story and learn more about her! She kept me intrigued the entire book! Isiah is also another one. He just seems... complex, yet simple at the same time. I also want to see if he and Beth end up making anything out of it. I enjoyed the way she wrote the "bromance" between Noah and Isiah. Lastly, you have Mrs. Collins. To me, this book would have been not so epic without her. She literally made some parts of the book. We all need someone like her in our lives!
I think the only complaint I have with this book was Echo's dad and his wife. She just annoyed me to no end and I wanted to just... kick her. I couldn't wrap my head around her father - AT ALL - especially whenever everything came to light. Honestly though, I could read Pushing the Limits again and again, and it would NEVER get old. Katie McGarry did one amazing job with this!
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like my mad math skills, huh?!) It's taken me awhile to write this review because I had no idea what to say. I had so many thoughts that I wanted to get out about this book and it was just one big rambling mess every time I tired to write it lol. So, lets get down to business and see how good this turns out!Echo - is one amazing girl. She went through HELL and, unfortunately, remembers nothing. All she has to show for that night are the scars she keeps covered on her arms, and a mother she is not allowed to see. Her dad.. well, he is something else altogether. To Echo, the aftermath of that night caused her to lose everything. Her mother, her social life, her boyfriend, her friends.... Stuff like that is hard to bounce back from, but don't count her out just yet. She started seeing Mrs. Collins, the counselor at school - and this woman is all kinds of awesome. She starts working with Echo to get her to "remember" that nights events, so maybe Echo could begin to move forward and not be "stuck" in that one night.
Then you have Noah. Oh.Em.Gee! (Where can I get me one of him?! Seriously.) Like Echo, Noah went through his own version of hell. Now him and his two brothers are in foster care. While his brothers were placed together, Noah has been bounced around from home to home, finally ending up in a home where he meets the two people who become "family" - Isiah and Beth. Noah is interesting, to say the least. The way his mind works fascinates me. I constantly want to know what he's thinking! He's like a buried treasure, you have to dig and dig and dig, but when you get to the inner thoughts, it was totally worth the wait! All Noah is concentrating on right now is turning 18 and getting his brothers back, aside from that - he could careless about things. Then Echo comes into his life in the form of a tutor, assigned to him by the lovely Mrs. Collins - who Noah also happens to see.
Neither one of them are considered popular - so life gets a tad complicated when Echo's old boyfriend and friends try to reappear in the picture. (This is where my love for Noah jumps FULL FORCE into freaking awesome!) These two literally complete each other. I loved watching them fight, deny, and overcome everything to finally end up where they did. & if you haven't read this book, let me just tell you, it's an amazing ride to watch! Noah sees Echo for the girl she is NOW, unlike everyone else who wants her to be the girl she WAS. He sees HER and all anyone else sees are the scars. On the same hand, Echo gives Noah something more to look forward to.. a new reason to want to be.. better.
McGarry also happened to write some amazing secondary characters. I LOVE LOVE LOVE me some Beth. She is so interesting and I cannot wait to read her story and learn more about her! She kept me intrigued the entire book! Isiah is also another one. He just seems... complex, yet simple at the same time. I also want to see if he and Beth end up making anything out of it. I enjoyed the way she wrote the "bromance" between Noah and Isiah. Lastly, you have Mrs. Collins. To me, this book would have been not so epic without her. She literally made some parts of the book. We all need someone like her in our lives!
I think the only complaint I have with this book was Echo's dad and his wife. She just annoyed me to no end and I wanted to just... kick her. I couldn't wrap my head around her father - AT ALL - especially whenever everything came to light. Honestly though, I could read Pushing the Limits again and again, and it would NEVER get old. Katie McGarry did one amazing job with this!
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LibraryThing member erlessard
For a book entitled Pushing the Limits, I expected more limits to be pushed.
The absolute best part of this novel was the characters. I literally felt like I was back at high school, dealing with people with less than perfect families, and less than perfect personalities. I like that even the minor
This author writes excellent characters. Now, I’m no teenager, so I don’t get all fan-girl over swoonworthy guys, but if I did Noah would qualify. Although he’s flawed, he’s a gem of a catch for Echo, and he stays true to his personality. Noah begins the novel as a womanizer. Although he stays loyal to Echo, I could completely see him return to his old ways after her. He doesn’t change his personality – his relationship with Echo is like a loophole that he never wants fixed. Echo, herself, has her own inner demons as her life is revealed as dysfunctional as possible, even though she appears to be so perfect on the outside – like prom queen quality. It kind of makes you wonder if those “popular” kids at your own high school really are as blessed as they appear.
What I didn’t like was the pace and limits set. There’s a lot of hype over the mystery behind what happened to Echo to gain her scars and its revealed within a few paragraphs in the last chapter. That’s about 400 pages of teasers and a lot of normal teenage issues from initial problem to reveal. It just wasn’t enough to keep me captivated throughout the entire novel. I like action, drama, and danger in the books I read. The most intense action was the teenagers breaking into Mrs. Collins’ office. The danger happened in the past. The drama was good and constant, but it wasn’t enough to carry the slow pace by itself.
As for the ending, I didn’t like it. It made complete sense for the story, but when I finished the book I just felt “eh”. There was no POW. No big bang to close the book. Everything wrapped up nicely like some Christmas gift.
But just because I didn’t like it, doesn’t mean you won’t. I only gave this book a chance cause people raved that it was the best YA novel of the summer. I don’t normally read contemporaries and even at the darker end of the contemporary spectrum, this novel wasn’t for me. If you DO like YA contemporaries, then you may just fall in love with the intertwined stories of Noah and Echo.
The absolute best part of this novel was the characters. I literally felt like I was back at high school, dealing with people with less than perfect families, and less than perfect personalities. I like that even the minor
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characters have their own ambitions and back-story. No character felt like a filler. They all felt like they were living their own lives off-screen instead of characters waiting for the next act of a play. I don’t like it when characters feel like they exist for a purpose and the author doesn’t bother to disguise their plot purpose with fleshed out personalities and histories.This author writes excellent characters. Now, I’m no teenager, so I don’t get all fan-girl over swoonworthy guys, but if I did Noah would qualify. Although he’s flawed, he’s a gem of a catch for Echo, and he stays true to his personality. Noah begins the novel as a womanizer. Although he stays loyal to Echo, I could completely see him return to his old ways after her. He doesn’t change his personality – his relationship with Echo is like a loophole that he never wants fixed. Echo, herself, has her own inner demons as her life is revealed as dysfunctional as possible, even though she appears to be so perfect on the outside – like prom queen quality. It kind of makes you wonder if those “popular” kids at your own high school really are as blessed as they appear.
What I didn’t like was the pace and limits set. There’s a lot of hype over the mystery behind what happened to Echo to gain her scars and its revealed within a few paragraphs in the last chapter. That’s about 400 pages of teasers and a lot of normal teenage issues from initial problem to reveal. It just wasn’t enough to keep me captivated throughout the entire novel. I like action, drama, and danger in the books I read. The most intense action was the teenagers breaking into Mrs. Collins’ office. The danger happened in the past. The drama was good and constant, but it wasn’t enough to carry the slow pace by itself.
As for the ending, I didn’t like it. It made complete sense for the story, but when I finished the book I just felt “eh”. There was no POW. No big bang to close the book. Everything wrapped up nicely like some Christmas gift.
But just because I didn’t like it, doesn’t mean you won’t. I only gave this book a chance cause people raved that it was the best YA novel of the summer. I don’t normally read contemporaries and even at the darker end of the contemporary spectrum, this novel wasn’t for me. If you DO like YA contemporaries, then you may just fall in love with the intertwined stories of Noah and Echo.
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LibraryThing member Lovez2read
Pushing the Limits is a story of determination,
desperation, peer pressure, friendship and so much more. The main character, Echo, has trauma in her life. She was once popular and well-liked until something terrible happened - that she is unable to remember; which changed her life in many ways. Now,
Noah, a new guy in school, is the type most parents warn their daughters away from. On the outside, most parents would be right, but once Echo starts getting to really know Noah, she finds there is much more to this hot but dangerous young man than what is seen on the surface.
I liked the book, and loved the main characters. It was easy for me to dive right into the story. Pushing the Limits is well-written, and full of emotion and depth that captivates the reader right from the start. It was hard for me to put this book down, and I found myself anxious to get right back into the story until I'd finished the whole book.
I must warn any potential readers; there is mention of mental illness, parent/teen conflicts, drug and alcohol use, physical abuse, and sex. Overall a great story, well-written, and characters that have great depth. I look forward to Beth's story!
*I received a free copy of this book through Harlequin Teen for this review. All reviews are my personal and honest opinion. ENTER TO WIN A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK ON FAEROTIC PROSE faeroticprose(dot)blogspot(dot)com ~ contest ends Sept 15th, 2012.
desperation, peer pressure, friendship and so much more. The main character, Echo, has trauma in her life. She was once popular and well-liked until something terrible happened - that she is unable to remember; which changed her life in many ways. Now,
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no longer popular, no longer dating the "hottest guy in school" and down a few friends; she is struggling to remember what happened to her, hoping it will solve the mystery of her nightmares, and all her losses.Noah, a new guy in school, is the type most parents warn their daughters away from. On the outside, most parents would be right, but once Echo starts getting to really know Noah, she finds there is much more to this hot but dangerous young man than what is seen on the surface.
I liked the book, and loved the main characters. It was easy for me to dive right into the story. Pushing the Limits is well-written, and full of emotion and depth that captivates the reader right from the start. It was hard for me to put this book down, and I found myself anxious to get right back into the story until I'd finished the whole book.
I must warn any potential readers; there is mention of mental illness, parent/teen conflicts, drug and alcohol use, physical abuse, and sex. Overall a great story, well-written, and characters that have great depth. I look forward to Beth's story!
*I received a free copy of this book through Harlequin Teen for this review. All reviews are my personal and honest opinion. ENTER TO WIN A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK ON FAEROTIC PROSE faeroticprose(dot)blogspot(dot)com ~ contest ends Sept 15th, 2012.
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LibraryThing member summerskris
Noah and Echo are two very real and human characters. Echo cannot remember the day when she got the scars on her arms. Her family is affluent, but her family is broken and she wants to get out of her house. Noah used to be the golden boy until he got stuck in the foster system; for personal
Noah and Echo help each other to heal from their troubled pasts, I would certainly recommend it based off this premise. The romance is edgy and will appeal to those who love passionate love stories with a slightly forbidden element because of the couple's different social circles. For some reason, it didn't work very well for me, which may be because Noah and Echo don't really commit to each other until towards the end of the book. Mostly, they're using each other in order to resolve their respective conflicts while mostly trying to ignore their strong attraction for each other.
I like Noah's friends much more than Echo's friends. While Noah's friends are stoners, they feel real. Echo's friends are concerned with image and pressure Echo into sitting at the cafeteria and trying to regain her old status in the school when she doesn't want it anymore. They think that she was happy with her old boyfriend and try to set them up with each other, although their relationship was over even before her "accident." I do not approve of friends pressuring friends to do something they don't want to do, much less to have sex. As if sex can fix a broken relationship, especially when that's why a couple broke up. I don't like how Echo allows her friends to push her into doing things that she doesn't want to do, though I understand that she wants life to go back to normal just as much as her friends. And I'm happy about how she grows over the course of the novel and learns how to speak her mind and do what makes her happy.
Pushing the Limits is about letting go of the past and moving towards the future; it is about healing. It is filled with raw emotions and a chemistry that Noah and Echo cannot ignore. It is frustrating. Noah and Echo want things, but they are constantly battered by obstacles: parents, memory loss, social care, the law, youth and inexperience. Much more than a love story, it is about two broken individuals trying to make a place for themselves in the world. The story explores the topics of foster care, memory loss, and bipolar disorder. There is language and suspicion of a suicide attempt. I would not recommend this to a younger teenage audience because of the contemplations of marriage immediately after high school and mentions of sex and drugs.
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reasons, he can't wait until he turns eighteen and graduates high school. Both characters have been assigned to the new school counselor, who is very interested and gets very involved in their lives. While I knew she meant the best for them, I couldn't help but hate her along--and everyone else-- along with Noah and Echo in the beginning. The emotions are so powerful and there.Noah and Echo help each other to heal from their troubled pasts, I would certainly recommend it based off this premise. The romance is edgy and will appeal to those who love passionate love stories with a slightly forbidden element because of the couple's different social circles. For some reason, it didn't work very well for me, which may be because Noah and Echo don't really commit to each other until towards the end of the book. Mostly, they're using each other in order to resolve their respective conflicts while mostly trying to ignore their strong attraction for each other.
I like Noah's friends much more than Echo's friends. While Noah's friends are stoners, they feel real. Echo's friends are concerned with image and pressure Echo into sitting at the cafeteria and trying to regain her old status in the school when she doesn't want it anymore. They think that she was happy with her old boyfriend and try to set them up with each other, although their relationship was over even before her "accident." I do not approve of friends pressuring friends to do something they don't want to do, much less to have sex. As if sex can fix a broken relationship, especially when that's why a couple broke up. I don't like how Echo allows her friends to push her into doing things that she doesn't want to do, though I understand that she wants life to go back to normal just as much as her friends. And I'm happy about how she grows over the course of the novel and learns how to speak her mind and do what makes her happy.
Pushing the Limits is about letting go of the past and moving towards the future; it is about healing. It is filled with raw emotions and a chemistry that Noah and Echo cannot ignore. It is frustrating. Noah and Echo want things, but they are constantly battered by obstacles: parents, memory loss, social care, the law, youth and inexperience. Much more than a love story, it is about two broken individuals trying to make a place for themselves in the world. The story explores the topics of foster care, memory loss, and bipolar disorder. There is language and suspicion of a suicide attempt. I would not recommend this to a younger teenage audience because of the contemplations of marriage immediately after high school and mentions of sex and drugs.
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LibraryThing member DarkFaerieTales
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: Death and loss plays a big part of this story, and McGarry does it in a tasteful and poetic way.
Opening Sentence: “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
The Review:
Pushing the Limits has been on everyone’s to-read list this summer. Katie McGarry has everyone talking about this fantastic contemporary young adult fiction that touches on serious and very realistic topics. Pushing the Limits does just that, push the reader’s limits, testing the boundaries of the typical love story and adding in a mix of positive and negative elements. McGarry does a beautiful job of writing a harmonious blend between the two elements that has you thirsty for more. I have quickly become a fan, and I cannot wait to tell you about this amazing story.
Echo Emerson is not your typical high school senior. She has endured pain that probably none of her peers have ever experienced. At the end of her sophomore year, Echo’s world came crashing down. She has come from a divorced home, where her father divorced her mother to marry another woman. Echo has lost her beloved brother in a war, losing the one person that truly protected her. And to top it off, Echo has also lost a mother, but this time due to a restraining order because her mom tried to kill her. But Echo doesn’t remember anything that happened that fatal night, her body has protected herself and blocked everything from that day. Life has moved on, for her friends who have slowly begun to alienate her within the popular crowd, and for her father, who is living a blissful life with his new wife and soon to be born child. Life has moved on, with what seems to be everything all around her, leaving Echo to pull up her sleeves, cover her scars, and hide from life itself.
Echo is scared and lonely, reliving her worst nightmares during the day and the night. She is confused and lost, afraid to remember the harsh memories but also afraid of what will happen if she does not. Echo slowly learns to cope with her reality with the help of a few people, but not her dad. Echo seems to struggle, day by day, just trying to live through each one with whatever strength she has left. But deep inside, I see Echo’s strength, to show up to school and face everything and everyone. She is feisty and sarcastic and is beautiful inside and out. Echo is definitely a heroine to look up to.
Echo crosses paths with Noah Hutchins, who is also a troubled youth. Noah is a foster child, moving from home to home, separated from his brothers. He is smart, but sometimes doesn’t think about the aftermath of his actions. Noah always has good intentions, but doesn’t know how to think outside of the box. Noah is burdened with the memory of his parents, who died in a fire, and of the responsibility to reunite his family. As a character, Noah is deep and complex, and when you think you have him figured out, McGarry changes it all and surprises you.
Pushing the Limit is emotional and will touch your soul. I felt emotionally invested for the characters and the story. McGarry brought out some real and raw emotions, bringing her world and her words to life. The various familial relationship and friendships are complex and realistic, bringing the tingles and tears on many occasions. McGarry writes about passion in a romantic and platonic sense, talking about passions of the heart in a way that is eye opening. Death and loss plays a big part of this story, and McGarry does it in a tasteful and poetic way.
I cannot begin to tell you how much I loved this book. It has brought so many emotions to me, some that I haven’t felt from a story in a long time. I laughed and definitely cried, and I always love that when an author can bring real emotions out of me. I felt that there were a few shortcomings, but so much positive outweighs the negative with Pushing the Limit.
Notable Scene:
“Happy Birthday.” Noah drew his lips closer to mine; that sweet musky smell and overwhelmed my senses. I could almost taste his lips when he unexpectedly took a step back, inhaling deeply. The cold air slapped me into the land of the sober.
He ran a hand over his face before heading toward the tree line. “See you soon, Echo Emerson.”
“Wait.” I began to pull off his jacket. “You forgot this.”
“Keep it,” he said without looking back. “I’ll get it from you on Monday. When we discuss tutoring.”
And Noah Hutchins – girl-using stoner boy and jacket-loaning savior- faded into the shadows.
FTC Advisory: Harlequin Teen provided me with a copy of Pushing the Limits. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: Death and loss plays a big part of this story, and McGarry does it in a tasteful and poetic way.
Opening Sentence: “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
Show More
doing?”The Review:
Pushing the Limits has been on everyone’s to-read list this summer. Katie McGarry has everyone talking about this fantastic contemporary young adult fiction that touches on serious and very realistic topics. Pushing the Limits does just that, push the reader’s limits, testing the boundaries of the typical love story and adding in a mix of positive and negative elements. McGarry does a beautiful job of writing a harmonious blend between the two elements that has you thirsty for more. I have quickly become a fan, and I cannot wait to tell you about this amazing story.
Echo Emerson is not your typical high school senior. She has endured pain that probably none of her peers have ever experienced. At the end of her sophomore year, Echo’s world came crashing down. She has come from a divorced home, where her father divorced her mother to marry another woman. Echo has lost her beloved brother in a war, losing the one person that truly protected her. And to top it off, Echo has also lost a mother, but this time due to a restraining order because her mom tried to kill her. But Echo doesn’t remember anything that happened that fatal night, her body has protected herself and blocked everything from that day. Life has moved on, for her friends who have slowly begun to alienate her within the popular crowd, and for her father, who is living a blissful life with his new wife and soon to be born child. Life has moved on, with what seems to be everything all around her, leaving Echo to pull up her sleeves, cover her scars, and hide from life itself.
Echo is scared and lonely, reliving her worst nightmares during the day and the night. She is confused and lost, afraid to remember the harsh memories but also afraid of what will happen if she does not. Echo slowly learns to cope with her reality with the help of a few people, but not her dad. Echo seems to struggle, day by day, just trying to live through each one with whatever strength she has left. But deep inside, I see Echo’s strength, to show up to school and face everything and everyone. She is feisty and sarcastic and is beautiful inside and out. Echo is definitely a heroine to look up to.
Echo crosses paths with Noah Hutchins, who is also a troubled youth. Noah is a foster child, moving from home to home, separated from his brothers. He is smart, but sometimes doesn’t think about the aftermath of his actions. Noah always has good intentions, but doesn’t know how to think outside of the box. Noah is burdened with the memory of his parents, who died in a fire, and of the responsibility to reunite his family. As a character, Noah is deep and complex, and when you think you have him figured out, McGarry changes it all and surprises you.
Pushing the Limit is emotional and will touch your soul. I felt emotionally invested for the characters and the story. McGarry brought out some real and raw emotions, bringing her world and her words to life. The various familial relationship and friendships are complex and realistic, bringing the tingles and tears on many occasions. McGarry writes about passion in a romantic and platonic sense, talking about passions of the heart in a way that is eye opening. Death and loss plays a big part of this story, and McGarry does it in a tasteful and poetic way.
I cannot begin to tell you how much I loved this book. It has brought so many emotions to me, some that I haven’t felt from a story in a long time. I laughed and definitely cried, and I always love that when an author can bring real emotions out of me. I felt that there were a few shortcomings, but so much positive outweighs the negative with Pushing the Limit.
Notable Scene:
“Happy Birthday.” Noah drew his lips closer to mine; that sweet musky smell and overwhelmed my senses. I could almost taste his lips when he unexpectedly took a step back, inhaling deeply. The cold air slapped me into the land of the sober.
He ran a hand over his face before heading toward the tree line. “See you soon, Echo Emerson.”
“Wait.” I began to pull off his jacket. “You forgot this.”
“Keep it,” he said without looking back. “I’ll get it from you on Monday. When we discuss tutoring.”
And Noah Hutchins – girl-using stoner boy and jacket-loaning savior- faded into the shadows.
FTC Advisory: Harlequin Teen provided me with a copy of Pushing the Limits. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
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LibraryThing member mt256
Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry grabbed me from the beginning. There is so much emotional drama going on it was hard to put this book down. Echo, like her name, is unusual. Not in the sense that she has a third eye or anything, but something traumatic happened to her that shapes her life. She
One of the characters, besides Echo and Noah, that stood out to me is Echo's father. In the very beginning I did not like this man at all. However my feelings for him transformed throughout the novel. I love how McGarry wrote him. Yes, he's a control freak and overbearing, but he loves Echo. Everything he does is his way of trying to protect her. He makes mistakes and feels the burden of not knowing what to do at times. McGarry points out that there is no instruction booklet to life and sometimes you just have to do what you think is right. This leads me to Noah. Noah is a senior and he lost his parents in a fire a few years before. He's been a victim of the system and has landed in some not so good foster homes. He has two brothers that he wants desperately to be reunited with. He wants sole custody even though he's barely an adult himself. Noah is immediately attracted to Echo. Together they bond over grief and loss. Noah has to figure out his life plan and how to accomplish his desires. He also has to learn to let go and realize sometimes what people want and what is best is not always the same thing.
Pushing the Limits is a great read. It's emotionally compelling and can speak to everyone young and not so young. My heart went out to the characters in this book, including some of the minor characters. They all had stories to be told and I think McGarry did a great job. Pushing the Limits is the first book in this series. The next book continues with Beth's story. I think this will be a series that I will continue reading.
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was attacked by her mother and she has suppressed the memory. She's in therapy to try to work through her problems, but she's frustrated by her progress. She hides her scars from the attack by wearing long sleeves shirts all the time. Echo is a deep character that has many obstacles to overcome. The long sleeves represent her insecurities and fear of rejection because of them. Echo is surrounded by a plethora of people. Some I loved, others not so much.One of the characters, besides Echo and Noah, that stood out to me is Echo's father. In the very beginning I did not like this man at all. However my feelings for him transformed throughout the novel. I love how McGarry wrote him. Yes, he's a control freak and overbearing, but he loves Echo. Everything he does is his way of trying to protect her. He makes mistakes and feels the burden of not knowing what to do at times. McGarry points out that there is no instruction booklet to life and sometimes you just have to do what you think is right. This leads me to Noah. Noah is a senior and he lost his parents in a fire a few years before. He's been a victim of the system and has landed in some not so good foster homes. He has two brothers that he wants desperately to be reunited with. He wants sole custody even though he's barely an adult himself. Noah is immediately attracted to Echo. Together they bond over grief and loss. Noah has to figure out his life plan and how to accomplish his desires. He also has to learn to let go and realize sometimes what people want and what is best is not always the same thing.
Pushing the Limits is a great read. It's emotionally compelling and can speak to everyone young and not so young. My heart went out to the characters in this book, including some of the minor characters. They all had stories to be told and I think McGarry did a great job. Pushing the Limits is the first book in this series. The next book continues with Beth's story. I think this will be a series that I will continue reading.
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LibraryThing member pnh002
This book was an emotional roller coaster. I cried my eyes out at some points and I smiled like an idiot at some points. But everything was so worth it.
Noah and Echo (I loved her name :] ) couldn't be more different. But through all their differences and the drama that is evident in their lives,
Both Echo and Noah are very strong characters. The story went back and forth between their point of views which made it easier to connect with both characters. This made every discovery they made about their past and each other even more intense.
As for their romance, it felt real and not rushed. It wasn't the insta-love that normally creep up in YA novels and I really enjoyed that. I also loved the fact that McGarry didn't have to make any other part in the story suffer to help make their love work. Everything was well put together and well balanced.
Everyone should add this stunning debut by Katie McGarry to the TBR pile. She definitely does NOT disappoint.
P.S. NOAH WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE?!
Noah and Echo (I loved her name :] ) couldn't be more different. But through all their differences and the drama that is evident in their lives,
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they look at their similarities and fall for each other... And they fall hard.Both Echo and Noah are very strong characters. The story went back and forth between their point of views which made it easier to connect with both characters. This made every discovery they made about their past and each other even more intense.
As for their romance, it felt real and not rushed. It wasn't the insta-love that normally creep up in YA novels and I really enjoyed that. I also loved the fact that McGarry didn't have to make any other part in the story suffer to help make their love work. Everything was well put together and well balanced.
Everyone should add this stunning debut by Katie McGarry to the TBR pile. She definitely does NOT disappoint.
P.S. NOAH WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE?!
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LibraryThing member katie.funk
In the world of book boyfriends, Noah Hutchins seems destined to be a top 10 contender. Add that to a compelling at times melodramatic plot, and the broken girl/bad boy combination hasn't been this irresistible since Perfect Chemistry. This book manages to balance drama and reality better than most
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books in this genre. And the alternating voices of Echo and Noah are pitch perfect. Katie McGarry is an author to watch. Show Less
Awards
Eliot Rosewater Indiana High School Book Award (Honor Book — 2015)
Kentucky Bluegrass Award (Nominee — Grades 9-12 — 2014)
South Dakota Teen Choice Book Awards (Nominee — 2015)
RITA Award (Finalist — Best First Book — 2013)
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (Selection — 2013)
Original publication date
2012-06-01
Physical description
416 p.; 8.5 inches
ISBN
0373210493 / 9780373210497