Book Review~Pushing The Limits by Katie McGarry

Title: Pushing The Limits
Author: Katie McGarry
Publisher: Harlequin UK
Imprint: MIRA Ink
Publish Date: August 03, 2012
Format: e-book (ePub)
Pages: 324
Links: Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ Book Site
Summary (taken from NetGalley): What if the last person you should fall in love with is the only one who can save you?

"I won't tell anyone, Echo. I promise."Noah tucked a curl behind my ear. It had been so long since someone touched me like he did. Why did it have to be Noah Hutchins? His dark brown eyes shifted to my covered arms. "You didn't do that-did you. It was done to you?" No one ever asked that question. They stared. They whispered. They laughed. But they never asked. The room tilted...

No one knows what really happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of the horrible night that changed her life forever.

But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And now Echo has to ask herself just what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again...

Trailer: 

 

Rating: 9.5/10

Source: Received an ARC through NetGalley. A HUGE THANK YOU to the publisher for accepting my request!

Cover Talk: I like it but I like the other cover (below) better. I think it captures the intensity of the story better. I don't know why..... maybe because it's darker......

Reason I read the book: I've been hearing so much about this book and when I read the summary on Goodreads I really really wanted to read it. So I went on netgalley hoping that this book would be over there. To my surprise (and joy) it was! So I requested it, but I expected my request to be declined (because usually when I really really want to read the book, publishers don't accept my netgalley requests). But by another miracle the publishers accepted my request and I received the book! Yaay! Thank you so much Harlequin!

My Thoughts: Could you please excuse me one moment? 

Gaahhhh!! Oh my God Oh my God Oh my God!! I am in love! I'm seriously in love ♥ ♥ ♥ Oh Noah *sigh*

Ok, now back to the review. This is definitely one of the best books I've read this summer, maybe one of the best books I've ever read! This is the second alternating POV book I've read in a row and I really liked it. If done right, books with alternating POV can be amazing. This book was definitely done right.

Story: The story is amazing. It's different, capturing and yet relatable. It has the same pace throughout which is something I really like. Books that start out slow and rush in the end really bug me. This book kept the right pace throughout. At times it made me smile like an idiot, at other times it had me crying because of all that Noah and Echo had to go through.

Writing: The writing was engaging and easy flowing. I love books that reel you in and this was one of those books that did that for me.

Characters: Don't get me started on the characters! Noah.... oh Noah! I love bad boys who're actually really sweethearts. That's your Noah. His love for his brothers, Beth & Isaiah was so sweet. He's definitely my book boyfriend now! And I just loved how he used to call Echo his siren!

I really liked Echo. I felt sorry for her. Sometimes I really wanted to give her a hug. 

I would love to have a friend like Lila! I loved her. At first I didn't like Beth but she warmed up to me. I loved how Isaiah always supported Noah and tried to give him the best advice. I didn't like Ashley. Even in the end. I don't know, maybe I just don't like people like her.I was also VERY pissed at Echo's mom and dad. I knew from the first moment that Carrie and Joe would be good people. So that wasn't really a big surprise for me. I guessed how that part of the story would turn out to be in the end.

All in all the book was amazing. I'd highly recommend this book to people who like contemporary romances and are looking for a good read. I would love it if Katie would write a sequel to this. I would love to read more of Noah's and Echo's story!

But there is another story, about Beth! I'm really looking forward to reading it! There was a preview of the book (the first chapter) in the galley I received and it sounded awesome! A teaser here: there will be a new guy, Ryan. He seemed nice. I'm guessing the story's not about Isaiah.....

In the end I'd just like to explain why I didn't give this book 10stars even when I loved it so much. I give 10 stars to books that keep me awake at night. That have me thinking about them all the time. That have me fan-girling about them. Though this book almost reached that point, it didn't hit the mark. So it got a 9.5.

Favorite Quotes:

“I love you enough to never make you choose.”

“Luke used to give me butterflies. Noah spawned mutant pterodactyls.” 

“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.”

“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.” 

Favorite Scenes: 

“In a lightning-fast move, he placed both of his hands on the brick wall, caging me with his body. He leaned toward me and my heart shifted into a gear I didn't know existed. His warm breath caressed my neck, melting my frozen skin. I tilted my head, waiting for the solid warmth of his body on mine. I could see his eyes again and those dark orbs screamed hunger .
"I heard a rumor."
"What's that?" I struggled to get out.
"It's your birthday."
Terrified speaking would break the spell, I licked my suddenly dry lips and nodded.
"Happy birthday." Noah drew his lips closer to mine; that sweet musky smell 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 sober.” 

“Noah's strong hand slipped over my wrist before he entwined his fingers with mine. The sensation of warm flesh against an area I allowed no one to see, much less touch, caused me to shiver. My eyes widened, realizing my mistake. This is what had freaked Ashley out. What had come over me? I never pulled up my sleeves. I spent all my time pulling them down. When had I become...comfortable?” 

“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.”