3.5

This is easily my second favourite book in the world. Several times I've sat and read the whole book. I can quote passages. I praise Katie McGarry. All of her books are sheer brilliance, however, this book is easily the best. I've recommended to everyone I know that reads.

Echo and Noah's relationship was so realistic I almost fell out my chair, or off my bed, wherever I was that day. They were friends first! Their arguments were about *about* something! They took time to fall in love! God, that doesn't happen in teen lit. Not since Stephenie Meyer and Lauren Kate hit the scene. Don't get me wrong, I followed Fallen until the end faithfully, but jeez, talk about unrealistic expectations. No boyfriend of mine happen like Edward and Bella or Daniel and Luce.
However, Echo and Noah almost got the bullseye! (obviously, my relationship is different to theirs...)

I thought that was so refreshing. All personal baggage and issues aside, Noah and Echo fell in love like everyone else - yeah, I think love at first sight is a load of ****.

Moving past the romance factor - it was only one of the book's main plots. Yep, more than one. In fact, three plots were happening simultaneously, each one flowing together seamlessly. Katie McGarry is just that good.

First, we have Echo. Dealing with the raw pain of death and having no idea why her arms are so scarred. All she wants is normalcy, yet she's treated like a circus animal and is surrounded by rumours. Her personal journey is slowly unravelling the mystery of that night.

Second, we have Noah. Noah, who at the beginning seems like a pot-smoking, mean, man-whore. That's just the exterior. The real Noah desperately wants to bring his family back together after tragedy - no matter what.

Third, we have Echo and Noah falling in love for the first time. They didn't like each other. Then came lust. Then came friendship. Then came 'like', then 'like-like'. Finally, realistically, love. Overall, they're a very sweet couple. I love them.

Spoiler

How amazing was the chapter where Echo remembered? I was nearly bawlling my eyes out, I tell you. Talk about emotion. Noah couldn't have handled it better. His fear, love and excitement for Echo jumped off the page.

Of course, there's Beth, Isaiah, Owen Emerson (Echo's dad), Ashley, Lila, Luke, Grace, Jacob, Tyler and Mrs Collins.

LOVE Mrs. Collins.

I could go in depth there, but I won't. This review is long enough.

This book was definitely enticing; I could not put it down after starting it. I just couldn't. I did not even sleep.

It was so emotional to re read about Echo and Noah I forgot how much I love this two character my heart hurt and melt about their story

this wasn't as awful as i thought it could be but how it handles mental illness didn't sit right with me at all and while i did actually sort of like echo/noah, the development of their relationship felt far too fast and quick. as someone who has read multiple novels with very similar premises though i know this easily could have been much worse than it was so i feel like a 2 stars is a pretty accurate rating.

Solid YA romance, good for the Simone Elkeles/Sarah Dessen readers.

Again, my quibble is an issue that I have been having with many books lately--the ending is tied up a little too tidily, a little too easily to feel real-to me. A younger reader may accept character changes of heart more readily.

I'm in love with this book. It's pushed my emotions to the brink with every page.
It has this tortured soul vibe. i love that Echo is able to finally fin peace for her troubled past by helping Noah with his. I especially like that It din't end in some "I hate my stepmother because my father cheated on my mother with her". It's much more complex and realistic. I love the epiphany that Echo receives about moving on with your life after facing even the worse of problems. She realizes that her mom isn't the poor tortured soul that she paints her out be and is in fact just as psychotic and bipolar as her dad points her out to be. This book has multiple themes but the most touching one is that just because your parents are a certain way it does not mean that you have to be that way. Pushing The Limits could be the next classic novel.

OMFG KATIE MCGARRY IS AN AMAZING AUTHOR WHOSE BOOKS WILL BE ON MY SHELVES FOREVER (REAL AND VIRTUAL)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rating: A ... Heat: Sweet

Pushing the Limits is a story about two teenagers who have been let down by the adults in their lives. The cause and effect of grown-ups utterly failing them. Miz McGarry really explores the trauma, the… wounds… adults can cause. And how the wounds can fester and grow if nothing is done about it.

Echo Emerson and Noah Hutchins most certainly have their fair share of festering wounds. Told in the first person, Echo and Noah take turns narrating.

Echo Emerson, from the very first line, had my heart. Her thoughts… they hit very close to home.

“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 doing?”

Echo is very introverted, very internalized. Which, considering her support system—or lack thereof—is not surprising. She also has a strong desire to please everyone, particularly her dad. It rang very true in light of how closed-off, emotionally, he is with her. And, like many teens, Echo is desperate to be normal… and very uncomfortable in her own skin. Unlike other teens, however, she is haunted by night terrors. Plagued by repressed memories.

Echo has gone through hell—emotionally and physically—and has the scars to prove it. But she doesn’t have the memories. There is a big, gaping, yawning hole in her mind where the horrible memory of an unspeakable act should be. Because of that blank space, Echo is left drifting—trying to remember, trying to cope with the after-effects.

Noah Hutchins, in the beginning, comes across as a somewhat a-typical pot smoking, smart-mouthed ‘bad boy’.

“You’ve got a fucked-up name,” I mumbled. I didn’t know why I wanted to rattle her, I just did.

Then you see his mouthiness for what it really is—armor. Noah is very closed off… an introvert like Echo. And he doesn’t trust easily. Life has taught him that lesson well. Noah has been used and abused by the system. After standing up for what was right—and throwing a punch at his first foster father—Noah has been labeled a menace.  He’s been passed from one foster family to the next. And, the much bigger issue, his right to visit his younger brothers has been revoked. Noah doesn’t care what his peers think of him, he no longer cares what grades he gets in school. Noah no longer cares about anything… except for his brothers. They are his entire focus.

Thankfully, a wise and determined therapist—Mrs. Collins—decides to throw Echo and Noah together. Sure, it’s a bit like mixing vinegar and baking soda but, in the end, they are exactly what the other needs.

Together, Echo and Noah find a common goal. To get their personal files from Mrs. Collins. The files hold information both are desperate to get their hands on. While working together, hesitantly, especially on Echo’s part, they grow to like each other. Though there is attraction, a friendship blooms first. Trust takes root, which is essential for both. Echo realizes what was normal, what she used to want, no longer applies. She wants Noah, no matter the baggage they both have. And Noah begins to see that he can’t continue to be careless and neglectful. He has to makes plans, truly care, and actually work toward a future. These two are very mature for their age. I enjoyed watching them grow and uncover new aspects of themselves while also learned to trust each other and open up.

Now, I have to admit, one of my biggest emotional kyrptonites is any and all parental issues. If Pushing the Limits was a finger, it would have constantly been poking at my heart. This book found all my soft spots. I can’t say how this story will touch those who don’t have parental angst in their past (or present), but it turned my heart into complete mush. It has a very gentle and thoughtful quality to it and handles some pretty touch issues with care and ease. And the romance between Echo and Noah, it simmers and teases and flirts and had me rooting for them the entire book.

Favorite Quote:

“Noah,” she breathed out, unknowingly fulfilling one of my many fantasies involving Echo. If I played my cards right, maybe she’d fulfill a couple more. I barely brushed my lips down her cheek as I moved toward her mouth. Her nails tickled my chest, driving me insane. Kissing her became my single reason for breathing.

-- A Romantic Book Affairs Review.

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I really wanted to love this book because everyone else just raves about it. Instead, this book just fell flat for me.

The characters were just infuriating. Echo just whines the whole time and hides behind everyone else, and Noah... I can't even. "The court won't give me custody of my brothers. I don't understand why- all I do is smoke pot every night, drink, get in fist fights, and sleep with every girl." I just wanted to throw my Kindle against a wall, but I wouldn't do that because it's my baby. Also, am I the only one who found their romance a little... awkward and creepy? Every time Noah would say something "sweet and sexy" or touch Echo, I made a face and resisted the urge to groan. The only character I semi-liked was Isaiah, and I still wanted to knock some sense into him. Even the mystery wasn't that good or exciting, and the writing didn't stand out to me in any way.

The only reason I gave this book two stars was the ending, which was the only part I did enjoy besides the occasional banter or parts thrown in for comic relief. I can see why so many people loved this book, but it just wasn't for me. I wish I could say I loved it, but I probably won't be picking up the next book.