this book was SO good. as a YA reader, i read lots of YA books where the story is just unrealistic, and that’s normal considering most YA books have a purpose of capturing what it means to be a teenager in them. is that even possible? but the emotional development in this teen romance is clearly well thought out and an important part of the book. anyway, this book now holds yet another place in my heart reserved for books. i just want to give echo and noah a big hug

Simply amazing :)

5 stars and now I can see why everybody is addicted to this series! You can see my full review here-> Greyland Reviews

This used to be my favourite book when I was a teenager. Also got a reply from the author on the mail I wrote her years ago wohooo.

I can promise you 3 things if you plan to read this book:

1.) YOU WILL CRY. Yes, CRY. I don't mean get teary-eyed, or misty. I mean EMOTIONAL BREAKDOWN, CHEST PAINS, SOBS, and being inconsolable. (Well, maybe not the last one, but you get the point...) This book takes you through so many intense emotions, that at times I felt things that even I didn't understand.

2.) YOU WILL EXPERIENCE "FEELINGS". Mayhap, TOO MANY FEELINGS. Echo and Noah's journey throughout this book will bring you to your knees with grief, pain, anger, love, confusion, frustration, unease, and devastation. Whenever I read books like this, I take notes. LOTS AND LOTS of notes. I like to keep track of my "feelings". I felt like my heart was in a vice grip the whole time, I was on the edge of sadness and sobbing with every turn. I truly connected with this story. It addressed some serious issues. It's not your cookie-cutter romance, or sunshine-and-daisies coming of age tale. This is real, honest, intense, and believable.

3.) After you read this, YOU WILL NEVER BE THE SAME. This book was BRILLIANT. Wonderfully written. Absolute genius. I am extremely eager to get my hands on book 2!

“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.”

Once part of the in crowd and living an almost perfect life, Echo now lives in the shadows. Her friends all want her to hide who she is and want her to be who they want. Her father is forcing her to choose a path she does not want. Everyone walks all over her and she lets them. The people that know her secret and about the scars it left are now making her life hell. And no one, not even herself knows what happened the night her life changed forever.The night that her mother tried to kill her.

Forced into therapy with Mrs. Collins, the school new therapist, she is obligated to work on remembering that terrible day and the events leading up to her accident. But she has given up on life and doesn't care to try. Until the day that Noah explodes into her life.

Noah has his own crap going on. He's lost everything that is important to him and now is a foster kid that no one cares about. His only comfort is the fact that he will graduate soon and can then fight to get his little brothers back and out of the foster care system. If only Mrs. Collins would provide him with the information he needs Noah can prove that his brothers are better with him. But Mrs. Collins wants him to work on himself first and knows that his brothers are in great care. So when Echo presents the perfect opportunity to get into his file Noah jumps on board.

What they both don't expect is to find comfort in each other. With completely different paths in life they have nothing in common. But out of their solitude, partnership and healing comes a love and friendship that defies all of their plans.

Pushing the Limits had its great moments but also moments that made me want to strangle Echo. She wouldn't let herself try and be happy and she was always throwing herself a pity party. I wanted to reach into the book and shake some damn confidence into her. In the end though she finally stood up for herself which I guess is good. And Noah can't be left behind he was pretty stubborn as well but I understood his determination and love for his brothers. These two have completely different situations and will have you rooting for their HEA.

And before I end this review I have to gush about Jacob and Tyler. They are so adorable and loved their brother so much that it just pulled at your heart. They were a big part of Noah and the most wonderful part of the book. Let me leave you with a preview:

“I wrote about the person I love most, my older brother, Noah. We don't live together so I wrote what I imagine he does when we're not together."
"And what is that?" prodded the stout man.
"He's a superhero who saves people in danger, because he saved me and my brother from dying in a fire a couple of years ago. Noah is better than Batman." The crowd chuckled.
"I love you, too, lil'bro.”

Buy it. Read it. Enjoy it.


HAPPY READING!

First book for this year. And I've gotta tell you, I'm so happy I picked this. Overcoming difficulties, hot tension, romance, everything I could have hoped for in an young adult romance. Loved every minute of it. And Katie McGarry's writing is brilliant.

Bon bon bon.

J'ai passé TOUT le bouquin à alterner entre le chaud et le froid!
Je me disais "huhu, ça y est, j'y suis, je vais aimer!" parce qu'il y a de bonnes idées, de chouettes personnages, un contexte familial original pour les 2 personnages principaux, des sentiments amoureux, fraternels et du mystère...
Puis pfffiiiiuuu...Un "zarbi", "meuf" ou "sirène" venait tout gâcher...
Et je devais tout recommencer...

L'écriture n'a rien de sensationnel. Puis cette traduction qui veut se donner un air "djeun's" et les morales à 2 francs 6 sous sur les méfaits de la drogue n'ont pas su me convaincre...
La lectrice qui est en moi a fini par dire non.

J'aurais presque envie de me pencher sur la VO par curiosité...mais soyons honnêtes, le temps de lecture nous manque et je sais que je ne le ferais pas! ^^

it was an okay book, but not really what I was expecting or what I particularly was in the mood to read.
I loved the writing style and I will happily read McGarry again.
I wasn't too keen on the focus of Echo's torment with her mother. I felt the true answer was very implausible and didn't fit with the scaring. there were also things left unfinished like the scar in her back she only showed Noah? What was it?
I like the characters and their individuality.

Overall this gets 3.5 stars because of how much focus was directed at Echo's story which was heavily flawed.