As a one time high school teacher, you give me some messed up kids trying to overcome a horrible situation and I'm going to just fall right down on my knees and let my heart bleed! I do read quite a bit of YA and I have to say I love this book because it took hardship to a whole new level. It wasn't typical YA, although it did remind me of another one of my favorite books (which I read a few times a year) and that is part of what made me love it I think.

It's usually the girl that I end up really endearing myself to and pulling for so much. Not this book. I felt for Echo, but she had resources and help. I loved her personality, but her man was my hero on so many levels in this book. Noah is the one that truly ripped my heart out. Of course, the manner in which the bad boy stoner deals with everyone and everything, including falling in love for the first time, is what sealed the deal on this one.

I will for sure read this book again!

wow, just wow. One of the best books of this genre that I have ever read. The feelings and emotions portrayed are just so real and as a reader they suck you in. Every word felt so real. The writing was phenomenal. Loved every minute of it. I have a feeling this is a book I won't ever be forgetting.

This book has been on my TBR list for a long time. But in the past, it didn’t really do anything for me…it didn’t call to me. Then, when I was looking for a book to read, I started browsing books on my kindle. And the title of this practically jumped off the page and screamed “READ ME!!!!!!” and since I can (normally) take a hint, I decided to read it.

I was surprised by this book. I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did. I really enjoyed Echo’s little mystery of what happened in her past. It was just heart breaking when it all came out. And my heart also broke for Noah. I really wanted him to get what he wanted. And between the two stories, Noah and Echo had me both laughing and crying.

While this was my first book by Katie McGarry, it definitely won’t be my last. This author is incredibly talented. Not only did she make me care about the characters, she made me laugh with them and cry for them. For anyone in doubt about this book, it’s a must read.

Spoiler

Noah:

Ugh. So much about this book that I hated. Insta-love. Cheesy teenage dialogue. Don't waste your time.

Hab die ganze Nacht gelesen,
Das Buch ist gut geschrieben, aber mich stören dann doch so paar Dinge.

Gute Nacht.

I loved this book! The characters in this book had to face some very hard issues and handle so many different obstacles. I really felt connected to Noah and Echo. This is not your typical love story, these characters had to face some very real issues that most adults probably couldn't handle. The romance between Noah and Echo was definitely HOT! It definitely delivered the swoons. I loved how Noah and Echo were there for each other. And man, did Katie McGarry nail the male pov. I loved getting a look inside Noah's head.

This story had everything and gave me a satisfying ending. The characters are easy to relate to. I really enjoyed the writing style and am looking forward to reading more from this author.

4.75 Casi perfecto pero.... a veces se me hacia un poco cansino ese tira y afloja entre Noah y Echo así como el final que, bueno, es bonito y perfecto pero se veía venir. TODO él.

I wasn’t too interested in Pushing the Limits, one I don’t read much contemporary fiction and two the cover kind of screams romance but I got the ARC at BEA and so much people who had read advanced copies were giving Pushing the Limits positives reviews, including one of my favourite authors so I decided to give it a shot. This novel is so much more than a romance.

Told from alternating points of view Pushing the Limits is about Echo, who ever since an attack she can’t remember that left her arm permanently scarred is trying not only to remember what happened to her so she can move on but is also trying to deal with the grief of losing her brother Aires who died overseas on deployment. It’s about Noah, who after a fire kills his parents has been shipped from one foster home to another and only wants to be reunited with his little brothers again. It’s about two people’s struggles with overwhelming issues trying to find hope and happiness.

Pushing the Limits was both a deep and compelling read that had me glues to the pages and desperate to find out how the story ends. Katie McGarry knows how to create realistic characters and she knows how to get me to care about them. Both Noah and Echo are the reasons I did not want to put this book down, not only did I want to find out how their individual stories pan out but I wanted to see their relationship out and to find out what would become of it. Echo is a girl who was betrayed be someone she should have been able to trust above everyone else and because of the aftermath she hides herself from the world and has become a shadow of her former self. Noah is the result of the failings of the Foster Care system, there is barely anyone he will trust and he is both hurt and angry. It took me a while to like Noah; I could sympathize with him sure but because of his reputation for doing drugs and sleeping around with girls it wasn’t until about one hundred pages in that I started liking him as a character but I eventually did and in the end he was the character that had me crying and wanting to comfort.

Pushing the Limits is not a fluffy light read but nor will it bog you down and fill you with angst. Pushing the Limits is both real and hopeful and a stand out début.

This is one of my all-time favorite books. It was emotional, heart-warming, intense, heartbreaking, and swoon worthy. It is a story about love, loss, friendship, and trust. It was sweet, sad, and sexy. Basically, it’s a little bit of everything, it’s the type of story that makes your heart pound while reading, makes you want to cry, smile, and a story that you will never forget. Pushing The Limits is a story that will stick with you, it will affect you, and it’s an emotional ride. The best kind of ride.

I read Pushing The Limits last year, and after the first time I read it, I went back and immediately read it again and then again. I couldn’t get enough of it. I still can’t get enough of it.

The writing in Pushing The Limits is amazing, it’s brilliant, and beautiful. I was sucked into the story from page one. Life went on around me while I was reading, I didn’t notice, and I didn’t really care because I had to know what happened next.

I felt as tough I was part of the story. I felt all of the character’s emotions, their struggles, and everything.

Katie McGarry is one of my auto-buy authors and after you read this book, she will be one of yours.

The characters are amazing. I loved every single one of them, even Beth. My heart broke for Echo and Noah. Pushing The Limits will tug on your heartstrings, you will smile, and tears will form in your eyes. It’s emotionally gripping. It will captivate and consume you.

It’s told in dual point-of-view, which I loved. I loved being inside both of Echo and Noah’s minds because it allowed us to get to know them better and see what each of them were dealing with. Oh, boy each of them had their own demons and struggles to overcome. My heart shattered for both of them.

Both of them have suffered a lot, but they are both very strong and brave. I admired that about each of them.

While reading this you will feel every bit as though you are on an emotional roller-coaster. I have to say at the end, it was worth every moment of it. Because, I was left feeling content.

If you love YA or any books that are emotionally gripping you will love this one. If you haven’t read it by now, you should read it asap.

I wasn't amazed by this, but I did really like the story. I would read the other two books in the series, and I probably will. I didn't like the font changes. I kind of expected to like this a lot more.. But alas, I think this is a 3 star.