Oh man did this book bring out all my feels. Noah. Whoa. He's an amazing character. The loss and sacrifice that he had to go through, it was unbelievable. Echo was just as amazing. I thought the things she went through were just as crazy. Her mom? What-what!!! I really enjoyed all the side characters as well.

The end got way better than the beginning, but there was something off to me.
Also, DAMN YOU NOAH, grab a thesaurus and learn a compliment other than sexy! :P

Before I get into my issues with the book, there were things I really liked. I loved the characters, Noah could be called cliche, but I like that "bad boy" trope, so I found it sweet & adorable. I really liked Echo as a main character for the most part, & I appreciated how strong she was.
Another thing I really liked were the issues expressed in this novel. I liked that it had such deep issues such as mental diseases, & death. It gave it depth, & I liked the mystery of "what really happened to Echo?"
One of the things that I believe this book excelled at was the character development. Noah & Echo both had wonderful character arcs, I think they developed really well, & not in an abrupt way.
Their relationship, for the most part, had a real connection for me. I think they made each other stronger, & made each other realize things about themselves.
Now for the things that I wasn't a fan of:
1. The writing at some points just got under my skin. For example, I didn't like the excessive use of "baby", & I didn't like the way Noah seemed to over-sexualize Echo, especially at first. I mean, maybe she meant for him to be that way, as a part of his character, but it just felt almost barbaric at times.
2. The way high-school was portrayed was a bit off for me. How automatically it was so organized, jocks = popular. Tattoos & leather = weird goth freaks. They can never intermix, & if they do, OH THE HORROR! I just felt like it was the stereotypical "high-school" set up.
3. I wasn't itching to read this 24/7. It was one of those books where I had to make myself pick it back up. Now, while reading it I wanted to continue, but it's not a book where once you put it down you want to pick it right back up to continue the action, at least not for me.
4. This is just a person bias, as contemporary isn't my favorite genre. I gravitate more towards fantasy & sci-fi, so it's almost a given that I won't enjoy a contemporary as much as others. That's why when one does get a 5 star, it means I REALLY enjoyed it. When I want another contemporary that isn't just fluff, I may pick up Dare You To, but I was sort of let down, because of all the hype surrounding this book.

Also posted on Rally the Readers.

I admit it—when I see massive numbers of people reading a book and/or featuring it in their book haul posts, my curiosity gets piqued, and chances are, I’ll read the book unless it sounds like something that absolutely isn’t my cup of tea. I still remember all of the buzz Pushing the Limits generated when it was released, and just to see what everyone was talking about, I added it to my TBR list. Where it ended up languishing until recently when a shiny new paperback copy appeared at my library. As much as I wanted to read it, I was a little hesitant because my last few YA contemporary reads didn’t go so well. I didn’t want to develop a phobia of the genre just because I’ve been on a bit of an unlucky streak with it, either, so Pushing the Limits went home with me. And hooray—I really liked it!

I find it easier to discuss what I like/don’t like about paranormal, fantasy, and even dystopian novels than what exactly makes realistic fiction work for me. It’s an intangible element—something about a contemporary either clicks with me or it doesn’t. Pushing the Limits was that kind of contemporary; it kept me reading late into the night.

Echo and Noah were both very well drawn characters. The story is told from their dual points of view, and I was impressed with how distinct their narrative voices were. And I’m not just saying that because Noah sometimes uses colorful language in his chapters. That’s also merely an observation, by the way, not a judgment; Noah wouldn’t have been Noah otherwise.

I don’t like sappy romances and I’m especially skeptical and critical of ones that go for the “there’s only one person in the world who understands me” angle, but this book left me convinced beyond a doubt that Echo and Noah belonged together. I rooted so hard for those two, and you have no idea how much I wanted Luke, Echo’s ex-boyfriend, to fall into a hole somewhere when he tried to get back together with her. One, Echo was clearly meant to be with Noah and vice versa, and two, Luke was such an insensitive moron.

As the tragedies in Echo and Noah’s pasts were revealed, I was a little concerned that perhaps they were a bit too much drama-wise. The more I thought about them, though, the less I viewed them that way. Sometimes life does just fall apart in a matter of seconds and then continues to pummel you while you’re already down. I do think the book makes a conscious effort to counterbalance all of the heartache, of which there is plenty, to keep the story from becoming overwrought.

A gigantic round of applause goes to Mrs. Collins, the school social worker and the initial link between Echo and Noah. Mrs. Collins goes above and beyond her job description to help, and she genuinely cares about them. The pair have been let down repeatedly by the adults in their lives, and it was touching to see them finally have one who was one hundred percent on their side.

In the end, what really resonated with me was both Echo and Noah’s realization that it’s impossible to go back to the past. No one can take your memories of happier times away from you, but you also can’t dwell on them to the point where you can’t move forward with your life. Moving on also sometimes requires acting in a way that seems selfish, but really isn’t. This book gave my heart quite an emotional workout, and I’m very glad that I took the chance on it.

3.5 stars. I listened to the audiobook and for me it wasn't the best narration. I think it took something away from the story while listening. At least the narrators change for the other books so I will be giving those a shot. And I don't even know what to say about the story. This is not a fluffy read if that's what you're looking for. The writing was done very well.

Pretty good, but in some ways I wanted more.

Noah – the school bad boy, determined to get his brothers out of the foster-care system that’s abused him - and Echo – the former popular girl who can’t remember what happened the night she almost died – are brought together by a school social worker. The romance between them develops in alternating povs and it’s definitely smoldering. Noah and Echo are both so broken at the beginning of the book; the adults in their lives have let them down in horrible ways. I was particularly empathetic to Echo’s problems – not just the mystery of what happened to her the night she got scars all over her arms – but the smaller ones, like how she feels like she’s being replaced in her dad’s life by her stepmother and their new baby, and how her former friends urge her against hooking up with Noah because of his reputation. I think this would absolutely appeal to Simone Elkeles fans, but I found it more intense and connected more with the characters. I’d definitely pick up McGarry’s next book. Recommend! (read via Netgalley)

looooooved this book. I shed multiple tears, like truly sobbing, and laughed genuinely. this was wonderful.

This has got to be one of the most emotional reads of 2012 by far. I cannot count how many times I laughed and cried throughout the book. This is such a heartwarming tale of two unlikely people coming together and falling in love.

PTL is told from both Echo and Noah's POV which is something I really enjoy. It gives the story that much more depth and you are able to truly understand the dynamics of the character's.

The story is so realistic with the situation and settings that you will have no issue investing in the character's.

All I have to say is that every girl deserves her own Noah Hutchins. The steamy bad boy who really has a heart of gold underneath his tough exterior.

I LOVED IT LOVED IT LOVED IT!! I was so captivated by the story that I stayed up half the night until I was finished. I could not stop until I found out what happened but then I cursed myself because I should have savoured it.

There is not one bad thing I can say about this book. Even the sub character's were amazing. Wonderful plot, amazing character's and an emotional whirlwind.

I will be revisiting Pushing The Limits time and time again.

One of my favorite books of the year. It was endearing and heart wrenching but it made me wanting more. I could not put it down. I fell in love with Echo and Noah. I hope we get more of their story.