Title: Pushing the Limits
Author: Katie McGarry
First published June 1, 2012
392 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780373210497 (ISBN10: 0373210493)
Rating: 4.05
Overview
Echo Emerson’s life was shattered the night she can’t quite remember. Her scars still visible, she’s become an outcast.
That is until Noah Hutchins walks into her life. With his bad boy persona and reputation for using girls, he should be the last person she wants to be around.
But when he shows her a side of himself that no one else has ever seen, she can’t help but be drawn to him. As they navigate through their own personal struggles and the secrets they keep, their connection only grows stronger.
Together, they must decide how far they’re willing to push the limits for love. Katie McGarry’s Pushing the Limits is a heart-wrenching and beautiful story of two broken souls finding hope in each other.
About the Author
Meet Katie McGarry, an accomplished author known for her captivating novels, including the Witches of the Island series (which features A Wicked and Beautiful Garden), Pushing the Limits, Thunder Road, and Only a Breath Apart series, as well as the standalone novel Say You’ll Remember Me. Katie’s passions include music, happy endings, and reality TV. Currently, she is living her own love story with her husband, three children, an affectionate dog named Rachel, and some very needy cats.
Editoral Review
Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry is a young adult contemporary novel that was first published on June 1, 2012. The book explores themes of love, family, loss, and identity, and is set in a high school in Louisville, Kentucky.
Katie McGarry is an American author who has written several young adult novels and is known for her emotionally charged storytelling.
The novel follows the story of Echo Emerson, a former popular girl who has turned into a loner after a traumatic experience, and Noah Hutchins, a bad boy with a troubled past who is struggling to regain custody of his younger brothers. Echo and Noah are brought together by their school counselor, who assigns them to be chemistry lab partners.
As they work on their project together, they slowly begin to open up to each other and share their deepest secrets and fears. However, their relationship is not without its challenges, as they both face personal and family issues that threaten to tear them apart.
One of the strengths of Pushing the Limits is its well-developed characters. Echo and Noah are complex and flawed, and their struggles feel authentic and relatable.
McGarry does an excellent job of exploring their innermost thoughts and emotions, and their chemistry is palpable. The pacing of the novel is also well done, with enough twists and turns to keep the reader engaged without feeling rushed or forced.
Another highlight of the book is its depiction of mental health issues. Echo’s struggles with anxiety and PTSD are portrayed with sensitivity and nuance, and the book emphasizes the importance of seeking help and support.
The novel also touches on themes of socioeconomic inequality and the foster care system, shedding light on issues that are often overlooked in young adult literature.
However, one of the weaknesses of the book is its reliance on certain YA tropes, such as the bad boy with a heart of gold and the popular girl who falls from grace. While these tropes are well-executed, they may feel clichéd to some readers.
Additionally, some of the plot twists feel predictable, and the resolution of certain conflicts feels rushed.
Overall, Pushing the Limits is a well-written and emotionally resonant novel that will appeal to fans of young adult contemporary romance. While it may not break new ground in terms of storytelling or characterization, it is a solid addition to the genre.
I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy stories about overcoming adversity, self-discovery, and the power of love. I give Pushing the Limits a rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars.
