Review: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry
Release Date: July 31, 2012
Format: ARC, 392 pages
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Source: Gifted from Anna at Literary Exploration!

Description from Goodreads:
No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.

Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

I've heard talk about Pushing the Limits for a super long time now. And I've wanted to read it since the moment I heard about it. So, obviously, I've wanted to read this for a super long time now. So when I got it, there was a lot of happy dancing. Seriously. A lot. And it was all for good cause. Because this book made me all kinds of happy!

This book honestly had me from page one, which does not happen all that often for me with contemporary books. Normally, I have to read a bit of the book to actually get into it and start having fun with it. But with this book, I started on page one and just DID NOT want to stop. Goodness, this book has my heart.

Character Rundown:
Echo: Ahhh, Echo. I love her name. And the story of her name. Her character wasn't too bad. Her POV was amusing and held my attention, though I did like Noah's better. She was selfless and kind. I guess the thing about her that got to me was that she was all self-sacrificing. But not in a way that I see as noble. More like in a way that's trying too hard. I don't even know. She was NOT a bad character. She just wasn't my favrite. Still, this didn't take anything away from the book or how much I love it.

Noah: Awwww, Noah. He was so amazing. I love how he was so determined to get his brothers back, and then help Echo. And then there was the fact that he was so loyal to his foster siblings all the time. I loved THAT relationship. Those three...ha. Can't wait to see more in Dare You To. Anyway, Noah's a sweetheart who sometimes looks like a bad boy. But really, he's not a bad boy, he's just done some bad things. Or...seemingly bad things. Either way, he's good at heart and I adore him to no end.

Aires: Okay, so I'm aware that he's not actually, you know, ALIVE in this book, but I heart him. And most of the tears that were shed for this book were shed for him. I mean, I didn't ball my eyes out or anything, but still. This boy made me smile. I'm so sad he's gone. And the thing that Echo did with his car...well, that is one of the things I DID like a lot about her. I admire that she did that. Goodness knows that if I were in her shoes, I would have done the same exact thing. So...ahhh, Aires.

Plot. This book had me. In between Echo working out her memories and Noah trying and trying and trying to get his brothers back, I was caught up in the story that was Noah & Echo. There was always something happening to keep me reading. This is one of those books that I couldn't help but read during class because I just could NOt bring myself to close the book and not find out what was happening.

Noah & Echo. They were such a great couple! I have no complaints about them, whatsoever. These two were just awesome. Noah's a sweetie and he cares so, so much. And then Echo, well...Echo's a good person. There's no doubt about that. Seeing them getting used to each other and actually grow together had me grinning like a fool. I love these two!

The ending. I can't see how this book could have ended any better. It was just right for the characters. I felt it in my heart a little, but I was happy. heck, this book IN GENERAL just gave me an overall happy feeling.

Overall, Katie McGarry has written a superb debut novel that sent me through so many emotions but ultimately left me smiling. I couldn't be more excited for the next book, Dare You To, if I tried! I just KNOW Katie's going to make Beth's story just as fantastic as Noah and Echo's story was. Ahhh, so much love here!!!

♥Jessica(: