Review: Pushing The Limits by Katie McGarry

Synopsis 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.

Review:

PUSHING THE LIMITS by Katie McGarry blew my mind. This is one of my favourite books of the year. It is the story of a damaged girl called Echo Emerson and a boy called Noah Hutchins who is in The System. It is the story of how they must overcome obstacles so that they can move on and improve their lives through helping, supporting and understanding one another.

I couldn’t wait to read Pushing The Limits. I sensed that Echo and Noah would have to go through so much; independently and together. Echo and Noah were brilliant characters. I felt for them immediately and could not stop reading until I knew everything that happened to them.

Echo has gone through a traumatic experience which has left her with countless scars. The thing is- she can’t remember the event that caused these scars... but she does know it had something to do with her ill mother. No one will tell her what happened. Not even her father. All Echo wants is ‘normal’; but how far will she have to dig into the recesses of her mind to get it?

Noah, the badboy stoner, has his own problems. He’s sick of being in foster care. His parents are dead and all he wants is to look after his two kid brothers... but after his past violence, that may never happen. These two’s paths should never cross, but they do. Noah needs Echo’s help to improve his life, not knowing that in the process they will help each other more than they could ever believe.

Pushing The Limits was an intense, thrilling and gripping read. After I finished, I couldn’t stop thinking about Echo and Noah. They have so many problems. They seemed so different and yet at the same time they felt perfect for each other. I could relate to Echo. She was a clever, sensitive and beautiful person. There was no brattiness or whining from her. She was so mature, such a refreshing heroine. I loved Noah just as much as Echo. He was so charming, funny and protective. He endeared himself to both Echo and me quickly. There was of course a sense of danger about him, but nothing to be scared about.

McGarry is an extraordinary writer. I loved the dual narration and both Echo and Noah’s voices. All her characters felt real. There were characters I loved and those I hated; for example, Ashley, Echo’s stepmother. There were some very emotional scenes which left me with a lump in my throat and tears trailing down my cheeks; a mark of great, unforgettable storytelling.

I won’t stop thinking about Pushing The Limits anytime soon. It’s a must read. I recommend this book to everyone who is interested in a story about characters overcoming their pasts, thinking about the future and lots of romance. Fans of Simone Elkeles will definitely love this. I can’t wait to read more from Katie McGarry. There is a fantastic playlist for Pushing The Limits; I particularly liked and cannot stop listening to Down by Jay Sean because it personifies Echo and Noah’s rollercoaster relationship. My hands are itching to pick up Dare You To (Beth’s story).

Rating: 5/5
Author: Katie McGarry