Review – Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Title – Pushing the Limits (Pushing the Limits #1)
Author – Katie McGarry
Publisher – Harlequin Teen
Genre – Contemporary
Pages – 384
Rating – 4 

I’ve seen this book across blogs and book sites and then I saw it as an ARC on NetGalley. I couldn’t resist. I couldn’t be more right with book! WOOOOOOOOOOW! I’m loved this heart-breaking, soul searching novel for normalcy. This left me in a flood of tears throughout the whole book. 

Seventeen year-old Echo Everson was a popular teenager, until two years ago when everything took a turn for the worst… Her babysitter invaded her family, her parents divorced, and her brother Aires died in the Marines. One a night, two years ago she woke in the hospital screaming from the untold cuts and scars and having no memory of recollection of the events of that night. Since then she has been to a number of physicist to help remember but that only leads to episodes, being swallowed into a black hole… Now her newest social therapist at her local school Mrs. Collin’s. But her threpist sessions are soon disturbed by Noah Hutchins; bad-boy stoner for a reputation for one night stands.

Noah Hutchins has some problems of his own. One night, two and half years ago, a fire occurred at his home,   his brothers; Jacob and Tyler survived but his parents didn’t… He was then involved with social workers and soon into the foster care system, but his emotions got the better of him and he punched his step-father for inappropriate behaviour to another child. The repercussions of sent off the Foster care and permanently spilt from his brothers, which tore him up.  Being appointed by therapist; with Mrs. Collins was wasn’t he wanted, with only limited visitations, he wants to make a life for his brothers by applying for custody of legal custody of his brothers. What he didn’t expect to find was a Echo Emerson.

Echo and Noah, is a torn and heart-breaking love that will leave in floods. Both being from different backgrounds, yet troubling pasts, they aren’t so different. All they want is normality. In order to find normality. Mrs Collins pairs them for tutoring; Echo to raise money to fix Aires car, to repair his memory, and Noah to get the best grades he can to achieve custody of his brothers. But their connections deepens with each passing day. Noah becomes fascinated with her “siren smile” and Echo becomes compelled by his nature and the normalcy that surrounds them both. What makes this a beautiful relationship is the delicacy he has with her scars, he makes her become the person she was! She exposes her scars and becomes this new person, not a freak! When their worlds collide there is no turning back!

“If you’re scared, tell me. If you need to cry and scream, then do it. And you sure as hell don’t walk away from us because you think it would be better for me. Here’s the reality, Echo: I want to be by your side. If you want to go to the mall stark naked so you can show the world your scars, then let me hold your hand. If you want to see your mom, then tell me that too. I may not always understand, but damn, baby, I’ll try.”


What I found INFURIATING was her father, Owen and Ashley. They made me so ANGRY by their attitudes and the secrecy of the that one night. Now Ashley, wow, she is even worse, her baby woes and her insolence of her step-daughters scars irritate her because Echo is not normal. Echo has always said that she loved her as a baby-sitter yet she despises her as a step-mother because she took away her real mother and stole the love of her father from her into her unborn child. You can tell how irritated I am! Believe me after read this book, you want to punch her father or shake him, to return to reality.

Katie McGarry has a fresh and enchanting way of writing such a beautiful and delicate debut novel. How can Katie write such an emotional and stunning novel. I applaud Katie McGarry for her genius and creative writing of this book. This is by a far my favourite contemporary YA novel of this year. I hope there will be sequel.

I want to tell you everything, but its too many spoilers for you all. All I can say…. It will leave you feeling fresh and free yet your tears will tell you a different story.