Dare You To (Pushing the Limits #2)
by Katie McGarry
Publisher – MiraInk
Released – 7th June 2013
Buy – Amazon | The Book DepoIf anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk’s home life, they’d send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom’s freedom and her own happiness. That’s how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn’t want her and going to a school that doesn’t understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn’t get her, but does….
Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can’t tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn’t be less interested in him.
But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won’t let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all….
I was completely speechless about this book… aside from the fact that this is my YA Contemporary of 2013, I look back on Pushing the Limits, my review here, I think I may have been generous with my rating because Katie’s sequel is just pure brilliance. There was something that just gripped me from the very start…
Katie McGarry has a way with words through character persona’s. Back in Pushing the Limits, You saw a very raw and distinctive personality of Beth, she kept to herself and barely liked Echo for coming into her circle of friends. However in DYT you see only a snippet of that persona when she has been through so much. In Beth’s world, two key words surround her life, ‘can’ and ‘can’t’, she can love but she can’t trust without getting hurt. To say the least, Beth has been through unimaginable hell since she faced a barrel of a gun. Beth has always looked after someone, but now its someone else’s turn to do the same for her.
Katie combined both side of Beth’s character from both PLT and DYT, and through her past and present. We see a definitive difference between physical appearances of Beth’s character. From the start to the end of the book; The girl with the nose stud and black hair to the girl in a dress and ribbons. I warmed to her character instantly from the start, she had charisma, strength, courage but she also had her weakness against her judgement and gut decisions. She’s basically self-conscience of much more than her appearance but her purpose in life.
For me I was completely enthralled by Ryan Stone’s characters. I’m now going to steal a line from Twilight “I’m unconditionally and irrevocably in love with Ryan Stone” Unlike Noah in PLT I fell more in love with Ryan than I ever have before. Typically enough I go for the Jock persona, popularity and handsomeness of the top guy in class. But like all Katie’s character building, their appearance is just a cover, you should look deeper into their interior, their soul. Underneath the surface, Ryan is just your average guy with various aspirations until he saw Beth. A strip of his nature is taken away as their relationship deepens. What really captured me was Ryan’s character to commit to his creative writing. Katie entwined his writing with his personal relationships which was just beautiful in the end. (Corny I know!) Ryan’s character was just inspirational to watch or read throughout Dare You To.
Once again, Katie McGarry has delivered one of my all-time favourite, Contemporaries of this year and possibly forever… I can’t wait to divulge her next book about Isaiah…Crash Into You.
Rating – 5
Thank you to MiraInk for sending me a copy for an honest review
*And Thank you to Sam over at Realm of Fiction for doing a Read-Along with me, I loved it!*
Wow, I love your new heading! You are the best designer ever! Which reminds me, I need to send you an email… 😛
I have Dare to You on my Kindle and I need to get round to it soon. Pushing The Limits wasn't the best for me but I'm still interested at how Katie McGarry writes the sequel in Beth's perspective. Great review! 🙂
Oh. My. Goodness. I think you know how much I loved this book!!! Did you cry?!?! I know I did 🙁 We may have to fight over Ryan though…
I like Beth too – the picture with her in dress and ribbons really helps me connect with her softer, more delicate feminine side. Loved your review, Emma! 🙂
YAAAAAAAAAAAAY EMMA!!!! This one is at the top of my list of favorite reads for this year as well, I just adore Katie McGarry's books. I originally thought Ryan wouldn't really do it for me, but I vastly underestimated both him and Katie's ability to write him, and that's a mistake I won't make again. I loved the focus on his writing too, it was such a beautiful part of the story. So ready for Isaiah now! Fantastic review:)
Yes I'm so happy to see that you loved this one! I enjoyed it too and Ryan was such a great character! 🙂 I agree how Katie manages to change her characters, it's amazing. Great review 🙂
Yes! I loved loved loved Beth! She was so easy for me to relate to, no matter how bad her mom was, I loved that Beth wanted to help her at all cost, even though her mom didn't deserve anything. And Ryan! Oh My God! He was perfect for Beth. Their relation is my favorite so far. I can't wait to read more by the author. Beautiful review, Emma 🙂
YESYESYESYESYES!!!!!!!!! Katie seriously does have a way with capturing the reader's hearts with her characters<3 Absolutely cannot wait for crash into youuuu<3 Lovely review, Emma!
I enjoyed these too, Dare You Too possibly even more than Pushing the Limits, but I was well aware of the flaws too. Still, once I managed to turn off my brain in regards to McGarry's characterization and allowed myself to just feel, this was an excellent read.
Lovely review, Emma!
Lovely review, Emma! I'm really glad you enjoyed this one, and you know I did too. Although I was probably more emotionally moved by Pushing the Limits, I found this one easier to read and I thought it was better written. I can't wait for Isaiah's story either! 🙂
I loved this one too, Emma!! I fell for Ryan just as hard as you. Not the typical bad boy we see so often but the true gentleman through and through! He didn't have a perfect home life but I admired the fact that he stood up for what he believed in, and he stood by Beth as well. I didn't care for Beth in PTL, but we get to know her here and I can see why she was so abrasive. I'm glad she got out of her toxic environment. I can't wait for Isaiah's story! Wonderful review! 🙂
I'm so glad that you enjoyed this book Emma, I didn't request this book, but after seeing so many great reviews I'm regretting not requesting a copy! Also I was a bit gutted that we didn't see anything develop between Beth and Isaiah, but I think a lot of fan are pleased with Ryan! Fab review Emma! 🙂
What a lovely review, Emma! I loved this book too although it took me sometime with Beth. But I eventually warmed with her character too and I love the change you mentioned in her especially if you look at her in the start and to what she has become in the end. I'm so glad you enjoyed this too. 🙂
Emma, I'm so glad you enjoyed this one! I like PTL a little more, I think, but Ryan was SO SWEET. I couldn't stop swooning over him and his romance with Beth was just so right. Fantastic review, dear! 🙂