Pushing the Limits: An Award-Winning Novel (Pushing the Limits, #1)

by Katie McGarry

They say be a good girl, get good grades, be popular. They know nothing about me.

I can't remember the night that changed my life. The night I went from popular to loner freak. And my family are determined to keep it that way. They said therapy was supposed to help. They didn't expect Noah. Noah is the dangerous boy my parents warned me about. But the only one who'll listen. The only one who'll help me find the truth.

I know every kiss, every promise, every touch is forbidden. But what if finding your destiny means breaking all the rules? A brave and powerful novel about loss, change and growing up, but most of all love.

The Pushing the Limits Series

1. Pushing the Limits

2. Dare You To

3. Crash Into You

4. Take Me On

5. Breaking the Rules

• ISBN10: 0373210868
• ISBN13: 9780373210862
• Publish Date: 30 April 2013 (first published 1 January 2012)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: CA
• Imprint: Harlequin Teen
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 416
• Language: English

Reviews

[Angie]

Pushing the Limits is one of those books that was receiving a lot of hype, and that made me a little reluctant to read it. However, I love "issue" books and I've really been enjoying the more mature YA books coming out, so I gave it a try. I'm really glad that I did! It's an extremely heavy read, but it pulled me in and I couldn't put it down.

Echo is an amazingly multi-dimensional character. Even though I can't relate to her struggles, I did find myself completely invested in her story. She's utterly broken, but she is trying to put herself back together and return to "normal." She's gone through something outrageously horrific, but can't remember a moment of it. The events of that day are slowly revealed as Echo meets with a therapist, but if only she can get her hands on her file to speed up the process.

Noah is fiercely loyal, but to a fault. Yes, it's possible to love someone too much, if it blinds you to everything else around one. He just wants his little brothers back after the foster care system separated them. He's seeing the same therapist as Echo, and wants to see his file to find out more about his brothers' foster parents. Of course, this forces them to work together, and their relationship develops into something so much more.

Even though their stories are tough, I really enjoyed getting to know Echo and Noah. Their pasts are heartbreaking, and I really wanted them to find some peace and happiness. Thankfully, they find each other. Their relationship isn't easy, since they both have their own personal issues to work through, and high school is an unforgiving place. I was expecting more romance though. The focus is mainly on their emotional baggage with their families, but that's okay. I just would have liked more steaminess!

This was a very emotional and enjoyable read. I'm definitely glad that I have it a chance, and didn't like the hype scare me off. It was a little on the long side and some scenes seemed to drag the pacing down a bit, but it still kept me engaged from page one.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

[Kelly]

Touching and realistic. Beautifully written.

[boghunden]

Denne bog har jeg set frem til utrolig længe. Forventningerne var tårnhøje. Jeg var ikke helt sikker på, hvad det her var for en bog og om det var noget for mig eller om jeg ville føle mig for gammel. Jeg må sige, jeg er overrasket. Det er fedt, når man får fat i noget ungdomslitteratur der er skrevet til de lidt ældre. Der kan godt være langt imellem, synes jeg. Sådan var det midlertidig ikke i denne bog.
“One bad boy… One lost girl…,” står der på coveret. Jeg er uenig. Noah er bad boy på overfladen, men graver vi lidt dybere, så indeholder han så meget mere end det. Han er en karakter der er virkelig nem at holde af og jeg kunne ikke undgå at forelske mig lidt i ham. Han var bare helt igennem fantastisk. Og Echo, hun er ikke lost. Jo jo, hun har lidt problemer af forskellige art at deale med, men synes ikke hun fremstår decideret “lost” som coveret beskriver. Ligesom Noah er der også flere lag hos hende og jeg fik sådan lyst til at give hende et kram og fortælle hende, at alt nok skal blive okay. Det er mere eller mindre gædende for hele persongalleriet, at det er bredt, farverigt og let at holde af.
Sproget var dejlig let og krydret med en herlig humor, der fik en til at sidde og smågrine, så folk i toget sikkert kiggede mærkeligt på en. Det var dog ikke noget, jeg opdagede, fordi jeg var så fanget af bogen. Den var helt igennem fantastisk. Da jeg opdagede, at kapitlerne fortælles på skift af Noah og Echo, fik jeg lidt en øv følelse, fordi det så sjældent fungerer. Det var dog ikke tilfældet her. Det blev hurtigt ligegyldigt, hvem fortælleren var, om det var Noah eller Echo.
Alt i alt er det her altså en ungdomsroman for den lidt ældre generation, som indeholder alt hvad hjertet kan begære. Den er i hvert fald røget direkte ind på min favoritliste på goodreads.

[zarahoffman]

“So wrong for each other…and yet so right.” I will admit, when I first saw the cover and the tagline I was a little skeptical. A bad boy and a good girl? I though I’d read this story before. But boy was I wrong! Noah and Echo’s stories are deep, tear-jerking tales where the heart of the matter is the importance of family and trust.
Story
Echo Emerson was the beautiful, smart, popular redhead who had the hottest boyfriend in school and then one night changed everything– a night she doesn't even remember. Now she's an outcast with misunderstanding parents. The best adult character in Echo's life is her clinical social worker, Mrs. Collins (more on her later).
Noah Hutchins on the other hand is the bad boy who is notorious for using girls, drugs, and not giving a f**k about what anyone else thinks. But he also has a past: stuck in the foster care system and separated from his two younger brothers, all Noah wants is to reunite his family– but at what cost?
Now you may be thinking, what's all this got to do with the steamy cover art? Well, Echo and Noah are thrown together in a tutoring session orchestrated by (drumroll please) Mrs. Collins who is both Echo and Noah's clinical social worker. I might as well point out now that she's a miracle worker in this novel, although both protagonists tend to paint her as just another ignorant adult (a habit in YA Fiction, but oh well; if it works don't fix it). And because of this connection, Echo and Noah team up to help each other discover what's in their case files so Echo can recall that fateful night and Noah can be one step closer to being with his brothers.
Style
Katie McGarry possesses the rare talent of narrating the story through the first person perspective of both her main characters; not many people can do this while simultaneously maintaining the distinct voices and nuances unique to each character, but McGarry does this effortlessly as if it's child's play. Her prose and dialogue are realistic and you can definitely tell the two character's thoughts apart by diction and sentence structure (the constant cursing also gives a hint that it's Noah).
Other Notes
WARNING: Readers, in my opinion, should be 12+ and I would not read this with a parent looming over your shoulder–some parts of the story will make you blush and you do NOT want your parents there
when that happens. Also, keep tissues on hand: I cried more often than not from pages 241-280. And then some afterwards.
I recommend getting the hard-cover now instead of waiting for a paperback because of the cool extras, which may or may not be appearing in the cheaper, paperback version. In the back there are inspirational playlists and last, but by no means the least, there is a Q&A with Katie McGarry about the story.
I highly praised this story, but none of it is over-exaggerated, I promise you. Happy Reading!

[Jo]

Originally posted on Once Upon a Bookcase.

After reading a number of rave reviews for pushing the limits, I decided it was about time I got dug in too. Although it sounded great, I was originally put off by the sound of all the problems, I just wasn't looking forward to a depressing read. But Pushing the Limits wowed me beyond belief, and no review I write is ever going to be able to do this book justice.

Pushing the Limits follows the lives of both Echo and Noah. Two and a half years ago, something happened to Echo - only she can't remember what. All she knows is she woke up in hospital after almost dying, with scars running up and down her arms, and that she's no longer allowed to see her mother. She wants to know what happened, but she simply can't remember and no-one will tell her. Noah has been in foster care since his parents died, but after punching his foster father when he caught him abusing his own son, Noah has been labelled dangerous and volatile, and has been kept away from his younger brothers, except for supervised visits that come few and far between. Terrified that his brothers will be subject to the abuse he's seen while in the system, he needs to make sure his brothers are safe, but he's not allowed to know anything about their foster parents or where they live.

The details of what happened to Echo are in her file. The information about Noah's brothers is in his file. Both see the same therapist, and together they plan to steal their files. Despite how hard they try, they can't deny their ever growing feelings for each other

Pushing the Limits is not a story about the two teens getting together. No-one's story ends at the beginning - and not everyone has a typical happy ever after. These characters are troubled and damaged, and this is about so much more than boy meets girl; it is about their love, their relationship, their ability to help each other like no-one else can, but also their own stories. Yes, they both need each other, but they also need themselves, and this story follows their own individual journeys away from each other as well as together, and the horrific pasts they each have to deal with, the truths they have to uncover, and the realisations they have to face.

The chemistry between Echo and Noah is unbelievable, but more than that, they are exactly what the other needs. Noah listens to Echo's fears, supports her when she cries, and encourages her when she's doubting herself. Echo is Noah's voice of reason, and talks him out of crazy decisions and taking things too far. They are the only ones who really understand what the other is going through, and so how best to help them. Both are better together than they are apart, but on top of all their other problems, they worry about each other. Noah has a reputation as a stoner loser who's into one night stands - can he seriously be interested in Echo? Echo is beautiful and kind-hearted - when is she going to realise she's too good for Noah, and how is he going to cope once she's gone?

The issues they go through individually were just so hard to read sometimes, because you just felt so bad for them. I couldn't count the number of times I wanted to give each of them a hug. I absolutely adored Mrs. Collins, their therapist, who I want to give a hug just for being so awesome! No matter what our two protagonists think, it's clear from the beginning how much Mrs. Collins cares and that she knows her stuff! But, like them, their problems and the discovery of the truth is something you should experience for yourself, so I'm not going to say any more about them - other than that Katie McGarry should be applauded for just how authentic Pushing the Limits feels, how every emotion feels true, how unflinchingly honest she has been with the stories of these incredible characters.

I have to say, I had a rather personal reaction to this story, and could relate. Not to their problems, the situations or their choices, but sometimes, to the feelings behind those choices. Happy ever after's don't happen. Sometimes, even when you get what you want, things don't always go as planned, and there were times in Pushing the Limits that show us that with the choices you have, the decisions you make, they're not always easy or the happiest of options, but sometimes, what's needed. That's what I related to, having to think with your head and do what was right - but it also made me see the choices of other people in a different light. Sometimes we have to deal with crap, but for the right reasons. It's strange and wonderful; Pushing the Limits made me feel more at peace with things happening in my own life than I was before, and I think that's a rare gift McGarry has.

I am so excited to read Dare You To, a companion novel to Pushing the Limits that comes out sometime next year following Beth, one of the fascinating secondary characters in this book. I'm looking forward to anything McGarry rights in the future! Pushing the Limits is sn incredibly moving, powerful and important debut novel. McGarry is definitely one to watch.

[jeannamichel]

Echo is scarred, both physically and emotionally, for the rest of her life from an incident that she doesn’t even remember. She is forced to go to a therapist every week, in hopes that she can find enough strength to remember what happened to her, the incident that her mind represses. Noah is in a foster home but for all they take care of him, he is basically living with his friends. He is separated from his brothers ever since the accident that had stolen their parents from them. Echo and Noah share a common goal, teaming up they might reach success: getting a peek at their files in the therapist’s office. However, they are more alike than both can imagine and their relationship blossoms through their broken souls. Pushing the Limits is a fast read, but filled with strong emotions that takes its reader on a wild ride they will never forget.

This novel was so fantastic; there are no words to describe how awesome it was. The cover is what bothered me. Mostly because the moment shared on the book cover is very private and I felt that it shouldn’t have been on the cover like that. It was too private. I felt like I should look away. (But, I suppose, I’m being overdramatic because I do not really read too many romances.)

Katie McGarry wrote this magnificent, heart-wrenching story that made me want to know more. It reminded me a lot of Simone Elkles’ Perfect Chemistry, the book that made me want to write reviews in the first place. I believe I had the same reaction to this book that I had for that one. I feel like I need to share something about this book with you.

The characters were fabulous. Each had a story beyond the plot and kept the story moving. As the reader, you fell for each one in turn, trying to get a glimpse of what they were all about. Noah had this raw energy that kept his dialogue flowing with Echo’s. They, both, had this chemistry that is rarely in any books nowadays. They didn’t decide one day that they fell in love, which are most modern romances. There was a gradual relationship that led to the event of falling in love. I liked it and most of all, there was a message in the book that I thought all young adults could take. (A bit of a spoiler:) McGarry had Echo’s previous boyfriend obsessed with sex and with the rumor about Noah, how he treats his one-night stands, sex seemed inevitable in the book. I was glad how McGarry handled the whole prospect. The main characters did not need to have sex to show how they felt to one another. I loved that message and how McGarry played it out in the scene. It made me respect the relationship much more.

This book was more than the relationship. It was the backstory and the characters’ narrative of how they had coped. It was not so much relatable as it was empathetic, imagining these scenarios and putting the reader in the characters’ shoes.

There is going to be companion novels, or so I’ve heard and I can’t wait to hear about some of the different characters’ stories. I loved Pushing the Limits and its rare realness. However, the book wasn’t the original contemporary I was looking for, it became this emotional raw novel that still has me trying to catch my breath, days after finishing it. Pushing the Limits does just that, pushes you to the limits and hangs you over the edge, waiting for more.

[e_rodz_leb]

Pushing the Limits is an astounding debut for author Katie McGarry. I have to warn you though, that this book is indented for older teens as there is some strong language and sexual and drug references.

Echo and Noah are one- of- a- kind characters. They have gone through so much; people that were supposed to take care of them betrayed them, and left them damaged. Each one of them devised their own coping mechanisms, even if it was the wrong approach. Echo and Noah were, in essence, two parts of a whole.

Echo is a brilliant student and artist, that tries to seek acceptance by never saying ‘no’. She tries to be the best daughter, the best student, the best friend, but in turn forgets what makes her really happy. Noah is lost, and has technically given up on the world and his only goal is to get his family back together. This unlikely pair meets and almost instantly connects with each other. What ensues is one of the most beautiful and real love stories I’ve had the privilege of reading.

What makes this story amazing are the characters. Besides Echo and Noah, we meet Isaiah, Noah’s friend and foster brother. Beth is not a likable character, but we have to admire her spunk and most of all her loyalty to her friends. Lila is a really loyal friend, Grace is not. Luke is a creep. I adored Ms. Collins; it was about time that someone was really willing to help Noah and Echo. The selfishness of Echo’s mom, the impotence and dejection of her dad; it all makes an amazing story.

The story line reminded me of Perfect Chemistry, down to the alternating point of views, and also the fact that there is a ‘bad boy’ and ‘good girl’ falling for each other. However, the story is unique in its own way, and as I mentioned before, the characterization is incredible. The writing is amazing. Ms. McGarry has the gift of now not creating amazing characters, but infusing them with reality. In her words, we can feel the pain, the angst, the hope, and most of all, the love. I cannot not say enough good things about Pushing the Limits, but I encourage you to read it as soon as it comes out (I’m serious, pre-order it right now!).

Ms. McGarry’s next book, Dare You To, is Beth’s story and it will be published next year. I’m not too crazy about Beth, but I will give it a chance for two reasons: one – I will read anything Ms. McGarry writes, and second – I hope that Noah and Echo make an appearance in Beth’s story.

About the cover: This is very appropriate cover. We see Echo (red curly hair) and Noah (talk, dark and handsome), almost kissing. We can see the setting is a school hallway and I love the shadows and that the light seems to only illuminate Echo. The title is actually silver and shiny.

[lizarodz]

Pushing the Limits is an astounding debut for author Katie McGarry. I have to warn you though, that this book is indented for older teens as there is some strong language and sexual and drug references.

Echo and Noah are one- of- a- kind characters. They have gone through so much; people that were supposed to take care of them betrayed them, and left them damaged. Each one of them devised their own coping mechanisms, even if it was the wrong approach. Echo and Noah were, in essence, two parts of a whole.

Echo is a brilliant student and artist, that tries to seek acceptance by never saying ‘no’. She tries to be the best daughter, the best student, the best friend, but in turn forgets what makes her really happy. Noah is lost, and has technically given up on the world and his only goal is to get his family back together. This unlikely pair meets and almost instantly connects with each other. What ensues is one of the most beautiful and real love stories I’ve had the privilege of reading.

What makes this story amazing are the characters. Besides Echo and Noah, we meet Isaiah, Noah’s friend and foster brother. Beth is not a likable character, but we have to admire her spunk and most of all her loyalty to her friends. Lila is a really loyal friend, Grace is not. Luke is a creep. I adored Ms. Collins; it was about time that someone was really willing to help Noah and Echo. The selfishness of Echo’s mom, the impotence and dejection of her dad; it all makes an amazing story.

The story line reminded me of Perfect Chemistry, down to the alternating point of views, and also the fact that there is a ‘bad boy’ and ‘good girl’ falling for each other. However, the story is unique in its own way, and as I mentioned before, the characterization is incredible. The writing is amazing. Ms. McGarry has the gift of now not creating amazing characters, but infusing them with reality. In her words, we can feel the pain, the angst, the hope, and most of all, the love. I cannot not say enough good things about Pushing the Limits, but I encourage you to read it as soon as it comes out (I’m serious, pre-order it right now!).

Ms. McGarry’s next book, Dare You To, is Beth’s story and it will be published next year. I’m not too crazy about Beth, but I will give it a chance for two reasons: one – I will read anything Ms. McGarry writes, and second – I hope that Noah and Echo make an appearance in Beth’s story.

About the cover: This is very appropriate cover. We see Echo (red curly hair) and Noah (talk, dark and handsome), almost kissing. We can see the setting is a school hallway and I love the shadows and that the light seems to only illuminate Echo. The title is actually silver and shiny.

[Amber]

Like a lot of fellow bloggers, as soon as I saw the cover and summary of this one I immediately added it to my wishlist because it sounded like a fantastic read. My contemporary binge also pushed my decision.

Pushing the Limits was a great read, and while I was expecting a light contemporary (I have no idea why, considering the summary mentions the scars), in actuality it covered much deeper issues than I had originally thought.

I really loved Echo and Noah's relationship, as it wasn't just there for the sake of it. The two of them helped each other grow and deal, and it felt like a meaningful romance plot. Noah definitely had more of an impression on Echo's character growth than she had on his, so the sides weren't particularly equal. That said, Echo played an important role in Noah's life as well.

Noah was such a lovely guy. Unlike Alex Fuentes from Perfect Chemistry, who I keep seeing Noah get compared to, he wasn't overly arrogant or pig headed. Echo was also wonderful, and I loved learning about her family and home life, as well as delving deeper into her past. The whole mystery of what happened to her and how she got her scars was intriguing. I thought it was pretty obvious what had happened to her, but I wasn't sure exactly how it had happened and so I was kept intrigued right up until the end.

The tiny references to Greek mythology - Echo and Aires' names - was wonderful. I'm a mythology buff and so this was something I really enjoyed.

Katie McGarry has such a great writing style and I really enjoyed the alternating points of view which she made flow so well. She tackled such important issues incredibly well, and I applaud her for it. I'll definitely be checking out more of her work in the future if she comes out with anything else. If her future books can make me feel for the characters like I felt for all of these - including the secondary ones - then I am sure to love them.

Honestly, the only issue I had with this book was the way Noah kept calling Echo 'mine' and 'baby'. I admit, I cringed every time he said it. But that's just personal preference, right?

[Ashley]

As posted on booknook - YA and Fantasy reviews

There are not enough words in the universe to describe how much I love this book!

I’ll admit I was skeptical at first. Contemporary books are normally not my thing. But Pushing the Limits got such rave reviews and I thought the plot sounded intriguing, so I figured I’d give it a whirl. I fell completely in love. I felt like I was Echo.. and Noah. Pushing the Limits yanked my heart out as I suffered through Echo and Noah’s pains, and then put it back together as they healed. I was living every moment with them, my emotions rising and falling with theirs.

I laughed, I cried, I giggled insanely.. god, I’m ready to read it all over again!

Okay, Ashley, focus.

Pushing the Limits is riddled with raw emotion. It deals with some really intense issues that you wouldn’t usually expect in a romance novel, but that’s what makes it feel so genuine and so powerful.

Throughout the entire book, it was so much fun watching Noah and Echo’s chemistry evolve. It’s the furthest you could get from insta-love. It starts out as sort of a “hate” relationship. Echo has this preconception of Noah as a troubled, bad boy, girl-using druggie. And Noah has a preconception of Echo being the pathetic, loner, possibly suicidal outcast. When their relationship evolves, you see both of these characters wondering why they’re falling for the other person. They don’t understand it; it’s weird; it doesn’t make sense. But somehow these two people are drawn together and attracted to each other because they manage to find common grounds in the darkest parts of their lives.

Even if you don’t have a dark and terrible past like Noah and Echo do, this book makes you sympathize; it makes you understand. Every word on every page is so genuine and filled with raw emotion that you feel like you’re living the story. Pushing the Limits deals with topics like abuse, foster care, psychological disorders, and divorce. But don’t worry, it’s not all heavy, intense subjects.

Echo and Noah both have ‘lesser’ problems as well — ones that most teenagers face and thus, might be easier to relate to for some people. They both just want to have normal lives. Echo struggles between two guys: the ex boyfriend who constantly tries to pressure her into having sex, and the bad boy who she thinks is probably no good for her. She worries about not having a date to the social dance, about never finding a guy who will love her, getting the courage to ask her parents for birth control, and so on. These are problems that most teenage girls think about at one time or another.

My one grip? So much sexual tension and no climax! Katie, why must you taunt me so???

This is definitely one of the best books — if not the best — I have read this year! I’ve already preordered my own copy of this book and I’m recommending Pushing the Limits to every single person I know!