Review of Katie McGarry's 'Pushing the Limits'

Goodreads Description: 

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.ts 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.

About Author:

KATIE MCGARRY was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, and reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan.

Katie would love to hear from her readers. Contact her via her website, katielmcgarry.com, follow her on Twitter @KatieMcGarry, or become a fan on Facebook and Goodreads.

My Review:

I know I'm a little late to the 'Pushing the Limits' party. It was published last year, but I recently read it and simply had to review it. This book is everything a Young Adult contemporary novel should be. It hooked me in from the very beginning and refused to let me go until I reached the hopeful, beautiful ending. 

It is such an amazing book. It's funny, heart breaking, and witty all at the same time. The characters are all so rich, real, and likeable (even the ones you shouldn't like). 

It's well written and perfectly paced and organized. I have never read a female take on a male POV more realistic than this. 

I cannot rave enough about this book. For me it was perfection.

I cannot complete this review without raving about Noah, the male lead. He's strong, protective, and real. He's smart, witty, and charming. And best of all he is truly in love with Echo, the female lead. He is most definitely my newest fictional crush. 

Please never stop writing Ms. McGarry. Your stories and words make me happy to be a bibliophile. 

 

My Rating:

Review of Suzanne Young's 'The Program'

Goodreads Description:

In Sloane’s world, true feelings are forbidden, teen suicide is an epidemic, and the only solution is The Program.

Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.

Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.

About Author:

Suzanne Young currently lives in Tempe, Arizona where she teaches high school English and obsesses about books. She's the author of A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL, A WANT SO WICKED, and THE PROGRAM. Learn more about Suzanne atwww.suzanne-young.blogspot.com

My Review:

I was a little apprehensive going into this book mainly because a lot of the reviews I'd read on goodreads were not exactly kind. I was very pleasantly surprised though. I really like the concept that over prescribed antidepressants changed the chemical makeup of a generation making them prone to suicide. To me that makes perfect sense. It's also a terrifying idea in that it could happen. I'm not saying it's likely to happen, but I feel it is definitely within the realm of possibility. 

I thought the pacing of this book was well done. It gave me a chance to fully understand all the characters, especially Sloane. I was a little worried going in that the book starts with a pre-existing relationship because I've always enjoyed watching characters fall in love. This didn't really end up being a problem for me though because I got to watch two characters that were madly in love fall in love all over again.

The dystopia in this book was not the most realistic, but Ms. Young's writing made it feel real and frightening.  

This book was a solid start to a promising series and I cannot wait to see where the next books will take us on Sloane's journey.

My Rating:

Waiting on Wednesday #1

'Waiting on Wednesday' is a weekly post where I share the book I'm most excited about releasing the following week. 

My choice this week is In the After by demitria Lunetta

Goodreads Description:

They hear the most silent of footsteps.

They are faster than anything you've ever seen.

And They won't stop chasing you...until you are dead.

Amy is watching TV when it happens, when the world is attacked by Them. These vile creatures are rapidly devouring mankind. Most of the population is overtaken, but Amy manages to escape—and even rescue “Baby,” a toddler left behind in the chaos. Marooned in Amy’s house, the girls do everything they can to survive—and avoid Them at all costs.

After years of hiding, they are miraculously rescued and taken to New Hope, a colony of survivors living in a former government research compound. While at first the colony seems like a dream with plenty of food, safety, and shelter, New Hope slowly reveals that it is far from ideal. And Amy soon realizes that unless things change, she’ll lose Baby—and much more.

Rebellious, courageous, and tender, this unforgettable duo will have you on the edge of your seat as you tear through the pulse-pounding narrow escapes and horrifying twists of fate in this thrilling debut from author Demitria Lunetta.

Heather Marie: Kindle Giveaway!

Heather Marie: Kindle Giveaway!: The time has come, my friends!  With your help, I've reached 2,000 followers on Twitter. Woo hoo!  As promised, I'm giving aw...

Icons by Margaret Stohl Review + Giveaway

Goodreads Description:

Your heart beats only with their permission.

Everything changed on The Day. The day the windows shattered. The day the power stopped. The day Dol's family dropped dead. The day Earth lost a war it didn't know it was fighting.

Since then, Dol has lived a simple life in the countryside -- safe from the shadow of the Icon and its terrifying power. Hiding from the one truth she can't avoid.

She's different. She survived. Why?

When Dol and her best friend, Ro, are captured and taken to the Embassy, off the coast of the sprawling metropolis once known as the City of Angels, they find only more questions. While Ro and fellow hostage Tima rage against their captors, Dol finds herself drawn to Lucas, the Ambassador's privileged son. But the four teens are more alike than they might think, and the timing of their meeting isn't a coincidence. It's a conspiracy.

Within the Icon's reach, Dol, Ro, Tima, and Lucas discover that their uncontrollable emotions -- which they've always thought to be their greatest weaknesses -- may actually be their greatest strengths.

Bestselling author Margaret Stohl delivers the first book in a heart-pounding series set in a haunting new world where four teens must piece together the mysteries of their pasts -- in order to save the future.

About Author:

Margaret Stohl is the #1 New York Times, PW, USA Today, LA Times and Internationally bestselling co-author of the BEAUTIFUL CREATURES NOVELS (Fall 2009-2012) and author of THE ICONS SERIES (Spring, 2013.) She lives in Santa Monica with her family. 

My Review:

I found the idea of combining dystopian with aliens intriguing. It seems like an obvious combination, but until recently hasn't had too much of a presence in the YA world as far as I have seen. I liked that in this world the aliens were not necessarily the most frightening aspect, but rather the humans that worked as ambassadors to the aliens. I also loved the idea of human emotions as the one thing that could not only fight, but possibly defeat the aliens that enslaved the Earth. 

I really liked Dol as a character. She was strong, but realistic as well. She had a unique voice throughout the book. As far as the other three teens, I wish I could have had a better understanding of them. I also felt that the only relationship I really found myself rooting for was that of Dol and Ro. 

I think this series has great potential and I genuinely hope to see more insight into our four main characters and their tangled relationships with one another. 

I feel like this first book really set the stage as far as the world inside this series, and I'm hoping the books to come will be more character driven and reveal more about our four heroes and their relationships with each other and the supporting characters in the book. 

All in all I found this to be a solid start to a promising series. 

My Rating:

 

Giveaway:

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Welcome

My name is Caroline and I am an avid reader of a number of genres including YA, NA, and adult contemporary, fantasy, dystopian, and romance. I am also a writer. I am almost done with my first draft of an adult urban fantasy and am just starting a YA contemporary novel. I love reading, writing, and books in general. I love reviewing books, discussing both books and writing issues. I plan to do a lot of that here. I also have two cats that are the loves of my life. I welcome you to my blog and hope you enjoy my musings (and occasional snark).

Follow my blog with Bloglovin