Review: Pushing The Limits By Katie McGarry
♥♥♥ 4 HEARTBREAKING STARS ♥♥♥
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'The worst type of crying wasn't the kind everyone could see--the wailing on street corners, the tearing at clothes. No, the worst kind happened when your soul wept and no matter what you did, there was no way to comfort it. A section withered and became a scar on the part of your soul that survived. For people like me and Echo, our souls contained more scar tissue than life.'
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This story was really good. I've had this on my TBR for a long time. It did take me a while to get into, but once I did, I couldn't put it down. Noah and Echo were both broken, lost, and alone. They were trying to have a "normal" life. But they were both really scarred by their past and it seemed that "normal" would never happen for them. It really hurt me a lot to see everything Echo and Noah has been through.
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'Noah listened to me. He made me laugh and he made me feel special. He was strong and warm and caring and... everything. I loved him. I loved him more than I'd ever loved another person in my life.'
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Echo use to be a 'popular' girl and was dating the 'popular' guy at school. Then she lost her brother in Afghanistan, and her father is now having a baby with her ex-babysitter. But after a terrible incident, involving her manic mother occured, she was never the same. She lost her memory of that night. All she was left with was the scars on both her arms. She really wants to know what happened and it seems that no one will tell her. But Mrs. Collins, her school councellor/therapist wants to help her remember at her own pace, because she risks being mentally unstable if she remembers too fast. Echo doesn't care, she wants to know, and she wants to see the mother that hurt her again. When she meets Noah, she starts to feel again. And finds that maybe she can trust him and maybe even love him. Because he sees her inside and not only whats on the outside.
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'This girl owned my soul and stole my heart. She'd opened herself to me giving me love and never asked for anything in return. I deepened our kiss, the wordsI love you stuck in my mind.'
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Noah use to be the all american boy. He played sports, did great in school, and didn't use drugs. But after his parents died in a house fire, he was separated from his two younger brothers and were put in foster care. He was hit and mistreated in many of the homes. Noah lost faith in the system and lashed out. He soon became known for being a drug using bad boy. Mrs. Collins comes into his life and gives him hope. He is reunited with his brothers but they are both going to get adopted by the family that fostered them. He doesn't want to lose them. He wants 'normal' again with what is left of his family. He will do whatever it takes to have them back and gain custody of them when he turns eighteen. Then he meets Echo and suddenly he loves someone else. He can't get enough of her. He loves her smell, and just loves her presence. He is for the first time contemplating a relationship with someone past one night.
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"It sucks to be alone."
"You're not alone," I whispered into her hair as I cradled her in my arms. "You're not alone, because you have me." And I love you, more than you could ever know.
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Echo is great in her studies and Noah needs help with his so he can get his life back on track. Mrs. Collins puts them together so Echo can tutor Noah. He wants to graduate and prove he can be responsible for his brothers. Echo barely interacts with anyone. Noah helps come out of her shell a bit. Together, these characters were really great. I loved the very much needed support they gave each other. They both accepted each other, flaws and all. That acceptance turned into love. Something that both of them were missing from their lives. I loved every scene they had together. I couldn't wait for them to see each other again. They were just so freaking sweet and cute. But they were both selfish as well. Their major concern were themselves as individuals. Which is understandable since they are just teens and have a lot to learn. But they never thought of how their actions could affect those surrounding them. And that was one thing that frustrated me about them. They both needed to be more open minded and more understanding.
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“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.”
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These two characters grew so much by the end of the book. I couldn't have been more pleased by it. The story was great and very well developed as were the characters. It made me cry so many times because some parts were tough to read. It was just so sad. I liked how their problems were solved in the end, they handled things in a very grown up manner. The book ended on a good note, but I actually wanted more. I felt like an epilogue would have been great. I just wanted to know if things worked out for them as a couple as well as indivduals. So that was the only thing that I didn't like. Well, and the fact that at first I couldn't connect with them and how they fell in love. But after a while I was able to connect with them. It really was a sad and wonderful story, though. I am hoping that we will get more of Echo and Noah in Beth's book, so I can't wait to read that one.