Author: Katie McGarryEdition: Mira Ink eBook
Released: August 3rd 2012
Series: No, standalone
Pages: 416 approx.
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.
MY REVIEW:
**WARNING: If you loved this book, you may feel like punching me after my review. All I ask is that you don't. Thank you. :)**
This is a rather hard review to write as I'm not completely sure what I feel toward this book. It's not that I hated it or anything, but I didn't love it either. I'm sitting somewhere awkwardly in-between. Oh well... maybe writing this review will help me figure it out.
I think I'll dive straight into the criticism first. When I was given this book I was both excited and a little hesitant. It didn't sound like my type of book, but at the same time, I didn't want to pass it up as so many people had been bragging about it! The one thing that made this book a bit of a let down (for me!) was that it didn't connect to me emotionally in the way I wanted. I was hoping for the same feelings I'd had with Entangled (by Cat Clarke) to be the same for this book. But, unfortunately, that just didn't happen. It's not that I think it wasn't touching or anything - it was! - it's just that I would have liked to have been more affected by it (if you get what I mean). However, there was one situation in particular that really connected to my emotional side. And that was how Noah was trying to get custody of his younger brothers. That was just so... touching! But, yeah. I suppose since it didn't have that overall extra quality I was looking for, I didn't enjoy it as much as I could have... Oh boy, I really don't think I'm explaining this very well! :3
However, you will be glad to know I did like the characters! Echo was strong, brave and admirable (very admirable)! While Noah was the stereo-typical bad boy with much more to him - who you can't help but love anyway. Both had such terrible past experiences that you couldn't help but empathise. And the relationship they built was really sweet. They definitely suited each other! Sidenote: Noah has some good chat-up lines! ;) Oh, yeah! And as already mentioned - I loved, loved, loved Noah's brothers, Jacob and Tyler! They were just brimming with adorableness! ;D
So I don't really have that much more to say, I suppose. Overall, I did enjoy it don't get me wrong (!), but I would like to have connected on a more emotional-level to it than I did. I still would recommend it (you'll probably love it more than me since I can get quite picky) but I really do want to get across that I did still quite like it!
Happy Reading,
Rachel xoxo
PS: Get Evan Burl and The Falling by Justin Blaney for Kindle/Kindle apps now! Just click HERE to get it for free! Be quick - it's only free for today! :D I've already downloaded it as it looks a-mazing!
PPS: Sorry for writing a review that sounded mostly negative! But do you know that way when you just don't know how to word your thoughts? This review is one of those times! :3
I know exactly what you mean...and no matter if it's good or bad you always write it perfectly. :-) I've not read the book yet but I can understand what you're driving at from past experience with other books..
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your HONEST opinion. :)I hate when people fake the fact that they liked a book.. -.- xxx
Aw, I do understand what you men. Especially with the Entangled comparison. That book left me a wreck! Personally I enjoyed this so much, and could connect with the sitations and everything. It's a shame you didn't love this though, Rachel. ):
ReplyDeleteThanks for your lovely and honest review, anyway!<3
I totally understand, I didn't really feel hyped up about this book either. After all the craze, I actually felt bad for not adding it to my favourite list - lol! It's such a shame you couldn't connect with the emotions - I didn't have this problem but it's a pity this didn't work out for you. I agree; Entangled is an amazing book for emotions, it is an emotional rollercoaster! ;)
ReplyDeleteYour review isn't bad AT ALL, thank you so much for sharing your opinion! <3
Aw, shame you didn't connect emotionally to Pushing The Limits as much as you'd have liked to, but I know that it does sometimes happen - for some reason, you just don't connect with a book. In actual fact, I read Entangled recently, having read lots of reviews where people said they absolutely loved it and connected with Grace...but I just didn't connect! I don't know why...
ReplyDeleteAt least you did still enjoy it :)
Catherine xxx
Even though I did enjoy this more than you, I can totally 100% see where you're coming from, Rachel. I think the problem with Pushing the Limits is that there was such a MASSIVE hype about the book, that everyone who reads it now will have high expectations and will probably be disappointed.
ReplyDeleteI read this a few weeks before it got REALLY well known, so didn't have a clue if it was a good book or not, and enjoyed it in the end. To be honest, I don't understand why this book is meant to be that amazing (Sh, don't tell anyone I said that!) , because for me, it's just a great YA novel, but not OUT OF THIS WORLD PHENOMENAL!!!! like everyone has made out...
Anyway, enough of my rambling. Another brilliant, honest review, Rachel. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. :) xxx
I think I agree with most of what you're saying.. I did enjoy the book a bit more than you, but in hindsight, I can see the failed connection. I just loved the romance in the book and didn't really notice the character connections.
ReplyDeleteAshley
#BookNerd
I don't think you should have to apologise for having a different opinion of the book than other bloggers! Not all books will work for everyone! Shame this one didn't live up to things for you, but it's still one of my favourite books of the year :)
ReplyDeleteThat's kind of how I felt after reading this. I enjoyed reading it, but I wasn't like 'Wow, that was amazing'.
ReplyDeleteI sound really positive about it in my review but really, I was on the fence on what I thought about this book too.
And don't worry, it doesn't sound really negative at all :)
I can totally understand what you mean and you've made a wonderful, honest review :) I actually don't want to read this book at all, because it doesn't sound like something I would enjoy. I'm sorry to hear you didn't love it as much as everybody else, because I've read a lot of raving reviews too.
ReplyDeleteI completely understand what you mean, its a shame you didn't love it, but thanks for the amazing, honest review!! :)
ReplyDeleteBeth xx
Thanks for the honest review! I felt quite connected to it on an emotional level, but what put me off quite a bit was the hectic swearing and the sexual content. I was also really hyped up about this book and I did find it hard to put down but when Noah started swearing and the drug use and alcohol use came into the story, it lost a cupcake. It isn't one of my favourites but it was good book all the same :)
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about Noah's brothers, soooo adorable! :)
Vivian the Spirit says: I really liked your honesty in this review, Rachel! Kudos to you for being totally straightforward with how you felt about it. I'm sorry this didn't blow you away epic-ly, but I'm super glad that the characters still had a positive impact for you ^_^ I LOVE NOAH'S brothers too!! When Noah went to see his brother at the awards ceremony, that was the first time I cried reading this book XD Lovely review, Rachel! POOF!
ReplyDelete