(Goodreads) If 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....
The Short Story? - Pushing the Limits was one of my favourite books from last year, a newcomer to the YA scene McGarry blew me away with her debut novel however she has raised the bar yet again with her follow-up Dare You To. Is there is anything thing I like more than a bad boy it's a bad girl and that's exactly what Beth Risk is. Beautifully written story that explores some very controversial topics, fantastics characters with unbelievable authentic voices and overall just a unputdownable contemporary YA with a sizzling romance!
The Long Story? - I read this on the plane ride to Germany - bad idea. I love/hate McGarry for making me tear up in public (don't you know I just want to be cool?). There is so much depth to the plot besides the whole marketed "sizzling YA romance", McGarry really digs into some controversial issues such as LGBT, dysfunctional families and drugs and alcohol. These aspects are what separated Dare You To from the rest of the "sizzling YA romance" market for me. The plot was a little predictable however McGarry leaves a trail of breadcrumbs along the way and every so often she drops a bomb that leaves your mouth hanging wide open. I felt plot really complimented the characters and the romance and chemistry between the two was incredibly hot. Dare You To it such an easy book to read. It was emotional, it was dramatic and it was enjoyable. Definitely one of my favourite contemporary reads of the year so far!
Beth wasn't my favourite character in Pushing the Limits, she always came off as a little distant, annoying and very rude however through reading Dare You To my opinion on her has definitely changed. I understand why she's the way she is and more importantly her new home and friends have made her a more positive person. She's a real trooper! I wasn't the biggest fan of Ryan at the start either, he was such a typical, cliched jock. Very arrogant and his actions were distasteful and I just thought he was the biggest jerk. However as the novel progressed McGarry started softening readers towards Ryan. I liked how he likes to write, I like how loyal he is towards his friends and his relationship with Beth - his love for her - was absolutely adorable. I loved the two characters together, I thought their romance was filled with spark. McGarry definitely played the "opposites attract" card right!
In the end, there wasn't much I didn't like about Dare You To. If anything, Dare You To was near perfect. I'm a sucker for a good romance especially one where there is a point to the story BESIDES the romance and Dare You To gave me that. It gave me troubled teens dealing with dysfunctional families but their attraction to each other helps keep them sane and eventually their love is their home ( that sounds very sappy but its true). I loved McGarry's writing style and overall I thought Dare You To was a beautiful book from start to finish. Definitely a summer romance to pick up!
What's it Worth? - Hand Over the Paycheck
Badass Bookie xx
Like you I wasn't a huge fan of Beth's character from the first book, but now she is TOTALLY my favourite character! She is definitely one tough chick that one. And Ryan! Gosh I love that guy. Maybe not at first (since jocks are a bit of a bore for me and come across - like you said - as arrogant) but when he and Beth interacted . . . I loved him so much.
ReplyDeleteSo yeah, I'm glad you loved this book as well. Great review!
I definitely liked this book more than PTL-the way Ryan doggedly pursued Beth and how she softened toward him as the story progressed. I think Isaiah's book also sounds promising and I can't wait to check it out too!
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