Drool Worthy Books!: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

“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.”

'Pushing the Limits' is the first book in Katie McGarry's Young Adult 'Pushing the Limits Series'. The book follows the story of Echo Emerson and Noah Hutchins. Two High School seniors who have dealt with more than their fair share of issues. The story is narrated by both Echo and Noah, in alternating first person every few chapters.

I read this book a while ago and it has stayed in my head since. So when I got the opportunity to write reviews for books this book was on the top of my list!

For both Echo and Noah their lives could have been described as content up until a point where both of them were shattered. Noah lost his parents and was put into foster care with his younger brothers. Echo lost her brother in Afghanistan and something happened to her that she doesn't remember but it had something to do with her unstable mother and the scars will be forever a reminder.

While Noah resorted to drugs and alcohol to cope Echo became closed off and shy. They may seem different but both of them are lost and looking for way to pick up the broken pieces of their lives. But that's kind of hard when you're labeled destructive and unstable, and all aspects of your life being controlled by your father and his pregnant girlfriend.

Noah and Echo first meet outside of the school counselor's office where they both attend sessions. Here starts the roller coaster that will push Noah and Echo to their limits.(see what I did there?!)

Both characters stole a piece of my heart. Echo feared so much because of that night even though she can't remember it but she still finds it in herself to help Noah. And then we have Noah, oh Noah, if I had a guy like you lets just say my life would be complete! Underneath that bad boy persona is a guy that is loving, caring and protective.

“Because growing up means making tough choices, and doing the right thing doesn’t necessarily mean doing the thing that feels good.”

Katie's writing is beautiful. It was simple but conveyed the emotions of the characters so well that you felt what the characters felt. Sometimes I found myself wishing that I could just give all of them a hug! It is really hard for authors to accomplish this but Katie did it with ease. The character development in the book was another high point it wasn't too fast or too slow. You could see how the characters began to evolve, transition and overcome.

I can really not fault this book. I think it would just be a waste of time trying to. Katie gives us an insight into how unfair life can be, the bad side to foster care and how surrounding yourself with the right people can help heal the broken pieces of ones heart and soul.