Book Review: Dare You To (Katie McGarry)

Title: Dare You To

Series: Pushing The Limits #2

Author: Katie McGarry

Published: May 28th 2013

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance

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An Emotional Story With Attitude!!

“That must be love: when everything else in the world could implode and you wouldn't care as long as you had that one person standing beside you.” - Beth

BLURB:

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....

***Mild spoilers***

THE GOOD:

The story:

This story follows Beth & new character Ryan. When Ryan tries to get Beth's phone number as part of a dare, she tells him where to stick it. They later meet again when Beth starts attending his school. Ryan's popular & Beth doesn't give a damn what anyone thinks of her. Ryan continues to pursue Beth (as part of the dare), and Beth continues to push him away. Similarly to Pushing The Limits, Ryan & Beth both have preconceived ideas of each other, and it's not until they get to know one another, that they realise they are more alike than they thought.

The romance:

I was really worried I wouldn't like this one because I wanted Beth & Isaiah to be together. But McGarry managed to convince me that Ryan is the one for Beth! Ryan & Beth start out hating each other - with Beth believing he'll try & use her just like Luke did 2 yrs ago. And Ryan is only chasing her to win a dare. But after getting to know each other the inevitable happens - they fall for each other. While Beth was scared to admit her feeling, Ryan did everything he could to make her believe he loved her

The characters:

Although Beth was frustrating with her trust issues with Ryan, she has very good reason to be scared. She's has a rough life, and hides behind a tough personality. She swears like a sailer, often just to piss people off. But I love her attitude - some of her lines where hilarious.

"You've got to be f*cking kidding me."

"Nice language" the woman says (Scott's wife)

"Thanks" I respond.

"I didn't mean it as a compliment".

"Do I look like I f*cking care?"

Ryan, aka Baseball player, aka Popular Jock Guy appears to have a 'perfect' life. But that perfection is only a front, and he too has family dramas to deal with. I love McGarry gives her characters such strong personalities - it's in the small details, like the way Ryan wears his baseball cap - he takes it off when he's thinking or worried about something, he turns it backwards if he wanted to kiss Beth etc. These small details made Ryan come alive.

The Writing:

As with most contemporary romance stories, this novel is emotionally driven. The author needs to be able to not only make us understand what the characters are feeling, but feel it for ourselves - and McGarry does this very effectively. I felt the fear of trusting Ryan that Beth felt, **spoiler**and when she had to tell Isaiah she didn't love him, and the heartbreak that Isaiah feels broke me (I love him *sigh*)

McGarry has also written two very distinct voices with Ryan & Beth. There was never any doubt as to who's POV you were reading.

THE BAD:

I loved this book - if I'm being really picky I could say that I would have liked to see a little more of Echo & Noah - their little cameo was so sweet & I love them so much that I could read a whole 2nd book about them. But I get that this was Beth's story, so just ignore me, I'm just having Echo & Noah withdrawals *sob sob*

FINAL WORD:

Beth's story was exactly what I thought it would be - emotional with a bad ass attitude! Beth & Ryan work so well together & Beth's personality was so vibrant, she's a character that will be hard to forget! Now I am so desperate to read Isaiah's story I might just hyperventilate. He was so hurt by Beth's rejection, he deserves one hell of a happy ending!

CONTENT:

Sexuality: medium / heavy kissing & fondling, discussions of sex
Violence: mild-medium / several mentions/scenes of domestic violence
Language: medium-strong / frequent use of f word
Drugs & alcohol: medium-strong / Beth smokes & has smoked pot regularly is the past, Beth's mum is often drunk or high

2 comments:

DaydreamerN1 June 2013 at 13:51
I keep seeing this book on blogs and netgalley. It looks pretty good. I'm glad you read it great review!!

Http://www.daydreamerN.blogspot.com
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