Pushing The Limits ~ Katie McGarry

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

6+++ captivating, obsessively readable, perfectly imperfect stars.

I am almost at a loss for words after finishing this book.

It has been sitting on my Kindle for so long, and I honestly have no idea why it took me this long to read it.

Over the last several months, I have been unable to read much YA fiction. I'm not sure if i was burned out on it, or if I just attempted to read too many books with similar storylines, but my list of YA books i haven't been able to finish is ridiculously long. But in much the same way that Colleen Hoover knocked me on my ass with her ability to blow the YA/NA genre apart with amazing characters and stories that captivate the imagination, Katie McGarry has given us Pushing The Limits. Hands down one of the the 5 best books I have ever read in my lifetime. Period.

I could sit here and go over every aspect of the book that I loved. Tell you all about the plot and the brilliant way that McGarry made this world come alive. But so many others have done a far better job than I ever could at expressing how much this story means on an emotional level. This is not your typical story of teen angst with cookie-cutter characters that everyone knows all too well. This story is dark and edgy. And raw. The pain and loneliness that both Echo and Noah feel...it's real and I felt and breathed every last bit of it right along with them.

When i write reviews I usually try and give an overview of how the book made me feel, and what I was thinking as i finished it. But, to be honest...this book had me feeling so incredibly emotional by the end that I would sound like even more of a sappy fangirl than i normally do when discussing a book that made this much of an impact on me. So...instead i decided to just go for stream of consciousness this time around.

In Echo and Noah, McGarry has given us two of the most beautifully and realistically brought to life characters that i have come across in a long time. They are both far from perfect, and neither one of them always make the right choices. But, they are strong and passionate, and deeply devoted to each other and their own unique versions of 'family'. Echo is one of the most inspiring and strongest female characters i have seen...especially in YA...in years, and I loved her to pieces. And Noah was the perfect blend of cocky 'bad-boy-who-really-isn't-bad, and sweet and vulnerable. He loves Echo and his little brothers so fiercely and his desire to have a real family again is heartbreaking, and it is impossible not to want him to find happiness.

This book was beautiful, and romantic. And sad and heartbreaking. And uplifting and full of hope. It made me feel so many things, and cry the ugliest of tears. But then it made me smile and laugh like a crazy person. It touched me on a very deep and personal level, and I will never forget the experience.