Book Review: Dare You To (Pushing the Limits 2)

Ryan lowers his lips to my ear. "Dance with me, Beth."

"No." I whisper the reply. I hate him and I hate myself for wanting him to touch me again....

"I dare you..."

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....

Dare You To by Katie McGarry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm grateful to the publisher for an ebook they allowed me to read and review (through NetGalley) even before the book's official release date.

My review is in no way influenced by this fact.

I forgot how intensely emotional, vivid and deep Katie McGarry writes. I loved Pushing the Limits and Dare You To is no different. I loved every second of reading it. It was alluring, heartfelt and full of so much feeling.

There are no two people more different than Beth and Ryan. Ryan Stone is cocky, hot, arrogant and charismatic – the typical jock girls would fall for.

Ryan gives me a condescending smile. “Changed your mind? Don’t worry, most girls do when it comes to me.”

Ryan’s the kind of guy everyone expects perfection from. Born with natural talent and good looks, he has his bright, perfect future ahead of him. Until Beth comes barreling into his life and makes him question everything and rouse inexplicable feelings and desire. Ryan hates losing. And when Beth becomes the object of a dare, Ryan would do anything to get her to fall for him and win.

Elisabeth “Beth” Risk with her nose piercings, ripped up jeans and a smartass attitude spells trouble. She’s very stubborn and fierce and cares very little about what other people think of her. She’s an introvert and prefers to be alone. She keeps everyone at a distance and doesn’t easily trust people. She refuses to let anyone near her and she doesn’t let herself feel for others. Beth hides a broken, hopeless, scared girl behind the cold, indifferent attitude she chooses to show towards other people.

“Here’s the beauty of living in America. You can’t make me do a damn thing.” - Beth

The chemistry between Beth and Ryan is clear and undeniable. Their relationship doesn’t come easy however – not when one is running away scared of it and the other keeps on denying it. They both burn with so much passion and determination. The sardonic remarks and the easy banter between the two are very amusing. I love the way they relate to each other and that no matter how much they refuse to admit what they’re both feeling, they still somehow find themselves coming to each other for comfort and much-needed strength.

I am coming up with nothing more to say which is quite ironic since there are so many good things to say about Dare You To. But all you have to know is just this: I swoon for this book. I was completely in. There was never a moment that I found myself bored stiff. Also, I loved the way the minor characters were presented. They were profound, baffling, and intense. They made the book all the more devouring. Dare You To is written in the alternating POV of Ryan and Beth. I loved knowing what’s going on inside their minds – much confusion is avoided and we can feel more the sincerity of their actions and words. It helps us relate to them more and understand and know them better and in a deeper sense.

I loved the story, the plot, the romance, the passion, the intensity and I absolutely adore the cover (it captures the perfect Ryan and Beth image and an achingly familiar moment). I had goose bumps reading the book and that rarely happens. Totally recommended!

Keep the books coming -