Monday, May 27, 2013

Review- Dare You To by Katie McGarry

This post has Janhvi's and Sarika's reviews of Dare you To (Pushing the Limits #2) by Katie McGarry
Dare You To releases May 28th, 2013.

Goodreads Summary:

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....


Pushing The Limits series:


JANHVI'S REVIEW:

Dare You To is the second book in the Pushing The Limits series. You can find my review of Pushing The Limits here. This is Beth and Ryan's story. Dare You To was easily my most anticipated read of 2013. I loved Noah and Echo's story and so my expectations of Beth and Ryan's story were high. Dare You To was definitely an amazing read but I somehow felt that it didn't wow me like Pushing The Limits did.

We'd met Beth Risk in Pushing The Limits and she came off as a total bitch. She is still a total bitch in the beginning of Dare You To. It takes time to get used to her and she is hard to relate to. But as and how the story progresses we get to see behind all her layers. The facade she puts up is just a form of defense mechanism. Underneath Beth is a sweet girl who just wants to take care of her mother.

Ryan Stone is the golden boy. It looks like he has it all and that his life couldn't be any more perfect if he tried. But Ryan has secrets of his own. He asks out Beth on a crazy dare. Ryan Stone doesn't lose and he sets out to prove just that. But soon Ryan begins to see the real Beth. They have an intense attraction and as they share their real selves they find that they understand each other more than anyone ever could.

Beth and Ryan's relationship starts out on a dare. But as they get closer they realize they could have so much more. The romance is slow moving but honest. Beth has had a difficult past and an even worse present. She is hesitant with Ryan. Her insecurities of not being good enough get in the way. Ryan with his flawless image suddenly wants to risk it all for Beth. I loved how Ryan got Beth out of her shell. Especially by the end of the book, Beth and Ryan's romance becomes seriously swoon worthy.

We also get to see a lot of Isaiah in this book with Noah and Echo. I felt so sad for Isaiah and all the heart ache he had to face. He came of as an intense, loyal guy with a tint of mystery. I am so looking forward to his happy ending in Crash Into You. The writing style was amazing with Beth and Ryan's point of view. We get to see the story from both the sides and understand the situation. I couldn't connect to Beth and Ryan as fast as I did with Echo and Noah but still it was one of my favorite reads this year.

*Note: This book was provided by Netgalley for an honest review. We thank the publisher and the author.





SARIKA'S REVIEW:

*NOTE: We (The Readdicts) received a copy of Dare You To by Katie McGarry upon request from Net Galley. We thank Net Galley for the book!

Like everyone else, I thought Katie McGarry's Pushing The Limits was an amazing story. But unlike everyone else, I wasn't swooning over Noah. The guy who caught my fancy was Isaiah and I was dying to see him end up with Beth. Then news came out about Beth's book and how she doesn't end up with her best friend, Isaiah, but with another guy, Ryan. As heartbroken as I was to hear it, I obviously had to read Dare You To because Beth meant a lot of Isaiah. I got my share of Isaiah and Beth got a wonderful story for herself, so overall, this was a win-win situation. 
Dare You To is the story of Beth Risk, who comes from a very messed up and troubled family, which I couldn't get at all. She was a bitch in the beginning but when she meets Ryan and eventually starts opening up to him, her vulnerable side comes out. After all, she is also a normal girl. She lives with her uncle Scott who was an amazing man. Beth was a little crazy but being Beth comes with craziness and I loved seeing the Elisabeth side of her. 
Ryan has it all set for him- dad who supports his baseball, mom who has taught him gentlemanly manners and a brother who has always been there for him, even when he had his own problems to look after. Ryan was a jerk in the beginning but again, when he meets Beth, he wants to figure her out and eventually the two fall in love in the most unknowingly sweet way. And Ryan isn't all that perfect after all. I loved how careful, well mannered and sweet he was and I like jerks, so yes, he was all good for me. 
Together, Beth and Ryan were subtle and loud at once. They made for a great couple, who helped each other figure out and solve their problems. I loved the romance between the two and how they took everything slowly as they had a lot to deal with on the way. 
When compared to Pushing The Limits, Dare You To might not seem as impacting as the former, but when read as just a book, it is really a very sweet romance and a tale about disturbed teenagers who find peace with each other. Although the messed up family, the indifferent and lame parenting is becoming rampant in Young Adult books, the meeting of two teenagers who work things out makes it worthwhile. I really liked reading Beth and Ryan' story. It was also good to see Echo and Noah again. I completely got how Beth believes she and Isaiah are better off as best friends and I can't wait to read his own story in Crash Into You. Noah got his happy ending, Beth got hers and now, Isaiah needs his as well. 
Author Katie McGarry's writing is so good and true it's like you find it hard to part with the characters you journey with. She writes some really amazing stories. 

RATING:


11 comments:

  1. Hi friends! I loved Pushing the Limits, and Dare You To!!! Excellent review Janhvi and Sarika!!!! Very well written, and I loved getting your viewpoints. I LOVE Isaiah, and am so excited for Crash Into You :)

    Lindy@ A Bookish Escape

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    1. So glad to know you love this series just as much as we do, Lindy! I know, I love Isaiah too and can't wait for his story. Thank you! :)

      ~Sarika

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    2. We should all group read Crash Into You, when it's available! Take Care friend :)

      Lindy@ A Bookish Escape

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    3. That's an awesome idea, Lindy! We should definitely do that. :D

      ~Sarika

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  2. Everyone seem disappointed that Beth and Isaih aren't getting together except me. Dunno they're both too destructive for me and their relationship would hardly be possible. Beth needs something like Ryan in my opinion. I know that Isaih will get his HEA ;) Great reviews girls :)

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    1. You have a valid point there, Tanja. Beth and Isaiah would really have been destructive together, in a relationship. She and Ryan balanced each other out perfectly. And can't wait for Isaiah's story! Thank you! :)

      ~Sarika

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  3. Hey S & J!! I love all the three books!! Love you review as well!! Your both are so similar yet so different and your reviews reflects that.

    xx
    A @ Booklok Coffee

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    1. Hahaha! you got that quite right, Ankita! So glad to know you love the series as well. Thank you! :)

      ~Sarika

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  4. Hahaha! Well, I did swoon over the leather jacket, mysterious eyes, dark hair and the sweet family boy, so yes, Noah was amazing and still is! But Isaiah... Man, he's too attractive. I loved reading the interview too, and yes, Beth and Ryan balance each other out perfectly. Opposites attract, after all! Thank you, Aman! :)

    ~Sarika

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  5. Cool, glad you both liked this one! I haven't read Pushing the Limits because I'm a bit on the fence whether it is the read for me, but I definitely like what you have to say about the story in this one. So I think it may perhaps be worth going outside my comfort zone to read both the books, just to get to experience what everyone else has got to experience.

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    1. Yep, I don't know if you'll love this one, Aylee, honestly, but it wouldn't hurt at all to give it a go. The author writes amazing stories! :)

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