Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Title: Pushing the Limits (Pushing the Limits #1)
Author: Katie McGarry (website)(Twitter)
Pages: 392
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: July 31, 2012
Source: Library
Rating: Wowsers, I loved this!

Ok, ya'll, if you've read my blog for even one minute you know that romance is.not.my.thing. But everyone and their sister told me that I needed to read this book and that if I gave it a chance, I'd love it. 

I was giving it 25 pages and then I was bailing...

Or not. 

Wowsers, I loved this book. Intense doesn't even begin to describe it. It was an emotional roller coaster ride that I didn't want to get off of. I was thinking that I'd hate to read a story about "Echo" but her name grew on me. It fit her. It fit her character. She was so broken. So everything. 

And Noah. Great day, why is every male character named Noah, incredibly hot? Forgetting the fact that he would be technically young enough to be my son, I wanted him for myself. Or maybe his older brother. Wink.

McGarry alternates chapters between the perspective of each of them and I was wowed by how different they sounded. Alternating perspective is hard to pull off but she did it well. When Noah started calling her his siren, I wanted to melt into a puddle. He was flawed and not always the best guy in the world but he was real and he was trying.

I enjoyed how the characters really came into their own throughout the book. It was believable that they would struggle. It was believable that they wouldn't always get what they want. It seemed truer to life than other YA books I have read in the past. The wonderful character development was just icing on the cake.

I really didn't expect this to live up to all of the hype but it really did. The writing is well done. The all important dialogue was great. The secondary characters were well done as well. I know that there are companion novels and I really look forward to reading more about them. They gave me all the feels.

While I think that fans of romance are obviously the targeted audience, I think that those like me who tend to shy away from romance can and will enjoy this one as well.

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Title: Pushing the Limits (Pushing the Limits #1)
Author: Katie McGarry (website)(Twitter)
Pages: 392
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: July 31, 2012
Source: Library
Rating: Wowsers, I loved this!

Ok, ya'll, if you've read my blog for even one minute you know that romance is.not.my.thing. But everyone and their sister told me that I needed to read this book and that if I gave it a chance, I'd love it. 

I was giving it 25 pages and then I was bailing...

Or not. 

Wowsers, I loved this book. Intense doesn't even begin to describe it. It was an emotional roller coaster ride that I didn't want to get off of. I was thinking that I'd hate to read a story about "Echo" but her name grew on me. It fit her. It fit her character. She was so broken. So everything. 

And Noah. Great day, why is every male character named Noah, incredibly hot? Forgetting the fact that he would be technically young enough to be my son, I wanted him for myself. Or maybe his older brother. Wink.

McGarry alternates chapters between the perspective of each of them and I was wowed by how different they sounded. Alternating perspective is hard to pull off but she did it well. When Noah started calling her his siren, I wanted to melt into a puddle. He was flawed and not always the best guy in the world but he was real and he was trying.

I enjoyed how the characters really came into their own throughout the book. It was believable that they would struggle. It was believable that they wouldn't always get what they want. It seemed truer to life than other YA books I have read in the past. The wonderful character development was just icing on the cake.

I really didn't expect this to live up to all of the hype but it really did. The writing is well done. The all important dialogue was great. The secondary characters were well done as well. I know that there are companion novels and I really look forward to reading more about them. They gave me all the feels.

While I think that fans of romance are obviously the targeted audience, I think that those like me who tend to shy away from romance can and will enjoy this one as well.

Love and Other Perishable Items by Laura Buzo - Thoughts

Title: Love and Other Perishable Items
Author: Laura Buzo
Pages: 243
Genre: YA Contemporary
Source: library loan
Rating: Really enjoyed

This title was originally published in Australia as Good Oil.  I have no idea why that would be the title because it never mentions anything remotely related. I have enjoyed every single Australian author that I have read and this was no exception. I saw this on a blog awhile ago and was immediately intrigued when I read the story is about a girl who falls for an older guy. Fifteen year old Amelia begins working at a supermarket named Cole's where she meets 21 year old Chris.  She is funny and honest and smart and she gets his attention but they both know it will never work. Right?

The writing style was wonderful. Here are two of my favorite quotes:

Then she said, "You are pretty passionate about your unhappiness, aren't you, Chris?" I looked right back at her and said, "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing well."

and

He eyes her as you would a big juicy steak after a six-day hike eating only dehydrated vegetables. I know the look.

This is one of those "it made me laugh, it made me cry" types of books.  Amelia was awesome and Chris is so likable. He sounded like someone that I would crush on myself. The hot older guy that treats you well and laughs at your jokes? Yes, please. The cast of secondary characters were well rounded as well. And the dialogue? You know how I am about believable dialogue and this one was full of it.

Love and Other Perishable Items was an interesting story and ended on a good note. I would recommend it to anyone who has loved an older guy or those who enjoy smart YA contemporaries. 

Love and Other Perishable Items by Laura Buzo - Thoughts

Title: Love and Other Perishable Items
Author: Laura Buzo
Pages: 243
Genre: YA Contemporary
Source: library loan
Rating: Really enjoyed

This title was originally published in Australia as Good Oil.  I have no idea why that would be the title because it never mentions anything remotely related. I have enjoyed every single Australian author that I have read and this was no exception. I saw this on a blog awhile ago and was immediately intrigued when I read the story is about a girl who falls for an older guy. Fifteen year old Amelia begins working at a supermarket named Cole's where she meets 21 year old Chris.  She is funny and honest and smart and she gets his attention but they both know it will never work. Right?

The writing style was wonderful. Here are two of my favorite quotes:

Then she said, "You are pretty passionate about your unhappiness, aren't you, Chris?" I looked right back at her and said, "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing well."

and

He eyes her as you would a big juicy steak after a six-day hike eating only dehydrated vegetables. I know the look.

This is one of those "it made me laugh, it made me cry" types of books.  Amelia was awesome and Chris is so likable. He sounded like someone that I would crush on myself. The hot older guy that treats you well and laughs at your jokes? Yes, please. The cast of secondary characters were well rounded as well. And the dialogue? You know how I am about believable dialogue and this one was full of it.

Love and Other Perishable Items was an interesting story and ended on a good note. I would recommend it to anyone who has loved an older guy or those who enjoy smart YA contemporaries. 

Legend by Marie Lu - Thoughts

Title: Legend (1st in series)
Author: Marie Lu
Pages: 305
Genre: YA dystopian
Source: library loan
Rating: Sign me up for the second one now!

I have read a few reviews on this one and they have always been really positive. I am a huge fan of dystopian and young adult dystopian is even better. I always go into these with a bit of fear though. Fear that it isn't really dystopian or that the world building will fall flat or that it will be so "out there" that it will leave me scratching my head.

A quick summary of the story is that 15 year old June is a military prodigy that is born into one of the wealthiest districts in a dystopian Los Angeles. Day is a 15 year old that was born into the slums and is the country's most wanted criminal. When June's brother is murdered, she  goes on the hunt to find his killer and crosses paths with Day. But things are not as they seem and June and Day will have to form an uneasy alliance to find out the truth.

This one was awesome! A bit slow to start for me but it picked up quickly. The world building was superb and I loved that I felt like I was walking around in their world. The world of June and the world of Day was shown in such stark contrast and I enjoyed how multi-layered the worlds were. 

There was romance but it wasn't an insta-love type of thing and it worked well within the story. June was a smart and smarty pants girl who knew what she knew and she knew how to handle herself. I love a female lead that can kick butt. 

Day was a bit of a typical hot male character but he was also so well developed that I was able to look past that. He also was a kick butt character that didn't take June's crap.That I really loved.

Lots of action, twists and turns and great, believable dialogue made this one a winner for me. I would recommend it to all fans of dystopian fiction. Can't wait to read the second in the series!

If you've read this one, what did you think? Did you like it or not?

Legend by Marie Lu - Thoughts

Title: Legend (1st in series)
Author: Marie Lu
Pages: 305
Genre: YA dystopian
Source: library loan
Rating: Sign me up for the second one now!

I have read a few reviews on this one and they have always been really positive. I am a huge fan of dystopian and young adult dystopian is even better. I always go into these with a bit of fear though. Fear that it isn't really dystopian or that the world building will fall flat or that it will be so "out there" that it will leave me scratching my head.

A quick summary of the story is that 15 year old June is a military prodigy that is born into one of the wealthiest districts in a dystopian Los Angeles. Day is a 15 year old that was born into the slums and is the country's most wanted criminal. When June's brother is murdered, she  goes on the hunt to find his killer and crosses paths with Day. But things are not as they seem and June and Day will have to form an uneasy alliance to find out the truth.

This one was awesome! A bit slow to start for me but it picked up quickly. The world building was superb and I loved that I felt like I was walking around in their world. The world of June and the world of Day was shown in such stark contrast and I enjoyed how multi-layered the worlds were. 

There was romance but it wasn't an insta-love type of thing and it worked well within the story. June was a smart and smarty pants girl who knew what she knew and she knew how to handle herself. I love a female lead that can kick butt. 

Day was a bit of a typical hot male character but he was also so well developed that I was able to look past that. He also was a kick butt character that didn't take June's crap.That I really loved.

Lots of action, twists and turns and great, believable dialogue made this one a winner for me. I would recommend it to all fans of dystopian fiction. Can't wait to read the second in the series!

If you've read this one, what did you think? Did you like it or not?

Squeal

I have an RSS feed of the new young adult books that my local library receives. Today I literally squealed when I saw they had cataloged three of my top ten books I'm excited to read this year. I have, of course, requested all three.

Am trying to decide what to spend a Barnes and Noble gift card on. We'll be near there tomorrow so hopefully my little guy will let me look for a few minutes.

Squeal

I have an RSS feed of the new young adult books that my local library receives. Today I literally squealed when I saw they had cataloged three of my top ten books I'm excited to read this year. I have, of course, requested all three.

Am trying to decide what to spend a Barnes and Noble gift card on. We'll be near there tomorrow so hopefully my little guy will let me look for a few minutes.