Latest Read: Dare You To

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Dare You To (Pushing the Limits #2) by Katie McGarry
Publication date: May 28, 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Category: Young Adult - Contemporary
Source: Netgalley (Thanks!)

Summary: 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 him and going to a school that doesn't understand her. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does. Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball 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.  (Adapted goodreads.com)

My thoughts…

The good: I still remember how I felt after reading Pushing the Limits a year ago. Entertained, addicted and swept up in the intensity of their lives and relationship.  So when I heard about Dare You To, I was all - yes more Noah and Echo! Then I saw it was about Beth and my enthusiasm dropped a notch to - oh, Beth? Still, I trusted Katie McGarry's writing and I was curious to see where she'd take this periphery character that I hadn't cared too much about the first time around. And wow, she really gave us a lot of insight into Beth and what made her tick! Not to mention, introduced Ryan who I loved.

Beth's life is the same as it's always been. Her time is divided between hanging out with Isaiah and Noah, the guys she considers her best friend and her brother (respectively), and taking care of her drug-addicted wreck of a mother. Then one night, saving her mother lands Beth in jail and her uncle not only bails her out but gets custody of her. At least until she turns 18. That's how she finds herself suddenly living in a new town and attending a new school with people she hasn't seen since she was kid. It's also how she gets to know Ryan, all-around good guy, star baseball player and someone with family problems of his own.

Gosh, where to start. The way Beth and Ryan meet sets the tone for the book. They're not the light and fluffy couple who fall in love at first sight. It's more attraction and antagonistic with him trying to get her number as part of a dare. I'm sure you can imagine how Beth takes that with her no-BS attitude. Even though she's a hard character to warm up to, I think it made sense. She's someone who's dealt with things that most people haven't (and hopefully never have to). It's understandable those experiences would make it hard her to trust anyone, even herself. And Ryan.. Ryan is the kind of guy you want to sweep you off your feet. He's kind, romantic, and someone you can lean on. I really enjoyed their interactions and seeing what they brought out in each other. But it's not all romance though. The story delves into some serious topics and brings to light the kind of actions you wish didn't happen in real life but do. 

(Minor) reservations: Some dialogue and certain moments are admittedly cheesy but it didn't detract from my enjoyment at all. It was the kind of thing where I thought to myself - that doesn't happen but then happily giggled over it with Estelle the next day. 

Do I recommend?: I do! This is the second book of hers I've read and each time, I've been completely engrossed in her stories. It's a lot of drama and a lot of romance but if you enjoy those two elements, I highly recommend this. 

Happy reading!