David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite! discussion

The incredible author Katie McGarry will be joining our group from March 10th - 13th for an author Q&A.

We are featuring her book Pushing the Limits as one of our March Book of the Month reads!

You can discuss here! :)

This book felt very...real the whole way through. That's the only way I can describe it. Powerful read.

David, this was our very first buddy read! :)

I loved this book so much...Echo and Noah were such interesting characters, caught in almost hopeless situations. I agree with the realism factor, the story came alive for me!

I've read all the sequels, and I think this one is still my fave, but I also really LOVED Crash Into You. That one is definitely worth the read if you liked Pushing the Limits!

I just started reading this today. :)

This was one of my favorite books I read last year. I LOVE Katie McGarry!

Hhmmmm.... I just got this from my library so looks like I need to start this one next. What genre would you say it is? Would I like it? :)

This is most definitely a contemporary, Karen, and I'm not sure--its very real and raw! Nothing graphic, though, its definitely YA. I really liked Echo and Noah, and the romance was good, but I just liked them more as characters and the situations they were dealing with.

Someone mentioned they thought it was too "typical", I forgot who, but I didn't see that--the situations they are dealing with are not typical at all! Noah's in a horrible foster kid situation, and he's trying to adopt his younger brothers when he turns 18. Echo is dealing with the aftereffects of a crazy (truly) mother, and a new stepmother. And a very overbearing father. They each really have no one in their own corners. And David's right, this story felt very raw and real!

I'll try it! Not a huge contemporary gal but sometimes a good book captures me! If you and David both liked it and we are the book triplets...? I have to give it a go, then! :)

Yup, definitely try it! I can't wait to hear your thoughts!

As for the sequels, Dare You To, was good, but did not live up to Pushing the Limits, so its skippable IMO. I really liked Crash Into You, though, just as much as Pushing the Limits!

I can't believe you haven't read it Karen. It is a beautiful heartbreaking story.

I also LOVED Dare you to!

I thought this one was just ok Karen. I am not a huge contemporary person either so that didn't help.

I love Pushing the Limits!!Dare You To was okay, not as good as Pushing the Limits IMO

I'm 14% in on this one and it's surprisingly addicting. :)

It really is! I couldn't put it down when I read it :)

Well I stayed up until 2:30 this morning because I couldn't stop. I finally forced myself to put it down at 61%. I don't want to work today. I just wanna READ!!! ;-P

Glad you are liking it more than I did Karen :) I am pretty picky. It was still worth the read for me though :)

I'm not sure why I like it, Heidi. I guess it's not the normal teenage angst that I dislike in the YA contemporary books. There's some, but not full on! It's much deeper! :)

I just re=read my review of the book Karen - I seemed to like the first half a lot more than the second. Feel free to read my review when you are done to see if you agree with my thoughts :)

I've read and love all of Katie McGarry's books! Fav prob Crash into you. She just has this captivating way of writing that just makes me feel everything her characters are feeling. I couldn't put her books down and had to force myself to get to bed most nights. Can't wait for more! :D

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I could see what had happened to Echo from a mile away! And like you, Heidi, I liked the first half better! But since I don't normally like contempory, I have to give this one two thumbs up. I prefer this type of contemporary over the pure teen "light" love stories.

Glad I read this! :) BOTM actually helped to expand my horizons!!

Glad you liked it Karen. Like I said - I did not feel I wasted my time by reading it at all. I think my problem with books like this is that I work with people like Noah in real life so it is hard for me not to get all judgey about how they are written because IMO there are no real Noah's out there, but the average person would not have my perspective so I could see why they would love the book.

Heidi *Listen. I'll just keep talking anyway. * wrote: "Glad you liked it Karen. Like I said - I did not feel I wasted my time by reading it at all. I think my problem with books like this is that I work with people like Noah in real life so it is har..."

Well that makes total sense, Heidi! That's why you prefer the light and airy like which I thought was very cute but can only read them once in a great while.

Sam wrote: "I've read and love all of Katie McGarry's books! Fav prob Crash into you. She just has this captivating way of writing that just makes me feel everything her characters are feeling. I couldn't put ..."

Sam, Katie McGarry was here last week. She was amazing!! https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Karen wrote: "Heidi *Listen. I'll just keep talking anyway. * wrote: "Glad you liked it Karen. Like I said - I did not feel I wasted my time by reading it at all. I think my problem with books like this is tha..."

Yes Karen. You are probably right. I like to escape reality - not be brought back into it. That is also why I like cozy mysteries over more suspenseful mysteries. :)

Karen wrote: "Sam wrote: "I've read and love all of Katie McGarry's books! Fav prob Crash into you. She just has this captivating way of writing that just makes me feel everything her characters are feeling. I c..."

I saw this just a little too late :( but am interested in reading up on what was discussed :) thanks for the link!

I read this one a while ago and really enjoyed it! I don't read a lot of YA contemporary stuff anymore but I liked how this one was so different and yet I could relate to it. I also enjoyed that there were twists (even though they were sad). I might just have to reread it. :)