Dare You To
Author: Katie McGarry
Series: Pushing the Limits #2
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Release Date: May 28, 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Summary:
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….
First Sentence: I’m not interested in second place.
My Review:
Hello, not-Kelly here. Somehow I was convinced (maybe bribed?) to read and write another review again (Kelly: Pshh, your last review was two years ago.). Sooo here it is /throw confetti/.
Honestly, I didn’t expect to like Dare You To as much as I did (even though Kelly was talking about how much she loved it ahaha). After reading the first few chapters, I already had a rough idea of where the book was heading – good boy Ryan would change bad girl Beth to be a good girl. Their lives would change when they collide because they come from completely opposite backgrounds. Even though the setting was cliché, I still enjoyed the book more than I thought I would. (Kelly: Ha ha ha, so glad to hear this!)
Before going on to the good things, let’s discuss the things I didn’t quite like. As previously mentioned, the plot was cliché. The ending was predictable after the premise was set up. Not to mention, Beth and Ryan are always staring at each other for some reason. When Beth first goes to school, whenever she turns to look at Ryan, he’s always staring at her. Why?? Okay, I know he’s interested in her, but isn’t that a little too much staring?? And if Beth wasn’t interested in Ryan, then why does she look for him too?? It’s annoying.
I liked Ryan and Beth more than I thought I would. There’s more to Ryan than the baseball obsessed jock and Beth isn’t just a delinquent. I liked their dynamic and how Beth could make Ryan walk away from a fight while Ryan could influence one of Beth’s most life changing choices. They make each other better people.
I also really liked the secondary characters. I liked how Lacy stood up for Beth because of their past together. Lacy was a strong character and wasn’t afraid to voice her thoughts – she didn’t tolerate what Ryan was doing to Beth. I also liked how Logan and Chris stood by Ryan’s side until the end. It seemed like Chris and Ryan had a rocky relationship, but I’m glad Chris decided to stick with Ryan and trust in his decisions. Logan also stood by Ryan’s side because he knew how much Beth really meant to him.
I really liked how some things in the book were phrased. “The bed is beyond massive. Scott and Allison don’t have to go to separate rooms if they fight; they can roll over a couple times and be in different zip codes” (449). I don’t know why I liked that line so much, but I do. It seems really irrelevant, but the line sticks out to me (so weird).
Basically, I like the writing style of Dare You To.
Aaaand, that’s it! I wasn’t expecting to read & review another book for Kelly’s blog, but whew I’m done.
This is my favourite book out of the series! At first I thought Beth and Ryan would be an odd couple because they’re so different but they totally worked! I loved seeing them together :D
Eileen recently posted…WoW #29: The Orphan Queen (The Orphan Queen #1) by Jodi Meadows
I read the first book in the series, but then never continued! Glad to hear book two is just as good. I need some contemporary romance in my life.
Hannah recently posted…Review: The Collector – John Fowles
I don’t mind the cliche plot or ending because I love the characters and how each has a vivid backstory. It really makes the plot stand out when you care about the characters.
Lovely review :)
I remember that line, too. After I read it the first time, I cracked up for a while even though it’s not that chuckle worthy. I don’t know, but I’m with you on that. :D
This book is wonderful! I rfeally liked it, even though it’s a lot different from PTL [even though in some ways, it isn’t!] Also, LOVE the rating symbol and guest reviewer, if I may ask, who are you? :)
Nova @ Out of Time recently posted…Mandatory Rules On: Talking to Authors
I haven’t read this series or any of Katie McGarry’s books, but I liked this review. I also agree with you on the character staring excessively problem. It can be kind of creepy after a while. And it makes you wonder if the person that is doing all the staring has nothing else to do. Hope you review the rest of the series! There’s like two more books, right? :)
Great review, reluctant one! I would’t mind seeing another one or twelve from you!! I have yet to read any of these books, but I practically get the book thrown at me every time I go near my sister and my BFF. It is nice to know that another person was hesitant about it, but ended up liking it. Maybe, I will finally make them both happy and just read it already. Besides, thrown books really don’t feel good :)
Jaime Lester recently posted…Where Dead Bodies Lie ~ Blog Tour Excerpt and Giveaway!
I am glad somebody enjoyed this book more out of this series…because i myself didn’t expect it to really really like it that much more than first book *gasp* but i do…Beth is one tough cookie and their dynamic worked well surprisingly! like seriously they make each other better people in the long run. It’s tells about really not judging people in the surface. to date this one is still my fave out of the series :)
I loved “Dare You To”! It was such a good read despite it being a bit cliché at times. I also really liked Katie McGarry’s book, “Crash Into You”; it’s Fast and Furious meets Young Adult Fiction, and I seriously loved it!
I really, REALLY want to read these books. *Casually adds them to TBR with hundreds of others*
I agree with you, Katie McGarry has a great writing style! Glad that you enjoyed this one, I love this series so much!
Em recently posted…Captive (Blackcoat Rebellion #2) Book Review
Oh I love this series! I love that the characters are not perfect, but rather messed-up and real.
Sue Holmes recently posted…The Program by Suzanne Young: YA Book Review
When I read the book a long, long time ago, I also thought that it was a bit cliche. But I also liked the way Katy McGarry wrote, it was full of emotions and I really saw how the main characters developed throughout the book. Great review! :)
Loved her writing style, i agree with you. I think this is my favorite book out of the series. It was a bit cliche, but still a good read!
This was my favourite story in the series too, and that was unexpected because I really disliked Beth in the first book ;))
Ari recently posted…I’ll be back soon…
the characters sound intriguing