Dare You To - Katie McGarry

by Unknown 12:30 AM 2 comments 5 star

Dare You To - 

Katie McGarry
Released: June 1, 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen Aus

Synopsis: 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....

What it's about: Beth is back and this story the story is hers. After a stint with her mum and her mums boyfriend lands her in the guardianship of her uncle, Beth's life is turned upside down. Her uncle Scott has all these rules, not to mention she can't see her mum, Isaiah or Noah, and Scott's wife clearly hates her, she also has to start out at a different school. There she meets Ryan - a jock baseball player who loves nothing more than to win a challenge, and that dare is directed at her.

What I thought: I was a bit worried at how this book was going to go - don't get me wrong, I was super excited because I loved Pushing the Limits, but Beth is such a moody character, I wasn't sure I would be able to read a whole book from her point of view. Turns out I had nothing to worry about, because Katie McGarry is such a wicked writer. Sure, Beth is still moody and likes to swear and chuck a tantrum, but we get to see the other side of her, the vulnerable side. We also have Ryan's point of view to even it out, but Ryan has problems of his own, including falling for Beth. It should be easy - he likes her, she seems to like him, but Beth only knows about keeping people at arms length - she's been burned before and doesn't intend to let it happen again.

Ryan is a soft, well-meaning character and I couldn't help but fall for him instantly. Sure, he loves a good dare and he's a jock and all that jazz, but when he realised his feelings for Beth, it was game over for him. His friends give the story some extra bang, pulling him in all different directions. We get to learn more about Beth, and all her little secrets about her old home life and who she used to be. We watch her struggle with herself and her choices, proving to us all that there is a lot more beneath the surface. This is another wonderful romantic story, with it's issues just like in Pushing the Limits.

If you loved Pushing the Limits then I definitely suggest picking this one up - or even if you love a good contemporary story. Go on, I Dare You To.

The Good: Another fast paced, action packed love story to lose your heart to.

The Bad: That feeling you get when you realise you won't have any more Ryan!

Rating:

5 bookstacks