For Review: Mira Ink (via Netgalley)
Published: 7 June 2013
From Goodreads: Ryan lowers his lips to my ear. "Dance with me, Beth."
"No." I whisper the reply. I hate him and I hate myself for wanting him to touch me again....
"I dare you..."
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....
Pushing The Limits was my absolute favourite read in 2012 - so it is safe to say I had very high expectations for Dare You To and I'm pleased to say it lived up to them.
Beth was a character I really liked in
Pushing The Limits so I was really pleased to hear this was going to be her story - and I loved it. I liked the way her life is basically turned upside down when she is offered the opportunity to change it and make it better. I thought the way she holds on to her previous life is totally realistic - and I kind of loved her for it even if I was also willing her to give her new life a chance.
Before I talk about Ryan I really need to mention Isaiah. Anyone who has read
Pushing The Limits will probably understand what I mean when I was a bit surprised to hear Dare You To was going to be dual narrated by Beth and Ryan. I was pretty much on the whole Beth and Isaiah train - and because of that I was really pleased to see he does feature in this book a lot. He's an important part of Beth's life and this wouldn't have felt realistic if he hadn't been present as much as he was. Having said that I do think that Ryan is a much better fit for Beth (and will leave it at that. Except to say I may have really liked Isaiah before reading this book but I adore him now! *sigh* )
So Ryan. Loved him. And I'm pleased that he has an interesting, but not overly dramatic storyline. I kind of went into this one feeling as if it was more Beth's story. I was already invested in her - so while I did enjoy learning about Ryan I think I was probably more invested in Beth. My only quibble I think, is that I wanted more on her relationship with Scott and her aunt. I loved what we did get but I just wanted that little bit more. Otherwise I can't fault it.
Katie McGarry is definitely one of my favourite authors. I can't wait to read
Crash Into You when it comes out! I seriously,
seriously want to read it right now!
