Review: Dare You To by Katie McGarry

Title: Dare You To
Author: Katie McGarry
Series: Pushing the Limits #2
Published: May 28, 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Source: Publisher via Netgalley

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....

* This review may contain spoilers for Pushing the Limits, the first book in this series.*

After reading Pushing the Limits and really enjoying it, then grabbing Crossing the Line and loving it just as much, I was super excited to read Dare You To.  I really loved Beth in Pushing the Limits, and I was soooo eager to see what would happen with her story next.

It all starts with a dare.  Ryan and his friends are known for daring each other to do some pretty crazy stuff.  This time Ryan is dared to ask out the seemingly-untouchable misfit, Beth.  It's not easy, but Ryan is determined to win.  He never loses.  Anything.  Ever.  He's the star baseball player, also has a gift for writing, and now he's under a dare to score with Beth.

McGarry has a remarkable way of writing such unique, amazing stories, each very different, yet all compliment each other nicely.  I can't even put it into words.  Dare You To was very different from Pushing the Limits, in my opinion, and I even loved it more!  I get completely burnt out with all of the bad boy stories, but the twist on this one was so refreshing.  It was a bad girl (Beth) and good boy (Ryan) involved in this story, and I LOVED that about it!!  Yes, some may find Beth and her snarky, sarcastic self very difficult to like... but I loved her!  With such a terrible upbringing she felt forced to have a tough exterior to help her cope with her inner demons.  Ryan had his own insecurities and difficulties at home, but he was much more of a loveable character with a good heart and kind actions.

I loved how Beth wasn't all sparkles and rainbows.  She was scarred from a horrible past.  She wasn't perfect, and she didn't pretend to be.  She was tough as nails, only softer when Ryan was able to drag it out of her.  She was loyal beyond belief when it came to her mother and her best friends, Isaiah and Noah.  Ryan brought out the real Beth that she so longed to see, yet didn't have the courage to bring out on her own.

I have to admit I still found myself routing for Isaiah the entire story.  There's just something about that guy I really like.  So at first I wasn't a fan of Ryan... but he definitely grew on me.  He seemed too perfect at first... so I liked how his flaws and troubles became apparent as the stories progressed, making him more likable and realistic to me.

This was such an amazing story!  I can't recommend this series enough.  I just saw the cover for Crash Into You, Isaiah's story, and let me tell you I can't stand the anticipation for that book!!!!  Isaiah has always been a personal favorite of mine throughout this series, so I'm really excited to see where his story will go.

Other Books in this Series:

  

I'm not that bad. No, I'm not kittens and bunnies, but I'm not that bad.

- loc 321

This girl is sexy, but she's also a handful. If I hadn't accepted the dare, I'd toss her into avoid-like-the-plague territory.

- loc 956

"I swear it's not that bad." Lacy flies to my side. "At first I was like 'No way' and then Ryan was like 'You can' and then I thought 'I can't' and then I thought 'These guys would never drop me' and I was like 'Okay' and then I did it, and it was such a rush."

- loc 1162