Dare You To - Katie McGarry

Tittle: Dare You To

Series: Pushing the limits

Author: Katie McGarry

Genre: YA, fiction, new adult, contemporary, romance, chick-lit, drama

Pages: 480

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Format: Digital (Kindle edition)

Time to read it: 5 days

Language: English

Rating: 4.5/5

“Dare You To” is the second book in the “Pushing the limits” companion series. This series follows a different couple in each character. This time we follow Beth, who was one of Noah’s friends in the first book.

Beth has had a really tough start in life, her father did not want her and ending going away, her mother was a drunk and drug addict that tended to look for the wrong guys. Apart from that her uncle, who promised to take her away from that life also abandoned her as a child. Now she is living at her aunt’s with Isaiah and Noah. However, when she takes the blame for something her mother did the only one able to bail her is her uncle, who just returned to live in their hometown. Beth is forced to live with him and behave following his rules, so he does not turn her mother to the police.

Ryan is a golden boy; he has never lost a dare until he is dared to get a number from a punk girl that enters a taco bell. However, it seems like a second chance when that same girl appears to be the niece of his new neighbor, a baseball superstar he really admires. And not only that, but she is also moving in with her uncle.

“Dare You to” was a compelling and really good book. This month I have verified that I love the contemporary new adult genre. They might not be the most profound and thought provoking books but I really enjoy reading them and even when the stories might be similar I love each one.

This one deals with toxic relationships in a different way. Most people know of toxic relationships between couples, when even though the relationship is not good to one of the sides that person feels unable to let go. Nonetheless, what would happen when that other person is one of the person parents? Here we have Beth, unable to let go from her mother even if being near her is risky, dangerous and will not lead her to any good.  When I was reading I tried to put myself in her shoes, and it is definitely a difficult situation, since it is her mother and she does not have anyone else. Moreover, coming to the realization that she had to let go of her because she could not keep going that way for long, was difficult and necessary for her growth.

This was one of the best things about this book that the character grew helping each other while they fell in love.

Ryan’s problems felt more cliché, but his growth was really developed perfectly as well.

The only thing that I did not like about this book was the little the adults were involved in the story. They were one of the biggest problems in this kids life’s, and somehow their appearances were subtle.

To sum up, “Dare You to” was a compelling new adult, coming of age book. I really loved it, and I would really recommend to anyone who likes the genre, since I am pretty sure it will captivate you.