Review: Dare You To by Katie McGarry

Published May 28th, 2013
Harlequin Teen
462 pages (Hardcover)

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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.... (From Goodreads)

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Let's take a moment to admire this cover.  THIS COVER IS FANTASTIC!

I loved this book.  I loved everything about this book.  I don't know if I can say anything negative or constructive about this book.

The characters really drive this story, so it's a good thing that they are amazing!  I loved Beth in Pushing The Limit, and was pumped that this book was about her.  The development here is epic and we learn so much more about her and her past.  It's impossible not to feel for her and her story.  Then there is Ryan, the classic my-life-looks-perfect-but-really-isn't character.  He doesn't feel like a cardboard cutout character.  Again, his emotions are brought to life so vividly.  Their relationship is all over the place and brings ALL THE EMOTIONS!  The secondary characters are also very well written, which only makes the book even better!

The story as a whole is well developed and well written.  It helps that I love books that incorporate sports, but the addition of baseball and competitiveness brings a flare that really appeals to me.  If you don't know baseball, some of the lingo may throw you off, but none of that is essential to the story.

The book progresses in a way that really makes you understand Beth.  Her story is so complex and, at first, I couldn't undersstand her actions.  They will make sense though.  You still may not agree, but it does all come together to make her reactions understandable.

I give this book a must read.  Seriously, go buy it now.  Dare You To is heart-wrenching and wonderful.

Much love, Samantha