It's official, Katie McGarry has bottled the secret to thrilling high-school romances with unexpected twists, veering turns and chapter cliff-hangers that dare you to put her books down. Her second novel avoids the sophomore slump and left me craving even more from this circle of friends. Although we were introduced to Beth and Ryan in Pushing the Limits, as only Katie McGarry can do, she creates an entire world behind each character that leaves you vowing never to judge a person upon first meeting them, Long after closing Dare to You, I'm still be thinking about Beth and Ryan, and I'm sure I'll still be thinking of them for a very long time when I see the typical "jock" or "skater girl."
From Amazon.com:
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....
Katie McGarry obviously knows teens. She delves into the world of her characters, from learning baseball, to listening to their music and creating playlists for each book, or as she calls them "literary symphony[ies]." Hmmm, maybe she can even be persuaded to share those playlists! Grab Dare to You as soon as it hits the shelf in June and get ready to enter the world of teen angst, instant decisions, and passions... and enjoy the ride.