Dare You To by Katie McGarry

When Beth's home life explodes, she's forced to live with the uncle who left her so many years ago.  This is not what Beth wants at all, and when Beth's not happy, you're sure as hell going to know it!  Ryan's goal of pitching in the major leagues is getting closer and closer, but stuff going on at home is distracting him.

When Beth meets Ryan sparks fly, but not the kind you think.  Ryan asks Beth out as a dare and she calls him on it.  When Ryan finds out that the uncle Beth is staying with is Scott Risk, former Yankee Scott Risk, he knows he's messed up big time.  Beth hates that she actually likes Ryan and vows to keep him at arms length. 

Despite all their intentions, the attraction between the two is explosive and can only be held back for so long.






Dare You To is the story of Beth from Pushing the Limits.  If you read my blog, then you probably know how much I loved that book.  It was my favorite book of 2012.

In this book you have baseball star Ryan who has his dad pressuring him to get ready for the pros.  Ryan is a golden boy by all appearances, but his home life is full of turmoil.  His brother came out to his parents recently, and his dad basically disowned him.  Ryan feels completely abandoned by his brother and unsure of what he wants out of life.  He knows his dad is expecting him to go pro after senior year, but his English teacher has him thinking college might be a better choice.  Then you have Beth moving to this small town with her rich ex-professional baseball playing uncle.  She's had a rough life and has been trying to look out for her train-wreck of a mom... but that hasn't been going so well lately.  I thought this book was going to be about Beth and Isaiah being a couple, but it was pretty obvious from the beginning that wasn't going to happen (but apparently Isaiah gets his own book later, so yay!!!).  Okay, so you have Beth and Ryan trying to start a relationship, but having pretty much everything stacked against them.

I hate to write this right now because I love Katie McGarry and I loved Pushing the Limits so hard, but I was not 100% feeling this book.  It was a good book and if I hadn't fell so hard for PTL, I really think I would've liked this better.  The major thing that held me back were all the cringe-worthy moments.  There were so many corny over-the-top "I'll die before I let you feel one ounce of hurt" moments.  And those moments happened so soon in the relationship that it was a little insta-love-ish for me.  I will fully admit that part of my problem was that I just wasn't in the mood for a love story. Another part is that the relationship didn't feel as real between them like it did with Echo and Noah.  Probably because Beth isn't the most likeable girl.  I mean logically I should love Beth.  I get sick of goody-goodies in books.  Beth is certainly a girl with issues and she's not that typical sugary-sweet m/c, but I just didn't like her that much.  She's so adamant that she's not going let another guy into her heart and I didn't believe her for one second.  It was so obvious what was going to happen, and I started to feel like Beth was a poser.  And I really don't like pretenders.  If you're going to be a hard-ass, BE a hard-ass.

Anyway.  I didn't hate this book if that's what you're thinking.  I loved that there was baseball, field parties, and all the side issues (drugs, coming out, abuse).  I loved that Ryan was this jock-guy who was really a writer inside.  I definitely didn't fall for the romance which was basically what this book was all about.  But just because I didn't love it doesn't mean you won't!!  I can totally see people loving this couple.

Overall:  Similar to Pushing the Limits, but not as real feeling.  I really liked the idea of this book, but the Beth/Ryan romance made me cringe a little.  Too sugary sweet.  I definitely think this is a great book for summer and fans of super-sweet romance will love this.

This Book Contains:

• Baseball
• Intense romantic connections
• GLBT issues
• Drugs
• Domestic Violence
• Ribbons
• A writing competition

Add this to your To-Read List!!

My Rating:

2.5/4

How I got this book:  I was provided a free copy in exchange for this honest review
Date Published: 5/28/2013