Thursday, May 9, 2013

Review: Crossing the Line by Katie McGarry

Crossing the Line (Pushing the Limits, #1.5)
Crossing the Line by Katie McGarry
Katie McGarry captivated readers with her “riveting, emotional”* Young Adult debut, Pushing the Limits. In this gripping novella, she tells the story of Lila and Lincoln, who discover that sometimes it’s worth crossing the line for love…
Lila McCormick, Echo's best friend from Pushing the Limits, first met Lincoln Turner when tragedy struck both their lives. But she never expected their surprise encounter would lead to two years of exchanging letters—or that she’d fall for the boy she’s only seen once. Their relationship is a secret, but Lila feels closer to Lincoln than anyone else. Until she finds out that he lied to her about the one thing she depended on him for the most.
Hurting Lila is the last thing Lincoln wanted. For two years, her letters have been the only thing getting him through the day. Admitting his feelings would cross a line he’s never dared breach before. But Lincoln will do whatever it takes to fix his mistakes, earn Lila’s forgiveness—and finally win a chance to be with the girl he loves.
”add
Publishes in US: April 1st 2013 by Harlequin TEEN
Genre:
Source:
Series? Yes. Pushing the Limits 1.5. Companion novel to Pushing the Limits (read my review HERE).  2nd is Dare you To releases June 7th, and you can read my review HERE. The next book, releases Nov 26th 2013 and focuses on Isaiah (the arc has 2 bonus chapters of it)

Buy it:   Amazon  IndieBound  BookDepository.com

Find Katie McGarry online: site   twitter   facebook

 
     Crossing the line is another great book by Katie McGarry... Well, Novella, technically. It is leaving me wondering why I never read them in the past (well, before Destroy me anyways.)  Though it is not as dark as the others, it still had similar elements and I enjoyed being in Echo's town. 
    There are full fleshed out characters. I wondered and had plenty of questions as reading and in the end, just wish that I had more time with them, but i have a feeling that I would still that way after even 300 pages with them.
    I had to know the lie that Lincoln told and once I figured that out why he told it. I really understood in the end though, and can see how he got himself into that situation.
     I also appreciated Lila and left wondering about her terror of being alone. That was never really fully explained, but I guess that anxiety and no previous experience can explain. Although with her character, I was bit confused in the very beginning because I read date you to first and Beth's friend Lacy was stuck in my head and I was wondering for a minute where Lincoln came from then realized Lila was echo's best friend. But that is totally on me! Too many L names :)
    There was some pretty hot scenes, and I got a good feel on their history from snippits of letters at the beginning of the chapters.
    The ending was good though I wish that I knew how they ended up.
    
Bottom Line: Great novella.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Have you ever had a long distance relationship

54 comments:

  1. Novellas are usually hit or miss for me, so it's good to hear you liked this one! I usually want more time with the characters, as well.

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    1. I know, the only downside for the ones I've read

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  2. I feel like there are a lot more novellas being released nowadays via e-format so it makes it easier to read them-I was never a big reader of them either although Destroy Me is on my list.

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  3. Gah I still need to read this! I meant to squeeze it in before Dare You To, though that didn't happen in the end. I'm really glad that I can expect good things though. Brilliant review as always, Brandi. :)

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  4. Yes, I think I definitely need to start this series :)! Awesome review!

    Janina @ Synchonized Reading

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  5. I liked both books, although not as much as most people did, but I totally forgot I had this novella to read! it never even crossed my mind, when I really liked Lila and I want to know her story.
    Glad you enjoyed it!

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    1. Sorry you didn't like not as much. They are def for a certain group

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  6. I don't normally read novellas, but like you, that is until Destroy Me and I now have an open mind! This sounds good so I'm glad you enjoyed it! Great review :)

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    1. Thanks.
      Destroy Me is a great one to get started, but also sets the bar high

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  7. Novellas and I do not always mix

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  8. I've never had a long distance relationship - or at least not longer than a few weeks. I'm looking forward to reading Dare to You. If I like that more than I liked Pushing the Limits (which I liked but didn't love) I'll probably read the novella too.

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    1. Long distance is so hard, I did it for a bit, but didn't work out

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  9. Oh I have read this one and in general I love reading novellas. They're mostly short and sweet. I'm really happy that you've enjoyed this one :)

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  10. I picked this one up, and still haven't had a chance to read it. I'm glad it's good, and I'm looking forward to it, even more, now!

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  11. Hm... I'm still not sure about this one, but then again, I'm not always sure about novellas. Still, it might be worth a quick read since they don't take too long to read it. Great review!

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  12. I enjoyed this novella. I would like more of a story with these two characters, especially because I went to The University of Florida where Lila wants to go to college. I'd love a story set in Gainesville. Plus Lincoln feels such a need to live up to Lila's expectations of her. I'd like to see him succeed. It had a lot packed in to such a short story.

    Yeah, I had a long distance relationship. It was only temporarily long distance. It was tumultuous anyway so the distance was good for us. It probably lasted longer because of that. We did not write letters to each other. Just called.

    Heather

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    1. I would def love to see a full novel with them. It would be so neat to see them at college

      I never did the letters either when I was long distance, just phone and AIM

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  13. I didn't know there was a novella like that, I'll have to read the first book before I think.

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  14. I liked Lila in PTL, so I'm definitely going to give this one a try! Glad to hear there are some hot scenes and I'm always a fan of a couple doing the email/letter thing for awhile. It's so romantic! I've had a long distance relationship before, and it's really tough. But it can also be romantic because you take time to write emails and talk on the phone the way you might not if they were close by. Great review!

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    1. I actually didn't remember much about her, just Echo, but I appreciated getting to know her again) and for the hotness.

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  15. I haven't read Dare You To yet but I want to soon. I've never really read novellas unless it was from an absolute favorite series of mine. Great review though!
    (I get confused a lot with names, too :P)

    -Ariella @ Secrets of Lost Words

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    1. I love DyT, and hope you do too.
      Get what you mean about novellas, I used to be all against them, not I pick out some

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  16. I just finished Dare You To and I'm thinking I'd like this, even though I'm not generally a fan of novellas…
    You can find me here: Jen @ YA Romantics

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  17. I am very picky about Novellas. Glad you found one that you enjoyed!!

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  18. I've been hearing good things about this one. I wonder I fits necessary to read CtL before Dare You To?glad you liked it!

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    1. No, you don't have to. It is just Lila and Lincoln

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  19. Ugh..i have a hate relationship with these novellas..I hate that we need additional novellas and yet I enjoy them! Lovely review and I am reading Dare to You this weekend!

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  20. This is actually one of the only novellas I'm actually interested in reading, the other being Destroy Me by Tahereh Mafi. So happy you enjoyed this as well, too, though I don't quite remember reading about a Lila in Pushing the Limits. Anyway, glad this worked out for you. Can't wait to get my hands on a copy.

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    1. I didn't remember much about her either.
      If you're into the Covenant series, Elixir is worth it too

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  21. I think novellas are a cool idea, as long as they aren't NECESSARY to read a series. That wouldn't be cool. I need to read these books though, so it's great you've enjoyed them.

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    1. That is a great point. They should be just additional not something that contains plot element

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  22. I love novellas that make you feel satisfied with characters. Although it only makes those big 500+ books look bad when a 50 page novel tells a better story :P

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  23. I like full flesh out characters :)

    Great to see that you loved every story written by McGarry. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. I do to characters and Katie, I can't wait for Isaiah's story

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  24. I didn't even know about this one and I am reading Dare You To soon. I guess I better look it up. Honestly, this whole novella thing is getting irritatin. I usually am never satisfired with them. Too short and I want more. To answeryour ? Yes, I have been in couple of long distance relationships. My husband and I dated two years that way and we have now been together for 18 yrs so yes they can work.

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    1. Aw, sorry they aren't your thing. I always want more from the characters but taht is usually because I love them.
      But I get where you are coming from.

      Great to hear a long distance success, and that you are so happy now :) :)

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  25. Glad you enjoyed this one. I haven't rally read novellas in the past but I have read some good ones recently :)

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    1. Me too, there are some good ones out there. Maybe trying to make us bloggers buy them since we get so many arcs for free, lol

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  26. I get why too, but I can also see Lila's side

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  27. So many L names! Plus there is Logan, Ryan's best friend, who is my faaaaaave!

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  28. I am about to dive into Dare You TO and I am pretty excited. I also loved the town and all the characters from Pushing the Limits. I haven't read Crossing the Line and I think I need to. I am hoping to soon. I am glad you liked it.

    Sara @ Just Another Story

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  29. Yes, I have. It was working, I've heard so many people say, distance relationships don't work. I believe you have to really trust a person for them to work. And communication is key. Things didn't work out in the end, but if we weren't far away from each other, it still wouldn't have worked out.
    The other distance relationship that was never a relationship but I wanted it to, I don't know how that would have worked. I always wonder how things end up for them. When it's time to go to college and they both go their separate ways, what do they do in books to get them together in the end or is it goodbye forever?

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