Friends with ARCS | Crash Into You by Katie McGarry

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Crash Into You (Pushing the Limits #2) by Katie McGarry
Publication date: Nov. 26, 2016
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Category: Young Adult - Contemporary
Source: ARC from Estelle (Thanks!)

Summary: The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life - that's who people expect Rachel Young to be. So Rachel keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers - one involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker, a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can't get him out of her mind. Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. When their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out and discover just how far they'll go to save each other. (Adapted goodreads.com)

My thoughts…

There are three things I've come to expect when I read Katie McGarry books: hot guys, tension-filled romances and distinctive characters. And that is exactly what I got with Crash Into You. Each new book introduces a different side to characters we've met in the past, like Isaiah, and brand new ones like Rachel fit well into the world the author has created. This is another tale of opposites attracting and these two? Well, I don't know if you can get any more opposite than this. Except for their love of cars which they have in common one hundred percent.

I remembered Isaiah as usually being high and hurting from Beth's rejection. He seemed angry and tough but with a soft spot for people he considered family like Noah, Echo and Beth. In Crash Into You, Isaiah is sharing an apartment with Noah (and barely making rent) while trying to graduate from high school. It's his need for money that leads him to the drag race where he meets Rachel. Rachel is an extremely introverted, sheltered girl who suffers from panic attacks (am I the only one who felt these got overdramatic at times?). She has four overprotective brothers who believe she can't take care of herself and overbearing parents who look to her to replace the daughter they lost. The only time Rachel can be herself is when she's driving her car. But drag racing was a total fluke that lands her in a lot of trouble. She and Isaiah are thrown together by unexpected circumstances and of course, both are extremely attracted to the other.

I really loved Isaiah in this one. He was so much more than what the previous books allowed us to see. He's not this constantly high, slacker without a future. His love of cars could lead to a career. He's kind. He sticks out his neck for Rachel even though she's a complete stranger to him. And he's dealing with his mother's abandonment. Rachel wasn't my favorite heroine (even though she's the one I could probably relate to the most!) but I liked the person she was around Isaiah. When she was with him, she had more personality and I enjoyed watching these two different people fall for each other even when it seemed like the worst idea ever. I do wish the author had allowed more time for Rachel to work out her issues with her family though. Her parents and brothers were just awful and I thought Rachel deserved a lot more apologies and groveling from them than she actually got. Even Isaiah's issues with his mom could've been delved in a little more as it explained a lot about how he was. But ultimately, the center of the story is Isaiah and Rachel's relationship. If you love romance (and cars!), you'll definitely enjoy this one.

Do I recommend?: I do! I enjoy Katie McGarry's writing a lot and this was no exception. It's always engaging and I'm looking forward to her next book!

Collaborative feature with Alexa!

Who is your favorite McGarry boy?

I'll admit, Ryan from Dare You To is pretty freaking perfect. He's the guy you know you can bring home to your parents. But while I totally adore his character, I have a soft spot for Noah from Pushing the Limits. On the outside, he's your seemingly typical bad boy that many girls flock to. But he's not what he seems. His number one priority are his younger brothers. He loves them so much and tries his best to do right by them even though it hurts to be separated. And from the moment he meets Echo, he sees beyond the scars that everyone chooses to focus on. He sees her and loves her for exactly who she is. Minus his tendency to call Echo a siren all the time, he's a guy you will undoubtedly swoon over. I definitely did!