Dare You To by Katie McGarryMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
*ARC provided by Harlequin via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
I'm not sure which story I liked better!! I honestly didn't think I was going to like Beth's story, but holy crap! Wow!! These teens definitely shouldn't have to go through this stuff!
5 of 5 stars - I would rate this more if I could. Definitely a must read and will be a re read for me!
In book 1, I was so sure if Beth had a book I wouldn't relate at all. She was very closed off and I couldn't picture relating to that. Now, I can't decide which book I like better!!
Beth was so closed off because she didn't want to feel anymore. Every time she started to feel she got hurt, so she started numbing the pain or running away. In book 1, she was beaten up pretty bad by her moms boyfriend and Noah and Isaiah stood up for her. They tried to get her to leave her mom alone and forget about her, but she couldn't. She has been responsible for her moms well being for years...it was second nature. Her mom couldn't care less if she was there or not, just where she could get her next fix. Man...that just kept breaking my heart. How could a mother tell her daughter over and over she was a mistake and how she ruined her life? Seriously, I was an emotional wreck - why don't these women and men use condoms!! They shouldn't be reproducing. Children are a miracle and should not be the ones taking care of the parents. Anyway, back to the story. As you can see, Beth didn't have a steady home life. She wants and craves normal. Unfortunately, I don't think anyone knows what "normal" is or should be. After the final straw, Beth is turned over to her Uncle. He used to be her hero and now she resents him and blames him for leaving. Scott was between a rock and a hard place when he left that life. He didn't want to leave Beth but he had to make a life for himself and then come back to rescue her. Man, by the time she was 8 she was loving in hell, just 2 years after Scott left her. So for 10 years, every person she loved left. Finally, it makes sense. I definitely understand why Beth is closed off.
Uncle Scott rips her away from her friends and moves her to a new school, a fancy home and a snobby community. Uncle Scott is a well known baseball player and is very respected in the community, but Beth doesn't want anyone to know they are related. She wants to be alone and not noticed until she can make a break for it.
Ryan Stone is a jock. A baseball player. Ryan has the perfect family. He has it all. On the outside. On the inside, he is broken. His family is broken, he loves baseball, but also has a new passion. Writing. His father is trying to live out his own dream of making it big through sports. His mother and father don't care what Ryan wants. They want to be the perfect family, they want people jealous/envious of them. Ryan's brother, Mark has been exiled from the family because he will give the family's name shame. Ryan feels alone and starts expressing himself through writing. Ryan and his best friends, Chris and Logan have been playing baseball together since they were in elementary school and rely on each other on and off the field. Ryan, Chris and Logan are at Taco Bell the last Friday night before school starts for the year. They are always daring each other. The current dare is to see who can get the most phone numbers.
Beth waltzes into Taco Bell and she is the next recipient of Ryan's dare. Ryan thought she was going to be easy - Beth gave him a run for his money. Ryan was unsuccessful and lost the dare that night.
Sunday after Beth moves in with Scott they are in town and run into Ryan. Ryan and Scott discuss baseball and Scott asks Ryan to look after Beth at school. So here comes the fun, Beth with her everyone sucks attitude still doesn't swoon over Ryan. Much to Ryan's dismay - since he's the popular baseball player he can have any girl except Beth. Beth is smart enough to know she isn't his type and knows there has to be something in it for him to even talk to her.
Lacy, one of Ryan's friends and Chris' girlfriend befriends Beth and remembers they used to be friends when they were 4 before Scott left and Beth moved. Lacy has been trying to rekindle their friendship and told Ryan to leave Beth alone if she still is a dare.
So this whole time, Beth is trying to make plan to escape and get her mom away from her abusive drug dealing boyfriend and Ryan is still trying to win the dare.
Ryan doesn't realize he's starting to fall for Beth and calls off the dare. He told Beth about the dare, thank goodness. I would have been so upset if he didn't.
Beth's best friend Isaiah isn't a huge part of the story any longer since Scott pulled her away from that life. It broke my heart when she said goodbye to him.
Ryan helps Beth realize she has family and friends in her new life and they could be happy. Beth helps Ryan with his family and they lean on each other and learn to trust.
I am starting to love YA books. There are some real issues and not all about sex. There are definitely some steamy scenes, but were def YA appropriate.
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