The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life—that's who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers…and she's just added two more to the list. 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. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks—no matter how angelic she might look.
But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they'll go to save each other.
- Books
- YA Fiction & Indies
- Young Adult Fiction
- Crash into You (Pushing the Limits #3)
Crash into You (Pushing the Limits #3)
Author(s)
Publisher
Genre(s)
Age Range
14+
Release Date
November 26, 2013
ISBN
978-0373210992
Buy This Book
Editor reviews
Makes Your Heart RACE
Overall rating
5.0
Plot
5.0
Characters
5.0
Writing Style
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
This is my favorite of Katie McGarry's books, by far. In fact, I started reading it after I was a few chapters into Dare You To (#2 in the series) and finished it seriously weeks before DYT. Crash Into You has incredible characters that you will fall in love with, a fast-paced, page-turning plot, and a sizzling romance that will quicken your heart.
Katie really delivers with this book. It is obvious that she worked so, so very hard on crafting Isaiah and Rachel's story, and all of her hard work shows on every page. The characters are interesting, a little quirky, relatable, and incredibly lovable. Isaiah is a bad boy with a good heart, and it doesn't hurt that he's sexy as sin. Rachel is a private school girl with a complicated family, an anxiety disorder, and the looks of an angel.
Characters from other books in the series make appearances when appropriate, including Noah and Echo, Beth and Ryan, Logan, and Chris. It's great getting to see them, especially Noah and Beth, from Isaiah's perspective. Secondary characters like Abby, Ethan, and West are also very strong and stand on their own enough to feature their own stories (at least for West). It's never hard keeping all the characters straight, because they're all so different and, again, you'll fall in love with them.
The plot is very well-crafted and I don't have anything bad to say about it. Not a single thing. Rachel and Isaiah first meet at a street race in the bad part of Louisville, and they run from the cops together. It's dangerous and crazy and exciting right from the start. Isaiah sort of rescues Rachel from that situation, but she rescues him as well. And he never forgets what she did for him. They get into trouble with a local baddie, Eric, who they now owe money to. At first they have to work together to get the money together and keep each other safe from Eric and his craziness. But then they start to like each other. And want each other. And sparks fly.
If you want a fast-paced romance, an urban contemporary story, and a heart-wrenching tale of self-discovery and bravery you should be reading Katie McGarry's Crash Into You!
Katie really delivers with this book. It is obvious that she worked so, so very hard on crafting Isaiah and Rachel's story, and all of her hard work shows on every page. The characters are interesting, a little quirky, relatable, and incredibly lovable. Isaiah is a bad boy with a good heart, and it doesn't hurt that he's sexy as sin. Rachel is a private school girl with a complicated family, an anxiety disorder, and the looks of an angel.
Characters from other books in the series make appearances when appropriate, including Noah and Echo, Beth and Ryan, Logan, and Chris. It's great getting to see them, especially Noah and Beth, from Isaiah's perspective. Secondary characters like Abby, Ethan, and West are also very strong and stand on their own enough to feature their own stories (at least for West). It's never hard keeping all the characters straight, because they're all so different and, again, you'll fall in love with them.
The plot is very well-crafted and I don't have anything bad to say about it. Not a single thing. Rachel and Isaiah first meet at a street race in the bad part of Louisville, and they run from the cops together. It's dangerous and crazy and exciting right from the start. Isaiah sort of rescues Rachel from that situation, but she rescues him as well. And he never forgets what she did for him. They get into trouble with a local baddie, Eric, who they now owe money to. At first they have to work together to get the money together and keep each other safe from Eric and his craziness. But then they start to like each other. And want each other. And sparks fly.
If you want a fast-paced romance, an urban contemporary story, and a heart-wrenching tale of self-discovery and bravery you should be reading Katie McGarry's Crash Into You!
While it didn’t captivate me as much as her previous novels, McGarry delivers a great story
Overall rating
4.3
Plot
4.0
Characters
4.0
Writing Style
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Crash into You was another amazing read from McGarry. She sure knows how to write a story about messed up teens who get a second chance at life and find love along the way! However, while I do really love Isaiah, and the story was great, something was missing. That special “umph” that I got from the other two books. With Pushing the Limits and Dare You To, I was compelled by the story and the characters, their anguish and romance drew me in like nothing else. In Crash into You, it was still intriguing, and I may be in the minority, but it didn’t “WOW” me like the others. That may have something to do, with my feelings towards the leading lady, Rachel, and possibly her family.
After what happened in Dare You To, while I loved Beth and Ryan, I really felt bad for Isaiah. A lot of readers didn’t care for him in the other books, but I always had a soft spot for him. He’s had a pretty hard life, being in the foster system, having no one to depend on, never really feeling loved. I really enjoyed being in his head, reveling in his love of cars, and seeing him fall for Rachel. Having his life would’ve made a lot of people turn to drugs, alcohol, and all kinds of illegal things, but Isaiah stays strong through all the temptations, not completely, of course, but I liked that he has a good head on his shoulders and that he actually has goals and dreams, and that he wants to do something with his life. If anything, this book made me love him even more.
Rachel, on the other hand, took me quite awhile to warm up to. She was very innocent, naive, self-conscious, and often times weak, in my opinion. Eventually she toughened up, but it took a bit too long for me, and a lot of the time I really just wanted to knock some sense into the girl. She comes from sheltered life, so I get why she’s the way she is. Also, she has to deal with recurrent panic attacks that affect her a great deal, and I’m not faulting her on that at all. I think it was just the way she viewed herself for so long and when she finally realizes she’s had enough, it wasn’t all that climactic, especially regarding her father. One word I would use to describe Rachel would, in fact, be fragile, even though she tries so hard not to be. Towards the end, I started to like her more and you could see her confidence show just a bit, but I was hoping for more.
As for Rachel and Isaiah as a couple, I really liked that they could confide in each other about their lives, how open they became, and how they shared a love of cars. However, I didn’t really feel that connection between them like I did with McGarry’s other couples. There was a bond there, but it didn’t affect me as much. It wasn’t clear to me why they became so open with each other except that they had the urge to be, like there wasn’t a defining moment that sealed their fate as a couple, at least in my opinion. I still think they’re very cute together and that ending was very sweet and touching, but I was hoping for a bit more.
Oh, and I really disliked her family. I get that her older sister died and everyone felt bad for their mother, but the way they babied that woman, everyone hiding their true feelings and who they really were, it was just too much! Don’t get me wrong, I loved that McGarry created a family dynamic that I hated so much, it’s a testament to her skill and craft, but man did I want to slap her brothers and have a long talk with her mother.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story and am definitely happy that McGarry is continuing this series. While I would’ve loved to see an Ethan and Abby book, I’m curious to see where she takes West’s story (all are characters you’ll meet in Crash into You). If you’re already a McGarry fan, you’ll love this book, not only because you get to see how the third person in their crazy trio gets what he deserves, but you’ll also catch glimpses of characters you’ve loved from the past like Noah, Echo, Beth, and Ryan. McGarry’s writing is nothing if not fascinating and readers of all types will be hooked after just a few pages.
After what happened in Dare You To, while I loved Beth and Ryan, I really felt bad for Isaiah. A lot of readers didn’t care for him in the other books, but I always had a soft spot for him. He’s had a pretty hard life, being in the foster system, having no one to depend on, never really feeling loved. I really enjoyed being in his head, reveling in his love of cars, and seeing him fall for Rachel. Having his life would’ve made a lot of people turn to drugs, alcohol, and all kinds of illegal things, but Isaiah stays strong through all the temptations, not completely, of course, but I liked that he has a good head on his shoulders and that he actually has goals and dreams, and that he wants to do something with his life. If anything, this book made me love him even more.
Rachel, on the other hand, took me quite awhile to warm up to. She was very innocent, naive, self-conscious, and often times weak, in my opinion. Eventually she toughened up, but it took a bit too long for me, and a lot of the time I really just wanted to knock some sense into the girl. She comes from sheltered life, so I get why she’s the way she is. Also, she has to deal with recurrent panic attacks that affect her a great deal, and I’m not faulting her on that at all. I think it was just the way she viewed herself for so long and when she finally realizes she’s had enough, it wasn’t all that climactic, especially regarding her father. One word I would use to describe Rachel would, in fact, be fragile, even though she tries so hard not to be. Towards the end, I started to like her more and you could see her confidence show just a bit, but I was hoping for more.
As for Rachel and Isaiah as a couple, I really liked that they could confide in each other about their lives, how open they became, and how they shared a love of cars. However, I didn’t really feel that connection between them like I did with McGarry’s other couples. There was a bond there, but it didn’t affect me as much. It wasn’t clear to me why they became so open with each other except that they had the urge to be, like there wasn’t a defining moment that sealed their fate as a couple, at least in my opinion. I still think they’re very cute together and that ending was very sweet and touching, but I was hoping for a bit more.
Oh, and I really disliked her family. I get that her older sister died and everyone felt bad for their mother, but the way they babied that woman, everyone hiding their true feelings and who they really were, it was just too much! Don’t get me wrong, I loved that McGarry created a family dynamic that I hated so much, it’s a testament to her skill and craft, but man did I want to slap her brothers and have a long talk with her mother.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story and am definitely happy that McGarry is continuing this series. While I would’ve loved to see an Ethan and Abby book, I’m curious to see where she takes West’s story (all are characters you’ll meet in Crash into You). If you’re already a McGarry fan, you’ll love this book, not only because you get to see how the third person in their crazy trio gets what he deserves, but you’ll also catch glimpses of characters you’ve loved from the past like Noah, Echo, Beth, and Ryan. McGarry’s writing is nothing if not fascinating and readers of all types will be hooked after just a few pages.
Stole My Heart
Overall rating
5.0
Plot
5.0
Characters
5.0
Writing Style
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
What I Loved:
I've been a fan of Katie McGarry since her debut novel PUSHING THE LIMITS hit the shelves. McGarry's strength lies in her ability to perfectly capture each character's unique voice, make her readers feel connected to those characters, and then play out their stories against a vivid backdrop of contemporary life that feels absolutely authentic to the reader. In CRASH INTO YOU, McGarry's strengths were once again on display. The characters of Isaiah and Rachel were well developed, expertly rendered, and sounded unique from each other. This reader felt an instant connection with each, even though the characters came from vastly different situations.
The romance is a slow-building sizzle that leaves plenty of room for character development and plot, but also keeps the reader anxiously turning pages hoping for another kiss. McGarry's characters tend to approach love reluctantly but then fall hard when they finally capitulate, and Isaiah and Rachel were no different. What was different, however, was the degree of difference in their social and economic situations, and the personal demons that both had to conquer. With her trademark insight into the human psyche and an intuitive understanding of how broken hearts find healing, McGarry takes her characters, and the reader, on a rich, fast-paced journey that delivers both heat and heart.
Finally, the world building is once again superb. Who knew Kentucky could be such a fascinating backdrop for contemporary romance? The world of street racing, private schools, social workers, drag racing, and multi-million dollar fundraisers were brought to life in authentic detail. This reader enjoyed trusting herself to an accomplished storyteller and hanging on for a wild ride.
What Left Me Wanting More:
Nothing. This book hit all the right notes for me.
Final Verdict:
In CRASH INTO YOU, Katie McGarry once again delivers a rich, intriguing story full of heat, healing, and plenty of heart. Fans of contemporary romance won't want to miss this.
I've been a fan of Katie McGarry since her debut novel PUSHING THE LIMITS hit the shelves. McGarry's strength lies in her ability to perfectly capture each character's unique voice, make her readers feel connected to those characters, and then play out their stories against a vivid backdrop of contemporary life that feels absolutely authentic to the reader. In CRASH INTO YOU, McGarry's strengths were once again on display. The characters of Isaiah and Rachel were well developed, expertly rendered, and sounded unique from each other. This reader felt an instant connection with each, even though the characters came from vastly different situations.
The romance is a slow-building sizzle that leaves plenty of room for character development and plot, but also keeps the reader anxiously turning pages hoping for another kiss. McGarry's characters tend to approach love reluctantly but then fall hard when they finally capitulate, and Isaiah and Rachel were no different. What was different, however, was the degree of difference in their social and economic situations, and the personal demons that both had to conquer. With her trademark insight into the human psyche and an intuitive understanding of how broken hearts find healing, McGarry takes her characters, and the reader, on a rich, fast-paced journey that delivers both heat and heart.
Finally, the world building is once again superb. Who knew Kentucky could be such a fascinating backdrop for contemporary romance? The world of street racing, private schools, social workers, drag racing, and multi-million dollar fundraisers were brought to life in authentic detail. This reader enjoyed trusting herself to an accomplished storyteller and hanging on for a wild ride.
What Left Me Wanting More:
Nothing. This book hit all the right notes for me.
Final Verdict:
In CRASH INTO YOU, Katie McGarry once again delivers a rich, intriguing story full of heat, healing, and plenty of heart. Fans of contemporary romance won't want to miss this.
Incredible addition to this series!
Overall rating
5.0
Plot
5.0
Characters
5.0
Writing Style
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
So, I'm the girl who fell for Noah in 'Pushing the Limits', then I thought no one could beat my adoration for Ryan in 'Dare You To', and then came Isaiah. I liked Isaiah in the first two books, but holy cow, I LOVE him now. As I mentioned to Katie McGarry on twitter "Ryan is the kind of guy I would love...but Isaiah is the guy to make me LIVE!"
I loved the dual POV's. Katie McGarry does an outstanding job of really making the characters relateable and making you care deeply for them. It's also very easy to fall into their lives and get caught up in them. I've never dealt with foster care, or grew up rich, but I found it quite easy to understand those worlds from Isaiah and Rachel's POV. I also loved how we still get updates on our beloved characters from the first two books. Noah, Echo, Ryan, Beth, and even Logan are back! I appreciate how Ms. McGarry keeps us posted on what's going on in their lives now.
I also loved Rachel's character. She is such a strong, giving, yet extremely complicated character. My heart just hurt for her because of the pressure she was under from her family. However, I thought the situation was handled very well and I was very pleased with how Rachel's story ends. I also adored her older brothers and how protective they were of her. But yet she was still able to get out and drive fast in her mustang when she needed to. And I LOVED how driving fast/cars was her release!
Just like the other two books, this book kept me on the edge of my seat. Isaiah and Rachel's story is not all roses and lovey dovey. Their story is not easy. I appreciate the twists and turns and how their lives are not perfect.
Overall, an outstanding addition to this series. It's one of my favorite series of ALL TIME. I will read anything this author writes. Yep, I'm a total fangirl. If you have not read this series yet, read it now. It's fantastic!
I loved the dual POV's. Katie McGarry does an outstanding job of really making the characters relateable and making you care deeply for them. It's also very easy to fall into their lives and get caught up in them. I've never dealt with foster care, or grew up rich, but I found it quite easy to understand those worlds from Isaiah and Rachel's POV. I also loved how we still get updates on our beloved characters from the first two books. Noah, Echo, Ryan, Beth, and even Logan are back! I appreciate how Ms. McGarry keeps us posted on what's going on in their lives now.
I also loved Rachel's character. She is such a strong, giving, yet extremely complicated character. My heart just hurt for her because of the pressure she was under from her family. However, I thought the situation was handled very well and I was very pleased with how Rachel's story ends. I also adored her older brothers and how protective they were of her. But yet she was still able to get out and drive fast in her mustang when she needed to. And I LOVED how driving fast/cars was her release!
Just like the other two books, this book kept me on the edge of my seat. Isaiah and Rachel's story is not all roses and lovey dovey. Their story is not easy. I appreciate the twists and turns and how their lives are not perfect.
Overall, an outstanding addition to this series. It's one of my favorite series of ALL TIME. I will read anything this author writes. Yep, I'm a total fangirl. If you have not read this series yet, read it now. It's fantastic!
Love In The Fast Lane
Overall rating
5.0
Plot
5.0
Characters
5.0
Writing Style
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
WHAT I LOVED: Once again Katie McGarry has given us characters who are a blend of strength and vulnerability with heartbreaking, yet hopeful stories. I loved the dual POV and both characters had distinct voices as well as fonts which I thought was cool.
With the background that Isaiah comes from, it's no wonder he has major trust issues and doubts his self-worth. The foster care system is supposed to help and protect children but it often fails. On the flip side is Rachel. She's spent her whole life knowing that despite her picture perfect life, she is merely a replacement. And her efforts to live up to her family's expectations have taken a dangerous toll on her health.
Neither Isaiah nor Rachel truly feel like themselves unless they're behind the wheel of a car cruising at speeds that would make most people cower. When they meet, they aren't looking for anything more than a way to escape their circumstances, even if just for one night. I liked that they chose to work together even though they didn't have to. People often complain about stories that feel like insta-love and I have too when it doesn't feel genuine. But it is totally plausible and it does happen. (I met my husband on Christmas Eve, we had our first date in January and by March I knew I would marry him. That was eighteen years ago. *shrugs*)
I also liked that this wasn't a, "Cross the finish line and ride off into the sunset where they live happily-ever-after" kind of ending. Isaiah and Rachel face even greater challenges after the racing situation it behind them and in it's in that part of the story where we see growth from everyone.
WHAT LEFT ME WANTING MORE: Nothing.
FINAL VERDICT: Another great companion to the Pushing the Limit's series and I CAN NOT wait for West's story!
With the background that Isaiah comes from, it's no wonder he has major trust issues and doubts his self-worth. The foster care system is supposed to help and protect children but it often fails. On the flip side is Rachel. She's spent her whole life knowing that despite her picture perfect life, she is merely a replacement. And her efforts to live up to her family's expectations have taken a dangerous toll on her health.
Neither Isaiah nor Rachel truly feel like themselves unless they're behind the wheel of a car cruising at speeds that would make most people cower. When they meet, they aren't looking for anything more than a way to escape their circumstances, even if just for one night. I liked that they chose to work together even though they didn't have to. People often complain about stories that feel like insta-love and I have too when it doesn't feel genuine. But it is totally plausible and it does happen. (I met my husband on Christmas Eve, we had our first date in January and by March I knew I would marry him. That was eighteen years ago. *shrugs*)
I also liked that this wasn't a, "Cross the finish line and ride off into the sunset where they live happily-ever-after" kind of ending. Isaiah and Rachel face even greater challenges after the racing situation it behind them and in it's in that part of the story where we see growth from everyone.
WHAT LEFT ME WANTING MORE: Nothing.
FINAL VERDICT: Another great companion to the Pushing the Limit's series and I CAN NOT wait for West's story!
User reviews
4 reviews
Overall rating
4.6
Plot
4.3(4)
Characters
4.5(4)
Writing Style
5.0(4)
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A(0)
Already have an account? Log in now or Create an account
Favorite of the series
Overall rating
4.7
Plot
4.0
Characters
5.0
Writing Style
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
The third book in the Pushing the Limits series puts Isaiah as the main character, along with a new girl, Rachel Young, a rich private school girl keeping plenty of secrets from her family. She has a love for cars and for speed, which leads her to a street race where she meets Isaiah. With both their lives threatened after events of that street race, they have even more secrets and six weeks to find a way out.
This is by far my favorite of the series. I enjoyed the first two but everything about this one just seemed amplified, from the chemistry to the tension to the danger. We get to see so much deeper into who Isaiah is as a person and the events that lead up to how be became a foster child and why he lets so few people into his life. It was so heartbreaking. Rachel’s story was no less touching. Trying to be the perfect daughter to keep her mother happy so the rest of her family is happy, hiding how unhappy she is and having to pretend she’s fine when she’s not. It was easy to relate to both of them, fear of getting hurt, wanting to keep people happy, insecurities, feeling like a burden. These are two characters I found so easy to root for and wanted to see happy in the end.
The side characters were great as well. So many side characters and all with distinct personalities so it was easy to tell them apart. Noah, Echo, Beth, and Logan are all back for multiple scenes and Ryan shows up as well but he has less time than the others. I really liked Logan in Dare You To but in this one, it made me want to know so much more about him. Favorite new character is a toss-up between Rachel’s twin Ethan, her brother West, or Isaiah’s friend Abby. All three had moments that left me wanting more about them(and with West there is more coming in Take Me On). I also really liked Courtney, Isaiah’s new social worker. She was awesome in her handling of him and she cared about him. The only character I had slight problems with was Eric, the bad guy of the book. I didn’t find him as menacing and dangerous as the characters did until closer to the end.
The book is almost five hundred pages but it never felt like it. It kept me reading every time I had a spare moment until 3am because I just had to find out what was going to happen. Katie McGarry definitely did research into drag racing and cars for this book and it showed in the writing.
Included in this book is also a preview for the next in the series: Take Me On, which has Rachel’s brother West as the main character. The preview is good and I’m definitely looking forward to that one.
This is by far my favorite of the series. I enjoyed the first two but everything about this one just seemed amplified, from the chemistry to the tension to the danger. We get to see so much deeper into who Isaiah is as a person and the events that lead up to how be became a foster child and why he lets so few people into his life. It was so heartbreaking. Rachel’s story was no less touching. Trying to be the perfect daughter to keep her mother happy so the rest of her family is happy, hiding how unhappy she is and having to pretend she’s fine when she’s not. It was easy to relate to both of them, fear of getting hurt, wanting to keep people happy, insecurities, feeling like a burden. These are two characters I found so easy to root for and wanted to see happy in the end.
The side characters were great as well. So many side characters and all with distinct personalities so it was easy to tell them apart. Noah, Echo, Beth, and Logan are all back for multiple scenes and Ryan shows up as well but he has less time than the others. I really liked Logan in Dare You To but in this one, it made me want to know so much more about him. Favorite new character is a toss-up between Rachel’s twin Ethan, her brother West, or Isaiah’s friend Abby. All three had moments that left me wanting more about them(and with West there is more coming in Take Me On). I also really liked Courtney, Isaiah’s new social worker. She was awesome in her handling of him and she cared about him. The only character I had slight problems with was Eric, the bad guy of the book. I didn’t find him as menacing and dangerous as the characters did until closer to the end.
The book is almost five hundred pages but it never felt like it. It kept me reading every time I had a spare moment until 3am because I just had to find out what was going to happen. Katie McGarry definitely did research into drag racing and cars for this book and it showed in the writing.
Included in this book is also a preview for the next in the series: Take Me On, which has Rachel’s brother West as the main character. The preview is good and I’m definitely looking forward to that one.
I Cannot Get Over This Book
Overall rating
5.0
Plot
5.0
Characters
5.0
Writing Style
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
The amazingness of this book was spectacular! I got it on release day and started it the day after. It finished it at 1:30 in morning. Less than 24 hours after starting. It was that good. Crash Into You was everything that Dare You To wasn't. The first book, Pushing the Limits, was perfections incarnate. Dare You To was good, but just didn't interest me as much. Crash Into You basically exploded into my mind and wouldn't let it go. I had to know what happened next. I'm not a huge contemporary reader, there are only a few on my shelves, most by the same couple authors (Katie McGarry, Ally Carter, and Simone Elkeles). But Crash Into You blew them all away! It focuses on drag racing and cars as its central theme, something I'd never read about before. I swear, I learned more about cars in that one book than I have in my entire life.
The book is dual POV, between Isaiah and Rachel. Rachel is awesome. She is kick-butt, she has a bunch of awesome over-protective older brothers, and she knows way more about cars than I do. She had a slight problem with panic attacks though. And have I mentioned her family life? It kinda stinks. The one thing I hate about Rachel is that she refuses to tell her parents about her panic attacks, which are a risk to her life. I wish that she'd just realize that, despite how much she wanted to please everyone else, she had to put herself first. Her parents could only be happy if she was. Her family comes out of a good place, and they really do love her, but they have a really hard time of showing it.
Isaiah is, I can't even. He is simply spectacular. We've known him since book one, and the entire time, we the readers have been wanting a happy ending for him. Isaiah grew up in foster care, which has not treated him well. He's best friends with Noah, the protagonist of book one. Isaiah can fend for himself, and knows cars like nobodies business, but he has a hard time admitting he needs help. He also doesn't know the full story, and tends to make hasty judgements. Overall, I find Isaiah an awesome character, who grows into a wonderful person by the end of the story. He's complex, which is something I love to read about. The romance between him and Rachel was a bit sudden, but it also built at the same time. It was like an insta-attraction that built into something more.
Has anyone heard the Avril Lavigne song 17? If not, check out the lyrics here. This song is basically Rachel and Isaiah's relationship. The feel of the song is how they are. How they're living free and in love. A few of the lyrics really stood out to me though. "Flicking lighters just to fight the dark. My favorite place was sitting in his car." "We were running red lights." The first line immediately makes me think of when Isaiah gave Rachel his lighter, which had great sentimental value to him. The whole purpose of the story was cars, and that was where they would hang out together. We were running red lights could reference the drag racing, or just plain ole driving that Rachel would do. What do you think? Do any other songs come to mind?
The end of the book (before the epilogue). I swear, my heart stopped. I did not believe that Katie McGarry would do that to me. I had only recently suffered through the end of Allegiant, and my heart was still healing. Thankfully, the author saved my heart from total destruction and the book did not end in weeping, though it definitely hit the feels in the heart. The writing of the novel was superb. It couldn't have been done better. Oh, and I forgot to mention Abby. She was easily my favorite character in the novel, and I demand that she get a novella or novel all to herself! She was in such deep trouble, I just had to see how she dug herself out. Actually, I have a list of characters I want to see with their own story, with Abby on top, closely followed by Logan and with Ethan coming in for a close third. The characters are so original, deep, and intense. The plot was non-stop action, and I couldn't help but squeal when old characters came back into the story. There was a lot of squealing. Basically, read the book. It will be worth every second you have it in your arms. Crash Into You easily gets a full five stars!
The book is dual POV, between Isaiah and Rachel. Rachel is awesome. She is kick-butt, she has a bunch of awesome over-protective older brothers, and she knows way more about cars than I do. She had a slight problem with panic attacks though. And have I mentioned her family life? It kinda stinks. The one thing I hate about Rachel is that she refuses to tell her parents about her panic attacks, which are a risk to her life. I wish that she'd just realize that, despite how much she wanted to please everyone else, she had to put herself first. Her parents could only be happy if she was. Her family comes out of a good place, and they really do love her, but they have a really hard time of showing it.
Isaiah is, I can't even. He is simply spectacular. We've known him since book one, and the entire time, we the readers have been wanting a happy ending for him. Isaiah grew up in foster care, which has not treated him well. He's best friends with Noah, the protagonist of book one. Isaiah can fend for himself, and knows cars like nobodies business, but he has a hard time admitting he needs help. He also doesn't know the full story, and tends to make hasty judgements. Overall, I find Isaiah an awesome character, who grows into a wonderful person by the end of the story. He's complex, which is something I love to read about. The romance between him and Rachel was a bit sudden, but it also built at the same time. It was like an insta-attraction that built into something more.
Has anyone heard the Avril Lavigne song 17? If not, check out the lyrics here. This song is basically Rachel and Isaiah's relationship. The feel of the song is how they are. How they're living free and in love. A few of the lyrics really stood out to me though. "Flicking lighters just to fight the dark. My favorite place was sitting in his car." "We were running red lights." The first line immediately makes me think of when Isaiah gave Rachel his lighter, which had great sentimental value to him. The whole purpose of the story was cars, and that was where they would hang out together. We were running red lights could reference the drag racing, or just plain ole driving that Rachel would do. What do you think? Do any other songs come to mind?
The end of the book (before the epilogue). I swear, my heart stopped. I did not believe that Katie McGarry would do that to me. I had only recently suffered through the end of Allegiant, and my heart was still healing. Thankfully, the author saved my heart from total destruction and the book did not end in weeping, though it definitely hit the feels in the heart. The writing of the novel was superb. It couldn't have been done better. Oh, and I forgot to mention Abby. She was easily my favorite character in the novel, and I demand that she get a novella or novel all to herself! She was in such deep trouble, I just had to see how she dug herself out. Actually, I have a list of characters I want to see with their own story, with Abby on top, closely followed by Logan and with Ethan coming in for a close third. The characters are so original, deep, and intense. The plot was non-stop action, and I couldn't help but squeal when old characters came back into the story. There was a lot of squealing. Basically, read the book. It will be worth every second you have it in your arms. Crash Into You easily gets a full five stars!
Loved it
Overall rating
5.0
Plot
5.0
Characters
5.0
Writing Style
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Could Hardly wait for this book to come out it was not a disappointment
Crash Into You by Katie McGarry
Overall rating
3.7
Plot
3.0
Characters
3.0
Writing Style
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this one as much as I was hoping to.I found Isaiah to be controlling and while some might call it protective, I saw a young man who hadn't been able to control much in his life and lo and behold comes Rachel. She is young,naive and in my opinion, a doormat.
Rachel's family dynamics were interesting. After a family tragedy happened before Rachel was born she must now step in and be the daughter and sister that her parents and brothers lost.Her willingness to do this infuriated me. She just agreed to whatever her parents wanted. If it had to do with the daughter they lost, Rachel bent over backwards. She should have just been herself and made them deal with it. Instead, her parents (well mostly her mom) leaves a shrine to the lost daughter and sister and Rachel allows her parents to decorate her room in a color she hates,she accompanies her mom to the malls and she reads her mom's fashion magazines.
Personally, I would not have stood for it. I would have shut it down a long time ago. I was really kind of pissed that it took a guy for Rachel to stand up to her parents.Her self-esteem had been shot down while she dealt with the panic attacks but it's only Isaiah who is able to raise her self-esteem. I'm sorry but seriously? Where is the confident, self assured woman that Rachel should have blossomed into?
Isaiah bugged me too. However I did like the story with his mom. I had wondered what had happened to land his butt in foster care and it was really interesting to see him come face to face with his mom. Yet I finished that part of the book a little unsatisfied.It felt like this story could have continued just a little more.
All the car stuff really bored me. Big time. I am not a car person, so I got bored preeeety quickly.The one thing that came out of the car thing was Abby. I loooooved Abby. She seemed like a softer version of Beth (who I also love) I loved the friendship that developed between Abby and Rachel.
I loved seeing Ryan, Beth, Echo and Noah again too. It was good to see that they played their parts in this book. The scenes near the end with Beth and Isaiah were perfectly written and I may have let a few tears fall. I loved how Ryan's friend Logan played a big part in this book. Watching the friendship grow between Isaiah and Logan was totally awesome.
Let's get to the romance part of the story. I didn't feel the same chemistry with Isaiah and Rachel that I felt with Noah & Echo, Beth & Ryan. I didn't root for the couple at all. And no it's not because I was secretly dreaming that Isaiah and Beth would come to their senses because it wasn't. Beth clearly chose right with Ryan.
I think a lot of it had to do with the insta-love as well as the cheesy nicknames that Isaiah called her. Angel,really? It was almost as cheesy as Noah's Siren talk in Pushing The Limits.The only reason that Noah's nicknames for Echo didn't bug me was because the back-stories for Noah and Echo were super strong.
The ending was pretty good and it raised the rating a half star. It was scary and no one knew what was going to happen. I love how all of the couple's friends came together to help. It showed that friendship is a very strong theme in this book which I love.Friendships are very often underrated and not given the attention that they deserve. Katie McGarry changes that in her books, which is awesome.
It kills me to give this one 3.5 stars but I have to. It wasn't as strong as the previous two were and Rachel & Isaiah drove me bananas.Plus I didn't feel the chemistry between them. However i am excited to read the next book in the series which is West's story.
Rachel's family dynamics were interesting. After a family tragedy happened before Rachel was born she must now step in and be the daughter and sister that her parents and brothers lost.Her willingness to do this infuriated me. She just agreed to whatever her parents wanted. If it had to do with the daughter they lost, Rachel bent over backwards. She should have just been herself and made them deal with it. Instead, her parents (well mostly her mom) leaves a shrine to the lost daughter and sister and Rachel allows her parents to decorate her room in a color she hates,she accompanies her mom to the malls and she reads her mom's fashion magazines.
Personally, I would not have stood for it. I would have shut it down a long time ago. I was really kind of pissed that it took a guy for Rachel to stand up to her parents.Her self-esteem had been shot down while she dealt with the panic attacks but it's only Isaiah who is able to raise her self-esteem. I'm sorry but seriously? Where is the confident, self assured woman that Rachel should have blossomed into?
Isaiah bugged me too. However I did like the story with his mom. I had wondered what had happened to land his butt in foster care and it was really interesting to see him come face to face with his mom. Yet I finished that part of the book a little unsatisfied.It felt like this story could have continued just a little more.
All the car stuff really bored me. Big time. I am not a car person, so I got bored preeeety quickly.The one thing that came out of the car thing was Abby. I loooooved Abby. She seemed like a softer version of Beth (who I also love) I loved the friendship that developed between Abby and Rachel.
I loved seeing Ryan, Beth, Echo and Noah again too. It was good to see that they played their parts in this book. The scenes near the end with Beth and Isaiah were perfectly written and I may have let a few tears fall. I loved how Ryan's friend Logan played a big part in this book. Watching the friendship grow between Isaiah and Logan was totally awesome.
Let's get to the romance part of the story. I didn't feel the same chemistry with Isaiah and Rachel that I felt with Noah & Echo, Beth & Ryan. I didn't root for the couple at all. And no it's not because I was secretly dreaming that Isaiah and Beth would come to their senses because it wasn't. Beth clearly chose right with Ryan.
I think a lot of it had to do with the insta-love as well as the cheesy nicknames that Isaiah called her. Angel,really? It was almost as cheesy as Noah's Siren talk in Pushing The Limits.The only reason that Noah's nicknames for Echo didn't bug me was because the back-stories for Noah and Echo were super strong.
The ending was pretty good and it raised the rating a half star. It was scary and no one knew what was going to happen. I love how all of the couple's friends came together to help. It showed that friendship is a very strong theme in this book which I love.Friendships are very often underrated and not given the attention that they deserve. Katie McGarry changes that in her books, which is awesome.
It kills me to give this one 3.5 stars but I have to. It wasn't as strong as the previous two were and Rachel & Isaiah drove me bananas.Plus I didn't feel the chemistry between them. However i am excited to read the next book in the series which is West's story.
Latest Additions
GET A YABC BUTTON!
We have all sorts of YABC buttons for your website. Grab one here and link to YABC!