Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols (Review by Bella Aire)

Synopsis:

All Meg has ever wanted is to get away. Away from high school. Away from her backwater town. Away from her parents who seem determined to keep her imprisoned in their dead-end lives. But one crazy evening involving a dare and forbidden railroad tracks, she goes way too far...and almost doesn't make it back.

John made a choice to stay. To enforce the rules. To serve and protect. He has nothing but contempt for what he sees as childish rebellion, and he wants to teach Meg a lesson she won't soon forget. But Meg pushes him to the limit by questioning everything he learned at the police academy. And when he pushes back, demanding to know why she won't be tied down, they will drive each other to the edge -- and over....

Review:

This book blew my mind. The story, the writing, the characters…everything was just...wow. Kirkus didn't exactly agree with me but that's okay. We'll agree to disagree. And my review here will cancel out that one. Because obviously Kirkus and I are on the same level of reviewing, right? I mean, check it out here- Kirkus and I side by side. So there you have it. I'm really tempted to add a little winky smiley face right here, but since I'm Kirkus' main competitor, I really have to make sure I look professional at all times.

What? You're not completely convinced that Kirkus and I are reviewing equals? That's okay too, because if my review alone doesn't cancel out that one, here are a multitude that will.

Anyway, back to the review.

In the beginning, I wasn’t sure if Meg and John would really click; they were so strained together. However, as time progressed, their connection became more apparent and far stronger than I had originally realized.


More importantly, Meg and John truly have an effect on each other. This is far rarer in books than many would expect. How many fictional couples really change each other? Like some chemicals when thrown together, Meg and John (especially Meg) really create a reaction. And speaking of reactions- they have plenty of a physical sort of chemistry reaction, too. What adds an air of suspense to this novel, though, is the question of whether this reaction they create will produce a positive or negative effect on their personas.


Both Meg and John need something. And neither really knows what it is though they both try to find substitutions for what’s missing through various activities. John dedicates himself to the police force, and Meg dedicates herself to living wild. But what will really bring them the peace they seek?

Perhaps there were a few cliches in Going Too Far, but they were written so well and in such a fresh voice, that they didn't really bother me. Which is saying something, since I'm not really the world's biggest cliche fan.

There's a word I've been wanting to use in one of my reviews for quite some time now: enticing. But I hadn't really found a book that really fit the word until I read Going Too Far. So here it is: Jennifer Echol's latest novel is enticing.

Purchase Going Too Far here.

And check out Jennifer Echol's site here!

always,

~bella aire~