Book Review: Take Me On

Take Me On (Pushing the Limits #4)

By: Katie McGarry

Published By: Harlequin Teen

Publication Date: May 27, 2014 (US), June 1, 2014 (Australia)

Page Count: 544

Buy it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or IndieBound

Source: ARC Kindly Provided by Publisher (Harlequin Teen Australia)

Audience: Young Adult - Contemporary

I must start this review with a confession – I am a total Katie McGarry fangirl and love everything she’s written to date. That might colour my review somewhat, so I thought it only fair to make that declaration from the start. ☺ 

 Take Me On is the fourth novel in the Pushing the Limits series. While each novel stands on its own merits, there are characters and events that are shared between the novels and I would recommend reading them in order. Take Me On is quite closely related to the previous title, Crash Into You, which tells the story of Rachel and Isaiah. Take Me On actually takes place during the Crash Into You timeline, and tells the story of Rachel’s brother West. 

After one fight too many, West is expelled from his exclusive school and is enrolled at the much less prestigious Eastlake High. With his father all but disowning him, West finds out just how tough it can be for those not lucky enough to have his privileged upbringing. After trying, and failing, to come to the rescue of a girl he sees being chased by thugs, West bumps into her at Eastlake and sparks fly. 

Haley has enough to worry about without West getting in her way. She’s dated fighters before and there’s no way she’s going back there again, with West or anyone. But when West falls foul of her ex-boyfriend she has to train him to fight, or see him destroyed in the ring. Training West will make Haley face things she’d rather ignore, and resisting his charms may prove impossible. 

 Things I loved: Fan favourite Abby plays a sizeable role in the story, although she remains an enigma. Here’s hoping her story is told soon! The wonderful (and slightly interfering) Mrs Collins also makes an appearance. I want to be her when I grow up! The level of research that has gone into this book is amazing, I really felt immersed in the world of mixed martial arts (and I really want to be able to throw a punch combination like Haley). 

 Throughout this series, McGarry has dealt with some pretty heavy issues and Take Me On is no exception. Along with West’s guilt over his role in Rachel’s accident, issues of domestic violence, homelessness and infidelity are also addressed. McGarry is not heavy-handed in her approach however, and these issues are approached with sensitivity. The story never becomes preachy. 

 Take Me On is a wonderful addition to the series. West and Haley are seriously hot together and I just couldn’t put it down.

Summary:

Acclaimed author Katie McGarry returns with the knockout new story of two high school seniors who are about to learn what winning really means.

Champion kickboxer Haley swore she'd never set foot in the ring again after one tragic night. But then the guy she can't stop thinking about accepts a mixed martial arts fight in her honor. Suddenly, Haley has to train West Young. All attitude, West is everything Haley promised herself she'd stay away from. Yet he won't last five seconds in the ring without her help.

West is keeping a big secret from Haley. About who he really is. But helping her-fighting for her-is a shot at redemption. Especially since it's his fault his family is falling apart. He can't change the past, but maybe he can change Haley's future.

Hayley and West have agreed to keep their relationship strictly in the ring. But as an unexpected bond forms between them and attraction mocks their best intentions, they'll face their darkest fears and discover love is worth fighting for.