Book Review – Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols

Going Too Far
I’ve come cross this book a few times in my search for more angst and while I added it to my “interest” list, I hesitated mostly because it was YA. What? I know right?! I’ve read plenty of YA, so what made this one different? The YA that I usually gravitate to is “older YA”. College aged, 18 or over… you know the drill. The fact that the heroine in the book was only seventeen, had me questioning the potential intensity (or possible lack thereof). Considering a YA author’s delicate (albeit appropriate) approach to realism without extreme detail, I wasn’t sure if this would hold my attention.

But when I received this recommendation by Rebecka, I knew I was in the mood to give it a try:

Ok, so I know it’s YA(ish) (because when I think YA I think of my kids and I wouldn’t want my 12 year old to read her books yet lol) but Jennifer Echols’ Such a Rush comes out today.  Her book Going Too Far was my Beautiful Disaster before I found Beautiful Disaster.  Meaning that I fell in love with the Hero and have read it like 5 times.  I always recommend her stuff to my book friends, especially the Vanilla ones. I’m guessing this one will be just as good.  Even though most of what I read is more “adult”…

And… I must say it was great! I mean… I must have loved it it since I started it at 10pm and didn’t stop until 2:30 am until the book was finished. No moments of boredom. No stop and starts. No needing breaks. I was sucked in and didn’t come back up for air until I knew how it ended. And here’s the weird thing. I have NO idea really how to pinpoint exactly what it was about it that had that effect on me.

Maryse’s Book Blog: I devoured it in 4.5 hours (non-stop read for me and I mean NONSTOP). But now that it’s done, I’m not sure if I loved it? … I’m still thinking about it so I must. I’m certainly a 3am zombie… I dunno, it’s like *shrug* … Either way, I couldn’t stop reading so that must be a good thing. It had that *forbidden* thing going on, that’s for sure. I’m a sucker for that.

Christina: I looooooooved this book! I read it the other day! I loved it so much and couldnt put it down. I literally was getting my nails done while reading it. Haha

Sabrina: I love “Going to far”, it’s a book I like to reread and every time it’s just fantastic.

Tracie: I read this as while back (I think when it first came out because I read it in paperback or what I like to call my “pre-Kindle” era) and I still think about it. I loved it and I also loved “Forget You.” I might have even liked “Forget You” more even though the heroine drove me a little crazy at times. There are some great moments in that one!

Sue: I haven’t read this book, but understand exactly what you mean about a book being addictive, and then not being quite sure how I felt about it after.

Jill: Yes. I felt this way about this book too. I kept reading and reading and then the end came and I was kind of like, “Hmmm….??” For me I needed more of a conclusion. … I don’t know how to explain it either. However, it is a good read between heavier books.

Jenny: I really loved this book too. I read it last year and it’s what got me looking fore more like it and is how I found BD. That’s great news that she has an adult romance book coming out next year. Also loved Forget You but haven’t read Endless Summer.

So there I was, trying to figure out what was it about this book that had me so captivated. After all, it was rather tame, just as I expected it to be. The “seventeen year old” issues were certainly front row and center and we were still dealing with high-school students (even though they would be turning 18 and heading off to college soon enough). Was it the hero? Hrmm… yes. I certainly crushed while reading it. Was it the reveal? Hrmmm… sure, there was an interesting reason for it all. The romantic tension? Oh yes. That was there in full force.

I stared at his photo, with my hands over my mouth. And I realized something was happening to me. For the first time in my life, I had a crush. On a cop. Who was never leaving this town.

And even though this is “YA” and the subject matter was explored cautiously, there was certainly a gritty and more taboo aspect to the story. This seventeen year old was a “bad girl”. Drugs, drinking, rebellion and sex were a regular part of her teenage life. Yet discovering what put her there, and exactly who was pulling her out, certainly gave the overall story a more contemporary, adult edge.

That, combined with the easy-to-read writing style, and a captivating story progression, certainly held my attention. The only thing I can come up with, is that it was the whole “feel”of it. It was just right. And… definitely the forbidden aspect of the story that teased me throughout. Yeaaaah. hehe. I admit it. It was that.

He wore that expression he tended to wear when I got too close to him, the oh-my-God-she’s-trying-to-seduce-me-and-I-don’t-like-it look.

“Forbidden” you ask? Oh yes. ‘Cause you see, the bad girl was caught doing a bad thing, and the cop arresting her (and her entourage) decided to teach them all a lesson. Over their spring break, they would ride along with cops, EMT and Firefighters for a week. It was either that or juvi. And despite her extreme aversion to law enforcement, she was the lucky one to ride along with HIM for the week.

My dad growled at me, “You are going to spend your spring break pulling night shift with that cop After, like the DA said on the phone. And then you’re going to work morning shift here. If you have the energy to get yourself arrested in the eight hours you have left in the day…”

“Oh oh!” you say? This does NOT go there, right?  Welllllll….. *smirk*

Tee hee!!

Umm. There are… circumstances… and well. You’ll see. It certainly keeps that forbidden edge front row and center, but tastefully handled. Tasteful, ’cause you know… it’s still “YA”. Mind you, I did question a certain… something. A certain logic (and it’s very possible that I may have “missed” something). Again. You’ll see.

And anyway, this young cop has his own issues to deal with, and maybe his ride-along buddy can help him come to grips, too.

Very good read, highly recommended, and I just wish it was longer. As fun and tantalizing as it was for 3/4’s of the book, the last part would have been better had it been just as lovingly detailed, emotions explored and the reveal drawn out a bit.

But overall? Yep. I’ve come to the conclusion that I mostly loved it!

4 stars!