Chasing Impossible (Pushing the Limits #5) by Katie McGarry
Publication Date: July 1st 2016 by Harlequin Teen
Rating: 4 Stars
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance.
Find: Goodreads | Amazon
Goodreads Summary
Tough and independent, 17-year-old Abby lets very few people into her inner circle. It’s common knowledge in her Kentucky town that she deals drugs, but not even her closest friends know why. But when a deal goes south and Abby’s suddenly in danger, she finds herself reluctantly forced to lean on daredevil Logan—a boy whose restless spirit matches her own.

Logan has his own reasons for wanting to keep Abby at arms’ length. But he never expected to find in her the one person who might help him face the demons he’s tried so hard to run from.

Together, Abby and Logan will have to make a decision: let their current circumstances weigh them down forever…or fight for the future they both thought was impossible.

Chasing Impossible brings us to the end of the Pushing the Limits series. Like its predecessors this book is addictive and dangerous. The stakes are higher than ever as we enter Abby’s world of drug dealing and turf wars. It’s a thrilling journey but not without tender moments and a lot of heart.

Abby made her first appearance in Crash Into You and the little glimpses we’re treated to about her life gives you a sense of curiosity as to how she became involved in drug dealing. This book sheds a light on all of that and reminds us that not all is as it seems on the surface. Abby’s reasoning for following this path are very selfless. She want to care for the person she loves most but to do that she needs money, lots of it. If she had a choice, she wouldn’t be this drug dealer. She’s pursue and education, fall in love and bask in the most mundane of tasks, like shopping. With her friendship to the Young siblings and Isaiah, Abby is given a reprieve from her world but as much as she wishes to keep her business separate from her friendships, circumstances get in the way and when those worlds collide Abby is forced to come to terms with the fact that she can’t have both. Abby could be a frustrating character at times. She’s had to fend for herself from a very young age and and has taken on a heavy responsibility. She’s incredibly independent but this novel unleashes her energetic personality. She has a zest for life and when given the opportunity to embrace it we see just how fun and carefree she can be. 

Of course we can’t forget about Logan. We first meet him in Dare You To and is one of Ryan’s best friends. He’s the guy that ends up being the bridge between Beth’s new life and her old one. Logan’s reckless nature has seen him team up with Isaiah and immerse himself in that group of friends. He’s charming and lives on adrenaline but also faces some challenges in life. His diabetes fuels his reckless spirit but more than that Logan has made certain that no one beyond his family know about his diabetes. Diabetes is not a topic I’ve seen discussed in many novels but you can see the care and attention McGarry took in exploring the topic. Logan’s reason for hiding his diabetes stems from that fear that the diabetes will define him as a person. He doesn’t want his friends to walk on eggshells around him because of it, so he remains silent. Logan’s journey has him facing his fears head on and doing so that may require revealing the truth he’s fought so hard to hide.

As always romance is at the heart of the book. Logan and Abby have a push and pull dynamic. Abby’s lifestyle has her wary of letting people into her life but Logan is nothing but resilient. He may not approve of her business but he knows that Abby is more than just a dealer. He sees how she cares for Rachel, her best friend, and to those she holds dear. With him, Abby gets to embrace that carefree lifestyle and just be a teenager. He pushes her to see that this business should not define her and that sometimes, no matter how terrifying it is, putting yourself first is the only way to secure the freedom to chose the life she want to lead. It was interesting to see how McGarry would get Abby out of her predicament and its execution was very believable. 

It’s always bittersweet to reach the end of a series. Pushing the Limits has been nothing but addictive. These characters face the highest of highs and the lowest of lows but seeing them work out their issues and fight for their happy ending made for an intense read. It doesn’t take much to get you rooting for these characters and knowing that each of them found their happy ending has me leaving this series smiling.