Cover of No Limits, featuring a white guy in a hoodie and the Australian countryside

About the Book

Title: No Limits
Published: 2017
Swoonworthy Scale: 8

Cover Story: Hemsworth Relative
BFF Charm: Yay x 2
Talky Talk: He Said, She Said
Bonus Factor: Revisting the Every series
Anti-Bonus Factor: Patty Chase Award for Awful Parenting
Relationship Status: Third Wheel

Trigger Warning: No Limits includes scenes of both physical and mental abuse at the hands of a parent that might be triggering for some readers.

Cover Story: Hemsworth Relative

Do the Hemsworths have a cousin or another brother no one’s talked about? Because dang if this doesn’t look like a member of that unfairly genetically blessed family.

P.S.: Chris > Luke > Liam. Don’t @ me.

The Deal:

An unrequited crush on Rachel Watts got Harris Derwent sent to the hospital with a gunshot wound to the leg. Although the intentions that led him to the wound were good, being laid up means that Harris is out of a job—and no money equals moving home with his horrible father, even though Harris said it’s something he’d never again do. During a trip to the local pub to escape home, Harris meets up with another local boy, one who offers him a job in the local drug trade. Harris doesn’t want to get involved in something so dangerous, but he sees few options.

Enter Amie Blunt, part-time nurse and daughter of the local police sergeant. Amie’s got enough on her plate with her dad’s heart condition and her grandmother’s slow descent into old age confusion, but taking care of Harris literally comes with the job. But then Harris tells her father about the job offer, and his good intentions might once again lead them all into danger.

BFF Charm: Yay x 2

2 BFF charms

When Harris popped up as a character in Marney’s Every Move, I honestly didn’t really like him all that much. He had potential, however, and I’m glad that Marney took the time to give him his own story. Harris is your quintessential bad boy with a broken past who’s really quite decent when given a chance to show it, and he’s impressively willing to put his own life on the line for what’s right; a little too willing, maybe, but it’s a pretty attractive quality nonetheless.

Amie’s a great girl who’s a little too eager to put others above herself, but she does it because she’s truly selfless (and maybe a little gun shy about actually living her own life). She’s pretty dang gutsy when push comes to shove, too, and would be an excellent addition to any sort of friendship team.

Swoonworthy Scale: 8

Having read Marney’s Every series, I was looking forward to some serious swoon in No Limits. And Marney didn’t let me down, even though the swoon was slow-burning and the frustration/anticipation was real at points.

Talky Talk: He Said, She Said

No Limits is split between the POVs of Harris and Amie, which helps build both the suspense of the story and the anticipation of the swoon. It also gives readers a chance to get to know Harris outside of the Every series, and serves as a great companion to the series while standing on its own feet.

No Limits also features a lot of Australian terminology and slang, which I find both a little confusing—I had to Google a few terms—and perfect for the book. It certainly wouldn’t make sense for Harris and Amie to speak like Americans, and it helps create a rich and engaging world.

Bonus Factor: Revisiting the Every series

When I finished Every Move, I had a massive case of TEABS. Revisiting Five Mile (and the surrounding areas) in No Limits eased my pain a little, but now I’m going to miss Harris and Amie, too. THANKS FOR NOTHING, MARNEY.

Anti-Bonus Factor: Dan Scott Award for Awful Parenting

Evil Dan Scott from One Tree Hill

Harris’ dad is absolutely THE WORST. He’s both emotionally and physically abusive, and literally threatens his son’s life more than once. And yet, Harris wants to do right by him. He absolutely doesn’t deserve such a decent son, but thank goodness for people like Harris who can overcome such shit to become great people who won’t continue the cycle of awful.

Relationship Status: Third Wheel

We had a really excellent time together, Book, and I’d love to do it again some time. But I’m steeling myself for the day you tell me we should just be friends because you’re involved with other people and you want to be exclusive with them. I’ll be fine, I promise. *sniffle*

FTC Full Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author (because she’s awesome), and got neither a private dance party with Tom Hiddleston nor money in exchange for this review. No Limits is available now.

Mandy (she/her) is a manager at a tech company who lives in Austin, TX, with her husband, son, and dogs. She loves superheroes and pretty much any show or movie with “Star” in the name.