Reviews with content warning for Panic attacks/disorders - Still Beating

Normally we get to see kidnappings in books only as another thing happening to make the plot more interesting and often the aftershocks aren’t even mentioned. I love that in this book the main focus is actually on these effects after the kidnapping. There’s deep trauma, overwhelming emotions and feelings of betrayal. But there’s also new found trust, hope, love and most importantly healing.

I loved accompanying both Cora and Deacon along their own and very different ways of coping. It’s a rollercoaster going up as much as down always trying to find balance with each other when in the end they find balance in their own selves.
There are a lot of setbacks and the book ends with a Happy Ever After.

This story touched my heart. There were parts I could hardly get through and was near tears praying for the characters to find a way out of their misery (during as well as after the kidnapping).

Check the trigger warnings on this one! Most of it is graphic and this is definitely not a lovely romance where “love conquers all”. Though there definitely are some parts like that the majority of this book is about trauma and healing; together as well as alone, yet always supported.

I’m sure I’ll be thinking about this book a lot even a long time after I’ve read it. This is just the kind of story that sticks to you through its darkness and personal connection.

Quotes (maybe contain minor spoilers?):

„We are bound, chained, tied—to our trauma and to each other.

We’re in this together.“

„My whole life I’ve been terrified of the ocean. I’ve been scared of being dragged down into a cold, dark sea, swallowed by waves, clutching my chest and gasping for air.

But this sea is not made of water.

And maybe drowning is the only way out.“

„The only thing I wanted more was to see her smile.

I wanted to see her glowing and thriving and truly living her life.

I wanted to see her just like this, just like she is right now, happy and healing and learning to love herself again.

So, it’s all been worth it“

Content Warnings

cait's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Even that jerk face is more tolerable than John Wayne Gacy over here, boring his x-ray vision through the front of my dress.

Wowowowow.

That's it. That's my review.

Okay. I have a little more.

This is a dark romance. It's entirely composed of triggers, so go into the story with that awareness.

The story begins when, after discovering her wallet's been stolen and with no one else to turn to, Cora calls her sister's douchey fiance, Dean, for a ride home from a bar late one night. They never make it. An unknown number of hours later, Cora and Dean wake up chained in a musty basement and facing horrors they could never imagine. They've been kidnapped by a serial killer known as The Matchmaker, who always takes his victims in pairs, manipulates them into falling in love with each other, and then kills them in front of each other.

Not, of course, that Cora or Dean realize this. They've never heard of The Matchmaker. No one has. But now, living in hellish torment, these two mortal enemies have only each other left to rely on.

This book was incredible. These characters were wonderful. I loved this so much more than I imagined I would!

Content Warnings

bookedupchick's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-paced

5.0

“I didn’t think you ever noticed my heart.”
“It’s impossible not to notice…” 🫀

Cora & Dean have known each other since high school. Dean was always a prankster and picked on Cora for years. Now 15 years later, he is engaged to Cora’s older sister Mandy. Never did in a million years did either Cora or Dean expect to share a terrifying experience that would test strength, but also force them to evaluate how they have lived their lives…

This story was terrifyingly beautiful, raw, and left me so emotional. I am absolutely in love with Dean & Cora. This is so well written. When I say you feel everything these characters are feeling — you really do. It is absolutely one of the best books I’ve ever read. I cannot wait to start Lotus next! 🤩

Read this if you like ⤵️

⚔️ Enemies To Lovers
🖤 Dárk Romance
❤️‍🩹 Emotional
👥 Forced Proximity
🩸 Criminal Minds Meets Romance
🚫 Forbidden / Taboo
💤 “I have nightmares every night, except when I’m with you”
💙 Boy Falls First
😃 Happily Ever After

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶🌶/5

Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann

⚠️ This book is a DARK romance and contains content that can be triggering. If you have triggers, then I highly encourage you to check the TWs before reading ⚠️

Content Warnings