Reviews

Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann

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idahobekah's review against another edition

For the courtesy of the author, I will not be giving a star rating. This book is INCREDIBLY dark. I don’t think I’ve ever read something so bleak and depressing prior to this. All of this is to say, I’ve found a genre I would be more than happy to avoid. Dark romance simply isn’t for me.

25% finished. DNF.

lizeth26's review against another edition

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5.0

Rating: 3⭐⭐⭐/5 stars ( April 2021)

Rating 5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 stars (June 2023)

I listened to the audiobook ARC and the narrators did just a great job with the characters! I loved listening to them bring the characters to life.

betsyyreads's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

4.5⭐️- This book was an absolutely heartbreaking book full of survival and trauma. It immediately starts with a happy night out at the bar celebrating main female character Cora’s sister Mandy’s birthday with Mandy’s Fiance Dean. The first chapter (and no spoilers because it’s on the back of the book) ends with Corabelle and Dean being abducted and held captive in a strangers basement. Thus starts the horrible and worst days of their lives. Please, check the trigger warnings. We receive both Cora and Deans POV throughout the book and have insight into both of their lives as they work to overcome the trauma they have endured.

exquisite_tragedy's review

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4.0

First and foremost - This book will not work for everyone. Before you pick this up, be sure to check trigger warnings thoroughly and make sure you’re in a good headspace to deal with that type of content.

This was incredibly angsty, dark, taboo…and I was surprised by how much I ended up loving it. This story primarily follows our heroine Cora and hero Dean…who also happens to be Cora’s sister’s fiancé and long term partner of 15 years. After Cora calls Dean as a last resort for a ride home from a bar, the two get kidnapped by an absolute psychopath who’s motive is to kidnapped pairs and then kill them after getting the pair to fall in love. And that’s on top of all the other dark and twisted things he does to them. Dean and Cora have never been able to get along, but now they have no other choice but to figure out a way to trust and rely on each other in order to survive. The second half of the book focuses on Dean and Cora after their escape and follows them as they attempt to overcome their trauma and figure out where they stand in each other’s lives. As you can probably imagine, the first half of this book was DARK dark, but I never thought the details were gratuitous in nature or included without a purpose. The second half was dark as well, especially related to the themes of mental health and trauma. This was such a beautifully told story of survival, resilience, struggle, and the power of love. Cora and Dean’s HEA felt almost impossible at times, which made the ending that much more satisfying and powerful.

I also thought the audiobook was incredibly well done, even though some of the content was a little hard to listen to at times (especially since I listed to it while I commutes to my job as a mental health therapist). But let’s be honest, I don’t think reading it physically would have made the content any more palatable.

khanreads's review against another edition

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5.0

This may be one of the best stories I’ve ever read.

Cora was infuriating at times but grief and loss all manifest behavior in different ways. She was so strong and as a victim of rape myself I can say that completely zoning out was spot freaking on. Personally. I was so happy to see her go through therapy and truly heal.

Dean was such a heartbreaking character. His character was vulnerable and open. He was confused about many things but the fact that he always stood up for Cora was beautiful to me.

So many subjects in this book were so raw I cried throughout reading it but couldn’t bear to put it down.

And Mandy. Holy cow I could understand her feeling betrayed but she was awful to both of them. “It was only three weeks.” Are you kidding?? Yeah okay you talked to the police and posted fliers and the fear of the unknown is terrifying but can you really compare that to actual torture? It was like she expected them to feel bad for what she went through but wasn’t even trying to look at their point of view. I almost didn’t want her to have a happy ending but I think if she hadn’t ended up with Reid she would have made their lives so much harder.

I also wish Lily had been more supportive? She kinda felt unnecessary for the story. The few bits of advice she gave were good but it would have been nice to maybe see Cora’s mom fill that role?

Either way a book that can make me genuinely afraid and sad and anxious is worth reading in my opinion. The way the story came together and the character growth was amazing. I’ll be reading again and again for years to come.