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emilyreadstoomuch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
Graphic: Physical abuse, Infidelity, Gore, Gun violence, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Murder, Misogyny, Violence, Alcohol, Toxic friendship, Drug abuse, Grief, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Cursing, Confinement, Blood, Animal cruelty, Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Torture, Rape, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Miscarriage, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
abiiiiiii_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Toxic relationship, Violence, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Self harm, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Suicidal thoughts
juliereadsromance's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
First 25%: shoot it in my veins, I’ve never felt so alive.
Second 25%: still buzzed
Third 25%: I’m dragging. The novel is now just sad which is appropriate for the plot. But, the come down from the adrenaline of the first half is a bummer.
Fourth 25%: I’m glad I’m getting to see the HEA, but I’m also happy I’m done with the book.
This was a five star read for many readers I follow here on GR, so it seems like a lot of other readers didn’t find that the second half of the book slowed down too much.
Importantly, this book gives a meaningful portrayal of PTSD and the characters’ challenging recovery from trauma.
I thought that the FMC’s parents and sister didn’t seem to understand the gravity of the sexual abuse Cora endured. And that was weird.
There are ALOT of potential triggers in this book, so def check the author’s warnings before!
Graphic: Sexual assault, Infidelity, Murder, Mental illness, Violence, Confinement, Suicide attempt, Addiction, Death, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Gore, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, and Sexual violence
ace97's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Pregnancy, Suicide, Violence, Confinement, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"Still Beating" is a dark romance that follows Cora and Dean. Cora has known Dean since High school, and she has loathed every minute she has to spend with him. Unfortunately for her, he is her sister's fiancé, and it looks like she is stuck with him in her life. After a night out, Cora calls Dean for a ride home from the bar, but they never make it home. Cora and Dean wake up chained in a stranger's basement, and they will have to learn to get along if they want to make it out alive.
Warning: this book is VERY dark and tackles some very challenging issues.
I devoured this book. I was so captivated by Cora's and Dean's story, and I was entirely enamored with watching their relationship evolve. I am normally not a huge fan of enemies to lovers, but this felt so believable and not like true hate, and they were not "enemies" for too much of the story. Their chemistry was undeniable, and I loved that they have known each other for so long. Their history, despite the constant teasing and pranks, really made their connection all the more believable.
I 1000% will read from Jennifer Hartmann in the future and I will recommend this book to a very niche audience.
Graphic: Sexual violence, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Physical abuse, Grief, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Rape, Kidnapping, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Murder
Moderate: Miscarriage and Pregnancy
marlene_suntie_helton's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Rape, Gun violence, Violence, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Miscarriage, Self harm, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and Physical abuse
momnoceros's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, Suicide attempt, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Murder
thelibraryofjordan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Kidnapping, and Rape
Minor: Miscarriage
alyssadorn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Okay, jokes aside, this book made me viscerally feel things. Despair, hope, connection with the characters. The moments of shared trauma were handled so well, too; I’m glad the rape scenes weren’t detailed or explicit, just having us as readers focus on what Cora focused on— not the actual act. It was more moving than I expected, and overall a really good book. Beautiful and heartbreaking and healing.
I will say at times, especially on page 2, it was a little girl-shamey toward Mandy, with Cora’s comparisons between the two of them feeling a bit “I’m not like other girls”- coded.
Definitely check the content warnings.
Graphic: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Grief, Death, Violence, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, and Self harm
Minor: Miscarriage
bibliomikee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙈𝙚:
• I was hooked on the plot and the character's trauma bonding and their healing together. This book did not disappoint.
• The second part was a lot better and it's giving me different emotions. I was pleased with it.
• The main character's relationship was so fucked-up but it was understandable and reasonable. I can't fathom the experienced they have gone through if this was in real life.
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝘿𝙞𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙈𝙚:
While I was pleased with the execution, the only hole I needed to be filled was the character's impression it left on me. I didn't feel strong connections towards the main characters. I care for them but it was not enough to make me love them as much as I loved its core and the meaning of the book.
𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗗𝗜𝗖𝗧:
Recommended with caution.
𝙏𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙒𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
[𝙨𝙚𝙭𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙖𝙪𝙡𝙩, 𝙠𝙞𝙙𝙣𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙢𝙪𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙧, 𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛-𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙢, 𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙪𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙙𝙚, 𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙮 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙜𝙚 /𝙣𝙤𝙣-𝙫𝙞𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙜𝙣𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙮 , 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙥𝙚𝙩]
Disclosure: I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review. Also, I read this final manuscript side by side with the first published/independently published book. This final manuscript has been polished and gone through revision for republication purposes.
Graphic: Kidnapping, Rape, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Self harm, and Suicide attempt