Reviews with content warning for Violence - Hearts Still Beating

I don’t typically read or watch things about zombies because I get squeamish very easily and can’t handle the gore, but Hearts Still Beating might get me to start reading more zombie books.

If you're thinking that this book won't get brutal because it's YA, then think again. Because the author doesn't hold back on how violent and dark the apocalypse can get.

Also, this would be such a great movie and I hope it gets adapted because I can already imagine it happening.

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marym2215's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

In a world ravaged by a deadly virus that reanimates the dead, seventeen-year-old Mara finds herself grappling with a second chance at “life” after being given medication that tempers the virus living inside her. Now an Altered, and therefore technically no longer a Tick, Mara is placed in an experimental resettlement program where she is sent to live with the family of her long-lost best friend Rory, who also happens to be the only girl she’s ever loved. Rory, whose nightmares are haunted not only by the virus and the undead but also the one shared kiss she had with Mara, is anything but happy when she finds out Altered Mara will be thrust back into her life. As the Island, their home and sanctuary from the Tick-infested mainland, faces internal strife and the threat of an outbreak, Mara and Rory must confront their shared history and rely on each other to navigate the dangers lurking in the shadows. With the little semblance of peace the Island has hanging in the balance, their bond becomes the key to survival in a world where love and loss intertwine amidst the ever-present threat of the undead.

Overall, I found this book to be very entertaining and enjoyable! While it was a little slow at the start, it was definitely difficult to put down once the plot really got going. I always love a book with duel point of view, and this one did not disappoint. Mara and Rory’s history is woven in well through flashbacks that provide the reader with a better understanding of why their relationship is the way it is in the present. Although, I did find Mara’s sister, Carter, and Rory’s anger towards Altered Mara a little much and unfair, considering I don’t think it is fair to blame Mara for what happened while she was under the virus’s control as a Tick. It would be understandable for them to be weary of Altered Mara, but to be so angry, each for their own reasons, seems unjustified. But besides that, I really enjoyed the characters, plot, and suspense that this book offered. Since it is a book centered around a life-altering virus turning people into the undead, make sure to check trigger warnings if you have certain situations to which you are sensitive. There is definitely a decent amount of gore, blood, and death, as well as some accounts of torture and child death. If you are ok reading about those types of events, then I would highly recommend this young adult book if you are looking for an adventurous and suspenseful story about love, loss, family, and finding oneself set against the backdrop of a world hanging on by a thread.

Thank you to Penguin Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an electronic ARC of Hearts Still Beating in return for my honest review.

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jazzyjbox's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Gory and gruesome and yet somehow still strangely sweet?

Mostly dead, Mara is about to be sent to live among humans again as an Altered version of the Ticks - the parasite that makes people want to kill and commit cannibalism. All she can hope for is that the girl she loved is still somehow alive. Rory is definitely still alive, and she's angry at the world. When authority starts to get out of control, Mara and Rory have to rely on each other to make it through.

This book gives off The Last of Us vibes, and I don't hate it. Several of the flashbacks seemed unnecessary, but I appreciate the story that was being built. This story doesn't rely much on the science aspect, which makes it easy to read. I liked Rory's family and the tension that played out between Rory and her parents. I was not a fan of the sister's vague attempt at reconciliation. It didn't feel natural to the story at all. Mara and Rory's second chance, on the other hand, played out really well.

Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

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booksdogsandcoffee's review

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adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

4.0

My heart is beating for this Sapphic Last of Us meets Warm Bodies post apocalyptic story.

Archer nailed the tension between Rory and Mara, one of the altered and Rory’s previous best friend/crush before the world ended. All while exploring the human condition at the end of the world. How it molds and shapes both our selves and decisions. I quenched my thirst for the post apocalyptic stories I’ve been needing in my life right now.

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laurenabayne's review

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emotional tense medium-paced

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

We are living in a sapphic supernatural renaissance and I am LIVING (or un-living?) for it.

Before we get into the romance, let's talk about the epic world-building. In this post-apocalyptic world, a virus unleashed from Antarctica due to climate change has infected people. The Tick acts almost like the an implant in the brain - the hosts are helpless to the Tick's insatiable appetite and are kept alive just enough for the Tick to attack other humans. A new drug allows the Ticks to be subdued so the hosts can be semi-real people, and a new government program allows these Altered to be released into the custody of their kin. Not that everyone is happy about the people who costs the deaths of their loved ones! Enter a dictator keeping control of his island community, manipulation of the masses, and scapegoating of the Altered for all issues in society. This story is less about the apocalypse and more about taking down a dictator!

PHEW. This world is set up PERFECTLY. Archer never shies away from the gore or the tragedy in this world. It's grisly and heartbreaking at the same time. Our heroines are battered (Mara is missing fingers, Rory has a chronic leg injury), but what matters it that they are beautiful to each other.

And my goodness. The romance here gave me hope in the genre again. The angst? The second chance romance? The way that love conquers even a virus threatening to turn Mara back into a zombie? Perfection. In the world that doesn't have much hope, these two girls find each other and cling to one another. Even as Rory blames Mara for the destruction of her family. Even as Mara's Tick causes her to forget Rory's name. They support one another even when they can't explain why (spoiler: it's love!)

The book is dedicated to the girls who are angry, but this truly is a story of love and sapphic joy. There isn't room for homophobia in the post-apocalyptic world, and Mara and Rory get to revel in one another. I don't want to spoil too much but making out saves lives, y'all.

Five stars. And that's coming from a girl who is terrified of horror and would definitely not see this if it was made into a movie (side note: this should be made into a movie).

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

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