Reviews

Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann

hmarks15's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape

celeste_velocci's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

Okay I don’t know why I waited so long to read this book!! I’ve been putting it off for years and I accidentally opened it on my kindle and was like I guess I’ll finally read it and wow I’m so glad I did. 

Heart wrenching, traumatic, moving these are just some of the words that describe this book. I don’t even want to say much more because I think everyone should go in blindly to it (besides checking trigger warnings)

I’ll be thinking about these characters for a really long time. It was one of those books that just touched my heart. A new favorite for sure. 

I’ve been trying to read a little bit more romance books and this was perfect for me because it still had a thriller vibe to it as well. Add to TBR. Read it now. All the feels. 

emmigutsu's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-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

4.5

araszurc's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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

4.5

aracoo2023's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

2.0

I thought i would enjoy this book, but i was dissappointed, it was just weird and insufferable (especially the 2 main characters). First of all Dean: why was he with Mandy for 15 YEARS together even though he clearly liked Cora!?! this just shows that he is a lazy, selfish and boring person. and he had to get kidnapped and be forced to have sex with Cora to realize and get some balls to break up with mandy?! How could i root for this character?
then of course "im not like other girls" girl, named cora :) i think i already summed her character up, there is nothing more interesting to say. 
Also the side characters were written very dumb and blank.
the writing style was not bad but also nothing special, there were some interesting themes mentioned but still remained superficial. i also thought the concept was intriguing but not well executed. 

litwithkay's review against another edition

5.0

This was so good! So twisted, heartbreaking, and demented but also heartwarming? The enemies to lovers, forbidden romance, trauma bonding… the whole thing was intense. And I really don’t think Dean and Mandy ever should’ve been together

amy_bachnik's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

mpursell21's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

2.5

lilyandme123's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

4.5

Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Narration Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

🎤 Laurie West & Christian Black (dual)

📚 dual POV, 1st person. Multiple timelines 

Do I recommend this book: 👍

♥️ enemies to lovers 

♥️ forbidden love

♥️ trauma bond

What a ride. Such an emotional., gripping story. It’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea but I enjoyed the story. 

If you’ve read the trigger warnings and are worried about some of the scenes like I was, I can tell you the scenes aren’t descriptive. The emotions are still there but the act themselves are glossed over. 

sdg_recomendaciones's review against another edition

3.0

Entre 3 - 3,5 estrellas.

Una historia demasiado distinta a otras que he leído. Muy fuerte y que cada vez se va poniendo más “turbia”. La relación entre Cora y Dean nace en uno de los lugares más traumáticos y cuando vuelven a la “realidad” se enfrentan con el desafío de ver como resuelven la situación en la que se encuentra su relación, llena de sentimientos que no deberían de existir y de recuerdos que no pueden olvidar.

Lloré con todo lo que Cora pasaba, es una protagonista muy fuerte con la mente revuelta, intentando hacer lo correcto pero buscando la manera de enfrentar sus traumas.
Siento que la relación de Dean es un poco forzada al inicio pero me gusta que poco a poco ven el daño que se están haciendo. No hacían nada más que mantener relaciones sexuales porque no se querían encariñar, pero era algo que inevitablemente estaba sucediendo.
Dean se me hace un personaje muy honesto, no sabe cómo enfrentar todo lo que está pasando pero sigue sus sentimientos. No es un malandro que se quiere aprovechar de las hermanas sino que también se ve en medio de un conflicto interno.

Me parece fuerte que no solo se presenta el tema de abducción, abuso y suicidio, sino que se ve que la relación es con el prometido de Mandy, la hermana de Cora. Esto nacía el drama mil veces más potente porque, ¿Cómo puede uno enfrentar esoooo?

10/10 al drama.
7-8 al romance.
9 a los personajes.
6,5-8 a la historia