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ace97's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Pregnancy, Suicide, Violence, Confinement, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
taelorslibrary's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual content, Rape, Murder, Kidnapping, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Self harm, Blood, and Death
Minor: Animal death and Pregnancy
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
5.0
I heard about this book from Booktube and was intrigued.
"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.
Something I loved more than their raw chemistry was how Dean knew how to take care of Cora afterwards. They went through an unimaginable experience and Cora especially had a really difficult time dealing with it. Even though Dean wanted nothing more than to be with Cora, he knew what she really needed was to find herself again, and he stepped away. This selfless act was so beautiful and really proves how much Dean adores Cora.
I 1000% will read from Jennifer Hartmann in the future and I will recommend this book to a very niche audience.
"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.
Content Warnings
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
hsteel's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Miscarriage, Death, Confinement, Kidnapping, Animal death, Sexual violence, Self harm, Physical abuse, Murder, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
alyssadorn's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.0
This is the only situation in which gifting a heart-shaped necklace is justified.
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.
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.
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
sjbookslut's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Kidnapping, Confinement, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Animal death, Murder, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Death, Blood, Miscarriage, Self harm, Dementia, and Pregnancy
volatile's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Torture, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Miscarriage, and Sexual assault
wordsofclover's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Cora and Dean don't really like each other - which is a problem as he's about to marry her sister. But one night things go terribly awry when the two of them are kidnapped by a crazed serial killer and forced into unimaginable situations. If they managed to escape, life will never be the same again, and neither will they.
I mean....just no.
I've heard lots of great things about the book and the story premise definitely intrigued me as I was very interested to see how the author dealt with such dark and horrifying topics in her books but managed to make people root for the central love story at the same time.
This book is fine, I just don't think it's for me - and I think this mostly just came down to how the characters were written and how they all acted towards one another. There were certain descriptions of characters too that were clearly there to make readers dislike them - Earl was described as obese on a number of occasions, and this was suppose to make him appear more disgusting (other than the fact he was a rapist and a killer). I also genuinely felt like he seemed too stupid to get away with what he was doing for so long. His 'catches' didn't seem particularly thought out and I found it hard to believe that someone like him would get away with everything for so long.
Mandy, Cora's sister, is basically in the story to show how Cora 'isn't like other girls' if all the heavy descriptions of Mandy's perfect hair, red life and false lashes and nails were anything to go by. And god forbid she wear high heels to a family gathering in her parents, scandalous. I hate when authors do this - focus on a character's beauty regime to define them. Wear too much make-up and you're a slut but wear none and you make no effort - babes, this is called letting the patriarchy win and let's not do that.
The 'hate' between Dean and Cora was never believable as it's just sooo obvious they want to bone each other, and honestly if I had a friend or a sibling who acted in that way towards my long-term partner (and vice versa), I'd be asking serious questions and would not be comfortable around them at all. And also OF COURSE Dean actually saw Cora first all those years ago in school and wanted her before Mandy.
I would like to know how much research the author did into the trauma of sexual assault victims, and people who have gone through something traumatic and live with PTSD for this book, because I'm honestly not sure if it was a lot. It felt odd to me straight away that both Cora and Dean immediately went back to living alone following their ordeal - and while yes, we see Dean turn to alcohol and Cora to unconscious self-mutilation to manage anxiety - there were just many things that didn't stack up for me and therefore the book didn't feel realistic.
Not to mention how friends and family act - the parents were fine, just a little bit useless and absent to be honest but everything about Mandy's reactions to everything was awful. Let me count the ways - pressuring Dean to start being intimate again after only 6 weeks following the kidnap (and sure, they were only captured for 3 weeks during which her sister was raped on a daily occasion and Dean forced to watch and more but no big deal), and then pretty much not supporting her sister at all and when finding out the two have formed a bond and emotions (which honestly is not surprising), her acting out, talking about betrayal and being selfish is just beyond okay. She never seemed to actually care what had happened to her sister, and the type of assault she had suffered. Mandy obviously had the right to feel hurt but I just don't think someone who truly loves their sister would react in this way after everything.
This book has a lot of sexual content from the disturbing (at the start) to more steamy scenes involving emotions and chemistry (middle, end). However, I think because the scenes are the start were just so gross and hard to read, I could never believe in the sex they chose to have during the rest of the book. I couldn't figure out why the two of them wouldn't have had a mental block when it came to physical intimacy - particularly towards each other - following their ordeal.
I'm happy for anyone who enjoyed this book but not for me.
I mean....just no.
I've heard lots of great things about the book and the story premise definitely intrigued me as I was very interested to see how the author dealt with such dark and horrifying topics in her books but managed to make people root for the central love story at the same time.
This book is fine, I just don't think it's for me - and I think this mostly just came down to how the characters were written and how they all acted towards one another. There were certain descriptions of characters too that were clearly there to make readers dislike them - Earl was described as obese on a number of occasions, and this was suppose to make him appear more disgusting (other than the fact he was a rapist and a killer). I also genuinely felt like he seemed too stupid to get away with what he was doing for so long. His 'catches' didn't seem particularly thought out and I found it hard to believe that someone like him would get away with everything for so long.
Mandy, Cora's sister, is basically in the story to show how Cora 'isn't like other girls' if all the heavy descriptions of Mandy's perfect hair, red life and false lashes and nails were anything to go by. And god forbid she wear high heels to a family gathering in her parents, scandalous. I hate when authors do this - focus on a character's beauty regime to define them. Wear too much make-up and you're a slut but wear none and you make no effort - babes, this is called letting the patriarchy win and let's not do that.
The 'hate' between Dean and Cora was never believable as it's just sooo obvious they want to bone each other, and honestly if I had a friend or a sibling who acted in that way towards my long-term partner (and vice versa), I'd be asking serious questions and would not be comfortable around them at all. And also OF COURSE Dean actually saw Cora first all those years ago in school and wanted her before Mandy.
I would like to know how much research the author did into the trauma of sexual assault victims, and people who have gone through something traumatic and live with PTSD for this book, because I'm honestly not sure if it was a lot. It felt odd to me straight away that both Cora and Dean immediately went back to living alone following their ordeal - and while yes, we see Dean turn to alcohol and Cora to unconscious self-mutilation to manage anxiety - there were just many things that didn't stack up for me and therefore the book didn't feel realistic.
Not to mention how friends and family act - the parents were fine, just a little bit useless and absent to be honest but everything about Mandy's reactions to everything was awful. Let me count the ways - pressuring Dean to start being intimate again after only 6 weeks following the kidnap (and sure, they were only captured for 3 weeks during which her sister was raped on a daily occasion and Dean forced to watch and more but no big deal), and then pretty much not supporting her sister at all and when finding out the two have formed a bond and emotions (which honestly is not surprising), her acting out, talking about betrayal and being selfish is just beyond okay. She never seemed to actually care what had happened to her sister, and the type of assault she had suffered. Mandy obviously had the right to feel hurt but I just don't think someone who truly loves their sister would react in this way after everything.
This book has a lot of sexual content from the disturbing (at the start) to more steamy scenes involving emotions and chemistry (middle, end). However, I think because the scenes are the start were just so gross and hard to read, I could never believe in the sex they chose to have during the rest of the book. I couldn't figure out why the two of them wouldn't have had a mental block when it came to physical intimacy - particularly towards each other - following their ordeal.
I'm happy for anyone who enjoyed this book but not for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Rape
Moderate: Violence and Death
Minor: Animal death and Miscarriage
lilyemmaaa's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Rape, Confinement, Death, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Gun violence
thecozylibrary_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
one of my favorite books of the year! this book is extremely dark and emotional, i recommend checking out the TWs before diving in.
still beating made me feel so many emotions. dean & cora are kidnapped by a serial killer who makes the victims fall in love with each other before unaliving them. dean is the fiance of cora's sister and they both have spent the last 15 years hating each other. once kidnapped, they're forced to do unspeakable things which makes their bond grow -- they need each other to get through life after what happened to them.
this book is emotional and angsty! i loved dean so much, he was so strong for the both of them.
still beating made me feel so many emotions. dean & cora are kidnapped by a serial killer who makes the victims fall in love with each other before unaliving them. dean is the fiance of cora's sister and they both have spent the last 15 years hating each other. once kidnapped, they're forced to do unspeakable things which makes their bond grow -- they need each other to get through life after what happened to them.
this book is emotional and angsty! i loved dean so much, he was so strong for the both of them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Death, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Suicide attempt