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A review by booksaftercafecito
Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann
5.0
This book definitely surprised me. Due to the heavy theme, I did not think I could connect to it as a “romance”. However, Cora and Dean’s connection became so devastatingly beautiful, and I couldn’t look away.
What started as an annoyingly childish back and forth between them quickly changed after their shared traumatic experience, although what it turned into was absolutely toxic. They were so codependent on each other to get through the aftermath, it was almost like a never ending train wreck.
Most of their interactions prior to the event were so immature and sibling-like in nature, and never lended to the idea of anything ever happening between them. The dire hopelessness of their traumatic circumstances is what lead to confessions being shared and truths being revealed. So even after they re-entered the real world, only the trauma bond gave them anything in common.
Cora did annoy me quite a bit, never truly letting go of the “I hate you” jargon, even after Dean proved himself worthy of anything but. I do understand that it was part of how she coped with the guilt and confusion, it just irritated me a little bit.
Dean was the epitome of loving, understanding and patience. He had the tough conversations with anyone affected, and he tried his hardest to help Cora heal, both by staying and by leaving.
The way their love story eventually does blossom from that place of finally healing is what pushed this book to 5 stars for me.
What started as an annoyingly childish back and forth between them quickly changed after their shared traumatic experience, although what it turned into was absolutely toxic. They were so codependent on each other to get through the aftermath, it was almost like a never ending train wreck.
Most of their interactions prior to the event were so immature and sibling-like in nature, and never lended to the idea of anything ever happening between them. The dire hopelessness of their traumatic circumstances is what lead to confessions being shared and truths being revealed. So even after they re-entered the real world, only the trauma bond gave them anything in common.
Cora did annoy me quite a bit, never truly letting go of the “I hate you” jargon, even after Dean proved himself worthy of anything but. I do understand that it was part of how she coped with the guilt and confusion, it just irritated me a little bit.
Dean was the epitome of loving, understanding and patience. He had the tough conversations with anyone affected, and he tried his hardest to help Cora heal, both by staying and by leaving.
The way their love story eventually does blossom from that place of finally healing is what pushed this book to 5 stars for me.