A review by readingwithjamie
Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann

dark hopeful sad medium-paced

5.0

 Before going into this book you need to check trigger warnings. I cannot stress this enough! 
 
This is a dark romance, and the first part of this book is very dark. It starts off very dark but eventually changes along the way. There is growth, friendship, enemies to lovers. This is one of the best books I’ve read this year. 
 
Cora is at a bar celebrating her sister, Mandy’s birthday. Cora ends up staying out late, well past when her sister and friend leave. She decides to call a cab to take her home. She quickly realizes that her wallet was stolen and she needs to call a friend for a ride. Since its super late, she has limited options. Cora calls Mandy’s fiancé, the guy she hates most in the world, Dean. She has known him for 15 years and they have never gotten along, but she knows he will help her. Dean picks her up, sparring and insulting each other on the car ride. Red lights follow Dean and pull them over, and that’s when this nightmare begins. They find themselves chained in a basement with a deranged killer. 
 
Every day is violent, ugly, and hopeless. They are stuck with each other and they slowly start to rely on each other, talk through memories, give up their truths and find moments of escapes from the horrors they’re forced to endure. 
 
Eventually they do get out and have to deal with what happened, what they said to each other, their family, the spotlight and most of all, Mandy. Reading this part of the book was agonizing, and I felt so much for the MCs. Cora and Dean changed, they shared something that no one else could possibly ever understand and they both struggled with that they are to each other. 
 
Their chemistry is explosive. This was such an emotional, painful, hopeful, raw read and I really enjoyed this. Still Beating is heart-breaking, uncomfortable, provocative and brilliant. 
 
Overall: 5 
Spice: 4 
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