A review by ashkell
Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann

Did not finish book. Stopped at 51%.
I understand it’s a romance book so it was never going to be a deep look into trauma and how people can bond over it and the downsides of it but nevertheless, this book was just…it rubbed me the wrong way. I’m not even upset about the graphic depictions because I knew what I was reading when I started but here is my list of issues:
- sexualised Cora and Dean’s rape a bit too much for my liking. Even though they both “consented” to have sex together, they wouldn’t have if not for the circumstances 
- not sure if we are meant to hate the sister, but I did. However, I wish she was a likeable character so even though you want Cora and Dean to be together, you still feel bad for Maddie. However, she was too shallow of a character as well and too “mean girl” sytreotypical that is just came across lazy
- 13 year olds on Wattpad can write better than this…sorry but it’s true
- Cora gave major pick me/I’m not like the other girl vibes. Like your not the only girl that’s into books and Maddie isn’t an idiot because she is blonde and wears dresses…

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