Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann

17 reviews

becca__xo's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

Shit…I loved this book so much. It broke my heart and glued it back together. It was truly a beautifully written book with soul! I don’t normally cry during books…but this one definitely got me. I recommend this book 100% but please read the trigger warnings. 


Also this may or may not be a controversial opinion but I despise Mandy. I understand that she was upset but she was so incredibly selfish when her sister needed her the most and I would never forgive that. Having a younger sister myself and reading how Mandy treated Cora…I just could not get over how awful and inconsiderate she was acting. 🤷🏻‍♀️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt

Moderate: Animal death, Rape, and Kidnapping

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Death, Miscarriage, and Self harm

houseoflies's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

What the fuck man😭😭😭😭I'll never emotionally recover from this book

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Torture, Kidnapping, and Suicide attempt

mistakensmiles's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Violence

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Torture, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol

Minor: Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Abortion, and Murder

samestelle's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Dementia, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

lanaw's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This is my 2nd time reading this book I read it 2 years ago and I still remebered everything about the book going back in.This book has left a lasting impact on me. I can't believe how powerful it is. It completely tore my heart apart and then somehow managed to mend it back together. The emotions in this book are so raw and intense. Dean and Cora's story will forever hold a special place in my heart.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

amurray1996's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I don’t have the words to describe this book properly. It was one of the best books I’ve read, ever. Heartbreaking, grueling, tough read at the beginning. But turns into painful angst, healing from trauma, and becoming an unconventional but tragically beautiful love story. This book was flawless, and is one of those stories that sticks with you long after. I’m in awe. Not to mention, the writing was incredibly well done. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Alcohol

klsreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Homophobia, Sexism, and Pregnancy

Minor: Animal cruelty, Forced institutionalization, and Death of parent

reddeddy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring sad tense fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Dementia, Medical trauma, Stalking, Abortion, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Incest, Misogyny, Medical content, Car accident, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Dysphoria

aliceloyallaleon's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

juliereadsromance's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.25

Ok, this was my journey through this book:

First 25%: shoot it in my veins, I’ve never felt so alive. 
Second 25%: still buzzed
Third 25%: I’m dragging. The novel is now just sad which is appropriate for the plot. But, the come down from the adrenaline of the first half is a bummer. 
Fourth 25%: I’m glad I’m getting to see the HEA, but I’m also happy I’m done with the book. 

This was a five star read for many readers I follow here on GR, so it seems like a lot of other readers didn’t find that the second half of the book slowed down too much. 

Importantly, this book gives a meaningful portrayal of PTSD and the characters’ challenging recovery from trauma. 

I thought that the FMC’s parents and sister didn’t seem to understand the gravity of the sexual abuse Cora endured. And that was weird.  

There are ALOT of potential triggers in this book, so def check the author’s warnings before!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Pregnancy