Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann

11 reviews

mooshroomx's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring sad tense 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Death, Blood, and Death of parent

Minor: Animal death

cheriejanette's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Miscarriage and Dementia

Minor: Infidelity and Death of parent

rdaacvhiesl's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective 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

4.75

If you can make it through the triggers and initial taboo, this is a unique love story that will stick with you for all the right reasons. Everything written had a purpose and never was used as a prop or just shock value. I applaud Jennifer Hartmann for masterfully toeing that line in order to share this beautifully traffic and harrowing story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Murder

Moderate: Animal death, Dementia, Stalking, and Alcohol

Minor: Gun violence, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Blood, Vomit, Car accident, and Death of parent

bibliobetty's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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? Yes

I have no complaints about the writing style but I won't be recommending to friends as I don't think that this type of contemporary romance is for me. Doesn't mean it's not worth reading or not good, just not for me. Absolutely read the TW/CW. This is not a "dark romance", this is dark and a romance. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Dementia and Pregnancy

Minor: Miscarriage and Death of parent

theinstabookworm's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-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

5.0

This dark romance is not dark in a violent kind of way, although there definitely is violence, but more in a sad way. The before, during, and after the kidnapping made for a very well-rounded story when normally the book ends when the kidnapped are freed. As a reader you get to see the effects the kidnapping had on both MCs emotionally, mentally, and physically and how their trauma bonded them. I also appreciated the accurate representation of family and friends not understanding the trauma and why Cora and Dean couldn't move on despite time passing, even if it was frustrating to read at times. I will say that I hated Mandy and thought she was the most selfish and insensitive person. She showed no empathy or compassion for her sister or her fiancé and only cared about herself. Again, though, she didn't understand why Dean couldn't move past what he had been through, which is also sometimes accurate of loved ones of those who have experienced trauma. Know going into this that it's a very heavy read and be mindful of trigger warnings.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Drug abuse, Miscarriage, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

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

hannibanani29's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Kidnapping, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, and Alcohol

Minor: Animal cruelty, Homophobia, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Torture, Dementia, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

aliceloyallaleon's review against another edition

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

ashlikes's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Gun violence, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexism, Medical content, Dementia, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Ableism, Homophobia, Stalking, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

whatjasread's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

3.5

• super traumatic and haunting
• definitely going to stay with me for a long time
• not really a fan of the miscommunication, many times I wished things would’ve just been stated plainly
• Mandy sucked so badly I don’t think I could ever deal with someone so self centred
• pretty sure I had tears in my eyes the entire time I was reading this
• enjoyed dean’s character development but still some moments where I didn’t care for him, mostly in the first part
• really not a fan of pick me girls so Cora was not the best character in my opinion although she did get slightly better as the book progressed
• super complex, moments where I had mixed feelings and could see both sides of arguments
• understood the need for connection and familiarity and understanding but still don’t think the cheating was necessary
• also don’t know why he ended up with Mandy based on his high school experience lol

TWs: Alcoholism, smoking, bullying (before book), kidnapping, murder (before book), torture, sexual assault (in book), spiking (before book), serial killing, physical abuse, discussion of miscarriage, animal abuse, PTSD, cheating, pet euthanasia, self-harm, death of parent (father, before book, heart attack), dementia, attempted suicide (overdose), nicotine withdrawal

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Bullying and Dementia