Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann

52 reviews

mistakensmiles's review against another edition

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

mflynn8908's review

dark tense medium-paced

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

3.0

Ok I’m in the minority but this was SOOOO slow and I struggled reading it. The beginning was so strong and literally had me consumed but then everything just turned cringe and slow. I mean I’m not a fan of the author making the older sister sound like an over the top exaggeration of a human while Cora is just this super cool and amazing girl (without even trying). Then Dean literally loving Cora the whole time he was engaged to her sister but he just kept it to himself and pretended to go along with the hate Cora gave him. YUCK! That was sooo cringe. 
I was team Mandy when she basically sent Cora to hell for failing for her fiancé and then sleeping with him so soon after their breakup. I get that they were trauma bonded but COME ON… it was your SISTERS man and you just his bones not while she still had a tan line from that ring on her hand. No. Just no. Not to mention their mom being like “oh we knew Dean loved you the whole time but he was faithful to your sister so we just let it go”… like WHAT??? If I was Mandy I’d disown the whole family and send them all a shit filled box for the holidays. 
I think all the issues I had with this book just didn’t motivate me to want to finish reading it and getting to the end of the book was a chore because I just didn’t care about the characters once they escaped Earl. I can see why it’s so hyped up but to me it’s a little too hyped. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Gun violence, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Abortion, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail

paperbacksandsnacks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I had only read one Jennifer Hartmann prior to this, and that also ripped my heart out and sewed it back in. This is no different. 

I'm beginning to learn that no one writes emotion and chemistry in the same way. I cannot tell you how many times I cried reading this. It was an absolute rollercoaster 

I was messaging my friend the whole way through like "omg, I'm crying again" 

I think despite the taboo elements it was all handled really respectfully and it landed really well (for me anyway) I can see why some wouldn't enjoy some of these tropes. I also think it has the potential to be very triggering so check CW's for sure! 

Dean has a slice of my heart. What a guy!

If anyone needs me I'll be thinking about this book and probably crying again.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

louise_jayne99's review against another edition

dark emotional tense 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, and Murder

Moderate: Gun violence, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Gun violence, Infidelity, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

blumerlamotte's review

challenging dark emotional 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

3.75

Heart wrenching, intense, dark, complicated. Check the trigger warnings. They’re no joke. This novel is NOT for the faint of heart.

Folks seem to either love or hate this novel. I swear reviewers either give it 5 stars or 1 star. I’m really torn. Unsure how I feel about it. It started so strong (but extremely hard to read) and from there… the character development was convoluted and messy and erratic. I think that follows with the excessive trauma the characters had to deal with. For me I think it just felt a little too contrived and not quite authentic enough. 

It’s a good book with awful topics. The authors writing style is smooth and easy to follow. Something about it just left me wanting but I don’t know what I want …

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Pregnancy

rdaacvhiesl's review

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

hailiejo's review

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Dementia, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Alcohol

samestelle's review

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

nighthonesty's review

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

3.75

I'm torn on this book. Overall, I did not enjoy it but I think it is more this type of book is not my style. Jennifer Hartmann did a great job not doing what I expected; which was outstanding. There were numerous times I wasn't sure if I wanted to continue but was glad when the story did not go where I was expecting. I was not a fan of the major character but that is a personal preference and in no way reflects the book itself. I am torn because while it is not a story I enjoy, it was very clearly well done. I'm actually in awe of Jennifer for how much I am indifferent on the book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment

Moderate: Infidelity and Self harm

Minor: Alcoholism, Miscarriage, Blood, Dementia, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

christene_littlelibrary's review

dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Still Beating is a dark romance with a lot of trigger warnings. But what I like about this book is how they conquered their trauma together in a non toxic way. I loved the story. How they survived the tragic event and still ends up together and to be happy. They totally deserve it. Such an amazing book.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, and Suicide attempt