Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann

72 reviews

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

m40's review

dark emotional

4.0

I literally don't even know what I just read but I loved every second of it?? Should I be concerned??

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, and Suicide attempt

katsa6's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-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

4.0

What a gut wrenching powerful book looking at trauma, survival, depression and darkness. It is a tragic love story that you really can't see the light in but is so mesmerizing that it kept me glued to it. Cora and Dean are about to be in laws as Dean is going to marry Mandy- Cora's sister until a twist of fate has them stuck in a serial killers basement trying to survive. It is all their stories from the past to the present. It hurt. It made me cry. I felt so much for all the characters. I could feel all their pain. Check your trigger warnings as this had alot of disturbing and sad things that happen. Worth the read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Alcoholism

Minor: Abortion

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

hilary89's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

This book just gutted me. After all Dean and Cora went through together, I’ve never found myself rooting so hard for a fictional couple to get their HEA. I have a feeling this one is going to stay with me for a very long time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Rape, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Miscarriage and Pregnancy

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

cozyreader9752's review

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

jess_bee's review against another edition

challenging slow-paced

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

0.5

This book was so shit 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, 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

lilaypad's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

I thought this book would be cheesy in an insufferable way in the start, but i actually really enjoyed it. A hard read with some heavy heavy topics, but the message was beautiful and made me very emotional.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Confinement, Drug abuse, and Kidnapping