Reviews with content warning for Gaslighting - Still Beating

very unique book, but it tried too hard and also was somehow not enough at the same time. don't know why when they were screaming at the abductor, of all the horrible things he did that they could've thrown in his face they just kept calling him fat?? they were like "you are FAT" like why not murderer, rapist, creep, etc.????? so insane. also it was just annoying at parts where cora was soooo not like other girls and mandy was villainized for no reason at times lmao mandy was a really terrible person though. this had a TON of potential like i could see the vision so clearly but was honestly underdeveloped. very fake deep!!!!!

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lovelymisanthrope's review

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dark emotional mysterious 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 heard about this book from Booktube and was intrigued.
"Still Beating" is a dark romance that follows Cora and Dean. Cora has known Dean since High school, and she has loathed every minute she has to spend with him. Unfortunately for her, he is her sister's fiancé, and it looks like she is stuck with him in her life. After a night out, Cora calls Dean for a ride home from the bar, but they never make it home. Cora and Dean wake up chained in a stranger's basement, and they will have to learn to get along if they want to make it out alive.
Warning: this book is VERY dark and tackles some very challenging issues.
I devoured this book. I was so captivated by Cora's and Dean's story, and I was entirely enamored with watching their relationship evolve. I am normally not a huge fan of enemies to lovers, but this felt so believable and not like true hate, and they were not "enemies" for too much of the story. Their chemistry was undeniable, and I loved that they have known each other for so long. Their history, despite the constant teasing and pranks, really made their connection all the more believable.

Something I loved more than their raw chemistry was how Dean knew how to take care of Cora afterwards. They went through an unimaginable experience and Cora especially had a really difficult time dealing with it. Even though Dean wanted nothing more than to be with Cora, he knew what she really needed was to find herself again, and he stepped away. This selfless act was so beautiful and really proves how much Dean adores Cora.

I 1000% will read from Jennifer Hartmann in the future and I will recommend this book to a very niche audience.

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ellaskrovset's review

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challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.5

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chaitai00's review

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challenging dark emotional tense slow-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

4.0

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cait's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective 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

4.0

Even that jerk face is more tolerable than John Wayne Gacy over here, boring his x-ray vision through the front of my dress.

Wowowowow.

That's it. That's my review.

Okay. I have a little more.

This is a dark romance. It's entirely composed of triggers, so go into the story with that awareness.

The story begins when, after discovering her wallet's been stolen and with no one else to turn to, Cora calls her sister's douchey fiance, Dean, for a ride home from a bar late one night. They never make it. An unknown number of hours later, Cora and Dean wake up chained in a musty basement and facing horrors they could never imagine. They've been kidnapped by a serial killer known as The Matchmaker, who always takes his victims in pairs, manipulates them into falling in love with each other, and then kills them in front of each other.

Not, of course, that Cora or Dean realize this. They've never heard of The Matchmaker. No one has. But now, living in hellish torment, these two mortal enemies have only each other left to rely on.

This book was incredible. These characters were wonderful. I loved this so much more than I imagined I would!

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