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mana_reads's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Sexual violence, Confinement, Torture, and Sexual assault
Minor: Miscarriage, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Animal death, and Panic attacks/disorders
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
- 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
"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.
I 1000% will read from Jennifer Hartmann in the future and I will recommend this book to a very niche audience.
Graphic: Sexual violence, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Physical abuse, Grief, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Rape, Kidnapping, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Murder
Moderate: Miscarriage and Pregnancy
alliereadsabook's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Rape and Murder
Moderate: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Miscarriage, Sexual violence, Self harm, and Kidnapping
p1nklaydie's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Kidnapping, Rape, Murder, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Torture, Miscarriage, Cursing, and Suicide attempt
marlene_suntie_helton's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Rape, Gun violence, Violence, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Miscarriage, Self harm, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and Physical abuse
bookwxrmvictoria's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
You’re still okay.
And I still love you.
— Dean
Graphic: Grief, Kidnapping, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Murder, Self harm, and Rape
Minor: Miscarriage, Abortion, Bullying, and Pregnancy
bookish_leigh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
If I was reading this on fanfiction.net in 2016 this would get 5 stars.
The start of this book was ok. But in hind sight, I must have been swindled by the suspense and trauma to miss how mediocre the writing is and how annoying Cora is.
For the writing, it's good quantity fanfiction AT BEST. So juvenile that, at times, I completely forgot that the characters are touching 30. And Miss Corabelle is no better than the next 17 year old. The only silver lining is that the dialogue and emotions flowed clearly and seamlessly.
For the plot, I really like the kidnapping concept and everything that came with it, but everything that came after was a mess. I wish the psychology of Earl (The Matchmaker) and his victims were expanded upon but no such luck.
For the characters, everyone outside of Dean and Cora were an after thought. The parents were TOO hands off after their daughter and future son-in-law was just kidnapped and brutalized for weeks. At some point, after Cora tried to unalive herself, the mother mentioned wanting to give her space....seriously😑. The lack of attention on Cora's mental health is CRIMINAL. This book could have been a medium to create a dialogue around mental health but failed miserably.
Mandy is a victim of biased writing. She was made to seem like the mean girl of Cora's life from the beginning with out any standing. Only to paint Cora with the "not like other girls" persona...she likes books and pranking Dean...it was never that deep.
Y'all on Book Tok stay exaggerating.
Plot: 2.5/5
Writing: 2.5/5
Characters: 2.5/5
Spice🌶:2 out of 5 forgettable, and hard to rate given how much I disliked this book
Overall: 2.5/5⭐
Moderate: Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Sexual harassment, Miscarriage, Murder, Suicide attempt, Confinement, Violence, Rape, and Mental illness
abookarmoire's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Perhaps it was a study of how post traumatic stress affects the chemistry between two characters.
Cora and Dean have survived being abducted and forced to do messed up things. After escaping the clutches of a madman, these two struggle to resume their normal, separate lives, and fail miserably. They are bonded and only they can understand one another.
Still Beating has a good ending, after all they have been through, wouldn’t we want them to end up together?
Graphic: Sexual violence, Confinement, Rape, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Toxic relationship
jordiemooon's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Miscarriage, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Infidelity, Alcohol, Blood, Self harm, Murder, Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Rape, Violence, and Sexual violence
emmab_124's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Self harm, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Animal death, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Minor: Suicidal thoughts