Scan barcode
A review by boomwormbrittany
Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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
5.0
Still Beating follows Cora and Dean who have despised each other since high school but Dean is engaged to Cora's sister and is stuck with Dean. When they are kidnapped together by a serial killer called The Matchmaker, they find themselves having to overcome trauma together and grow closer.
This whole book was so heart wrenching and was such an exploration of pain, grief and healing. This book had me crying and I felt my heart being ripped apart. However, I absolutely loved this book.
This book is messy, painful and really hard to read at times but I flew through it when I had a chance to just sit and read. Dean and Cora are absolutely broken and end up in a cycle of trying to heal while also still hurting. It's so hard to watch them end up in a toxic cycle together while also trying to heal each other. Dean cares so much for Cora and she cares for him and it's so hard to watch them struggle to try to get better.
There are actual tears in my book because it made me cry so hard at times. The beginning of this book, part one, is so hard to read because it's such an awful situation to end up in and see characters go through. The rest of the book is about healing and learning to live with trauma which I greatly appreciated. Jennifer Hartmna's writing was so perfect for this story and it's clear she tried to handle this with so much depth and compassion.
I really loved this book and it has earned a place on my favorites shelf. I would say to be aware of the triggers in this book if you decide to pick it up and know that this is a hard read. I thought it was absolutely worth it.
This whole book was so heart wrenching and was such an exploration of pain, grief and healing. This book had me crying and I felt my heart being ripped apart. However, I absolutely loved this book.
This book is messy, painful and really hard to read at times but I flew through it when I had a chance to just sit and read. Dean and Cora are absolutely broken and end up in a cycle of trying to heal while also still hurting. It's so hard to watch them end up in a toxic cycle together while also trying to heal each other. Dean cares so much for Cora and she cares for him and it's so hard to watch them struggle to try to get better.
There are actual tears in my book because it made me cry so hard at times. The beginning of this book, part one, is so hard to read because it's such an awful situation to end up in and see characters go through. The rest of the book is about healing and learning to live with trauma which I greatly appreciated. Jennifer Hartmna's writing was so perfect for this story and it's clear she tried to handle this with so much depth and compassion.
I really loved this book and it has earned a place on my favorites shelf. I would say to be aware of the triggers in this book if you decide to pick it up and know that this is a hard read. I thought it was absolutely worth it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Miscarriage and Panic attacks/disorders