A review by bookbonds
Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann

challenging dark inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

“That’s bullshit. You’ve been the only thing keeping me going.” Dean paces forward, closing the gap, and reaches out his hands to cup my face. “You’re right. And that’s why I have to go.” He lowers one of his hands until it’s pressed up against my splintered heart. “You need to keep yourself going. It’s the only way.”

this book has absolutely broken me and has reminded me why i don’t read these types of books… but BOY AM I IN LOVE WITH DEAN AND CORA’S LOVE STORY! 
or just, their story in general over the course of 2 decades. christ. thought we all knew when two people “playfully” banter and hurl insults at each other they definitely wanna fuck. love and hate is a fine line folks!
so obviously please don’t read this book if rape is a tough topic. it is for me too and i still read it, it was hard. those scenes were some of the hardest, especially when you had dean forcing cora to focus on him.. 
“Look at me, Cora. Keep your eyes on me. Listen to my voice,” Dean orders, doing everything he can to maintain my attention. To distract me from the fact that I’m being defiled right before his eyes. “We’re going to get out of here, you hear me? I’m going to get us out of here. Just focus on me. I’m the only thing that’s real right now. It’s just you and me, Cora. Focus, okay? Look at me… focus on my voice…”
most of this book will break you, even when they escape it’s hard. the way cora is just so absolutely broken kills me. but i don’t mean that in the way you may think. 
they were definitely toxic for each other after a certain point and cora was using sex as an emotional crutch. i’m a really big fan of the “we’ll separate for now because we need to grow as people” trope. it absolutely turns me into an empty husk of a human being but that’s the best part 😁