A review by amanda_reads13
Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann
challenging
dark
emotional
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? Yes
4.0
*Please check the trigger warnings before reading this book*
Cora hates her sisters fiance Dean. He has been a thorn in her side for the past 15 years. After attending her sister's birthday party, her wallet is stolen and she has to call Dean for a ride. She figures she will just sit through the awkward car ride home. What she doesn't anticipate is waking up the next morning handcuffed in a psychos basement, next to Dean. The two of them must lean on one another to survive and support each other as they are tested in unimaginable ways.
When I say I cried, I mean I sobbed. This story tore my heart open. It was tragic and heartbreaking, yet beautiful. There were parts that were really hard to read. Everyone deals with trauma differently, I think that Cora and Dean's story shows that in a realistic and sensitive way.
Dean was extremely traumatized and definitely suffering from PTSD, yet he still had this incredible emotional maturity.
Cora went through something unimaginable. Not many people would have been able to survive what she did.
A few things that annoyed me:
- I didn't like how everyone pushed Cora to "move on". She has been through something seriously fucked up. No, she doesn't need to date or go out to the bar.
-I disliked Mandy. She is completely devoid of compassion and empathy. At one point she says to Dean that she was surprised that he didn't want to have sex the second he escaped. Like what? He has been through some MAJOR trauma and you are being so disrespectful and overly pushy. She gave him no space to breathe and just expected Dean and Cora to go back to "normal".
- I didn't like that we got this backstory of Dean and Cora hating each other, but not really hating each other. We are supposed to believe that they have formed a trauma bond, which makes total sense, but then we are shown all these flashbacks that lead us to believe that there were feelings between them for a long time. I wish that there wasn't this "we loved each other all along" undertone to the story. It kind of takes a away from it.
Tropes: Dark, Taboo, enemies to lovers
Cora hates her sisters fiance Dean. He has been a thorn in her side for the past 15 years. After attending her sister's birthday party, her wallet is stolen and she has to call Dean for a ride. She figures she will just sit through the awkward car ride home. What she doesn't anticipate is waking up the next morning handcuffed in a psychos basement, next to Dean. The two of them must lean on one another to survive and support each other as they are tested in unimaginable ways.
When I say I cried, I mean I sobbed. This story tore my heart open. It was tragic and heartbreaking, yet beautiful. There were parts that were really hard to read. Everyone deals with trauma differently, I think that Cora and Dean's story shows that in a realistic and sensitive way.
Dean was extremely traumatized and definitely suffering from PTSD, yet he still had this incredible emotional maturity.
Spoiler
He loved Cora, but realized that they were in this toxic spiral. He always put her first and did everything possible to protect her and help her heal, even when that meant walking away. He is much stronger than he gave himself credit for.Cora went through something unimaginable. Not many people would have been able to survive what she did.
Spoiler
She struggles with being pulled between Dean and her sister. Dean is the only one she can lean on and she depends on him heavily. She is going through a rollercoaster of emotions and really struggles to deal with the trauma she has endured. She is scared to be 100% in with Dean because of Mandy and she kind of treats him like crap. She doesn't realize that Dean's sacrifice is really what she needed, she needs to heal herself, he can't heal her.A few things that annoyed me:
Spoiler
- I didn't like how everyone pushed Cora to "move on". She has been through something seriously fucked up. No, she doesn't need to date or go out to the bar.
-I disliked Mandy. She is completely devoid of compassion and empathy. At one point she says to Dean that she was surprised that he didn't want to have sex the second he escaped. Like what? He has been through some MAJOR trauma and you are being so disrespectful and overly pushy. She gave him no space to breathe and just expected Dean and Cora to go back to "normal".
- I didn't like that we got this backstory of Dean and Cora hating each other, but not really hating each other. We are supposed to believe that they have formed a trauma bond, which makes total sense, but then we are shown all these flashbacks that lead us to believe that there were feelings between them for a long time. I wish that there wasn't this "we loved each other all along" undertone to the story. It kind of takes a away from it.
Tropes: Dark, Taboo, enemies to lovers
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Sexual content, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Rape, Alcohol, Suicide attempt, Kidnapping, Animal cruelty, and Confinement