This book started out light-hearted and hopeful. I was feeling a sense of peace and happiness in Audra and Jake's interactions. Jake, who was brooding over his sister's death, appeared to have an affinity for the sweet and innocent Audra. He allowed himself to smile when with her. She gave him a reason to be when he had nothing left but the beauty of his pictures. I had such high expectations for this pair. In the second half of the book, there seemed to be an over abundance of drama and tragedy. Too many plot bunnies abounded through the pages of this story. It almost felt like the author had all of these ideas and then ran out of steam or pages in which to write. The mystery of Jake's past and family was confusing and unresolved. I felt like we needed Jake's point of view to understand it all, especially since he wasn't much of a talker and was unwilling to share his past and feelings with Audra. 

This book was different than what I expected. I thought it was going to be a lighter story of Audra's history and new lease on life as well as the growing friendship and love between Audra and Jake. While we got some of that, it was more about Audra struggling to figure out Jake. She spent the majority of her time asking questions she should have avoided. Why was he so damaged? How did his sister die? How did he feel about her? She couldn't just let him be. And, in doing so, she opened up pain that he wasn't ready to deal with and certainly didn't wish to share with her. Which in turn, caused more devastation and confusion for them both.

Overall, I liked the author's writing style and artful descriptions of the photography, but I felt lost at the end instead of healed. In Audra's picking at Jake's pain, she made some discoveries in regard to his sister's death, his childhood, and his current state of mind that neither of them were prepared to address or confront. There was so much potential here for a beautiful and healing story about grief and depression, but it fell short. The ending was abrupt with no resolution to Jake's open wounds or Audra's despair. Yes, we got the obligatory conclusion that "everything will be fine" and "we're going to be in love if we aren't already" ending, but I was left unsatisfied and confused.

This is thought provoking novel by an author that is new to this reader. After reading this story, it makes you stop and think about the situations that come up when someone has someone else's heart. This is a wonderful story

I'm not sure how to feel about this book. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't all that great either. I found the heroine to be whiny and, frankly, quite annoying. 

The hero wasn't much better. 

This book had so much potential, but it just kind of fell flat to me.

According to the Heartbeat Hypothesis every living creature has a limited number of heartbeats or breaths. Once they are used up, the creature dies. Following that thought train Audra should already be dead, being born with a heart defect. She is lucky, however. Somebody else's death gave her a second chance and she is immensely thankful for that. To show her gratitude she seeks out her donor's brother Jake to help her with her task. Re-creating something like a bucket list Emily made her brother take pics of. 

Jake isn't thrilled to meet up with Audra but he loved his sister and wants to honor her memory too. As they start with Audra's own "done-it" list Jake begins to see a different Emily and he gets to teach Audra things he never had the chance to show his sister. But while he wants to help his new friend he keeps her at arms length. 

This heroine wasn't easy to love. While I admired her for her strength regarding her health I found her to be a little bit too immature. She kept pushing Jake to talk about the things he clearly didn't want to disclose instead of being patient and waiting for him to come around. I wanted her to relax a little bit and give Jake a reason to trust her. Audra wasn't unlikable but she made it hard to fall in love with her. I do get that this is a book about teenagers falling in love but I wanted her to show more of a backbone where Jake was concerned.
Her guilt for having survived while our hero's sister didn't also made it impossible for her to relax and that was understandable. If your own survival comes at the cost of somebody else's death you have to be a cold-blooded mofo not to feel guilty about it.

***I thought I knew what loneliness was…But you can’t know lonely until you've lived the opposite.***

Jake wasn't much better. He was obstinately closed off and next second he was sweet and warm like summer rain. Whenever Audra wanted to talk he clammed up and hurt her. The hot-and-cold attitude has to confuse any 18 year old teen, however, it does not justify what Audra did. I'm being deliberately vague. I didn't get a life-affirming vibe from Jake. Yes, his past wasn't pretty but I hard time imagining how he would get himself out of this hole of self hatred and the one for his parents. 


***And on bad days, when his aura of sadness blazed like an alarm he couldn't turn off, I felt like I was doing everything wrong.***

While reading I had the distinct feeling that they both felt awkward when they spent time in the first half of the book but given the circumstances and character traits of the two main characters their relationship developed naturally.

The writing was very good for a debut author. It kept me engaged and while I had a few eye-rolling moments I  rather take those than being bored to death. This story deals with serious topics like death and handling grief, abuse and how people sometimes just can't let go. It has a generous dose of angst. I would have loved to read Jake's POV.

I see great promise in this author if she evolves and takes both the good and the critical reviews into consideration. I really think that Lindsey Frydman is on to something. 
Overall this was a solid debut and I will definitely read more.

Could you love someone that had your dead sibling's heart in them? I don't think I could, so when I read the blurb for The Heartbeat Hypothesis, I HAD to read it. This book drew me in from the first chapter and despite the way they met, I expected this to be a lighthearted romance. I was right.... kind of. At the beginning this was a mostly lighthearted book, and I enjoyed it best during the 1st half.

Right before the 50% mark, this book broke my heart. I was teary eyed and frustrated. Why did that have to happen?! I wanted this book to be all rainbows and butterflies with a few perfect photos thrown in. A heartbreaking mystery was thrown in the mix, and the mystery never actually got solved. That bummed me out even more. I like resolution, and while you get it in some ways.... you don't get it in others. I know, I know. Clear as mud, but if I say anything more then it is a definite spoiler.

Negativity aside, I actually enjoyed this book, and considering it is a debut novel I will definitely be checking out more of her work in the future.

Jake and Audra have never met, until today, but they're connected at the heart. I know, that doesn't seem to make any sense, but it does. Two years ago, a seventeen-year-old named Emily saved the life of a sixteen-year-old. Unfortunately, she had to die to do it. Audra can never express how truly grateful she is for the sacrifice necessary to ensure she lived, but she wants to try. Emily had a collection of photographs that chronicled things she'd done, just random pictures, and the majority were taken by her older brother, Jake. Jake is a college junior studying photography. Audra, a freshman, wants to share this experience with Jake and have him capture her moments, moments she would've never had if it wasn't for his sister.

As Jake and Audra spend time together, a connection begins building between them. But it's easy to see Jake keeps barriers around himself, his emotions, and he has secrets. Heartbreaking ones. When Audra witnesses a fight between Jake and a guy from his hometown, Jake, believing it's for the best, pushes Audra away. He doesn't think he's  worthy of being anyone's friend, especially Audra, the one he wants more with. Audra, falling for Jake one heartbeat at a time, disagrees, but she can't force Jake to see himself as she sees does.

As Audra continues on, the absence of Jake is apparent even after such a short time. She's decided to take the advice of her long time best friend, Kat, and go for what she wants. However, before she can confront Jake, she gets devastating news. The only silver lining is that it brings Jake back into her life and he begins sharing with her, opening up to the possibility of having that more with each other they both crave.

"If you let me, I could love you. I think maybe, even if you didn’t let me, I could still love you. I think maybe I already do." - Audra

Will Audra ever stop questioning whether Jake only sees a reminder of Emily's death when he looks at her? How do you cope when you cheat death, but someone else can't escape it? What really happened to Emily? Will seeking the truth only cause more hurt? Will Jake forgive Audra for keeping things from him, even though it was with the best of intentions? Will Audra ever feel worthy of Emily's heart? Will Jake find the courage to move forward and let himself feel again? Will he and Audra work through everything and come out stronger? Is there a HEA for these two?

One-click now and follow along as two people meet due to a tragic connection and discover a beautiful one along the way. Please keep in mind there will be tears. Also, though the HEA is implied, I wish it would've been a definite, so I'm just going to believe it was. LOL I do wish we could've gotten Jake's point of view though. This is a beautifully heartbreaking story filled with second chances, loss, grief, friendship, forgiveness, and love. Read it.

**I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.**

The Heartbeat Hypothesis is a beautiful, heartfelt story of not just love, but friendship, healing, grief and moving on after loss. Audra is the lucky recipient of a heart, and with this new heart she has decided to live her new life. She's grateful for her new heart, and wants to honor the donor of her new heart. This is where Jake comes in. Gorgeous, damaged Jake, who is not only a photographer who will help Audra honor Emily, (her heart donor), but who is also Emily's brother. Jake agrees to help Audra chronicle her version of Emily's done it list, with photos taken by Jake.

As Jake and Audra's relationship evolves, their feelings evolve, and they open themselves up to friendship, and love, and all the emotions that come with friendship and love. Secrets will be revealed, and hearts will be broken, but the whole journey is something that definitely has to be read. Is The Heartbeat Hypothesis angsty and emotional? Yes, but it's also beautiful, and so real. It will tug at your heart strings a little, OK, a lot, and you'll need some tissues, but it's well worth all the emotional upheaval.

Audra is a lovable young lady. She's sweet, and kind and compassionate and determined to finally live her life. She's open but guarded at the same time. Jake is an angry guy, but he has a beautiful heart, just like Audra, and just like Emily. He's hot and cold with Audra, but considering what kind of life he's lead, and the fact that his baby sister's heart beats within this amazing woman who's now in his life, it's completely understandable why he is that way. I ached for both of them, but especially for Jake, he had so many demons, and was grieving so badly. I just love reading their journey. The Heartbeat Hypothesis is an amazing debut novel, I can't wait for more of this talented author.

I really liked Jake, like a lot, "he raised his eyebrows. “Oh yeah? I use complete words, proper punctuation, and correct grammar.” And it was kind of a dream come true. “In what way are my skills lacking?” This book was beautifully written, it takes us on an emtotional journey of self-discovery, forgiveness, and learning to trust. I loved this book.

Omg I love this book was my first of the author and won't be my last .... I fell instantly in love with Audra and Jake ...I love they had a connection but at first they both denied it ....love how you felt all the emotions that the characters was feeling and how they got past thru all their challenge....I hope we get to read more of these characters....hurry buy this book you won't regret 
Volunteer read a advance copy

“So life is about the in-between. Between the beginning and the end, between the past and the future. It’s about the now.”

What a stunning, emotional, and beautiful novel!!!! It’s literally the best debut novel I have ever read! I was quite intrigued when I read the synopsis, but nothing could have prepared me for what I read! 

Audra wasn’t supposed to be enjoying her first year of college until she received a miracle…a new heart. Yet, someone else lost their life for her to live hers, and she is more than grateful for that. She wants to honor the young girl, Emily, who gave her a second chance at life. She enlists the help of Emily’s brother, Jake, to help her do that. From the moment she meets Jake, I know as well as she does that her life will forever be changed. 

I can’t say how very much I loved Jake and Audra! Both are extremely complex characters. I knew Audra as the story is told from her POV, but I felt like I was discovering Jake and his secrets just like she was. Both are filled with pain and guilt over Emily but for very different reasons. She feels guilty because she has Emily’s heart, and Emily is gone. Of course, Jake misses his sister, but there are also secrets concerning her death that continue to hold him captive. Audra wants so much to take his pain away and to make her life mean something because of Emily’s gift. Jake trusts no one, but I could tell he very much wanted to trust Audra. There was no doubt in my mind that Jake wanted to take that leap with Audra, and I kept praying he would just let go and do it! In my opinion Emily was just as much a character as Audra and Jake. I, like Audra, was able to learn who Emily was. It amazed me how Fydman was able to bring healing through Emily. Audra’s friend, Kat, was an important character as well. She greatly impacted Audra’s life as well. I thought it was a genius move on the writer’s part to use secondary characters in such a powerful way. 

As much as I loved the characters, I loved Lindsey Frydman’s actual words….her writing…the symbolism and the deeper meaning of the book. I was in awe with how she took a story filled with pain and turned into something beautiful. Lindsey Frydman gave us one of those rare books that not only grabs your emotions but your very soul! It makes the reader take a moment and look at their lives, and it very may well change the way you look at life. I know it made me take a breath and ponder how I look at my life. It’s one of the best books I have ever read!!!!

“My heart increased its manic cadence, and I was so never grateful to feel it. I placed my hand on Jake’s chest and felt his pulse beat in time with mine, thinking maybe the point of life wasn’t to live—maybe the point was to love.”

****Reviewed on behalf of Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews****

This was one of those book that bring on all the feelings. I knew from reading the synopsis that I was going to really enjoy it, and by the time I got deep into it I was already hating myself for picking a book I KNEW would make me cry. Which it did.



This is a book about healing.

A book about seeing the potential for your future and going for it.

About living for the day and finding the meaning in the little things.

It was a story about overcoming your past even if you don't get the answers you are looking for. You only have to long to live, so live.

also, it was a book about moving past grief. That was the hardest part of reading it. In this book you as a reader grieve for the characters loss and it creates that much more of an impact in reading.

I loved it.

I feel in love as they did and in the end I got the ending I was hoping for. Fantastic.

This book should’ve been called The Heartbreak Hypothesis.Because man this book broke my heart! Over and over and over again. Just when I thought it would be smooth sailing from then on… Nope. It was, whack! Right in the heart all over again. I’m not even mad though because the book was such a good read.



And that twist, talk about unexpected! I pride myself on being able to spot a twist/figure out most twists/figure out what’s going to happen a mile off (most of the time) but even I didn’t see that one coming - and it was HUGE. A game-changer.

Up until that point The Heartbeat Hypothesis had been a somewhat cutesy, everything-will-work-out, feel-good read but after that twist? All bets were off, all my preconceptions, and ideas of were the storyline might go, how the book will end, went out the window with that twist. I had no idea what to expect anymore.




And it got worse… Oh, my heart! I thought the first twist hit you in the feels but this? This hits you in the feels, takes them, throws them down on the floor and stomps on them. Needless to say, I was in full on, jaw-hanging-on-the-floor shock.




I’m not going to pretend that I ‘got’ why Audra (and even Jake) did some of the things she did because frankly? I didn’t. But it was still (mostly) fun to read those scenes - if a little confusing/frustrating.




I thought I knew what I was getting into with The Heartbeat Hypothesis, I couldn’t have been more wrong, but that’s what made it as good as it was/turned out to be.

I started out really enjoying Audra and the overall voice of the story, though I was a bit disappointed at not getting Jake's perspective on things (with a story that is intended to be about two people who are falling in love with something like one having the other's dead sister's heart, I think that getting both sides just makes sense!). I expected this to be a story with angst over the question of whether Jake could be okay with Audra having his sister's heart, and confusion for both whether their connection was because of the HEART itself (sort of along the lines of the movie "Return to Me").

Neither of those are really much of an issue here though. Instead, it's actually pretty heavy, where Jake is basically a recluse with no friends who loves black & white photography, and Audra would almost be a recluse, except for her very bubbly best friend, Kat. Audra hunts Jake down and asks him to recreate photographs he took for his sister of what his sister called "done-its." They laugh at how silly that term is, but never come up with a better one!

Which really, I think, sums up the overall problem I had with this book: There are so many things brought up that just sort of get brushed aside and eventually forgotten. Things like their project itself, the troubled past that Jake has, suspisions that apparently everyone who was close to Emily (Jake's sister) have about her death... I would get interested in the conclusion to some of these and then realize that they weren't finished. Honestly, it was a bit like the show LOST, where you have a million questions of things that seem really interesting... and are left with more questions at the end with very few answers!

I do also feel that, while the writing was great overall, the characters were also underdeveloped and even a bit shallow. There are illusions to Jake having some dark thoughts that aren't ever explored further. Audra apparently dated after her heart transplant, but that's barely touched on (If she had only one friend from her childhood, how did she date? What happened to the boyfriend she had before??). Audra has no clue what she wants to do with her life, which also means that we don't get to know much more about her than that she loved her parents and her best friend, and she was born with a heart defect that resulted in a transplant at 16. I really wanted the character arcs to be both Jake and Audra going from people not allowing themselves to live, to people who had helped each other to discover themselves more and learn, especially through the "done-its," that life is too short to wallow in the past.

Mostly, I guess I just feel like this was left unfinished. I liked the setups, what I did know about the characters, the setting, the overall plot and the "done-its" aspect - I just finished this wanting more.

If you are looking for a book that is different from what you normally read this is the book you are looking for! Lindsey Frydman grabs your attention with a book filled with a new chance on life, overcoming your fears, love, and heartache. 

Audra has a new chance on life. After receiving a new heart she decides to take up her donor's, Emily, "bucket list". To help document her adventure she enlists the help of Emily's brother to take photos of her just like he did for his sister.

Jake is still upset over losing his sister and when Audra contacts him to help her out, his first instinct is to blow her off. He decides to take a chance on her and hears out her idea to recreate Emily's "bucket list". 

As Audra and Jake spend more time together, they start to grow closer and secrets begin to test them. Will they be able to hold onto each other while they navigate through issues that both of them might not be ready for? Or will they decide that it's better off to leave things alone and not fight for the truth or each other?

Oh boy - get the tissues out ready when you read this book! It is an emotive, tear jerker and a great read.

Two years ago eighteen year old Audra Madison was the recipient of the heart of seventeen year old Emily Cavanaugh, saving her own life as Emily lost hers. She’s wanted to find out more about the girl who died and enabled her to live so has used the internet to find out more about her. She’s discovered Emily’s tumblr photos, her ‘Done-It’ list, and wants to recreate them. She contacts Jake, the photographer and Emily’s grieving brother, asking him to help her do this. He agrees but the two are obviously wary and Jake is moody, inconsistent in his interactions, brooding and also very talented at both photography and playing the piano. He keeps warning Audra not to get close to him as he’s sure to hurt her . . . 

The story is told from Audra’s point of view as she explores her own feelings of survivor’s guilt and her new chance at life. As she strives to discover more about Emily whilst settling into life as a freshman at University with her best friend, Kat, she accidentally also uncovers unexpected information and even more questions. There are other tragic events in the story; it is an emotional roller coaster, an angsty, heart wrenching story with so many twists and turns! I initially thought it was going to be a relatively straight-forward, run-of-the-mill new adult romance but it certainly isn’t. There are light hearted moments but it is the emotional turmoil that makes this story stand out from the rest. When I discovered this is a debut novel, I was amazed - this author is definitely one to watch out for in future!

Thanks to the publisher for enabling me to read a copy of this via NetGalley. This is my honest review.

4 angel stars!!

Since stars had a limited amount of hydrogen – and they needed that stuff to exist – they in turnhad a finite lifetimeof radiance. The way hearts had a finite number of heartbeats.
Never in my book worm life had I ever imagined that I would get to read a book such as this. Its autheticity and uniqueness caught me completely off guard since the first moment I started it. And may be the blurb gave me an idea what I was in for, nothing could prepare me for the greateness that was waiting for me just around the pages.

The Heartbeat Hypothesis is a story about a girl who has made her goal to reenact some memories of the girl whose heart is beating under her chest. But she has to ask the help of the photographer behind the photographic imprinting of those memories. So, Audra and Jake start travelling together his sister’s memory lane which makes them get closer with each other.

If someone would come up to me and said that thia story was based on real facts, I would probably believe him. It is simply so real and raw that I couldn’t help feel that these two characters are actually existing on this planet and this book was a part of their story. Both Audra and Jake are proven to be from the beginning characters with some very complex, but intriguing nonetheless, personalities and ways of thinking and dealing with problems. But as they spend more and more time in each other’s company, which leads to confessing personal truths, the change both are forced under is inevitable.

“Without the middle, being first or last means nothing.” The middle gace the rest its meaning.
What draw me into and made me love even more this amazing story, except the autheticity of it, was that, even thow it seems like a love story, its basic truth and foundation is build on the process each one of us has to go through, the sacrifices we have to make and the loses we have to endure so we can find our true self on the other side of the tunnel. And in the end, what matters the most and what makes our time on this planet worthwhile and special are the things we allow ourselves to feel; things like love, forgiveness, passion, friendship and even some pain which all together are what makes each being different. And Audra and Jake learn how to appreciate them while discovering their inner world and what trully matters.

“All you need is the combination of bright sunlight, suspended droplets of water, and the proper viewing angle, and you get to witness one of nature’s most famous masterpieces.”
My words are completely failing me when it comes to describe the story and my feelings about it. My mind, heart and thoughts are so emotionally charged by the journey of these two characters that it would need quite some time to write everything down and with the correct words. I ususally tend to say that no matter what I or any other reader say about a book, if you don’t experience it yourself you will never be able to grasp its majesty. And this book couldn’t fall more than bull’s eye on that opinion. This multi-layered story and couple put your emotional producer into the test, creating more of acommotion as you go deeper into it and get to witness what really they are made of.

Frydman surprised the hell out of me with this story. Her writing gave it all it got so it could bloom itno this lovely gem of literature. And if you are looking for unique love stories with characters who are raw and real, this is a book you don’t want to pass by. Trust me.

This book was not what I was expecting, I’ll admit and say that I chose to review this book based shallowly on the cover and what I got was a rather deep, intense, angsty read dealing with death and grief at its core. 

Audra is a college student and the recipient of a heart transplant, in dealing with her acceptance of her second chance at life she wants to learn about her donor so reaches out to the donor family and in doing so meets Jake, the brother of the donor. What follows is an intense friendship blighted by death, grief and secrets and Audra’s thirst for information about Jake and his sister. Jake is a guarded character that you can’t help feel for and at times I wanted to tell Audra to back off too.

I expected to be more emotional reading this book but for some reason it just didn’t happen and I’m not sure why as I liked the characters. This could be read as a YA book as things never progress sexually between the main characters though it is quite heavy on the subject matter of grief.

I think the author has done a great job with this as a debut book and I will definitely be looking out for more from her in the future and wish her every success.

"It's okay to be a glow stick; sometimes we need to break before we shine." 

The heartbeat hypothesis: Every living creature had a finite number of heartbeats. If that was true, my limit was up long ago. But instead, I took someone else's heartbeats. - snippet from Audra's thoughts. 

Audra never thought she would survive past high school, literally. With her failing heart, her days were numbered and her breaths were measured by counts, but miracle came in the form of Emily Cavanaugh. She died so Audra could live. To honor Emily's heart, Audra set on a goal to replicate Emily's Tumblr account so her memory could live on forever. She sought out the help of Emily's brother, Jake to help photograph her while she completes Emily's "Done-its" list. She made him laugh, they are two souls connected, but will the past destroy what they have in the present? And change their future forever? 

I devoured this book in two sitting (two because work came in between) and every moment in the book pulled me deeper into the mystery behind Emily's death and the heartbreak that seemed to plague the characters. Contrary to the alpha male lead I've been reading lately, I was glad that the author has created a character that I can easily relate to, I love his vulnerability and my heart broke for the pain and loneliness he endured. 

"Is there a limit to pain? 

Ugh, I know I've been quoting the book a lot but I am in love with every single word written! I highlighted so many passages it'll come across as a textbook, trust me. 

Being the author's debut novel (which I am honored to have the opportunity to read), it was surprisingly well-written and laced with emotional depth. The plot itself is creatively crafted, I enjoyed reading about Emily's Done-its and the inspiration behind each photo. Jake's take on photography gave me a new perspective on life and his voice is so very beautiful, Kat's cheerful personality, albeit a huge contrast to Audra's, was a breath of fresh air, and Audra's selfless personality made her a genuinely wonderful person. I love them all. 

At precisely 50% mark of the story, the plot twist almost killed me and I had to put down my kindle to fight the urge to scream and cry. 

I have no idea how many times Jake and Audra has reduced me to tears, they are capable of making me feel appreciative of the little things in life. Their story is a reminder that life is short, it can be painful, but also entirely beautiful, and we should make use of the finite number of heartbeats we have left. 

An emotional roller coaster that will make you "high" on emotions.

This one is a bit of a departure from what I usually feature on GraveTells, so it's not going to be a good fit for everyone reading this. I was initially attracted to this story by the description and the cover: girl receives heart transplant, spends time with brother of her donor who agrees to help her recreate his sister's "done-it" photographs. I enjoy photography, so a man who knows how to work a camera is automatically sexy to me, so this seemed like a gimme. But this story is actually quite sad. It ends well—I mean, it's technically a romance—but it's more about the characters working through their own problems separately than banding together in an adult relationship. The Heartbeat Hypothesis will appeal to readers who enjoy clean romance with young adult themes. This is not for lovers of hardcore romance or happy-go-lucky stories.

I want to say something like, "This story will rip your heart right out." But that hits a little too close to home, given the way the two main characters meet. The Heartbeat Hypothesis is unique among romances—I've never seen a premise quite like it. It's a New Adult story, but there are times when it feels extremely Young Adult. In other moments it's classic college, peppered with snapshots of a very adult sort of reckoning and emotional processing. Audra, the heroine, navigates the tricky emotional landscape of carrying another girl's heart inside her body, of sorting through layers of guilt and happiness and what-ifs. She's a college freshman, and her speech and general life experience are spot on for her age. We experience the story through her eyes, so Jake is as much of a mystery to the reader as to Audra.

Jake is mysterious, moody, reticent. He's very much a New Adult hero. But he has good reasons, and he's a twenty-something college student with a traumatic past, so I can definitely respect that. This book goes from quirky, uncomfortable college kids trying to relate without giving up too much of themselves, to being heavy, heartbreaking, and introspective. I found it really hard to keep reading in parts. Not because it isn't well written—it is—but because I saw all these alternate (read: SAD!!) futures play out for myself and freaked the hell out.

There is a thread of romance in The Heartbeat Hypothesis, but it's secondary to the development of the characters and plot. This book reads more like a YA than a NA. Definitely not my usual preference, although I did generally enjoy it. This story includes themes of grief, separation, abuse, and suicide, so if any of those are a trigger for you, probably best to avoid. If you're looking for a younger-feeling story that will grab your heart and get the tears flowing, look no further.

For this one, my GraveTells review score will differ from my GoodReads and Amazon scores. The rating system I use on GT focuses more on technical merit rather than personal enjoyment (and they usually line up, so I'll have to tweak that). Technically the story was good. Personally, it wasn't my favorite, as I'm just not that into Young Adult, and I expected a New Adult story with more of a romance. YMMV.

Audra Madison simply wanted to walk in the shoes of Emily Cavanaugh, a free-spirited teenager who died too young. After all, Audra wasn’t supposed to be here.

Thanks to Emily, Audra has a second chance at life. She’s doing all the things that seemed impossible just two years ago: Go to college. Date. Stargaze in the Rocky Mountains. Maybe get a tattoo. You know, live.

Jake Cavanaugh, a photographer with mysterious, brooding gray eyes, agrees to help chronicle her newfound experiences. She makes him laugh, one of the only people who can these days. As they delve into each other’s pasts – and secrets – the closer they become.

But she’s guarded and feels like she can’t trust anyone, including herself. 
And he’s struggling with the fact that his beloved sister’s heart beats inside her.

This book was so heart-wrenching for me that I found myself looking back on my life and seeing so many things that I wish I had done differently.  It's one of those books that you read and you really think to yourself "How can I be a better person and live my life to the fullest?"  I don't want to be an introvert anymore who sits on the sidelines and doesn't interact with people.  People see me and they think I'm outgoing but the truth is...I have intense Social Anxiety Disorder and this book for me made me really approach my "illness" head-on because life is short.  Time waits for no man.  I loved the characters in this book and when a book makes you stop and look at your own life...it's a good book.

Jake is an awesome hero because he's damaged and broken because he lost his sister.  Audra has Jake's sister's, heart.  This book reminded me of the movie Return to Me with Minnie Driver and OMG, I loved that movie (PICK IT UP!!)  Seriously, this book had me crying and while first-person books are really hard for me to read, I'm starting to love them.  You will absolutely adore this book from Lindsey!  She is on my List of Authors to look out for.  

Audra received a heart transplant from a young girl and when she's given the option to know who the donor is, she sends a letter with a request. She would like to complete her "Done it list" on Instagram. She finds out that Jake is on campus with her and chooses to approach him to ask him to complete the list with her.  Will he help her?  You’ll definitely need some tissues with this book, if not the whole box!  In my opinion, she knocked it out of the park with this book.  

What you’ll take away from this book is to live every moment like it’s your last because it might be.  Live it to the fullest.  Love the ones you’re with and tell them that you love them.  Don’t let fear be your guide.  Make your own list and live it out.  I couldn’t recommend this book more!!

I was given a copy of this ARC from the publisher on NetGalley for an honest review. All of the above comments are my express opinions and no one else's.