5⭐️ 4🌶️

"Every love story is worth writing, no matter how messy it might be."

Messy, dark, heartbreaking, heartwarming, soul shaking. Jennifer Hartmann has sucked me in and I will never be the same. This is my second read through of Still Beating and it hit me just as hard this time around. I loved the little details I picked up on this time that I may have missed before and I fell head over heels in love with Dean and Cora all over again. Still Beating was one of the first dark romance books I picked up and while the difficult subject matter may be a little easier for me to read at this point in my book journey, Jennifer's writing still makes my heart ache and my tears well up all the same.

After being taken by a serial killer and held hostage, forced to commit and endure unspeakable acts, Cora and her long-time enemy (and sister’s fiancé) are forever bonded through their trauma. When they were finally released, I thought I could let out a sigh of relief but Jennifer was screaming NOT YET. Watching their anguish and healing in the aftermath, hurting themselves, each other, and those they love, was just as gut wrenching as their time in the cellar. The push and pull and broken pieces of Dean and Cora trying to heal one another left me reeling and there was a brief moment of feeling as though all hope was lost before Jennifer delicately put the pieces of my shattered heart back together and tied it up with a sweet little bow.

I adored Dean. He was smart, witty, a bit of a jerk, but so very caring deep down and I loved watching his relationship with Cora twist, turn, and blossom. Cora absolutely broke me throughout her journey back and I certainly cried some happy tears for her once she finally found her HEA. Their relationship together was enemies to lovers, taboo, spicy, tender perfection. I’ve never read an enemies to lovers quite like this and the unique take on it was so refreshing and haunting.

Finally, I loved Tabitha and the perspective she helped Cora gain, as well as their unexpected but so desperately needed friendship. And the bonus chapter?! Everything my little Tabitha loving heart was screaming for! I’m so thrilled that we finally have her book announcement and I cannot wait to get more of her story and head back down into the cellar, while revisiting some familiar faces, when The Stars Are On Our Side releases next February.

This book absolutely destroyed me. Before I go on anymore this was dark the subject matter uncomfortable and black, that being said I was completely blown away. This probably is going to be a little scatterbrained review because I’m still trying to absorb all this.

I have read some dark subject matter but this was wow. I am still fairly new into this sub genre. Absolutely excruciatingly painful and heartbreaking. Completely tragic.

I could not put it down. From the very beginning to the last page I did little else but emerge completely into this story. It is a story of survival and love, overcoming terrible things and coming out after it. Trust me you should read this book but be aware of the triggers because it is definitely a lot. I’m not sure how to move onto the next after this one.

This is a story that will definitely stick with me for a long time!

There are a few books that leave me emotionally destroyed in all the best ways and forever stay with me. This has become one of those books. Cora and Dean's story is so heartbreaking and tragic but also beautiful and real. I went into this completely blind and I'm so glad I did. The author told such a tragic story in such a beautiful way that you can't help but feel all the emotions right along with the characters.

I absolutely loved this book! It was heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time! Jennifer Hartmann is an amazing writer I love her work and this book there is absolutely no words that can explain how good it is definitely living rent free in my mind!

I’m kicking myself for not reading this sooner. The hype is so real for this book. Hartmann tackles something horrific and it turns it into something beautiful.

Wow! This book blew my mind. As a new reader to Jennifer Hartmann, I dove in headfirst into this amazing story after just one look at that incredible cover and synopsis. I knew it would have the emotional intensity and feels that I love to immerse myself in. Cora and Dean have known each other since high school. Seemingly fated to be antagonists, they are constantly heckling and bickering, but are tied to each other's company because Dean is engaged to Cora's sister. Still, if there's anything they can truly depend on, it's the other person's annoying presence. Until the night that Cora needs a ride home from the bar and the only person she can reach at that hour who will pick up the phone is Dean. And that is when their nightmare begins.

Both of them are abducted and subjected to a sick and disgusting captor with a twisted sense of ownership and interference. The horror and shame that Cora has to go through with Dean as the witness is beyond appalling. Not to mention what Dean is forced to carry out as well since both of their lives depend on it. They have no choice to form a tentative bond that grows stronger because of dire circumstances. However, there are flashbacks throughout the book of their interactions and in each one, it shows how much emotion they bring out in each other, appearing to be negative but sometimes positive and usually memorable.

While the kidnapping sets the stage for the story, there is also the entire aftermath to contend with and the story focuses a lot of their relationship development from that point forward. It is a hot mess because these two individuals have been horribly traumatized and can never go back to the people that they were before, having committed acts they would have never chosen to do in the first place. And it is that shared experience of them sinking to the lowest of the low, where they see the other at their most raw and vulnerable and bottom point that binds them. This winds up being the catalyst for Dean and Cora to finally realize what they've been ignoring or overlooking all along, but it comes with heavy consequences. However, the beauty of it is how much more respect and admiration they have for each other rather than the opposite given what they've seen of the other.

The journey to recovery is a hard path for them. Either they can do it together or separately, but they both have their own crosses to bear with internal darkness to reckon with. I felt a lot of their pain because it seemed impossible no matter which path they took. So many obstacles and so much despair and self-loathing. I was surprised that their closest friends and family weren't a bit more understanding and supportive in certain ways, particularly Cora's sister in relation to Cora. I loved all the flaws and imperfections of these characters, and the story ended exactly where it was supposed to, showcasing the strength and love of two people who survived it all. As for the heavy and serious matter, there are definitely moments of humor and wit sprinkled in, too. One of my favorite reads of the year. I plan to read more of Jennifer Hartmann's books and highly recommend this one.

Loved this book. I have read it so many times and I owned the original and per ordered the new cover extended bonus. This book will break your heart and put it back together at the end. Love Dean and Cora story!!!

Still Beating is another fantastic book by Jennifer Hartmann. I discovered her books this past year after reading her book, An Optimists Guide to Heartbreak and the duet to it. I LOVED both of those books so when I saw Still Beating here on NetGalley I was so excited. Cora and Dean, the main characters in Still Beating were amazing. I really enjoyed Dean’s character and POV more than Cora’s, but I love the way the author wrote Cora’s story. It was necessary and also understandable that Cora’s character be written as it was in order for the story to end as it did. I loved the ending of the book. Dean was by far my favorite character.

****^^^^Possible spoiler below:
One thing I am still trying to figure out is the bonus chapter. It left me feeling somewhat sad and made it seem that Tabitha’s future may never be as happy as the reader would like it to be. My heart hurt for her as I finished this book. I would love to see a follow up book of Tabitha💗

Overall, I really, really enjoyed Still Beating and would recommend this to other readers. I just downloaded Aria on my Kindle. Jennifer Hartmann is by far the best ‘new’ author I have read so far this year.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Lots and lots of triggers, so please check the TWs/CWs before reading. I definitely think this is for someone who has read dark romance before and NOT for someone starting out in the genre.

Overall, I enjoyed this. It was so emotional yet captivating. I didn’t want to put it down.

Things I loved:
- The dynamic between Cora and Dean
- The relationship building being shown both in the past through flashbacks as well as during the captivity and recovery
- These characters took their trauma and learned to heal

Some of my complaints:
- Cora acted like she was better than her sister just because her sister liked fashion and girly things while she herself was into books and Shakespeare
- The sister like didn’t give a fuck about Dean or Cora’s trauma???? She was outraged that Dean didn’t want to get intimate ~6 weeks after they were rescued? Girl he is TRAUMATIZED and dealing with PTSD. Keep it in your fucking pants
- Another example of the sister not grasping trauma: she insists on setting Cora up on a date 6 weeks after the rescue. Which she KNOWS Cora was raped by their captor. But yes, by all means seems like a great idea to try to have her get close to a man she doesn’t really know because you want her to date again. GTFO.

I wish the ending were a bit longer, it felt like the last ~3-4 chapters were a very rushed timeline.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

This story was so heartbreakingly beautiful. It does have a few very heavy triggers so I would recommend checking the trigger warnings before reading. I honestly could not find anything negative to about this book. I originally read it back in September of 2022 and have reread it a few more times. And the new cover is stunning. Dean and Coras story will be one to remain in my heart for quite a long time.

Still Beating
Jennifer Hartmann

Genre: Dark Romance
Rating: 5/5⭐️
Recommended: Yes!

This book was so out of my comfort zone… and I loved it! After reading the synopsis, I knew I had to go into this book with very different expectations than usual (aka desensitizing myself a little). I’m so glad I did because I don’t think I would have enjoyed the book as much!

I then went on to read her other book Lotus which I also really liked. Please check the trigger warnings before reading either Lotus or Still Beating.

Read if you like…
🤍 Dark Romance
🤍 Enemies to Lovers
🤍 He Falls First
🤍 Hurt/Comfort

If you’re ready for your heart to break in two read this book. One of the most emotional books I have ever read!

The writing in this book is absolute perfection. We have a dual POV and the present is mixed in with flashbacks. How two people can move on from the absolute horrific act that happened to them is beyond me. It shows that every love story is different and can start in any circumstance. Basically just read this book, after checking trigger warnings, you wont regret it.

This book is amazing, gut wrenching, horrifying and beautiful. I've never read a book that gave me a rollercoaster of emotions like this one did. It will stick with me forever! I will recommend it to everyone. Thank you for the opportunity to read it and I can't wait to read more by Jennifer Hartmann!

It’s no secret that Jennifer Hartmann is an auto-buy author for me. I love her writing, her characters, her humor, the world she creates and the emotions she pours into all her books. Bloom’s version of Still Beating includes a bonus scene and it’s heart wrenching and tragic but it also makes me extremely anticipate The Stars are on Our Side even more. It was amazing to re-read and experience the re-release version of Still Beating again and it still held that precious feeling I had when I first read it where I wanted to protect Cora and Dean and keep them safe. Hartmann’s writing is special and evocative. It’s phenomenal and exceptional. It’s a type of classic that can be read years from now and it’ll never go out of date. I’m so excited for all her future endeavors. Also, can I just add that Bloom did amazing with their gorgeous cover.

Thank you NetGallery for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I am so glad that I finally picked this book up. It was so good.
Cora could be very frustrating, but the way that Dean cared for her was just perfection. This book is definitely worth the hype!
The complex nature of these relationships and the push and pull really added to my enjoyment of this story!

Still Beating 💔 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨/5

Trope📚: dark romance
Reminds me of: nothing I have ever read before…it’s like if @colleenhoover were to write a darker romance
Pace🏃🏼‍♀️: moderate
Read if you like: testing your limits

This is a hard book to review. The first 50 pages were filled with disgusting, painful, non-consensual abuse (there’s your trigger warning). However- TRUST THE PROCESS! I powered through the tough parts and was heavily rewarded by a compelling story of love, self-discovery, and strength. You will find yourself rooting for Cora and Dean, even when you don’t want to.

It is a love story - love between friends, love between enemies, love between family. But it is also a story about overcoming trauma, and how trauma can create a bond stronger than blood.

This book is not for the faint of heart so please check the trigger and content warnings before reading. Not including specifics in this review so as not to spoil.

Overall this book was 4.5 stars. I would have rated it higher but my moral compass severely struggled the first 50 or so pages. The book was very well-written, and I found myself riding the rollercoaster along with Cora. Highly recommend.

“ℰ𝓋ℯ𝓇𝓎 𝓁ℴ𝓋ℯ 𝓈𝓉ℴ𝓇𝓎 𝒾𝓈 𝓌ℴ𝓇𝓉𝒽 𝓌𝓇𝒾𝓉𝒾𝓃ℊ, 𝓃ℴ 𝓂𝒶𝓉𝓉ℯ𝓇 𝒽ℴ𝓌 𝓂ℯ𝓈𝓈𝓎 𝒾𝓉 𝓂𝒾ℊ𝒽𝓉 𝒷ℯ...“

This 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 is pretty much impossible to review without spoilers. This book was 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻𝔂𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰. It was a well-written, heartbreaking and tragic yet beautiful love story that I carry with me forever. Literally have chills writing this review just thinking about the story again. 🥲
Easily one of my top favorite book couples, and a new contender for favorite book boyfriend. Protect Dean at all costs. 🥹

➡️Swipe for full synopsis and TWs.

⚠️ 𝑳𝒐𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕. 𝑫𝒆𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒄𝒌 𝑻𝑾 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈. ⚠️

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
Enemies to Lovers
Shared Trauma/Healing Journey
Forbidden Love/Taboo
Love Triangle
Dark Romance
Dual POV

Thank you Bloom and Jennifer Hartmann for the opportunity to review this book!!

Cora goes to her sister’s birthday and drinks a little too much. At worst, she thinks she’s gonna end up with a bad hangover but the world has a way of changing your perspective. Cora finds out her wallet is stolen and calls her sister’s fiancé Dean for a ride but before the night is over they end up in a strange man’s basement forced to do unspeakable things. The trauma they suffer over their time together forever changes their lives.

While I preferred Lotus, I still really enjoyed this book. The few Jennifer Hartmann books I have read always have a different twist to dark romance than what I had seen in other stories. I would call this more of a trauma romance where those who suffer from extreme traumas are able to still find a happily ever after. I enjoyed the relationship between the two and I am glad that through everything that had each other.

Trigger warnings for rape, mature language and content*

Jennifer has a very rare gift. It doesn't matter how dark the subject matter is, she has a way of drawing you in and making you feel every emotion that the characters are feeling. I didn't feel like I was reading a book. I was so immersed in the story and the characters, it felt more like I was sitting with two people who were recounting their experience to me. It's absolutely amazing. I can't wait to see what else Jen has in store for us!

Absolutely incredible!! Made me cry but in the best way. I adore this authors writing style and loved Lotus too