This was my first zombie YA book -now it did take me quite a few pick up and put downs to get into this book, BUT once it gets going it was a quick read. Post apocalyptic, sapphic, zombie adjacent with some horror elements.

I received this book from Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review!

Hearts Still Beating is a very interesting and entertaining take on a zombie apocalypse. I was hooked from the very first chapter. The premise of a zombie, or in this books case "tick", being medicated to no longer be a tick is so such an interesting take.

It reminded me a lot of "Warm Bodies" which I also absolutely love! There's the added bonus of this also being a sapphic story! I loved the tension between Mara and Rory. There were so many points where I found myself so strongly rooting for them to cross that invisible line in the sand they had. There was also Rory's family who, while I wished we saw a bit more of, I really enjoyed! The element of a sort of found family is always something I look for in books!

The action scenes were also very exciting to read! I felt myself holding my breath and being on the edge of my seat wanting to read as fast as I could to see what happened next! It was the perfect balance of being action packed but you still have slower, deeper moments to really get to know the characters and their stories.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book!

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"Hearts Still Beating" by Brooke Archer breathes new life into the zombie apocalypse genre with its fresh and original premise. Instead of being set at the beginning of a zombie apocalypse or even during the middle (which is what every zombie book I’ve read has done), Archer has set towards the end of the apocalypse; in this story, the miraculous cure to the zombie apocalypse has already been discovered. Specifically, the story follows Mara Knight, a former undead or "Tick," who is saved by a daily injection of a new drug. Mara's journey back to humanity leads her to the doorstep of her godparents, the Blakes, where she reunites with their daughter Aurora "Rory." However, the island community's hostile reception towards Mara, led by Rory and Mara's sister Carter, adds layers of complexity to their relationship. This is a queer zombie book with a good amount of blood and gore, and I absolutely loved every part of this book.

This book reminded me of both "Warm Bodies" and "The Last of Us" with a queer perspective from the main characters. The characters of Mara and Rory are compellingly written, each grappling with their own struggles and transformations. While the world-building may not break new ground, Archer's portrayal of the apocalypse’s aftermath feels authentic and immersive. The fast pace of the book kept me engaged throughout the entire time, and I easily finished the book in just two sittings. If anyone is suffering from a reading slump, “Hearts Still Beating” may just bring you out of it, especially if you enjoy zombie/monster books.

The highlight of this book for me was the Sapphic romance between Mara and Rory, which adds a tender layer to the story, amidst the backdrop of a post-apocalyptic world teeming with action and gore. The dual perspectives of Mara and Rory provide insight into their evolving relationship. I did want a little more depth to their relationship, but Archer was also able to balance the exploration of grief, family dynamics, and survival throughout the book.

Overall, "Hearts Still Beating" captivates with its gritty realism and emotional depth and also has quite a happy ending, which I enjoyed. For fans of YA dystopian fiction with LGBTQ+ representation and a fresh take on the zombie apocalypse, this book is a must-read.

A sapphic book about second chance zombies? Count me in! This sweat Young adult novel follows one girls chance at redemption and her struggles to get back to life

I had so much fun reading Hearts Still Beating!! I'm not a huge fan of zombies, but I really enjoyed them in this setting.

I loved the main character and the plot was just such a refreshing new YA Sapphic story that I ended up reading really fast.

this was such a fun read, you give me a sapphic dystopian romance and zombies? i will immediately devour it as fast as i can, this was so enjoyable to read and i dreaded setting it down when i had to. the romance between the two characters and the entire story had me in such a grip, the unique situation that Rory and Mara found themselves in was so interesting and the writing style was such a joy to read, i loved this fun creative zombie apocalypse that Brooke Archer created and i cannot wait to see what she writes next.

all opinions are my own! thank you penguin teen for a e-arc in exchange for a review

Apocalyptic USA!

The Tick is rampant and turning people into zombies but there’s a new medicine that turns the effects around, as long as it’s taken consistently. 17 yo Mara has turned and then been given the medicine so she’s now considered one of the Altered. The Altered are coherent and human acting while taking the medicine consistently but if they miss a few doses, they can turn and become dangerous.
Mara is brought back to her godparents since her parents are dead. The community doesn’t trust the Altered but circumstances change quickly when a human makes decisions that are deceptive and dangerous.

Likes/dislikes: The author created an interesting world. The dystopian premise and zombies will intrigue young adult readers. I enjoyed the suspense that came along with the mystery of the killings.

Mature content: PG for kissing, mention of underage drinking.
Language: R for 75 swears and 7 f-words.
Violence: R for repeated bloody violence and deaths.
Ethnicity: falls to white with a brown skinned side character.

4 / 5 stars

I love a little body horror, a little zombie-fied drama, and anything virus related has always been super interesting to me, so I snatched this book up as fast as I could! And queer?? UM? YES PLEASE.

This was by no means a perfect book but it was a perfect storm of things for me and so I blew through this fairly quickly. I thought the worldbuilding was incredibly interesting. People compare this to Warm Bodies, and while I understand the assumption, I felt like this had far more depth and would definitely say it's an upgraded version if we're comparing the two at all. Watching Mara struggle with reintegration into a society that fears her, rekindling her romancy with Rory -- it was such an emotional and palpable read. And to give us the complexities of family situations during a post-apocolyptic world helped further immerse me into the story. I really loved this.

I do think the ending could have gone in several different directions and I'm not entirely sold on how this one ended, but so many others were satisfied with it so I definitely recommend seeing for yourself because the rest of the book is so solid. I'm so grateful I got a chance to read it!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

As far as zombie stories go, the hunt for a cure is usually the focal point of the story, and that is a tired approach, in my opinion. Hearts Still Beating took an entirely different approach, which I loved! In this novel, a select few zombies (called Ticks or the Affected) have been given an experimental treatment in which they have an injection everyday that suppresses the virus so they remain in control of themselves. A select few Ticks in treatment are deemed worthy to be reintroduced to society, and obviously, the non-infected folks have big opinions about that.

The story alternates between two girls: Mara, a Tick in treatment reintroduced to society, and Rory, a non-infected girl very unhappy about the Ticks reintroduction to society. The catch is that these two had a history before the apocalypse started, so they're trying to deal with lingering feelings while navigating the complexities of the fallen world.

Both characters are very well developed, and I adored the way their story unfolded. While the reveal of the big bad villain was not a surprise, this story still kept me entertained and rooting for Mara and Rory the whole time, even when things got super iffy. I also thought the world-building was well done and explained well. From the way the virus functioned, to how the RPA and alliance between communities worked. Such an enjoyable read, and one that should be considered a fantastic and unique addition to the post-apocalyptic zombie genre.

Publication date: April 2, 2024.

What if I was a reformed zombie and we were ex bffs and also what if we kissed…?!?!

Overall I liked this concept, especially with the legit enemies-to-lovers vibes!! I think there could have been improvements with the romance, I didn’t feel much chemistry between the main characters because it was more tell not show with them. But it made sense within the context of the book since their romance happened previous to the start of the story. I also think this one could have been a littttle longer and less focused on all the stuff happening on the island, but I still enjoyed it nevertheless!

🌈Queer rep: FF main couple, bi/pan female main character, queer female main character. FF secondary couple.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Teen for sending me an arc.

I don’t typically read or watch things about zombies because I get squeamish very easily and can’t handle the gore, but Hearts Still Beating might get me to start reading more zombie books.

If you're thinking that this book won't get brutal because it's YA, then think again. Because the author doesn't hold back on how violent and dark the apocalypse can get.

Also, this would be such a great movie and I hope it gets adapted because I can already imagine it happening.

My heart is beating for this Sapphic Last of Us meets Warm Bodies post apocalyptic story.

Archer nailed the tension between Rory and Mara, one of the altered and Rory’s previous best friend/crush before the world ended. All while exploring the human condition at the end of the world. How it molds and shapes both our selves and decisions. I quenched my thirst for the post apocalyptic stories I’ve been needing in my life right now.

This is a story about how far you would go to protect the ones you love. Even if they once were monsters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books / Penguin Young Readers Group for providing this book, with my honest review below.

I had read about Hearts Still Beating on a Goodreads most anticipated list, and I have a special spot for apocalypse books (specifically zombie type books, something about them just works for me) so was very eager to see if this could shine amongst others in the genre. Well put like this, I have been sick as all get out but still managed to use what little time I could focus on reading to read this because it was so great!

A unique take on an apocalypse and zombie novel in that it explores the aftermath, it stands tall even amongst its adult counterparts. Rory (Aurora) and Mara are teenage best friends and through their own twists of fate one of them ends up dead, then brought back to life, and the other ends up housing her despite the trauma and hate associated with her kind. This was a wonderfully written book that explored the apocalypse and humanity in very effective manners while also drawing some parallels in how we react to that which we blindly hate.

Highly recommended, I've already messaged many fellow lovers of these genres about this one.

I do love a good post-apocalyptic zombie story and bonus points to this one for a sapphic romance. This is told from two points of view, one a former 'tick' who's now medicated and is trying to get back to living life. The other is a girl who's been living through the storm and now has to deal with her ex best friend (and maybe more?) coming back into her life. I thought this was fun and gave a side you don't usually see in zombie books.

I liked the balance of fighting the ticks while also seeing the aftermath of those who suffered and how or even if they can go back to before and reintegrate into society. Definitely an interesting read!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Razorbill and NetGalley for the copy.

I’m a big zombie fan and rarely pass on books featuring them. The fact that this novel is set after a treatment for the infection is found immediately intrigued me, and it’s something I haven’t read before.

Mara was turned into a “Tick” (zombie) and responsible for many brutal deaths – which she still remembers in vivid detail. But she wasn’t herself then. After being treated with a drug that tamps down her desire to eat people and returns her humanity, she’s sent to live with the family of Cory, her best friend/crush that she kissed years ago. Mara’s own sister has no interest in getting reacquainted. Mara may no longer be a Tick, but she still resembles one – grayish skin, wounds, missing fingers, etc. To their credit, Cory’s family welcomes her back and is very protective of Mara when things go off the rails. Of course there’s a power hungry bad guy in control of the island where they live, and he’s not happy about the Ticks being resettled there. He makes it his mission to stop their injections (meds that prevent them from becoming Ticks again) and kill them and their protectors.

The story contains some action scenes and a fair bit of gore – it’s a brutal post-apocalyptic world, after all – but primarily focuses on the Mara and Cory’s romance. Chapters alternate between their POVs, and I found it difficult to determine who was speaking the majority of the time because their voices are very similar. The two of them are also dealing with other issues. Mara carries heavy guilt from the time she was a Tick, while Cory remains in a more adult role in her family when her mother was unable.

If you enjoyed Warm Bodies and The Last of Us, Hearts Still Beating might be for you. I’d recommend this to fans of romance during an apocalypse and zombie stories with a different take.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A post-zombie-apocalypse YA romance, where one of the characters is a rehabilitated zombie??? Count me in.
I love zombie media but honestly never expect much out of it, but this book really blew me away. The virus and its cure was really interesting to learn about and see unfold while cured zombies try to reintegrate into what's left of society. There's such a tension between a relief to have people made human again and an anger about the pain they caused as zombies, as well as a sense of mistrust about whether the cure is even reliable. The post-apocalyptic world building and politics was really interesting, although not the main focus. The main characters and their romance had me invested and drawn in, and even the side characters were such cool people who I really wanted to see more of and learn more about. I felt there was a good balance between the danger/fear of the zombie setting, the normalcy of life/family/friendship, the emotional parts, and the action. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it. :)
Thanks Penguin Teen for the ARC!

I was approved for this after the published date, but with only about 5 days to read it before it's archived, so unfortunately that just isn't enough time for me to read and review a book. I flipped through the e-book and I read some other reviews of people and they seemed to like it. I'm really fascinated by the premise of this, and the sections that I did read made me feel really nostalgic for that time of YA when zombies/dystopian societies were really popular. I'm getting Warm Bodies vibes from this but with a Sapphic spin on it. I'm really looking forward to reading this, I just wish I had been given more time to be able to really dig into this story.

Thank you, PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers and NetGalley, for the chance to read this book in exchange of an honest review.

Mara is a seventeen-years-old who was infecred by a virus that brought the dead back to life. Now she's woken up in a facility to discover they found a treatment for this illness and she is now placed in an experimental resettlement program. Her recovery isn't simple, mostly because she's forced to live with the best friend she hasn't seen since the world ended. Rory, on the other hand, has a impareid mobility, a dead sister and a hate towards the Ticks who turned her best friends, now mostly healed. In a surviving community, she's ready to fight these monsters, but never could have imagined to find Mara again. As they struggle with what happened to them, their own feelings for each other, when the community's soldiers go rogue and they are ready to kill every Tick and those harboring them, the girls have to fight to save themselves.

Zombies, The Last of Us and The Walking Dead meet in this romantic and gripping novel, about two girls forced apart and then together by a virus that turn people into monsters. Two girls that loved each other before the end of the world and have to understand who they are, and what, after the end.
I loved reading this book! It was so original and sweet and I felt so involved into Mara's and Rory's story, how they are forced to confront their past, feelings with the present and to fight to be together, to lean on one other when the situation becomes dire. The writing is intruing and evocative and I really loved the setting, the tenuous peace, the violence and fear and how these two girls are ready to fight for each other.

A dark, action-packed post-apocalyptic zombie novel with a sapphic romance.

Hearts Still Beating follows 17-year-olds Mara and Rory. Mara is dead—she was infected by the virus but it brought back to life with an experimental treatment. She’s no longer a tick so long as she takes her medicine every day. She’s sent to live with her best friend before the world ended who she hasn’t seen since then and since their first kiss. Rory’s life has turned upside down in the aftermath of the virus—she’s had to step up in place of the adults in her life and fight for her family against the Ticks as she struggles with helping rebuild the surviving community they live in. The two girls struggle with their pasts and with the people they’ve become. They have to learn to lean on each other again or risk losing the girl they love all over again.

I love post-apocalyptic stories, especially ones with the aftermath of a virus or zombies. This one is quite a new and fresh take on the genre. I liked the backstory and unveiling of what happened. I also enjoyed that they were able to find a sort of cure/fix for the virus and were able to bring people back to life. Especially with one character being a zombie and is now a human again. The plot was engaging and goes from the present to the past with seamless transitions. There’s a lot of action and intense scenes which made it a fairly fast read.

While I enjoyed most of the characters and the romance, I did have some problems with it. Mainly Rory and Carter’s sheer hatred for Mara in the beginning. I just didn’t fully agree or understand where it was coming from as it didn’t work for me even with the end of novel explanations and reveals. I much preferred Mara’s perspective and found her more enjoyable to read from. I quite enjoyed Mara’s character and I felt so bad for her with everything she had to go through. I also enjoyed learning more about everything they went through during the immediate aftermath of the virus and how that made them who they are in the present. The romance was cute and the girl’s relationship grows really nicely throughout the novel.

Overall, it was a fresh take on zombie apocalypses and I think those who are fans of this genre will enjoy it!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review!