Even though I normally prefer more realistic fiction, there is just something about Becky Hunter's tales of magical realism. I enjoyed You Make My Heart St0p as much as I did her previous book One Moment. The basic storyline may be a fantasy, but so many real-life issues are also incorporated along the way. I can't wait to see what the author comes up with next. Thanks to NetGalley, Forever {Grand Central Publishing) and the author for a copy to read and review.

3.5 ⭐️ This review hurts to write because the idea of the book is was so intriguing but the execution just wasn’t for me. Our MFC, Emery has a crazy rare heart condition where her heart just stops sometimes and she nearly dies every time. When that happens, she meets our MMC, Nick. He’s like an “angel of death” whose job is collecting souls. But Emery keeps surviving, and each near-death brings them closer together. (They meet when she’s like 4 years old and then every few years afterwards. )

I loved the overall idea. I think it was very original. There are some touching moments in the story as well as a couple funny parts too. However I didn’t like how they just were on the same loop over and over. Her heart stops and they meet very very briefly and then 3 years later they meet again for just a very small amount of time until her heart starts to beat again in the real world. I think it was hardly enough time for their relationship to grow in my opinion. Lastly, the ending was kind of nice but really leaves you hanging.

If you want a sweet paranormal romance that’s an easy read then definitely give this a shot but don’t expect a lot of depth to the world or their relationship too much.

YOU MAKE MY HEART STOP is an unconventional and intriguing love story. Emery lives with a condition that causes her heart to stop unexpectedly. When that happens, she dies and when she dies she is met by Nick, a guide helping transition her from life to death.

Usually quickly resuscitated, Emery is caught between wanting to live a normal life and her family’s desire to protect her at all costs. Told in a linear timeline, Emery meets Nick multiple times during her frequent “deaths” and they form a connection.

While technically a love story, I found this book to be more about learning how to live (even in death). There is significant emphasis on the complexity of family relationships and the different forms love can take. Becky Hunter has written an emotional journey posing difficult questions without simple answers. There’s a cerebral quality to this book that those looking for a traditional HEA may find frustrating. I found it thought provoking and consistent with the themes of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

I really wanted to love You Make My Heart Stop by Becky Hunter, and while the premise had potential, I found myself feeling pretty detached from the characters. Their emotions and decisions didn't fully resonate with me, which made it hard to get fully invested in their journey. The writing itself is solid, and there are definitely moments of charm, but overall, it just didn't live up to the hype. I did have someone pass away this week in my family and I am sure this played a huge part in my decision also. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately, this story missed the mark for me a bit. While this was tragic I found it a bit difficult to connect with the characters. I don't feel like I really got to know Emery until further along in the book, and I think if her development started sooner, this might have read better for me. I wanted to know HER, not just her condition.

If you want tragic, where an FMC will frustrate you (not always in a good way) then go ahead and pick this up

This is an extremely emotional book but truly love it. It took me a while to get into the plot as it’s never easy reading about death especially after losing a family member. This book handles the topic amazingly and also shows the importance of living our lives the fullest and not wasting any moments guessing if we are doing enough. Would love to read more from Becky Hunter now!

Magical Realism/Romance

I, normally, don't enjoy magical realism, but this author makes the what if - possible.

No one knows what happens when you die, so what if there was a guide that helped you transition? What if you were a person who had a heart condition that caused you to die, repeatedly? What if, because of that condition, you formed a relationship with your death guide? What if you fell in love?

Emery Wilson first dies as a little girl and then over the course of her life dies again and again. She ends up falling in love with her death guide - Nick. She knows they cannot be together, but what if? Because of her condition and her relationship with Nick, Emery passes up on some good things in her life. Is she the one, ultimately, holding herself back?

I wondered how Hunter was going to close this novel and while I have some mixed feelings about the ending, this will be a novel I remember and deserves 5*'s. This is my second Becky Hunter novel and she has me hooked.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC of this novel.

Rating ⭐️ : 3/5
Spice 🌶️: 1.5/5

The book had so much potential!! I loved the characters and loved the concept of the story.
It did lose me halfway. I was expecting more and was disappointed with the ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of You Make My Heart Stop by Becky Hunter. I loved One Moment and was so excited to read her latest! While I didn't love it as much, I still found it intriguing. Magical realism is a new style for me and I think I just had a hard time grasping the concept of the space between life and death and Nick's role. I felt myself going back and forth on my opinin of the book as I read it. At times it really seemed to drag. I liked the secondary characters more than the main character. Emery was a complex character. While I understand she had a difficult situation to deal with at times I wanted to shake her and tell her to move on. I'm happy she ultimately made the decision she did and I loved the ending!

I like Hunter's writing style and will definitely read more of her books.

I loved reading her previous title One Moment. I was too excited to jump into a new BH novel.
You Make My Heart Stop is a thought-provoking and heart-wrenching story.
I really enjoyed reading this, it had everything that I was hoping for in a Women's Fiction novel. The characters felt like they were real individuals and had realistic things going on. The prose was beautiful and I very much enjoyed reading every word. I loved the characters and their issues and how it all worked out in the end.
I felt every emotion Emery felt throughout the book.
I enjoyed everything about this story from the fantastic relatable characters to the wonderful portrayal of love. .

I would like to thank NetGalley and Forever for the opportunity to read this ahead of its publication date in return for my honest review.

Thank you @readforeverpub, @grandcentralpub, @beckyhunterbooks, and @netgalley for the #gifted ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

You Make My Heart Stop is an emotional thought provoking love story with a twist of magical realism and a unique and interesting premise. Emery, the FMC, is living with a life-threatening incurable medical condition that literally makes her heart stop. The story spans over many decades, starting with when she had her first cardiac episode at the age of 5. Every time this happens, she dies and is greeted by her guardian angel Nick, who she thinks just may be her soulmate. But how does she decide between her life on earth and her possible soulmate—who she can only be with in the afterlife. This story explores themes of loss, grief, guilt, complex family dynamics, relationships, and fate.

Becky Hunter was a new to me author but I have already been researching her backlist. I really enjoyed the writing style and the unique storytelling. Her characters are well developed and she created an intriguing plot with a linear timeline and dual POV. This story is written so well that it creates some heavy reflections on life and makes you question what you might do if you were in the same situation as the main character. And can we take a moment to appreciate that stunning cover?!

If you are a fan of emotional romances, second chances, and thought provoking reads, then I would highly suggest reading You Make My Heart Stop.

This had such an intriguing plot and I honestly really liked how flawed the MC was. She was a very selfish person but I also understood her too. I liked the family and friends surrounding her too. My only complaint was how slow the plot moved. The chapters would jump ahead a lot so it made you think you were moving quickly but it still felt so long. And then the ending just felt very unsatisfying.

Still, a very magical realistic character focused read that I enjoyed.

Thank you Netgalley and Forever Central for this ARC.

I have this rule for rating books - if I cry, I give it 5 stars. And I cried while reading this book, so you can guess where I'm going with this.

For years, Emery has lived with a condition that means her heart could literally stop at any second. While her friends and family try too hard to protect her, Emery refuses to live in perpetual fear. Besides, she has a secret—when her heart stops, Emery actually dies . . . and that’s the only time she can see Nick.

This was an emotional read and so many bittersweet moments. Emery's journey throughout was one hell of a ride, and I loved her connection with Nick. Everytime she died & met Nick, their connection grew stronger & it was hard to imagine any possible outcome where they couldn't be together.

While it was more of a journey for Emery & and focused on her development, I loved the subtle love triangle this book gave us. This reminded me of "This Is Us" on some many levels. Honestly, love triangles are my kryptonite & I was bawling my eyes out for each love interest. Loved the ending & Emery's story throughout.

<i>Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.<i>

Thank you @readforeverpub for the ARC!

Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me at around the 50% mark. I really wanted to see it through, but I just couldn’t stay engaged—I found myself not caring enough to continue.

The premise is great, and I was intrigued by the setup. But the execution didn’t work for me. I felt bored and disconnected from the story. None of the characters felt fully developed, especially the FMC, Emery. Despite the time jumps spanning several years, she read like the same person throughout—there was no noticeable growth or evolution in her character.

Honestly, I think I would’ve preferred the story from her sister Amber’s perspective. The emotional weight of growing up with a sibling who could die at any moment could’ve made for a much more layered and compelling narrative.

The only parts that held my interest were the moments where Emery died and we found out what bizarre accident caused it this time—morbid curiosity kept me hanging on longer than I expected.

Also, I couldn’t connect to the romance at all. Emery has a cardiologist for her heart, but I really think she could’ve used a psychologist too. I struggled to understand how she could fall for this ghost of a man. Their interactions felt awkward and made me cringe more than swoon.

In the end, I don’t think this should’ve been a romance. I might’ve been more invested if the story leaned into exploring what each brush with death revealed to Emery about herself or the afterlife. That angle could’ve been really moving. The premise reminded me a bit of The Good Place—but it just didn’t land for me here.

I DNF'd this book at about 35% because I just really did not like Emery and I think it's because I really didn't know much about her, apart from that she has a medical condition which results in her heart stopping when surprised, stunned, etc. Going through the time jumps, I didn't learn much about her interests, goals, personality, but the focus was on an activity that she really wanted to do, even knowing it could cause her heart to stop.

It's an interesting premise for a book, but I wish we had more time with Emery as a person outside of her medical condition earlier on in the book so that I could grow to care for her, root for her, etc. It felt like all of her actions were taken in spite.

Thanks to Forever for the eARC; all opinions are my own.

You Make My Heart Stop is a very special, truly memorable, completely unconventional love story.

I had no idea they Becky Hunter also writes under a different name. Once I found out her alter ego, I knew I needed to read her Becky Hunter books and this one didn't disappoint.

I am not surprised it's an extremely emotional story, because she is a queen in crafting heartfelt stories. I am, however, extemely impressed in how this novel spans decades. That is not easy to do and I felt it was perfectly done.

I loved this story, it's so special

4.5 stars.

You Make My Heart Stop by Becky Hunter is a brilliant novel with a clever storyline.

At the age of five, Emery dies for the first time due to an incurable heart condition. During her time hovering between life and death, she meets Nick, a guide of sorts to the next side. Never knowing when her heart will stop, Emery is irritated by her overprotective father. As an adult, she decides to live life on her terms. But as she grows older, will Emery regret the choices she did not make?

During her various cardiac events, Emery and Nick begin to get to know each other. Emery is endlessly curious about Nick but he is hesitant to reveal any details of his life before he died. As Emery learns more about his past, she becomes determined to help the man she is falling in love with.

You Make My Heart Stop is an emotional novel that tugs on readers’ heartstrings. The characters are vibrantly life-like with true to life ups and downs. Emery is stubborn and sometimes selfish, but she grows and evolves throughout the story. Her family is a bit of a mess as they experience life's joys, sorrows, and healing. Emery’s fate drives the compelling storyline and Becky Hunter brings this heartfelt novel to a poignant conclusion.

Becky Hunter (also known as Emily Stone) took my emotions through the wringer with this one!! 😭😭 Emery suffers from a heart condition where pain or a sudden shock can make her heart stop, and as long as someone is with her to perform CPR she can be brought back to life. But when she’s in the “in between” she meets Nick, a man who helps people accept death and ushers them to the other side. Except Emery doesn’t move on, but instead comes to meet him randomly as she grows up.

As they develop a friendship and her feelings start to become more, when Emery faces hard times in life she finds herself taking risks to run to Nick, but in order to do so she must leave the ones she loves and who love her so much.

Emery struggles with living her life in the moment because she knows it could end at any time, but also longing to be with Nick. She’s torn between living with those she loves in her real life, or making their time so traumatic watching her “die” over and over just so she can be with him in the in-between.

I loved seeing her deep connection with her sister and friends. I could understand how she was so torn, but also understand her family’s constant worry for her. I felt so many emotions throughout this story and end ending was so sweet, yet somewhat heartbreaking, too. I wouldn’t say this is necessarily a HEA, and it’s definitely not your typical romance as I didn’t consider the romance to be the main theme of the book. More so, I felt like it focused on family bonds, and living your life to the fullest, even when life is so difficult.

Thank you to NetGalley, Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and Becky Hunter for allowing me to read an advance copy of You Make My Heart Stop. All opinions are my own.

Emery has a heart condition that makes her heart stop every few years, there is no predictability as to what will exacerbate her condition. When it occurs she is medically dead and spends time in the space between life and death with Nick, who is there to help souls move on. With the unpredictability of her condition, her friends and family often spend too much time protecting her, while she cannot wait for the next time she gets to spend time with Nick, her soulmate. As she learns more about Nick and his life on earth she falls more and more in love with him, making it harder to live her real life and see the love around her. Emery needs to choose between living her life and seeing her soulmate.

This oddly premised novel was actually very sweet and sad at times. The story touched on childhood trauma, grief, friendship and love. I wasn’t sure how I would feel about it when I dug in, but I ended up really enjoying the storyline and the characters. While Emery annoyed me at times (she made some terrible life choices) - she grew throughout the book and learned from her experiences and it made her an empathetic character in the end. There were some elements of romance underlying the story, this is really about all types of love and how they can be tested and evolve over time.

Thank you to Forever Pub and NetGalley

Know that this isn't a rom com or even, really, a romance, but that it is an interesting novel about a woman who must make the choice to live over and over again. Emery and Nick tell this story of their unusual relationship. Her rare condition means that her heart will simply stop every so often and when it does, she's met by Nick, who died years ago and now serves as a sort of angel for her. These meetings are brief and every time she comes back to life, only to wonder about when she will see him again. And now she's got a real life relationship with Colin. What will she do? Well no spoiler from me but know that you, like me, might wonder about the ending. I liked Emery and Nick and felt for her dad. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Good storytelling makes for a good read.