I’m not entirely how I feel about this book! I definitely didn’t realise this would be such a DARK dark romance. We started out strong but the ending was kind of anticlimactic. Parts of this book honestly made me uncomfortable, and I absolutely couldn’t stand Cora. But I still enjoyed reading it and recommend! Definitely read the content warnings first 😂

✨BOOK REVIEW✨

📚 Still Beating - Jennifer Hartmann📚

This story is DARK, and normally I don’t talk about trigger warnings, but if you have any, please look this one up 💗 In saying that, I was so surprised with how much I loved this book. It was raw, honest, and completely addictive - it had me in a chokehold and I read it in one sitting!

The relationship between the two MCs was definitely a complicated one, but you couldn’t help but want them to make it work. Hartmann’s writing is so easy to digest, whilst also somehow evoking all of the emotions - mine were all over the place reading this heart-wrenching story.

What you can expect:
💓 Dark romance
💓 Trauma bonding
💓 Enemies to lovers
💓 Kidnapping
💓 Forced proximity

This one isn’t for the faint hearted, but I know all my dark romance lovers will eat it up, just like I did. I can’t wait to read more by this author very soon!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you so much to @netgalley @tantoraudio @read_bloom and @author.jenniferhartmann for sending me this to review 🙏🏻

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Wow wow wow!!
I don’t often read a dark romance, but maybe I need to more often! This was such a GOOD book!!!

I really felt for the characters and I think it was all really believable. I was shocked and scared during the dark parts. I think the MMC had a level head and really brought a love to what was going on and helpful to the MC.

I ate this book up and really felt like it was worth the hype.

Still Beating has always been one of my top favorite books of all time. I have now read and listened to the audiobook as well have obtained multiple special edition copies of this book. Jennifer Hartmann can only write pure gold and I will always read anything she has written.

This is a good story that engages the reader immediately. I read it fast and was invested in the characters. I received Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review. #StillBeating #NetGalley

this book is a big ole book of trauma bonding and it is more than you think it should be. This book is written so well it feels real and that you are actually reading something that happened to someoene. Which means it pulls your emotions. Did we like what happened No.. Do we totally get it and understand YES.

Go into this with a blank non judgy slate and if you do i promise this is a winner.
Also the audiobook is done very well if that is your vibe

I don’t even know how to explain this story, but one thing is for certain: this book is completely one-of-a-kind. The exploration of how people go on after experiencing such a harrowing and heartbreaking traumatic event such as the one portrayed in Still Beating is compelling. Cora and Dean are two characters who you have no choice but to feel deeply for, and root for, after reading the detailed account of what they were forced into.

However, my major hangup with this one is that I don’t know that this book should have been a romance (and that’s saying something coming from me). I was intrigued initially by the romance because it’s the ultimate forbidden match formed through trauma bonding, but as I dived deeper into the story, I didn’t really want Cora and Dean to become a couple. For me, this book would have struck more deeply if it had leaned into its’ thriller nature instead of following a romance novel story arc with insanely graphic trauma thrown in to act as the driver of the romance.

I absolutely loved this book. This is very much so a dark romance. I loved seeing the characters go though such gut wretching things and finding a positive thing through it all. The author describe stuff with so much detail it was like you were in the book right beside them going through it all. Seriously I recommend checking the trigger warnings because this had me a mess. I loved see the aftermath of them being held captive. And how they tried to go back to normal lives and just couldn't. It really shows how realistic it is. Someone can't go through stuff like they did and not have trauma that they need to work through before going back to their new normal. One thing I really hated was the sister. It seemed like she didn't care much about either of them being missing and was mostly just into knowing how much he missed her and immediately wanting attention from him. And then when she found out the truth and she was not happy with her sister because of it like she had a choice in the matter. I did like how the main male lead made sure that he didn't want to continue the relationship till she got some actual help and was in a safe space to have a relationship. Over it's a heartbreaking story with a happy ending.

I wanted to like this one so bad but I just didn’t. The writing was juvenile and the characters were so dingy acting I kept rolling my eyes til I had a headache. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this copy for review

OUCH my heart quite literally hurts. still beating is filled with angst, but boy is it good. this book is not for the faint of hearts, so definitely check for trigger warnings, but wow you will not be disappointed!

I wanted to love this book but it just fell short for me. The storyline was tough to read maybe that’s the issue I had, I’m not sure but this book just seemed to drag on for me.

This was beautiful and so heart breaking even though my heart was put back together in the end. I really wanted to give this a 5 stars but I really needed more from the ending and not just an epilogue.

This book kept me on my toes and was heartbreaking. It was full of suspense. Such a beautiful story and can’t wait to read more from this author

Experiencing that gruesome hell while holding each others hand was their lifeline. It burned to every cell, every vein and every pocket of their soul, they just want to die. But facing it together give them strength. They want to live, to escape that nightmare because their heart is still beating.

This story made me cry. It makes me feel that we all need love, from everyone who loves you especially from your family. Don't let them lose you. Don't let yourself sink. Some part may be triggering for others, but it was written beatifully.

Your heart was still beating, as long as its beating it's okay. I feel every emotions, every suffering and their winnings. This is a good story.

4.5 stars

I don’t know how to review this. But this book is not for the faint of heart make sure you read the trigger warnings.

It was a fucked up beautiful mess. Dean and Cora are completely changed and having to navigate how to heal and live. I loved their connection to each other.
I felt so much for both of them. It was a hard journey, but incredibly worth it. How it all ended was absolute perfection.

This is such a different book. It’s a spin on enemies to lovers in that sister hates sisters boyfriend but gets closer when they are both captured. It’s emotional and suspenseful throughout the book. It’s unexpected yet such an emotional read.

This was one of the darker books I've read. But I had seen such great reviews for it from trusted friends when it was indie published that when i saw it on Netgalley, I had to give it a shot.

This romance was hot and erotic, while still being dark and heavy.

There were aspects of this romance that just spoke to me. This was such an interesting take on forced proximity too! So unique and well worth the read

The book was a little too dark from, which would have been expected. Also the story develops right from the beginning with almost no lead up which I am not a fan of. I do like the concept of enemies to lovers, but this also included major trauma bringing them together. I would definitely check trigger warnings before reading this. I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a new author for me. I think the story was pretty good but just not for me. It was kind of stressful as how the characters are kidnapped, they are abused, and have forced sex. While I think the writing was great, the triggers were for me:) I know so many other loved this one & that’s great! I’m sure so many other will continue to enjoy this romance!

This book was hard to read, but in a gut-wrenching well written way. Dark Themes are a part of this story, and the after math of horrific events the character's face and survive. Navigating through the grief of something that was done to them and their stolen sense of worth. There is love in this story, be prepared it's tragic love. Trauma Bonding in worst of ways, but the surviving and learning to live after is what this story is all about. Cora and Dean both latched on to each other for comfort and understanding while also burning each other with each connection. I couldn't stop reading even though it was extremely hard to continue sometimes. I would still recommend this book because although it was a hard read, it's also one I won't forget.