I was approved for this book late and thus haven’t gotten a chance to read. When I do, I will post the review.

Michael Mallory has everything...a hot girl, a popular band, cool friends, until he doesn't. When Kara breaks up with him without any warning, he falls into the depths of despair. This book delves into the painful and messy side of healing from a heartbreak and what lengths some people will go to to remedy that. Definitely a great read. I enjoyed this.

While I enjoyed most of this book, there were parts that I just couldn't wrap my head round. That's not a bad thing about the book, it's just my brain. A quick read.

Brian Asman's *Our Black Hearts Beat as One* is a darkly inventive novel that blends horror and satire with biting wit. Asman’s sharp writing and unique narrative voice craft a compelling and unsettling story that explores the darker side of human nature. The book’s blend of humor and horror makes it a standout read in the genre.

This was an experience and I'm not even sure how I feel about it other than I don't regret reading it but I'm not sure who I'd recommend this to.

When Michael Mallory's girlfriend announces that it's just not working out and leaves, his world crumbles. Even his position as lead singer of the up and coming band Modern Love can't save him from falling into the black pit of heartbreak. In an attempt to relieve his pain and mend his broken heart, he dives into the occult side of his city.

This is a book that explores heartbreak and pain deeply. It's a story which is filled with dark emotions and the weight of loving someone who has left you. The book is a compelling read. Extra points for Evangeline who was a delightful character, deserving of her own story.

I wanted to like this much more than I did. It definitely was not horrible, it just didn't hold my attention as much as I hoped it would. I almost DNF'd the book at one point, but I am glad I didn't because the pace picked up, but I still wasn't thrilled with the overall story.

Deliciously dark with big helpings of handsome and brooding lead, this is sure to enchant your dark little heart and make you believe again.

Brian Asman's new novella "Our Black Hearts Beat as One" takes a divergent path from "Man, F*ck This House," his previous foray into the haunted house trope. delivering a wholly distinct narrative experience. At its essence, the novella delves into the complexities of love—what individuals are willing to endure to hold onto it, and the profound anguish of its loss.

Following protagonist Mike's downward spiral into despair after a painful breakup, the story unfolds against the backdrop of a gritty urban landscape, punctuated by enigmatic encounters and a tantalizing offer from a mysterious woman promising a chance to reclaim lost love through three seemingly simple tasks. But as Mike soon discovers, matters of the heart are never straightforward.

Rich in mythological undertones and steeped in atmospheric detail, Asman's novella draws readers into a world tinged with heartache and longing, compelling them to accompany Mike on his tumultuous journey that proves both haunting and mesmerizingly captivating. Amidst a cast of characters traversing the narrative landscape, Evangeline emerges as a standout figure, elevating the story to new heights with her cynical demeanor, simmering anger, and unwavering refusal to indulge Mike's self-pity. Her presence injects a dynamic energy into the narrative.

"Our Black Hearts Beat as One" is a riveting exploration of love, loss, and the human condition, leaving readers spellbound by its raw emotion and compelling characters.

I'm a bit disappointed with this one. I've read quite a few of Asman's books and always love them, but I found this one to be a bit odd, and more than a little confusing. (I see I'm not alone in feeling this way.) This one feels a lot different than his other works it is a story of love and loss, horror meets fantasy and is definitely heavier than I expected it to be. It wasn't for me, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't give it a try!

Our Black Hearts Beat as One by Brian Asman was very intriguing. This was my first Brian Asman but won't be my last. Great story telling and characters. Digging into this author's back list immediately.

Brian Asman’s Our Black Hearts Beat As One is a bloody blend of magical realism and urban horror, fronted by a lead character who - honestly - is a bit of an asshole. Not that that’s a bad thing.

Supported by an engaging cast of side characters, it’s a quick romp through a wonderfully dark and descriptive world. All good horror should tug on the emotions, and Our Black Hearts Beat As One sets its sights on love. And it largely succeeds, with Mike gradually coming to understand that heartbreak is a part of life - even if it did take an encounter with an ancient god to do it.

Could we have benefited more from seeing the ex-girlfriend’s perspective? Maybe. A plot line with Mike exploring accepting why she left, rather than (spoiler) finding someone else might have said more and shown more character development.

There’s also scope for further exploration of the dark magic and mythologies at the heart of this novella. Trying to pack a wholly new system of gods and magic into such a small page count was perhaps too much of a tall order. But we’re dealing with a short - and not so sweet - horror here, so while Our Black Hearts Beat As One could have given us more, Asman still packs plenty into what we have.

Come for the dark arts, but stay for the love stories.

What's not to love about Brian Asman? 4 stars easily and once again another kick ass book. I would have read another 200+ pages but it didn't need it. Fast, fun and killer!!!💀🎃💀🎃

Or my first book by this author and won’t be my last. I loved every second of it. Perfect amount of gross and plot and horror! Will definitely recommend.

Man fuck this house was one of my favorite books of 2023, so you know I had to get my hands on this one! I love the characters in this one and how relatable Mike is! This is a short and fast read that takes you to another place in the crazy yet enthralling mind of Brian Asman!

Having enjoyed Brian Asman's previous work, "Man, Fuck This House," I approached "Our Black Hearts Beat as One" with anticipation. However, this novel takes a more serious tone than its predecessor.

The book presents some intriguing ideas, but at times, especially in the second half, it becomes challenging to follow. The narrative introduces three stories within the story, where characters share their experiences through a tape recorder. Unfortunately, two of these tales felt cliché, and one was confusing, impacting the overall coherence of the plot.

A significant portion of the book delves into explaining a complex religious system, introducing various gods and their roles. While this might appeal to some readers, I found myself struggling to stay engaged during these parts, with my attention waning. This could be a subjective experience, but the intricate religious explanations disrupted the flow for me.

The inclusion of the "ideal hot goth chick character" adds a layer of stereotypical representation. Initially, her portrayal seemed formulaic, reminiscent of the dark version of the Manic Pixie Dreamgirl trope. To the story's credit, there is more depth to her character later on, providing a more nuanced perspective. However, the initial impression may trigger memories of the overused character archetype.

Regrettably, "Our Black Hearts Beat as One" didn't resonate with me. While there were commendable elements such as intriguing monster designs and an engaging set piece (the weird room with the fans), the overall trajectory of the story shifted from confusing to cliché and, at times, overly sentimental—elements that don't align with my personal preferences. In contrast, "Man, Fuck This House" was an enjoyable experience for me.

I would like to express gratitude to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC. Please note that the book includes triggering content, such as self-harm, suicide, and suicidal ideation.

This was an interesting read for me. The main character Mike gets his heart broken and finds this underground society right under his nose. The idea of the story is interesting but I feel like Mike's character needed more depth to him. We know he's the lead singer in a band and writes songs but not much else. It would have been interesting to see the ex-girlfriends pov in the beginning as well, maybe give more information on Mike as a partner.

I loved Man, Fuck This House and was excited to see this on NetGalley. I expected a similar vein of occulty- horror-comedy but it ended up feeling more of a magical realism novella. The creepy parts and the portrayal of heartbreak were done well. It gave some Gaiman/LaValle/Iglesias vibes which I enjoyed. The love stories were some of my favorite parts.

I think the novella was slightly too short to leave me satisfied, I think more character background would have helped me connect to them better. Some of the odd nearly-words were just confusing and felt unnecessary, taking me out of the story at times.

The lyrics at the end were a fun touch yet I couldn't figure out what modern love was supposed to sound like so it made it kinda hard to hear them as songs and not poems.

Bonus points for the alkaline trio lyrics in the epigraph and the cover that looked like zine art I made as a emo teen.

This was my first read of 2024 and I’m so glad it was. It was a fast paced novella that kept me interested the whole time. The main character Mike is interesting. He’s this hot rock band singer and he seems pretty chill…until his girlfriend leaves him. He becomes kind of a turd, but honestly who hasn’t become a bit of a turd after a breakup?! I loved the witchcraft aspect of this book. After all there’s a couple times in my life I would’ve loved a new heart 😂 This is also the part that lost me a little bit, since there’s three stories within the story. Eventually it came back around and I was all in. The only thing I wish we got more of was Evangeline! She was an amazing character and I’d love to know more of her background. Overall, a solid horror novella to start out the year

Thank you to netgalley and Mutated Media, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles for allowing me to read this book. This book didnt hit the spot for me.