3.5 stars rounded up to 4 on goodreads

I have been hearing about Lotus since I got back into reading again a year and half ago. I have been wanting to read it ever since. I recently read Still Beating and have been dying to read more from Jennifer Hartmann, so when I saw that Bloom was republishing Lotus, I hopped on it.

Lotus is about Oliver who has escaped captivity after being locked up for decades, and Sydney, his best friend who has been waiting for his return since his abduction. This storyline is absolutely unique! I have never read or heard of another book like it. It's a beautiful tale of the undying bonds of friendship, loss, and rediscovering yourself. With all that being said, I was a little disappointed because Lotus just did not hit me the same way that Still Beating did. However, what I loved was being back in this town that Jennifer has crafted. I love how Still Beating, Lotus, and her soon to be released The Stars Are on Our Side are all intertwined. I am bumping this up half a star for the comic at the end of the book. It was a nice and cute touch.

The audiobook was your standard audiobook. I think the narrators did a good job. Their voices were clear and easy to understand.

If you loved Archer's Voice and you've been looking for a book to give you a similar feeling, you might enjoy Lotus. I would recommend this book to those who like darker themes, but still sweet, friends to lovers, and soulmates.

*Search up trigger warnings. *

Thank you Netgalley, Tantor Audio, and Jennifer Hartmann for the advanced listening copy.

Publication Date: TODAY 9/5/2023

First, I enjoyed the narrators. I think that is key to any audiobook.
Second, the is my second book by Jennifer Hartmann and I am hooked. She is such an amazing storyteller. I feel like no detail is overlooked. She is consistent and exact.
This book gave me all the feels. I can't express how much Ioved it.

Thank you for the opportunity!

This was my very first audiobook and I LOVED it! This was out of my preferred genre (fantasy/romantasy) but holy cow what a good pick! Kidnapped as a young child, Oliver is suddenly returned to the world after 22(!!!) years of being held captive by a man who had told him some sort of nuclear event made it impossible for him to leave his survival bunker. Sydney, childhood best friends with Oliver, has her whole world rocked when Oliver returns. Watching their love story unfold as they try to wade through the decades of trauma they both experienced due to Oliver’s abduction was heart wrenching. In addition, there is a larger mystery surrounding the abduction that they are initially unaware of, but that adds an extra element of heartache to their budding relationship. There was a fair amount of humor to this book that surprised me but that I thoroughly enjoyed. I found myself relating to Sydney’s awkwardness many times. Oliver’s voice was somewhat monotone, but that made sense when you think of the lack of companionship he would have experienced with only his captor and his books to keep him company (aside from what he could glean from a crappy tv set provided for him.) he had no give and take with anyone but Bradford, much less anyone his own age.
Do you need to suspend belief for it to make sense that this man was held for 22 years and never got suspicious about it? Yes, for sure. However, when you consider that he was an impressionable child and that his captor never mistreated him, it makes more sense. Oliver trusted Bradford. In fact, the only reason he even left the bunker was to try to get help for an injured Bradford.
The female narrator was really good, but I did feel like the male narrator’s voice didn’t fit 100% with my mental version of Oliver’s voice. However, since I found I preferred to set the audio speed at 1.5x, perhaps my perception was a bit skewed.
I really loved this book!

Oliver and Sydney were best friends until Oliver went missing. The two were seven when he vanished and while the rest of the world seemed to have given up, Syd never had. Then suddenly, over twenty years later, Oliver re-appears, out of nowhere. Oliver was kidnapped and spent his formative years living underground with a man who told him the world essentially ended, with few survivors. Needless to say, he struggled to reacclimate to the current world. The two instantly become close again and Oliver lets his feelings be known, however Sydney who doesn't do relationships, doesn't want to hurt him and can't seem to cross the line to be together. Eventually, Oliver breaks down Sydney's walls but insane things transpire while the two start their relationship ... but love always persists.

HOLY. SHIT. This was fucking I N C R E D I B L E. This book reminds me of Archers Voice by Mia Sheridan x Tied by Carian Cole. I love Oliver. I love Sydney. I love that there's an orange cat and a pet raccoon. The two truly overcame so much in such a short period of time and were meant to be together. When people ask what's a book you wish you could reread for the first time - this will be my answer.

I want to express my gratitude to Netgalley and everyone involved for providing me with an advance copy of this novel. The following reflections represent my sincere opinions about this book. I was genuinely eager to embrace this book, drawn in by its genuinely unique and intriguing concept; however, it ultimately proved to be rather underwhelming. Oliver and Sydney are best friends as kids and he is kidnapped when he's a child. The story unfolds as Oliver makes his long-anticipated return to the "real world." Now in their early thirties, both Oliver and Sydney find themselves living in close proximity, with Sydney residing next door to Oliver's stepbrother, Gabe, leading to their reconnection. The romantic aspect of the story left me with mixed feelings. It was passable, but what grated on me was the portrayal of an extremely sheltered character who seemed clueless about everyday phrases like "calling shotgun," yet was oddly well-versed in matters of intimacy from the start. I had hoped for a touch of the innocent charm but those moments were sparse in this book. Sydney's character, in particular, tested my patience as she oscillated between intense jealousy towards Oliver and pushing him away at every available opportunity.
The book attempts to weave an underlying suspenseful plotline, but unfortunately, it doesn't quite hit the mark. Random events and situations are introduced seemingly out of place in the narrative, making it apparent that they are intended for later development. It felt like the book only skimmed the surface of numerous intriguing elements without ever delving deep enough into any of them.

The narration in this book was skillfully executed. While I personally wished for a slightly shorter read, I find myself comfortably awarding it three stars. I'm inclined to explore another work by this author in the future. It was a good read, though not quite reaching the level of greatness.

This was definitely one of the most unique books I have ever read. The circumstances the mmc was in before the events of the present were mind twisting and awful to relive through flashbacks. The things he went through at such a young age and continued to go through until he escaped that hell, were honestly very disturbing in a psychological way.

I loved how the slowburn romance developed as I felt it needed to happen at a smoother pace. It made the book feel very realistic and made me feel a couple more times, wow this couldn’t happen. And probably is happening under the radar in this world, which is a terrifying but realistic thought.

The way this story conveyed love, loss, friendship and heartbreak was done perfectly. You can tell when an author is passionate about their work, and this really shows that. I was very impressed and definitely going to check out her other books. My only feedback is that I wasn’t engaged in some parts and felt at times, the story was quite slow. But once it had time to warm up and build that tension, I was hooked!

What was the last book you read that had you hanging on to every word?

🪷 Lotus did that for me. Every time I read a new Jennifer Hartmann book I am floored at how she is able to pack so much emotion into one book. She writes the exact kind of books that I like to read. I want a beautiful yet heartbreaking love story with a HEA (happily ever after) and she delivers every single time. 🥹

I prefer to go into my books blind so I’m not going to recap the story for you but just know this one is worth it. I would personally recommend reading Still Beating before Lotus because there is a tiny bit of crossover but it isn’t necessary to understand the plot.

I really enjoyed the narration for this book and would recommend if audiobooks are you thing. I was able to listen to Lotus via audiobook thanks to NetGalley and Tantor audio

⭐️ All the stars I absolutely loved Oliver and Sydney’s book!!

“I’m right here, with you, and I’m still holding onto your heart. Please don’t ask me to give it back.”

Rating: 4.5/5

- Childhood best friends to strangers to lovers
- MMC kidnapped for 22 years
- Neighbours
- No breakup
- Dual POV
- Check TWs

“I wanted to see you. I just didn’t want to be seen.”

We briefly learn about Oliver’s story in Still Beating - a kidnapped boy who escapes 22 years later. Lotus focuses on him acclimating to the “real world” again, with the help of his step-brother Gabe and his childhood best friend and neighbour, Sydney.

Oliver had this frankness, vulnerability and innocence that I found so endearing. But I also loved how Sydney handled the situation - never pushing Oliver but simply trying to be his friend again. Both characters were so easy to love.

They had an unbreakable connection that spanned decades and seeing their relationship slowly bloom from friendship into more was heartwarming. It was a rocky path to their happy ever after – facing Oliver's nightmares and Sydney's fear of breaking his heart – but the end was so worth it.

"All these years, I've never given my heart to anyone... The truth is, I didn't have a heart to give. My heart was with a ghost."

Now, check TWs, but I will say that while this is labelled a dark romance, the "dark" elements are only in a small portion of the book (probably less than 20%) towards the end. I would consider Still Beating darker, in case you're curious.

The only reason this didn't quite hit five stars for me is that I thought one particular storyline was undeveloped. But I still highly recommend it.

“We’ll rise from the ashes with smoke in our lungs and scars on our skin, but we will persevere. We will thrive.”

Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the ALC.

I liked this book. Please check trigger warnings. It has its deep, sad moments but it also had some funny and cute moments! It's a tragic love story. I liked it a lot. I am making my way through Jennifer's books and they are a wild ride.
I wasn't expecting that to be the reason why he was kidnapped. Crazy! The narrators did a great job on this book.

Okay, I loved this book. The characters were so loveable and surprisingly relatable. I connected with the 90s references, and loved seeing them experienced, essentially, for the first time through Oliver’s eyes. Barenaked Ladies have always been one of my favourite bands, and I loved the musical references.
The journey of the characters was the absolute focus of the story, and that really made this book so enjoyable for me. I didn’t love “Still Beating”, so I was a little leery to get into this one and have the same experience, but these books are like night and day. The reasons for the characters feeling the way they did were completely valid, and nobody felt self absorbed or toxic. Well, except for that one character, but we’re meant to distrust and, in the end, completely loathe them.
The critter sidekicks, how can you not love them?! So sweet, completely adorable, and sprinkled with chaos. I love them all around.
Finding out at the end what lotus meant was the icing on the cake of this story for me. The whole “it was you”, has been done over the years in different ways, but here, I think that might have been my absolute favourite part. It was so beautiful. I got emotional and shed a few tears.
All in all, exceptionally well done. The narrators were flawless with their performances, and brought another beautiful layer to the story. A solid 4.5 star read.

4 stars!
Beautiful heart wrenching love story with a reveal I did not see coming! It kept my attention all throughout but especially a very exciting last 20%!

While I was engaged throughout the story I couldn't help but feel Oliver's trauma was brushed away without much thought... he didn't receive therapy, or really have any ongoing PTSD symptoms. After living 22 years in a single room with only one other person for company I feel like there would be way more of an impact on his ability to rejoin society. If I don't think about that element too much and take the whole thing with a big handful of salt and a suspended disbelief, then it was an enjoyable romance, although still nothing super special that made it stand out for me. Although I did love Athena the raccoon.
The narrators were fine - they both did a good job... but again, not a stand out performance for me, just pretty good.

Thanks to Netgalley for the audiobook ARC.

I loved this book. It was captivating, suspenseful, heartbreaking, and beautifully sweet. Oliver is an endearing character. He is probably the sweetest character I’ve ever read and I absolutely loved it. He’s wholesome and intelligent and has this innocence about him. The growth of his character was unbelievable.

Oliver has returned home after escaping captivity after 22 years, where his childhood best friend Sydney still lives next door and we learn how much his disappearance affected her. She cares for Oliver but has a hard time getting close to him. The tension and angst as she fights her feelings and pushes Oliver away left me frustrated but in a good way.

This is a slow-burn love story with a suspenseful subplot that takes a few twists and turns. I loved everything about this emotional and addicting story. I will warn that this is an emotionally sweet story, but does include content that may be difficult for some readers. Pay attention to content warnings.

TJ Clark does a wonderful job portraying Oliver's innocence and personality.

The first time I read this book in 2022 I gave it a 4 Star. But after a reread with the audio, I quickly changed it to a 5✨ - these narrators crushed it and captured Oliver and Syd so perfectly. Listening to the epilogue had me laughing and in tears!

This book is absolutely one of my favorites. I was blessed to do a buddy read with one of my book besties. SYDNEY AND OLIVER ARE EVERYTHING!!!! Oliver lynch is literally the sweetest, perfect Angel baby of all time. Especially his relationship with his raccoon Athena. That was one of the sweetest moments ever. I will protect Oliver lynch with my whole life!!! This was such a beautiful story. JH continues to remain one of my favorite authors of all time.

What a beautifully tragic story filled with so much hurt, but also so much love.

Sydney has been mourning her best friend Oliver who was kidnapped 22 years ago when they were just 7 years old. Now here we are in present time and Oliver has showed back up after all of these years. And now that he is home, Sydney couldn't be happier, but obviously Oliver has changed over the years. Both of them have walls built up and their guards are high as they don't know how to act around one another. But the one thing that is ultimately true - Sydney unknowingly is the one who got Oliver through those 22 years.

This book was filled with so many emotions that I wasn't expecting. There are so many different journeys that happen throughout, aside from the romantic one between Oliver and Sydney. Oliver's journey acclimating back to the "real world" is a struggle to watch. But Gabe and Sydney are there for him 100% and that was beautiful to see. Sydney's own journey of falling in love was beautiful. There are also some side plots that were absolutely heartbreaking.

I am looking forward to reading Gabe and Tabitha's book when it releases next month! I know that that book is going to be SO emotional and hard to read, but that makes the best kind of book!

Jennifer Hartmann sure knows how to pull on the heart strings. Although this book wasn't as dark as I was expecting, having read Still Beating before this, it still touches on sensitive topics. I would have liked to see more of Oliver's struggles after escaping captivity after 22 years. Although he seemed a little awkward in normal social situations, which is to be expected, nothing seemed to really bother him. I did like how we got to see the struggles that Sydney when through with dealing with his disappearance and reappearance.

Earlier this year I read Still Beating by @author.jenniferhartmann and LOVED. Did it emotionally traumatize me to the point that I still think about it!? Yes, it did but in the best way.

Lotus takes us back to that same world. It definitely can be read as a stand alone but I loved the little details and cross overs from Still Beating that I found in Lotus.

Lotus follows the story of Oliver who was abducted as a child and escapes back into society as an adult. I was worried that the book might be too similar to Still Beating as they both deal with stories of abduction, but they are so different and unique!

I loved Oliver, I loved Sydney and I loved this story! It’s emotional, mysterious, funny and swoony all wrapped up in this wonderful bow.

I will say it’s not AS dark as Still Beating but if trigger warnings are something you need, definitely still check these ones.

Thank you @netgalley and @tantoraudio for my advanced copy. Lotus will be available September 5th, 2023.

This is my second book by this author. I enjoyed it very much. The writing was great! The characters were well developed with so much wonderful conflict to keep me listening to the end. It was a bit slow in the middle but I’m glad I continued. I knew this author wouldn’t let me down after her dynamite book Still Beating. I loved the female narrator. The male narrator made the male character seem not very smart. That kind of bothered me. Oliver was naive but he was very intelligent. Overall, a solid listen! Huge thanks to netgalley and the audiobook publisher for allowing me to listen and review this book.

Will have to read once the book is published. Had it on my schedule to read Thursday August 31st so I could review and post on release day but the audiobook was only available until the 29th. Was only approved on August 22nd so 7 days to read a book? Seems weird to me.

Lotus was a romance and mystery and trauma story? I don't even know how to identify it since it jumps genres without settling. This young boy Oliver was taken at age 5 or 6? Kept under a man's floor for 22 years. Huh? His friends and family moved on and stopped looking after that long except one girl Sydney who is basically stuck in the past after he went missing. Suddenly Oliver shows up, 22 years later having gotten out of the underground that was his life. After dealing with police and normal stuff they try to get him into normal life. Instantly get him a phone, instantly tell him to find a girl and find a job. Why does no one help him with therapy instead of trying to get his cherry popped? When he eventually goes to therapy it's hypnotherapy... He falls for his childhood best friend Sydney but she gives him mix signals and basically makes him fight for it where as she is basically meh this whole book. A very unappealing character. Even Oliver who I want to care about because of his situation is brushed off of his initial problems way to fast. I mean there's not even evidence of PTSD outside of maybe 3 flash backs to the same day he was taken and fireworks? The last 30% of the book is the tying up of loose ends but opening a whole new thread that makes no sense to add in? It was all very outside view, not dragging you into the story or feeling for the characters. It's almost as of even the author kept her characters as arms length. I honestly am surprised sourcebooks picked this up.