3.5
I didn't enjoy this one as much as previous titles by this author. While the characters have a unique backstory, I felt their romance was forced.
I liked the cameos from Still Beating though!
And finding out the meaning of LOTUS was sort of neat, but not nearly as awe-shocking as some readers made it seem.

This was such a beautiful story. Evidence of the strength of the human spirit. The strength of love. Childhood romance is not easily forgotten! And gets the main character through a horrendous ordeal. Dark romance for sure, but with an HEA.

Thanks @netgalley for the chance to review Lotus by Jennifer Hartmann. This was a great book - part romance, part mystery. It started off with a bang with a young man walking down the road in a hazmat suit. It ends up being Oliver, a young man who went missing over 20 years before. We get to know Sidney, who lived Oliver as a young man, and as they forge a new relationship. Sweet and a bit spicy. Excellent narration!

Lotus by Jennifer Hartmann
Format: audiobook/ebook
Re-release Date: 9/5/23
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Y’all, Jennifer Hartmann can write an absolutely twisted, dark, beautiful love story. I am always amazed at how well she can balance dark and light in her narratives and Lotus was no exception!

I really loved Oliver and Sydney’s love story and enjoyed seeing them both heal and grow together. I’m also a sucker for a book that has cute animal characters and adored Athena 🦝 and Alexis 🐈 so much!

There were definitely moments where I couldn’t get behind the romance because of how childlike and almost robotic Oliver still seemed post escape. It also all seemed a little unlikely that he would still be speaking the way he was after being reintroduced to society for a year or so.

I think I’ve been spoiled with too many great male narrators lately and I’m becoming picky, but I really did not enjoy the male narration on this audiobook. Between the narrator and my slight qualms about how Oliver was written, I found myself disengaged at points and not liking the character. I would definitely recommend skipping the audio and just reading this one with your eyeballs instead!

On the upside, the side characters all had beautiful moments and it was really nice to see Tabitha again as well! I love when authors write in a shared universe despite their books technically not being a series!

Thank you to NetGalley for the gifted advanced copies in return for my honest opinion!

4.5⭐️

I Sydney and Oliver are childhood best friends, the boy and girl next door. Deeply connected, always together. Until, one July 4th, when Oliver goes missing. Sidney is heartbroken and never gives up hope he’ll be found- but over the years, she walls off her heart to love.

Then, one day 22 years after going missing, a grown-up Oliver reappears, having escaped his from the place he’d been imprisoned for the decades since he was abducted.

So much has changed, and Oliver has significant chunks of his memory missing, but one thing that remains the same is that connection between him and Sydney. Can this thread help them through this dark period to somewhere new?

This is a captivating story filled with love and hope alongside the mystery and darkness. I was both moved and disturbed by it in turns, and was definitely glad I read this book.

Marie Hawkins and TJ Clark did an excellent job narrating the audiobook.

Thank you Jennifer Hartmann, Tantor Audio, and NetGalley for providing this ALC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

A boy goes missing one day and 22 years later he shows up out of nowhere. Where was he? What happened to him? His friends and family are stunned. His best friend Sydney still lives in her childhood home - the magnetism and tension is 10/10.

🤯 This went really dark for sure but it was truly the best combo of mystery + suspense + romance. Wish I could read it again. Oliver is everything!

⚠️ Check TW for sure!
🌶 2/5 there’s steam but it’s not crazy, just all around a good addition

This book was so boring. You would think a child being kidnapped at 7 and then escaping 20 years later would be interesting this was anything but. Oliver was boring and Sydney was a hot mess.

Audio book: 5 stars
Book: 5 stars

I listened to the audio for this book and it was such a great experience. Not only is the story thrilling but the narrators both hit a home run for me. I loved how both female and make narrators did their tones for the different characters and especially well done to the main characters past selves as children - I thought that was very well done on both their parts.

The story itself was was one that kept me on my toes the entire time. Who was it? Who did it? You try to guess, try to figure is out and it's a hard one, so not predictable at all. And the trauma our MMC carries out was brilliant, I loved his mind, he was still so simple, untainted by society, so gentle, I just swooned every time he spoke.
I loved the angst, it was present in almost all the book

Thanks to NetGalley for the audio for this book

I may have found a new favourite author. I have read two of her books and given them both 5stars.
I love this story. Oliver escaped from a bunker that he has been living in for the last 22 years. He comes home and starts to live again with his brother, Gabe and rekindles things with the girl next door. This was swoony. Oiver is the sweetest.
The wit in this book is absolutely wonderful. There was an entire scene about Facebook that had me laughing out loud. The relationships between Clem and Sydney and Gabe and Oliver were some of the best sibling relationships I’ve read. I think romantic suspense may need to be a genre I check out more often too. It wasn’t the strongest mystery I’ve read but it was there and I enjoyed the mystery aspects of the story.

While the story was great, and loved that it connected to Still Beating, I could not get over the male narrator for Oliver. His voice sounds identical to Gaara from Naruto and I couldn't move past that.

I guess I didn't expect this to be so firmly in the "romance" category, given that Oliver was kidnapped as a child and held in captivity for 22 years. I expected more from that story line- though it was relevant and present, it was kind of in the background.

I think I would have enjoyed this more if there was less sex (the discussing and the having) and more about the emotional aspect of things. I am not a prude- you can look at my reading history and find that I have no issue reading erotic romances- but it just seemed out of place with the whole premise of the book.

And, again, going back to the whole kidnapped and held captive- it glossed over too many things. Oliver wanted a job and had no qualifications- BUT HE ALSO DID NOT GRADUATE. No mention of a GED or anything. Very little regarding police/medical/psychological/etc... intervention after he was found. He was just shoved out into the world on his own. It was all just so unrealistic due to the fact that this was all ignored. (Leading back to my issue with all the sex- maybe had the logistical side been more developed, the sex wouldn't have seemed so out of place.)

Ultimately, my lack of enthusiasm seems to be more that the book did not correlate with my expectations based on the blurb. So, likely a me thing.

I did listen to the audiobook. It is told mainly through two POVs, but a third (Bradford) does make a brief appearance. Marie Hawkins narrates Sydney's chapters, TJ Clark narrates Oliver (and Bradford). Let's start with Marie Hawkins- her tone is fine, but she drops the "l" in all "ld" ending blends. It drove me insane. Like "hold" comes out as "hode". Nails on a chalkboard to me. I also wasn't crazy about TJ Clark's narration, either. Especially in dialogue. Even out of dialogue, it sounded smarmy at times.

Basically, stick to the print version and go into this expecting nothing very "deep" coming out of the kidnapping/captive aspect of the storyline.

I received an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is another beautifully written, emotional romance that explores life moving forward after an extended traumatic experience. Oliver was kidnapped as a child and upon returning to his family home has to learn to live among those that love him, but can't fully understand his experience. Sydney, his childhood playmate, still has strong feelings for him despite their separation. She can be a bit claustrophobic in her attempts to help him, but then callously rejecting as she tackles her own buried trauma related to his disappearance. I appreciated the sensitivity and care that the author used in writing the difficult topics explored in this novel. The secondary characters are brilliant, have their own unique backgrounds, and I enjoyed them so much that I hope a few of them get their own books too. I enjoyed listened to the audiobook and the narrators did an excellent job conveying the depth of the material.

I really loved this book. The chemistry and deep love between the two main characters was off the charts. I do think Sydney was overthinking things WAY too much and almost ruined everything but I love that they found their way to each other. At the same time Sydney and Oliver are rekindling their love, there is still the question of why Oliver was kidnapped in the first place and what "lotus" means. When everything is revealed in the end it was so heartbreaking but I loved the little friend/family group that came out of all the trauma. Overall really amazing book and now I want more from this author!

Sydney's neighbor and best friend, Oliver, disappeared 22 years ago. Her, his step-brother, Gabe, and the rest of the world thought he was dead. But he just came back from his captivity, brainwashed, with no memory of who Syd is, thinking he made her up in his stories - The Queen of Lotus.
This is a best friends to strangers to lovers romance, and this is no romcom, so check your triggers.
It's told in dual POVs, Syd and Oliver, in first person, plus flashbacks to Oliver's time in captivity and flashbacks from their childhood, where he was told by a man, Bradford, that there had been a nuclear explosion and that he had to stay with him to be safe... I loved how distinctive Oliver's voice was, his way of speaking/thinking was really easy to recognize, I never had to wonder or look back to figure out which POV a chapter was from. At one point, Oliver thinks he should start dating, because he wants a wife and children. So, of course, Syd has to show him how to kiss and do things... Oliver is so sweet, and naive, and innocent, and the why of it it is heartbreaking. He's a grown man with an 8 year old sense of relationships with others, so he has no filter. I loved the side characters, especially Gabe and Chem, and their relationships and interactions with the MCs. Although it not a sequel to Still Beating, Tabitha and Cora are there as side characters. One of the twists surprised me, but once that twist was unraveling, I kind of figured out the rest fairly easily. I still enjoyed (and loathed) it. I absolutely loved this book. It was such a page-turner, and yet I had to refrain myself, because I felt like I needed to take my time with it. And I did. As I said, it is not a fluffy romcom. This is a heartbreaking and very hard story to read. It is gut-wrenching, very unique, and I loved it. It will stay with me for a while. The audio book narration was great too. Here are some of my favorite quotes:
"What did it feel like to you?
Like every star in the galaxy tumbled to Earth and crawled beneath my skin."
"I have a hard time believing someone could kiss you and regret it."
"One week without his closeness, his quirks, his charm, his beautiful soul radiating into me, and it felt like a part of me had withered away. I have no idea how I survived twenty two years."
"Not all love is meant to stay. Sometimes it only serves a temporary purpose."
"This isn't about learning anymore. This is about how I feel for you."
"You heal me. Every day, you put another piece of me back together."
"I don't deserve you.
You always deserve what is meant for you, and if anything is meant to be, it's us."
I received an advance review copy of this book for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This story is an absolute whirlwind of emotions! The blend of mystery, tragedy, and romance creates an addictive narrative that has you completely captivated.

From the very start, the way these different genres seamlessly intertwine is a stroke of brilliance. I'm genuinely stunned by how the story manages to keep you hooked and feeling an entire spectrum of emotions – it's not every day you find a story that can evoke such a wide range of feelings.

And that ending... talk about a cliffhanger! You're literally on the edge of your seat, desperately wanting to know what will happen next. The unpredictability of the events that unfold reminds you that life can be incredibly surprising, throwing unexpected curveballs your way when you least expect it.

What really struck me was how the characters, amidst all the turmoil and damage, find a way to evolve from friends to lovers. It's like a glimmer of hope shining through the chaos, a reminder that even in the darkest of times, love has the power to flourish and bring light to our lives.

In a world where stories sometimes feel predictable, this one breaks the mold. It's a rollercoaster ride that brilliantly demonstrates the complexities of human emotions and the resilience of the human spirit. It's a tale that will stick with you, showcasing the highs and lows of life, love, and the remarkable strength we can find within ourselves.

This is my second time reading Lotus, and once again, it did not disappoint. I have loved everything of Jennifer Hartmann's that I have read!

Oliver and Syd's story is one that tugs on the heartstrings, and will stay with you for a long time. Jennifer has a unique way of infusing emotion into her stories, and it often comes from trauma representation. In my opinion, she does an excellent job of portraying Oliver's re-entry into society after 22 years a captive, as well as his anxiety and recovery.

Syd's character is lovable and quirky, and her dialogue offers some (at times) much-needed comic relief. I loved the use of art as a coping mechanism for both characters, Syd through her painting and Oliver through his comics. The comics, to me, represented holding onto a piece of his lost childhood and served as a way for him to survive his ordeal and connect to the real world again.

Their blossoming romance is awkward, sweet, and a little spicy, and so beautifully done. I found myself rooting for them at every possible turn. Definitely a great read.

Jennifer Hartmann is becoming one of my new favorite authors. All 3 books I've read have been intense and amazing in their own individual way. Only reason this one wasn't 5 stars is because i finally figured out the twist before it presented itself. This book does have some tough topics so check trigger warnings before diving in.