Still Beating: Jennifer Hartmann
Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
to be honest, this book flopped heaaaavily. What a disappointment. First of all to claim that your book is “traumatic”… you need to fucking put trauma in it describe it! FUCKING go into the nitty-gritty disgusting gory details!!! THAT IS LITERALLY WHAT I’M READING YOUR BOOK FOR!!! THAT’S WHAT I WANT!!!!
The plot was only good for the first 10ish chapters. Read the warnings, but to be honest… this book had nothing it that required any. 😑 no gore, no extreme shit, no “graphic” content. Nope. Nada. The most graphic content that you guys will read in this book is “he slid into me and cried, turning his face away” or some bullshit like that.
that’s about as graphic as she goes into the details after claiming that her content is extremely graphic, and not for sensitive readers..
The ONLY trigger warning i would give is: FORCED, and NOT GRAPHICALLY DETAILED rape.
Second, if you’re expecting some sort of amazing healing from all the “horrible trauma” that the characters endured then you’re in the wrong book. Their healing is just getting together and fucking. I absolutely hated Cora’s mentality of “poor pitiful me”! Get a fucking grip on your life and go get fucking help!!!! I did not see a single sentence where either characters went to fucking therapy!!
Third Cora is a misery, inducing character. I absolutely hate her, and I don’t say that very often about main characters. I hated Cora! one because instead of fucking going to therapy she goes and fucks the man who she was captured with and calls it good. And two I really don’t know what you were expecting bitch he’s going to want to try to fix things. He’s going to get upset if you keep pushing him away! And to decide that you guys are better off together in the end is absolutely stupid!
Overall…? If you liked this book… Did you actually read it?
This book was a heavy no go. After all the main drama happened? They went about their lives. Yes, they went through trauma, yes they did some shitty stuff.
But I was expecting a lot deeper…..something. I have no idea what it was, but something was definitely missing throughout this whole book. This book had more of a shock factor than an actual plot and to be honest that plot was honestly not that good….
I wish I could give a more positive review, but I really do feel like I wasted my time on this book .
To be honest, I don’t think it’s worth even three out of five stars .
After reading that original review, I can totally relate to the feeling of disappointment when a book doesn't live up to its 'dark romance' hype! It really makes you wonder, what do we truly expect when we pick up a book with a title like 'Still Beating' and a cover featuring a golden heart locket on a dark, watery background? Often, a cover like that, or descriptions mentioning trauma, sets the stage for something intense, raw, and deeply emotional – a story that pulls no punches. When I dive into a dark romance, I'm often looking for a journey through complex themes, sometimes exploring difficult situations that push characters to their limits. It's not just about 'spicy chapters' or explicit scenes, but about how those moments are integrated into a narrative that deals with pain, healing (or the lack thereof), and profound character development. The expectation for a book to be 'graphic' usually means a writer isn't shying away from the nitty-gritty details, whether it's emotional turmoil or physical descriptions that truly convey the characters' experiences. If a book claims to be dark or traumatic, readers, myself included, often anticipate a narrative that shows rather than tells the depth of that darkness. This expectation is especially true for those of us who enjoy authors known for their intense storytelling, perhaps even drawing comparisons to the emotional depth found in authors like Sarah J. Maas, albeit in a different genre context. We crave stories that make us feel deeply. When a book like 'Still Beating' is marketed with strong trigger warnings, but then the execution falls short on the 'graphic' or 'traumatic' elements, it can indeed feel misleading. The reviewer's point about the lack of genuine healing or character growth, beyond superficial interactions, truly resonates with what many of us seek in these challenging narratives. We want to see characters actively grappling with their past, perhaps even attending therapy or finding healthy coping mechanisms, not just 'getting together and...' well, you know. Even the physical aspects of a book, like whether it's available in paperback or a special edition, or how its cover art (like the one with the golden heart locket) visually communicates its themes, can build up our anticipation. We might collect different editions or admire the art, hoping the story inside lives up to the aesthetic promise. But as the review highlights, a striking cover needs to enclose a story that delivers on its implied promises. For those searching for 'still beating book quotes,' memorable lines often arise from powerful emotional moments or profound character insights. If a book struggles to deliver on its emotional impact, it naturally becomes harder to find those standout quotes that truly capture the essence of the story or its characters' struggles. Ultimately, whether a book truly qualifies as a 'dark romance' isn't just about controversial themes, but about the depth, honesty, and unflinching portrayal of those themes. It sounds like 'Still Beating' might be a case where the packaging promised more intensity than the narrative delivered, leaving readers wondering if it truly earned its 'dark' label. It's a reminder that sometimes, what's missing is just as impactful as what's present.
