Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann book Review
Book Blurb:
“When Cora attends her sister’s birthday party, she expects at most a hangover or a walk of shame. She doesn’t anticipate a stolen wallet, leaving her stranded and dependent on Dean–her arch nemesis and ultimate thorn in her side. And she really doesn’t anticipate waking up in shackles in a madman’s basement. To make matters worse, Dean shares the space in his own set of chains. After fifteen years of teasing, insults, and practical jokes, the ultimate joke seems to be on them. The two people who always thought they’d end up killing each other must now work together if they want to survive. But Cora and Dean have no idea their abductor has a plan for them. A plan that will alter the course of their relationship, blur the line between hate and love, and shackle them together with far more than just chains.”
Review:
I finished Still Beating two days ago, and I’m still processing it. This book crawled under my skin and took up residence there. It’s the kind of story that has you staring at the ceiling at 2AM, replaying scenes and wondering how you’d cope if faced with the same horrors. I swear I can still feel its emotional weight pressing against my chest. Hartmann doesn’t just write about trauma and healing—she shoves you headfirst into the darkness and forces you to claw your way out alongside Dean and Cora. Is it intense? Absolutely. Haunting? I’ve literally had dreams about these characters.
Fair warning before you dive in—this is not light reading. We’re talking abduction, sexual violence, PTSD… the works. Please, please check those trigger warnings. I almost wish I had prepared myself better, because there were moments where I had to set the book down and just breathe.
So what’s it about? Dean and Cora are connected in the most awkward way possible—he’s engaged to her sister. But their relationship takes a horrifying turn when they’re abducted and held captive together. What I found fascinating (and gut-wrenching) was how Hartmann weaves together three timelines: their normal lives before, the absolute hell they endure during captivity, and the messy aftermath where they’re trying to piece themselves back together.
Can we talk about the aftermath? Because that’s where this book really shines for me. There’s no magical healing, no “and then everything was fine” moment. Instead, it’s nightmares that jolt you awake. It’s flinching when someone touches your shoulder unexpectedly. It’s the frustration of having people say “I understand” when they absolutely don’t. Hartmann nails this—the messy, non-linear path of trauma recovery that most books gloss over.
Despite putting my emotions through the wringer, there’s something oddly hopeful threading through this darkness. The connection between Dean and Cora? It broke me in the best possible way. They’re two shattered people who recognize each piece of each other’s brokenness. What strikes me is how they don’t try to “fix” each other—they just create space for healing. There’s something beautiful about watching them discover parts of themselves they thought were gone forever.
I’m giving this 3 stars instead of more because, honestly, some parts stretched believability for me. The pacing felt off in places—rushing through moments that needed more time and dwelling too long on others. And let’s be real: a few of the emotional shifts felt a bit too convenient. I found myself thinking, “Wait, would they really react that way?” more than once.
But even with those flaws, I can’t deny the emotional punch this book delivers. Still Beating is raw and uncomfortable in all the ways that make you know you’re reading something real. It’s like watching someone’s heart get ripped open on the page. It left me emotionally drained but somehow grateful for the experience.
If you can handle the heavy content (seriously, check those triggers), this book offers something surprisingly honest about how we survive our worst moments—and how sometimes, the people who understand our darkness are the ones who help us find our light again.
Overall Thoughts:
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5/5
Would I recommend: Yes I would, but I would recommend checking the triggers, as this book won’t be for everyone. It is toxic at times and hard to read, but it is also emotionally gripping and
Favorite quotes:
“I meant what I said,” he says to me, his tone low and hardened. “I’m getting us out of this. And I’m going to kill him for hurting you.”
“He throws me a smile, just as tender and I wonder how hard it was for him to produce such a thing at a time like this. “I’d give you my socks if I thought you had a way of putting them on.”
“I didn’t think you ever noticed my heart.” “It’s impossible not to notice, Cora.”
“Every love story is worth writing, no matter how messy it might be,” Holly says absently, still stroking my hair. “I would like to read your book.”
“Dean is like the ocean. Compelling, calling to me, within reach…So much magic. So much beauty. Something I want with every aching layer of my soul.”
“He is enough. His heartbeat is all I need.”
You can get this book here: https://a.co/d/3Zm4yQx
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