by Elizabeth Scott
Released |January 28th 2014 by Harlequin Teen|
Edition |eARC|
Source |Netgalley|
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Life. Death. And...Love?Heartbeat is a book that I wanted to love so much because it had everything that I like in a book. It had the heartache and the feels and it also had the romance. This was a fast paced read for me and I flew through the story. I did have my ups and downs with the story. I had a love/hate relationship with this book. Sometimes I liked it and sometimes I didn't.
Emma would give anything to talk to her mother one last time. Tell her about her slipping grades, her anger with her stepfather, and the boy with the bad reputation who might be the only one Emma can be herself with.
But Emma can't tell her mother anything. Because her mother is brain-dead and being kept alive by machines for the baby growing inside her.
Meeting bad-boy Caleb Harrison wouldn't have interested Old Emma. But New Emma-the one who exists in a fog of grief, who no longer cares about school, whose only social outlet is her best friend Olivia-New Emma is startled by the connection she and Caleb forge.
Feeling her own heart beat again wakes Emma from the grief that has grayed her existence. Is there hope for life after death-and maybe, for love?
The thing I enjoyed most about the story was probably the relationship between Caleb and Emma. The romance was nice and sweet and I enjoyed that part of the story so much because I really wanted the two to be happy. They both were had a lot of issues that they were trying to deal with and both were feeling the loss of losing a loved one. Caleb lost his little sister when she was riding her bike without a helmet and was hit by a car and Emma lost her mother (brain dead) that is being kept alive with machines to save the baby she has growing within her. I think I felt for Caleb a little bit more because he already feels so much guilt for not making his little sister wear her helmet and he blames himself for her death. And on top of that his parents blame him and show him so much hate! I think the hate his parents felt for him was the worst.
And we have Emma, the main protagonist. I wanted to like her, I really did, but I just didn't like her character at all. I felt bad for her and everything she was going through, but she was so hateful and I couldn't deal with that. The way that Emma treated her stepfather really turned me off from the story. Sometimes, I had to put the book down because of it. She seriously treated her stepfather like shit, as if he didn't lose someone as well. I mean, he actually witness the death of her mother. He was right there when she had the stroke. I think her character had a selfish attitude, especially when it came to her stepfather. She made it seem like it was all about her and I didn't like that. She did make a change at the end which I was really happy for, but it didn't take away all the negative things that she did in the the story.
Overall, I did enjoy the book even though I had some problems with it. It was fast paced and took me on an emotional journey. I received a copy for review through Netgalley. All thoughts are my honest opinion!
I have heard great things about this one but this girl Emma doesn't sound like character I'll enjoy but still I love emotional reads. So who knows. I'm glad you enjoyed it overall. Great review, Janina :)
ReplyDeleteI like emotional reads as well, but Emma was a touch one to like. Maybe if she wasn't that way throughout the entire book, I probably would have like the story more.
DeleteI see a lot of people having a hard time getting past Emma's hate and behavior. For me it didn't bother me as much because everyone grieves differently and I had a friend in High School who did push her anger out on those who didn't deserve it for awhile too. I'm glad Emma came around in the end though. My friend did too after some time. Glad to hear you still enjoyed it overall. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your friend got better. I tried to get past Emma hate because I know she was grieving, but it hard. She knew how to lay it on thick!
DeleteIt was a nice and sweet romance with Emma and Caleb and like how they connected so much even though under normal circumstances they wouldn't have found each other
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the romance as well and I definitely agree it wouldn't have happened under normal circumstances. It was a little bit of happiness in a book full of sadness.
DeleteI've seen some pretty decent reviews lately, but I just know this isn't the rigt read for me. And you just confirmed it with what you wrote about Emma - if I can't connect with the MC, the book can be perfect, but it just won't work for me.
ReplyDeleteGreat review, Janina!
Glad to hear that Emma changes in the novel, but I definitely think books like these are hit or miss. sometimes you can't have an MC be too unlikeable, even if it's supposed to be realistic. Sorry this one wasn't a top choice for you!
ReplyDeleteI didn't always like Emma while reading but I found her very understandable-she's in such a tough situation and I'm sure that it's only complicated by her being a teenager and not having as full a perspective as her stepdad.
ReplyDeleteA lot of people seemed to have the same issues with this one, and they said it was a pretty average read. I do love a cute and fun romance though, they can always cheer you up (if they have a happy ending, of course ;)
ReplyDeleteI have this on my Kindle but didn't get to it yet. I've read the same thing from a lot of the reviewers that the MC wasn't very likable. Great review!
ReplyDeleteI love me some sweet romance, but I really don't like characters who treat other people badly and are hateful. I understand where you're coming from and I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it that much, Janina.
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