I received this book for free from ARC Tour in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Published by Harlequin Teen on January 28th 2014
Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Young Adult
Format: ARC
Source: ARC Tour
Buy the Book •
Life. Death. And...Love?
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?
I see what grief does, how it strips you bare, shows you all the things you don’t want to know. That loss doesn’t end, that there isn’t a moment where you are done, when you can neatly put it away and move on.It never leaves you.
What an emotional, touching story I found in Heartbeat, which explores grief and love in such an honest and serious way.
Our main character, Emma, is struggling with the aftermath of losing her mother. But, she hasn’t fully lost her mother just yet, as she is kept alive to give the baby she is carrying time to grow and develop so he can survive birth, and Emma adamantly disagrees with this decision. This is the focus of the story and what an emotional ride it was. Being a teenager is hard enough as it is. Add in a situation like this and I cannot even imagine the difficulties of keeping your emotions in check. Poor Emma was angry, so very angry she didn’t know how to not be anymore. And she’s hurt and lonely too. Because even though her mom is technically gone, and she knows it and has come to terms with it, she is still present in her life as she lays in the hospital bed day after day. The lack of closure is sending Emma into a downward spiral she doesn’t know how to get out of. Every hospital visit caused my heart to break for her as I tried to come to terms with how I would feel if put in the same situation at that age. The author captured it perfectly.
I am angry. I am so angry I feel like it’s all I am.
Sometimes angry main characters can feel overwhelming, but I never felt that here. Her feelings were justified, from her point of view. Emma’s step-father has chosen to keep her mom alive for the baby, but Emma disagrees that it is something her mom would choose. At first I couldn’t understand why she would feel so negatively about waiting for the baby to be healthy enough to survive. Emma saw this pregnancy as something her mom feared after years of trying and having so many risks. But was Emma interpreting her mother’s words and actions the right way? Well that’s something she has to work through with herself and her step-father.
As for Caleb, and the romance department, it is there but felt so much more like two people coming together to support and understand each other as they work through the tragedies of their lives. Caleb’s story is another filled with sadness, guilt and above all, loneliness. I just wanted to hug these two and tell them everything would be okay. The romance wasn’t overdone, but added just a nice little touch to the right degree.
He looks at me like I am beautiful, and when he does, I am.
If you are looking for a touching story of overcoming grief and anger with well done characters and writing, this is one I would absolutely recommend.
Tanja
This sounds like a really emotional read and these are my favorite. I have heard great things about this one and I cannot wait to read it. Great review, Sara 🙂
Tanja recently posted…ARC Review: The Sharpest Blade by Sandy Williams
Sara @ The Hiding Spot
I am so glad I read your review – I had somehow completely overlooked what this book was about! Wow, that is so, so intense! It’s been a few years since I’ve read an Elizabeth Scott book, but I think I need to give this one a try. Great review, Sara. Thanks!
Sara @ The Hiding Spot recently posted…Best YA of 2013
Soma rostam
Well, Sarah
This looks like a really great book
I finished reading it two months ago and now, I just can’t wait to write my review
GREAT review
Your reader
Soma
Soma rostam recently posted…ARC Review: Anyone But You by Kim Askew and Amy Helmes!
Kate @ Ex Libris
Ok, I did not know that this was the plot! How interesting! I need to bump this up on my list….
Kate @ Ex Libris
Kate @ Ex Libris recently posted…The Impossible Knife Of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson
Kat C
I had a chance to meet Elizabeth Scott and she is so nice ! It’s amazing how many books she’s managed to publish with so many different imprints.
Lily
You ended up enjoying this one way more than I did. I couldnt connect with the story at all and completely disliked Emma, i felt she was way to mean towards her stepmother and immature. The only real reason I kpet at this book was because of Caleb and the romance though I do wish it could have been developed further.
Im glad you liked it though
Lily @Lilysbookblog
Lily recently posted…Fracture Me(Shatter Me #2.5):Review
Abbe Hinder
This sounds like the cutest book ever and something that I would love. I’ve heard a lot of mixed reviews concerning Emma and how she acts but I’m glad that you liked her. Hopefully I do too.
Great review.
Melanie (YA Midnight Reads)
I recently finished this one and really liked it! I saw a lot of people that didn’t like Emma but I could feel her anger completely.
Fab review, Sara! <33
Melanie (YA Midnight Reads) recently posted…Farewell, 2013!
Lisa (Lost in Literature)
Yay! I’m glad you liked this one. I didn’t realize it would be that emotional of a story. I’ll be reading this one very soon. 🙂
Lisa (Lost in Literature) recently posted…Review: Four Seconds to Lose by K.A. Tucker
Nereyda @Mostly YA Book Obsessed
I have this on my TBR for next month, I love emotional YA. Bring it on!
Nereyda @Mostly YA Book Obsessed recently posted…Audiobook Review: Premeditated by Josin L. McQuein!
starryeyedjen
I’ll be picking this one up very soon, so I’m glad to hear it was such a beautiful story. I don’t always like the really emotionally draining books, but when they’re good, you can’t argue with great storytelling.
starryeyedjen recently posted…The Best of 2013
ShootingStarsMag
I really like the premise of this one. The summary makes it sound like more of a romance, so I’m happy to hear it didn’t overtake the story of the MC and her mom. That’s what I’m most interested in.
ShootingStarsMag recently posted…One Ends, Another Begins: The Long Quiche Goodbye
Gabby
I do love it when I have to bring out the tissues and have a cry.It looks like I would enjoy this one. Great Review 🙂
Gabby recently posted…Welcome 2014 & International Giveaway
Andreea
I have not heard of this book before, although the name of the author sounds familiar to me. Glad you enjoyed the book:)
Andreea recently posted…Let it Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle
Pam@YAEscapefromReality
This one does sound good and I like the fact that the characters are well done. Great review!
Pam@YAEscapefromReality recently posted…Mini-Reviews: Paranormal Novels
brandileigh2003
I def love a touching story, and can’t wait to get around to this one.
brandileigh2003 recently posted…Review: On Thin Ice by P.J. Sharon