I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Heartbeat by Elizabeth Scott Published by Harlequin Teen on January 28, 2014
Pages: 304
Format: eBook
Source: Netgalley
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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?
My thoughts…
I have been waiting, and waiting to read this book. When I noticed it on Netgalley and read the synopsis I knew I HAD to read it. I was happy that I got approved to read and review it. The is the first story by author Elizabeth Scott that I’ve read. This story captured my attention from beginning and held it until the very end. I didn’t skim through pages at all. I had a hard time putting it down.
This was a heart wrenching story. I found the plot for Heartbeat to be unique. I don’t believe I’ve ever read a story like this one. Maybe once, but it was a different set of circumstances all together.
Both of the main characters have suffered a great deal of loss in their young lives. They are both emotionally scarred. Each understands what the other is going through and it’s because of this that Emma and Caleb are drawn to each other.
My heart broke for Emma and her situation. I cannot image having to see a brain dead parent kept alive on life support so that the child she’s pregnant with can grow enough until it’s safe for him/her to be born. It certainly would be hard to gain closure and except the loss of a loved one.
The relationship she has with Dan, her stepfather, is severely strained after her mother dies. She doesn’t agree with his decision to keep her mother on life support. He never asked her thoughts on it and believes that keeping his wife alive for the sake of the baby is what she would have wanted. Emma feels differently. This decision has torn apart their relationship. Emma won’t talk to Dan and she locks herself in her room so she doesn’t have to deal with him. To say she has anger issues would be an understatement. In a way I can understand why she acted the way she did.
Caleb’s circumstances are a bit different from Emma’s. His younger sister died. He blames himself for her death. His parents also do as well. I was so mad at the way his parents treated him. I can’t imagine parents who would do such a thing.
Overall, I really enjoyed this reading this one. I feel a little hesitant to say that though considering the subject matter of the book. It’s highly emotional and difficult to read at times.
