In A Heartbeat - Joint Review

Joint Review

{Joint Reviews are by Amber and Kameron, on books they've both read. Joint Reviews give readers two different opinions on the same book - in one place! The Review is in a Q&A format. "A"=Amber's Answer, "K"=Kameron's Answer.}

Title: In A Heartbeat

Author: Teodora Kostova

Genre: New Adult - Contemporary Romance

(17+ due to sexual situations, language and extremely hot Italian guys :P)

1) Easy to read?

A: This book takes a little getting used to if you’re not from the UK. (I know – so weird that we speak the same language but don’t at the same time.) However, it doesn’t take you long to catch up with the British lingo and breeze right on through. So on a scale of 1-5, I’d give the readability a 4.5.

K: Once you start to understand the different slang and sentence structure, it becomes a bit more flowey. But I don’t know if it was the unfamiliar words or what, but it was kinda tiring to read. A lot of run-on sentences and backtracking.

2) Good plot progression?

A: I think so. The book reminded me of how Cassie Clare tells her stories. You get an idea of the whole environment – all while seeing the plot progress. Unlike some books, this book starts with a bang and makes you have lots-o-feels. Those feels continue throughout the book. Get ready!

K: Key points were focused on, smaller ones put on the back burner. I could follow the character’s adventures and the significance of the why. It was all very believable.

3) Believable characters?

A: Definitely. I had no problem feeling like Stella, Lisa, and I were old buddies from college. I connected with immediately because of common themes in our lives. The guys are hard to believe in because… well… they’re awesome. ;)

K: Here’s my issue: If a character is an Adonis in the first place, no flaws, no imperfections, he/she is VERY hard to relate to and believe in. The main characters are very frustrating in their back and forth, and their being wishy-washy. But! I could sense personality underneath all the glitz and the glam and the fashion. I could sympathize with their struggles, and I ended the story with like liking them.

4) Grammar issues?

A: None that I can point out. Again, you’re going to find it a little weird at first if you live in the states, but once you realize that the way you’re used to spelling things isn’t the only way – you don’t even realize that there’s a barrier in the reading material.

K: There’s speaking in a different dialect, and then there’s run-on sentences. Commas are our friends! Other than that, the only things I noticed were the occasional ‘he’ instead of ‘her’, or the comma instead of a period, or wrong word.

5) Would you recommend to someone?

A: I would definitely recommend this book to someone. In fact, I already have. In regards to who I would recommend it to – I’d say anyone old enough to read New Adult material that enjoys reading books by amazing authors like John Green or Nicholas Sparks. (Yep, it’s one of THOSE books.)

K: I would, but it wouldn’t be the first I’d mention. I think this’d be more for people who like Nora Roberts, or maybe people looking for a quick feel good read.

6) Overall rating:

A: 4.5 out of 5 stars. Why am I missing ½ of a star? Basically – just because I know some readers will struggle getting used to the lingo. Other than that? It was an extremely hard book to put down and I finished it in 3 days – even with a teething toddler nipping at my ankles constantly.

K: 3.5. I did really enjoy the story. Honestly, I’ve never read anything like it. The issues I have with it were purely grammatical and semi-2D characters.

7) Favorite Quote(s)?

A: “Did it really matter how long you’d known someone before you developed feelings for them? Was there a rule book or something? All he knew was that he couldn’t help how he felt and he’d be damned if he judged himself for it.”

“Don’t exist. Live.”

“…when life gives you lemons, take out the salt and the shot-glasses and fill them up with tequila. Fight for what you really want and never, ever settle for anything less.”

K: “Even if your life seemed perfect at the moment, with no uncertain future looming over it, it could change in a heartbeat. That didn’t mean you should stop living it.”