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About this item
Highlights
- Now in paperack, the immersive and romantic post-apocalyptic sapphic novel perfect for fans of Krystal Sutherland, Adam Silvera, and The Last of Us.
- 336 Pages
- Young Adult Fiction, Dystopian
Description
Book Synopsis
Now in paperack, the immersive and romantic post-apocalyptic sapphic novel perfect for fans of Krystal Sutherland, Adam Silvera, and The Last of Us. Mara is dead--mostly.Infected with a virus that broke the world and turned her into a monster, Mara awakens in a facility to learn a treatment has been found. No longer a Tick, Mara is placed in an experimental relocation program. But she's sent to live with the best friend she hasn't seen since the world ended. Since their first and only kiss. Rory is alive--barely.
And her nightmares are as vicious as the Ticks that infected Mara and permanently injured Rory. Even after the Island--one of the surviving communities--rebuilds itself, Rory fears a Tick attack from the mainland at any time. But the Ticks that show up are medicated--not quite themselves but no longer raging monsters. Among them is the first girl Rory ever loved...the one she thought was gone forever. As Mara and Rory struggle with the violence they've inflicted and experienced, they must lean on each other to survive their brutal world--or risk losing each other all over again.
Review Quotes
★ "The complexity of the worldbuilding combined with the depiction of the best and worst of humanity are on par with themes from The Last of Us show and games, proving that the post-apocalyptic YA genre is not dead--it's just undead. " --BCCB (starred review) "This stunning debut will rip your heart out... and eat it. A gut punch of a romance set in an immersive post-apocalyptic backdrop, Hearts Still Beating will sink its teeth into you and never let you go." --Jennifer Dugan, author of The Last Girls Standing "The sapphic zombie story I've been salivating for! Infectious storytelling and riveting action with a tender and powerful love story at the beating heart. I absolutely devoured this book." --Leslie Vedder, bestselling author of The Bone Spindle trilogy "At turns brutal and beautiful, Hearts Still Beating is a riveting exploration of love and what it means to be human in a crumbling, impossible world." --Jen St. Jude, author of If Tomorrow Doesn't Come
"[An] affecting, adrenaline-filled debut...escalating stakes, nuanced plotting, and a visceral first-person-present narrative that alternates between the emotionally complex protagonists' POVs combine for a gratifying read." --Publishers Weekly "[An] original, adventure-filled love story.... A richly realized and distinctive queer zombie romance." --Kirkus Reviews "[P]erfect for fans of The Last of Us looking for a queer take on the classic zombie story." --Booklist
"A riveting, unique, and delightfully queer adventure." -SLJ
About the Author
Brooke Archer graduated from Chapman University with a BFA in Creative Writing and has interned with Entity Magazine in LA. When she's not writing, she works at a doggy daycare in San Diego. Find her on twitter: @abrookeworm. And on Instagram: @broookearcherDimensions (Overall): 8.25 Inches (H) x 5.5 Inches (W) x .69 Inches (D)
Weight: .81 Pounds
Suggested Age: 14 Years
Number of Pages: 336
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Sub-Genre: Dystopian
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Format: Paperback
Author: Brooke Archer
Language: English
Street Date: May 6, 2025
TCIN: 1001836582
UPC: 9780593698341
Item Number (DPCI): 247-00-8025
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
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Shipping details
Estimated ship dimensions: 0.69 inches length x 5.5 inches width x 8.25 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 0.81 pounds
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5.0 out of 5 stars with 2 reviews
100% would recommend
1 recommendations
cool read!
5 out of 5 stars
MGMGMG - 11 months ago
I was very happy to receive an Advance Review Copy of "Hearts Still Beating" by Brooke Archer, as I was intrigued by it from the moment I read the plot description! For starters, the cover is really pretty and absolutely made me wonder what the book was about. There definitely was romance, which you would totally expect, but there was also a healthy dose of zombies (and a fair bit of blood and guts, so if that is not your scene then this definitely is not the book for you--truthfully I did not enjoy that aspect of this book at all, but other parts made up for it!) The character development was terrific, I really enjoyed getting to know Rory and Mara, and I love the relationships that existed within Rory's family, especially with Rory's mom Sam. There is also a theme of grief, which I always appreciate because I think it needs more attention in books! Overall I enjoyed this book and would recommend it.
Zombie apocalypse sapphic love story
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
lurkykitty - 1 year ago
Hearts Still Beating is set in an apocalyptic world in which a zombie virus has ravaged the population, turning the infected into cannibalistic killing machines called Ticks. Scientists have developed a medication which can reverse the zombie changes and restore an affected person's humanity. Mara, who did horrendous things as a Tick, is one of these patients, called the Altered. Her treatment is successful and she going to live with her godparents and her former best friend and crush Rory. Rory has been traumatized by loss (as has all of humanity) and is resistant to Mara's arrival, worried that she will start killing again. The story is tense, compelling, beautiful, emotional, violent and tragic. The world building was excellent. This book makes the reader think about what makes a person human vs. a monster. Hearts Still Beating is a story about the triumph and survival of love after trauma and change. I could not put it down.