Book SynopsisShe’s guarding a borrowed heart. He’s locked his heart away. But the connection igniting between them might become the one thing they can’t live without.
Years after a life-saving heart transplant, Liv Karlsson lives in the fragile space between gratitude and fear—thankful for every heartbeat and afraid of when they might stop. Running her family’s cozy Swedish bakery gives her purpose, but mounting financial pressures and the shadows of her past leave her wondering: Is she truly living . . . or simply existing?
Then Hunter moves in next door. Guarded, cynical, and annoyingly attractive, he’s everything Liv avoids—and he’s also unfortunately her roommate’s cousin. But when he unexpectedly steps in to help Liv save the bakery with a new marketing plan, their reluctant partnership sparks something neither one is prepared for. He pushes her. Challenges her. Sees her. Suddenly, the girl who’s spent years protecting her heart finds it racing for someone who might just understand her better than anyone ever has.
But just as Liv begins to imagine a future worth fighting for, a devastating revelation threatens to unravel everything. Now Liv must face the ultimate test: Will she find the courage to love, or will fear take it all away?
Book Details
- Publisher : Shadow Mountain
- Publication date : June 2, 2026
- Genre: Contemporary Romance
- Series: Proper Romance Contemporary
- Language : English
- Print length : 384 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1639934774
****I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, NetGalley, book tours, and or authors. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.****
My Review
I have always loved reading Sara B. Larson's YA fantasy novels, so I was happily surprised to see she had written a contemporary romance. I knew I absolutely had to read it!
Think back to the last time you went on a very fast, extremely high roller coaster. You experience a wild mix of emotions as you go up and down:
- Anticipation: The slow climb to the top builds great tension.
- Fear: Sudden drops, sharp turns, and closing your eyes—even though you know it won’t actually help.
- Joy: The sensation of weightlessness and speed, releasing pure endorphins.
- Regret: Why am I here, and who is responsible for this? (I'm looking at my kids right now!) 😂😂
- Triumph: That post-ride feeling of ultimate satisfaction.
That ride perfectly describes exactly how I felt while reading this fantastic new novel, Every Beat After. My emotions were flying high as I read about the main characters: Liv Karlsson, a heart transplant recipient, and Hunter, a survivor of a horrendous car accident. Hunter moves in next door to Liv and her roommate, who also happens to be his cousin.
What follows is a dance between two very guarded individuals who have been dealt incredibly harsh hands by life. This dynamic between two emotionally dysfunctional people keeps them both on their toes. There are so many plot points I want to tell you, but I refuse to spoil the story! Just know that one minute you are cheering, and the next you are brought to tears. I loved watching Liv and Hunter's incredible journey of healing as they grew closer and navigated their ever-growing feelings for each other.
In the last quarter of the book, a discovery is made that will throw you for a loop. (Remember the roller coaster analogy?) No spoilers here, so you will just have to read it to find out for yourself!
I loved this novel, even with all of its emotional ups and downs. I grew to love so many of the side characters, too, including Liv's wise Swedish grandmother and her incredibly supportive friends. Just like the end of a great roller coaster ride, you will leave this book smiling and extremely satisfied. Author Sara B. Larson truly knows what she is doing, and it shines through in this 5-star book.
****Meet Author Sara B. Larson****
Sara B. Larson is the best-selling and critically acclaimed author of multiple books, including the YA fantasy DEFY trilogy, the DARK BREAKS THE DAWN duology, and the SISTERS OF SHADOW AND LIGHT duology (TorTeen/Macmillan). Her newest YA fantasy A PROMISED VENGEANCE released October 28, 2025. Her adult debut EVERY BEAT AFTER is coming June 2, 2026. She can’t remember a time when she didn’t write books—although she now uses a computer instead of a Little Mermaid notebook. Sara lives in Utah with her husband, their four children, and their dogs, Loki the Maltese and Bindi the English Cream Retriever, where she also runs a commercial preschool. When she’s not mothering, preschooling, or writing, you can often find her at the gym repenting for her sugar addiction. You can find her online at @SaraBLarson on IG and Threads.
~*~*~*~*Purchase Every Beat After ~*~*~*~*
HERE:
Paperback-https://a.co/d/02ShSa6w
Kindle-https://a.co/d/0fwD2Gvi
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