Every Beat After

by Sara B. Larson

She’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?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary

384 pages, Paperback

Expected publication June 2, 2026

About the author

Sara B. Larson is the best-selling and critically acclaimed author of multiple YA fantasy books,
including A Promised Vengeance (coming Oct 2025), the Defy trilogy, the Dark Breaks the Dawn duology, and the
Sisters of Shadow and Light duology. Every Beat After will be her adult debut 6.2.26. 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

She’s online at www.SaraBLarson.com.

Reviews

[Annie]

If you liked Return to Me, you’ll like this book.

[Kaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

Before anything else: please check the trigger warnings before picking this up. This is a heavy, emotional read that deals with grief, trauma, chronic illness, anxiety, and loss. It doesn’t shy away from difficult topics, and that weight is felt throughout the story.

This follows Olivia, a heart transplant survivor, and Hunter, her roommate’s cousin turned neighbor, who is dealing with the aftermath of a traumatic accident. Both characters carry so much emotional baggage, and the story leans deeply into that. The romance is a slow burn filled with angst, misunderstandings, and internal struggles.

One of my favorite parts of this book wasn’t even the romance—it was the familial and platonic love surrounding Olivia. Her relationship with her mom, grandma, and best friends added so much warmth and grounding to an otherwise heavy narrative, and it made her character feel incredibly supported and real.

That said, I’ll be honest: I’m not the biggest fan of enemies-to-lovers, and the early tension between Olivia and Hunter really tested my patience. Their anger, avoidance, and tendency to lash out—especially when sensitive topics came up—was frustrating to read at times. There were moments where they felt very toxic for each other, even though it clearly stemmed from unresolved trauma.

However, the character development is where this book shines. Watching them slowly soften, communicate, and actually try was satisfying. Once they started talking, confessing, and being honest with each other, the emotional payoff felt worth it. The author handled their growth with care, and by that point, I was fully invested.

I did see the plot twist coming, but it didn’t take away from the experience. My main gripe is that I wished the ending and resolution were longer—it felt a bit rushed compared to how much time was spent building up the angst.

Overall, Every Beat After is an emotional, angsty romance that won’t be for everyone, but Sara Larsson did a great job telling this story. If you enjoy heavy themes, slow-burn romance, and character-driven narratives, this one is worth picking up—just make sure you’re in the right headspace before starting.

Thank you so much to the publisher and Sara Larsson for the opportunity to read an e-ARC of Every Beat After via NetGalley.

[Carolina Colleene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Language: PG (1 swear, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG
Olivia spent half of her senior year of high school hospitalized, waiting for someone else to die so that she could have a heart transplant. Seven years later, Olivia (25yo) enjoys her job with the family business and spends quality time with her friends, but Olivia is scared that she won’t find her person before her shortened lifespan ends. Then Hunter (28yo) moves in next door, and Olivia admits a new fear—what if she does?
A misunderstanding between the main characters is blown way out of proportion, giving the book an eyerolling beginning, though it is tolerable due to the characters’ backstories. I enjoyed watching Olivia and Hunter break down their walls and help each other to grow despite the pain caused by their heartbreaking experiences with life and death. And then my least favorite “heart transplant trope” came into play, which I didn’t think was going to be an issue from the initial description of the book. It was written as a big reveal, so I won’t say which one it is, but I wasn’t thrilled about it. However, while it includes tropes I don’t love, Larson wrote the story well, and I enjoyed the characters and their book overall—eyerolls and loud complaints to empty rooms notwithstanding.
Olivia has Swedish heritage, Talia is implied Hispanic, and Hunter is described as “tan.” The mature content rating is for mentions of drugs and alcohol, kissing, partial nudity, and innuendo. The violence rating is for medical emergencies and discussions of death.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/

[☆Laura☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olivia sobrevivió a algo que no muchos pueden contar, un trasplante de corazón que le dio una segunda oportunidad, pero también un miedo constante a encariñarse y a planear demasiado su futuro. Ella trabaja en una panadería familiar y vive con la sensación de que su vida está en pausa, hasta que aparece Hunter, un hombre cargando sus propias heridas y un pasado que todavía duele, su llegada lo desordena todo porque la hace sentir cosas que juró evitar, ahora ella tiene que decidir si vale la pena arriesgarse a amar cuando no sabe cuánto tiempo le queda y cuando abrir su corazón significa enfrentarse a la culpa, al miedo y a la posibilidad de perderlo todo otra vez.


___


Fue un libro difícil para mi porque tengo una opinión bastante firme sobre las personas que conducen borrachos, por lo cual me costo mucho tenerle compasión a Hunter y honestamente creo que se merecía todo lo malo que le paso. Todos aquellos que deciden ponerse al volante sabiendo que no están en condiciones de manejar y que pueden causar muertes, no merecen perdón.

También puedo comprender la reacción de los padres, por más que sea su hijo y lo amen, sus decisiones terminaron matando a su hermana, por lo cual no se les puede reprochar que no lo reciban con los brazos abiertos.

No me malentiendan, el libro es bueno y por eso mi calificación.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read anything by Sara B. Larson before, but the cover and blurb of this novel piqued my interest. If you've ever seen the movie Return to Me, this novel at first feels like a remake of the same story. After just a few chapters, though, I got sucked into Liv and Hunter's story as their personalities and conflicts were their own and not just a makeover. And WOW! this book was so intense and deep, plus the romantic tension is there almost from the very start.
Liv is a heart transplant survivor who is struggling to truly live, and Hunter is her new neighbor, with burdens and secrets of his own. I love how Larson delved into grief, fear, and trauma without things getting to dark; she weaves a beautiful story of hope, forgiveness, love, and healing. Liv and Hunter and their families show deep inspiration into how any life can be lost at any time, but that doesn't need to leave us afraid and bitter. Each moment with those we care about is precious and we can try harder to treasure them. Seriously, this was an incredibly beautiful and inspiring read, and I highly recommend it. Five stars!!!

Triggers: death and grieving, serious health problems, trauma, etc.

I received an advanced ready copy through NetGalley, and all opinions are my own.

[Shauna Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so very good
“Our scars tell the stories of our survival.” What if your life came with an expiration date? Liv had a heart transplant at eighteen. Now years later she struggles knowing that her heart could and will eventually fail again, then she will need another transplant. If that isn’t possible then her life ends. Knowing the sorrow that entails, she hesitates to accept romantic love. Hunter moves next door to Liv. Hunter is angry and combative. That behavior began when an accident left him burned and scarred. Now he wonders if anyone could possibly love him and if he even deserves love. As they are forced to associate, they begin to understand what the other is struggling with. When a life-threatening emergency occurs, both are forced to assess what their fears and what they want as well as deal with an unexpected revelation. This book is so incredibly good sure to touch and entertain you. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy. This is my review and all thoughts are my own.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every Beat After is a sweet romance about an heart transplant patient learning to live and love. There are a lot of emotional scenes that yank on the reader's heartstrings with talk of premature death, death of parents and grandparents, estrangement of family and long held guilt for past mistakes. I personally found the female main character a bit annoying, but it is a charming story with a happy for now ending.

I received a free advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.

[Henri Bonan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book about a young woman who works with her Swedish grandmother in a bakery.and her pathway to true love is such a charming story. Being a child in Sweden myself brought back fun memories of my heritage and family there

[Kerstin Sainsbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of this book. I loved all the Swedish culture in this book and it was lovely story