The Beat of a Heart

by B.E. Rel

Madison’s senior year should’ve been about prom, finals, and dreams for the future. Instead, she’s battling depression, finding fleeting comfort in her songwriting notebook. Until a cruel prank pushes her to the edge.
Meanwhile, Chance Hill, the popular boy she secretly admires, lives in a world of effortless charm and privilege. But as their paths drift apart after high school, life doesn’t go as planned for either of them.
Through heartbreak, healing, and hard-earned growth, a second chance finds its way back to them: One on the stage, and one at the heart of something deeper. When fate brings them face to face again, they'll have to decide whether the past defines them … or if redemption and love are still possible.
A raw, emotional journey about resilience, forgiveness, and the unexpected ways we find our voice.

Paperback

About the author

Hey! I'm a lifelong fan of storytelling. I've been writing for years and still get excited every time a new idea comes to life on the page. Creating characters, building worlds, and exploring emotions through fiction is something I never get tired of.

Reading has always been a huge part of my life too. I especially love the classics - Les Misérables holds a permanent spot at the top of my list. There's something incredible about being pulled into another world and seeing life through someone else's eyes.

When I’m not reading or writing, I’m usually outside. I love being in nature, staying active, and snowboarding whenever I get the chance. Exercise clears my head and often inspires new creative sparks.

Thanks for checking out my page - always happy to connect with fellow book lovers.

P.S. Want a sneak peek at what i’m writing?
I'm sharing daily readings from my works in progress over on YouTube and TikTok - little bits of story, fresh from the writing desk ✍️📚

Come hang out, hear what i’ve been working on, and maybe even fall in love with a character or two 🖤

🎥 find me here:

https://www.youtube.com/@Relvibes1

&

https://www.tiktok.com/@b.e.rel

Reviews

[esme mae (taylor's version)]

i feel bad that i'm having to dnf this book, especially as the author was kind enough to reach out and ask me to read the book and sent it to me, but i am honestly having such a hard time to connect with this book. i am definitely in a reading slump and being so picky with my reads, so maybe i might pick it up when im hopefully out of it soon, but for now i just can't find it in me to read this book. it was mainly something to with the writing, i just really didn't click with the writing style and it did feel like an older man trying to write as a young girl, and didn't feel like i was just reading her actual perspective. so yeah...unfortunatley having to dnf...

[Sinny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is very different from what I normally read. Part 1 of this story really pulled at my heartstrings and had me crying several times. I really felt for Madison and what she was going through.

I struggeled a bit more with part 2. I didn’t really like Chance and the choices he made in the start, but I enjoyed Madisons journey and her coming more out of her shell. I often struggle to connect properly with characters if there’s jumps in timeline, and this story jumps weeks and months at times. It makes sense because it’s a journey of personal growth and discovery, that doesn’t happen overnight. It did make me confused somewhat about how much time actually passed.

Part 3 I enjoyed more again. Loved the ending and would have loved to see more of Madison and Chance getting to know eachother.

Some of the conversations in the book felt a bit one sided and unnatural. Maybe some of the spoken parts could have been told in another way then direct speech to make it seem less like someone having a monologue.

Overall a beautiful story with some heavy themes around depression, suicude, bullying and substance abuse. I did end up liking Chance in the end even though I found him disgusting in the start. Shows how much a person can grow and change from teenager to adulthood.

[B.E. Rel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is my favorite so far. It’s incredibly deep and surprisingly relatable. It follows a girl’s struggles as she grows up and tries to figure out who she really is, alongside a boy’s journey toward humility and self-understanding. What I loved most is that they can only truly find each other after they’ve found themselves, which makes the story feel meaningful and powerful.

[Dez -Enemies 2 book besties · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC read finished, and my heart feels tender! I blind read, so I didn't know what exactly I was jumping into, I don't usually read the synopsis. I knew from the cover it was probably gonna give me the feels, but I didn't expect to be so captivated and engaged in a real-world normal life romance. my go-to is definitely more of the fantasy and dark romantasy and paranormal. This story could very very definitely be based on true events. I feel like I knew the fmc personally because parts of her are me. Same with the mmc.

This is a real-life enemies to lovers and soul mates, but romance is the back story. It's a story about self-love and finding yourself from both sides of the track.
It gives A Walk To Remember, mixed with Mean Girls, mixed with She's All That, mixed with Eat Love Prey vibes. The story follows the FMC and MMC individually flip flopping chapters and following their life as they go from knowing each in high school to crossing paths as adults with a surprising twist I did not see coming! I love that, not very often I can not guess the twist.
4🌟 read for me and 0.5🌶 it's almost closed door, but not quite.
This might be a 5 star read, but I didn't like the chapter and parenthetical format of the writing. The chapters should be labeled with the characters names because you didn't always instantly know which perspective you were reading since they weren't back and forth sometimes it was 3 chapters in a row of her followed by 1 of him then 3 or 4 more of her then 2 of him, made the flow a little jaunty and each chapter being 2 pages long also made it feel a little clipped.
Formatting aside, the story was beautifully real and empowering, and I think it will be someone else's 5 🌟 easily. I definitely recommend it. I will definitely be adding a physical copy to my book trophy shelf, adding it to my wish list now! ☺️

[K Blue · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Beat of a Heart weaves together two parallel storylines that powerfully intersect. On one path is Madison - isolated, grieving, and carrying a depth of sorrow that pushes her toward the edge. On the other is Chase - confident, popular, and seemingly set up for success with college and a promising future already within reach.

Although Madison and Chase attend the same school and are the same age, their lives couldn’t be more different. Chase moves through the world with ease: good looks, wealth, and social status open every door. Madison, meanwhile, is reeling from the loss of her father. With an absent mother, a younger brother to care for, and a grandmother doing her best to hold the family together, Madison’s sense of self-worth crumbles.

The novel captures the all-too-familiar cruelty of high school dynamics. Courtney - the archetypal popular cheerleader and Chase’s girlfriend - targets Madison, turning school into a daily struggle for her. Chase, aware of the bullying yet unwilling to stand against it, gets pulled into Courtney’s schemes. I’ll admit, I struggled to like him at this stage.

But people grow. Life reshapes them.

After graduation, Chase heads off to college while Madison finds work as a café server. Time and experience begin to soften their rough edges. We watch them evolve - becoming wiser, kinder, and stronger. And just when it seems their paths are diverging for good, fate nudges them back toward each other.

I loved witnessing their development. I felt anger at Chase’s early cruelty, sadness for Madison’s loneliness, frustration when she fixated on the negative despite the good around her, and pride when she finally stood tall and pursued her dreams.

Normally, I’m not a fan of very short chapters, but the alternating viewpoints between Madison and Chase work well here. They give us a front-row seat to their transformation - Madison blossoming, and Chase becoming someone genuinely worth rooting for.

[Books & Cats · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not expect this book to hit me as hard as it did. The Beat of a Heart is the kind of story that quietly slips under your skin and stays there long after you finish reading.
What I loved most was how human it felt. Madison and Chance come from completely different worlds, yet both carry loneliness in ways that felt painfully real. One feels invisible, the other feels trapped by expectations, and watching their journeys slowly unfold felt emotional, honest, and incredibly relatable.
This book does not rely on dramatic twists or forced romance. Its strength is in the emotions, the quiet moments, the grief, the vulnerability, and the way it explores self worth so gently. There were so many lines that made me stop and think.
If you have ever questioned your value, felt out of place, or struggled to believe you were enough, this story will probably speak to you in a very personal way.
Tender, emotional, and deeply comforting. Definitely a book that will stay with me. ✨

[The Returning Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was asked by the author if I would read and review this book. This isn't one of my usual genres to read but I'm so glad I accepted.

This book focuses on two main characters, Madison and Chance. The story follows them all they way from High School to Adulthood. The character development for both Madison and Chance is amazing, I found myself relating to Madison so much and the changes she goes through after life's many set back. I even felt anger when she started making decisions that I knew weren't good for her. I was so happy with the choices the author made for Chance's character and the great epiphany he experienced in his life.

This story is emotional, happy and sad, and perfectly paced. It will definitely bring a tear to your eyes and a smile to your face.

This book is well worth your time and is an enjoyable emotional journey.

[Jazmín · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ A sanctuary for those who have ever felt invisible. ✨

My Honest review

If you’re looking for a read that feels like a hug for the soul, The Beat of a Heart by B.E. Rel is that story. It’s a tender, emotional, and, above all, deeply human novel. ❤️🩹

What makes this book special:

The Sensitivity: It touches on themes like loneliness and insecurity in such a delicate way that it’s impossible not to feel seen.

The Message: It’s a reminder that even if you feel "not enough" or misunderstood, your worth is immense.

The Prose: It feels just like the colors on its cover: a blend of calm (like the sea) and passion (like that vibrant sun). 🌊☀️

Ideal for a moment of introspection, paired with a good acoustic playlist. 🎶

[Cheyenne Suggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read and one I would definitely recommend, especially for anyone who values mental health and personal growth. The story shifts between two characters who are both struggling with difficult home lives. As they grow older, they begin to heal, learn to set boundaries, and create their own peace.

I really loved how the book highlights the importance of protecting your mental well being. It’s an emotional and meaningful story about growth and becoming something better than what you came from. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Chantelle Hodgkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woah, woah and woah😂 typically I don’t read these kind of books I read a lot of thrillers but I was very honoured to be sent this book and from the first read I was hooked, read over 100 pages in the first read and finished it within 24hours it was that catchy and incredible!! If you need to cry, this is the book. I definitely got emotional about 10 times but so so worth it! It will 100% have you feeling a lot of emotions but sometimes you just need a good emotional book and I recommend this book so so much!

[Destin Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for sending me an EPUB copy of this book. I don’t typically read stories like this, but I’m glad I gave it a chance. This was a raw and emotional read that touches on mental health in a very real and relatable way through both characters. It has its heavier moments, but overall it’s easy to read and connect with. I also really enjoyed seeing the character growth throughout the story as it added a nice layer to their journey and made the progression feel meaningful. Overall, a good and engaging read that left a positive impression on me.

[Katina Sites · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

This is an emotional journey of self-discovery, personal growth and forgiveness related to two characters who come from significantly different backgrounds but encounter some of the same mental health experiences. My favorite quote in this book is, "Because some of the brightest things in this world come from the darkest places." So true! I did have a difficult time connecting with the characters at times but overall enjoyed the book.

[ladyintrovert21 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, this book feels very real in terms of emotions. It’s easy to read and not complicated.

I liked how the characters actually grow over time, especially the male lead. You can see the change, even if it’s slow.

If you like stories that feel personal and emotional, you’ll likely connect with it.

[Sabelle C · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars ⭐️
Very real and relatable
You can definitely feel yourself seeing these characters in the real world.
Character development was definitely there with lots of complications along the way
Beautiful HEA

[Sameer Khan Brohi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poignant, heartfelt and sincerely written. Slow burn yet great one!

[Elizabeth 98 Vazquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally Enjoy This Emotional Rollercoaster Read! Loved all the small part of the book I could relate mostly with the (male main character on how he visions life)