Another heart wrenching novel from this excellent author. The story was entirely believable and you were cheering for Emery the whole way. When Nick tells her that he normally only meets people once she realises how lucky she is to have met him so many times, even if it is in the worst of circumstances. Heart wrenching and warming, this novel will stay with you for a long time.

Took me a while to get into the storyline, probably because it's not my usual genre.

However I did enjoy it overall and the characters were interesting.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atlantic (Corvus) for this ARC

Meet Me When My Heart Stops begins with 5year old Emery’s heart stopping caused by the pain of standing on a thorn. When she ‘dies’ she is met by Nick who’s role is to help people adjust to being dead before they go on to the next ‘stage’ but Emery’s life is not over and after being resuscitated she is diagnosed with a condition in that her heart can stop with certain situations such as pain or stress.
Through her life every time she arrests she meets Nick, they develop a strong connection and fall in love and at times Emery wishes she’d stay dead to be with him.
An excellent written book with great characters that add much depth, emotion, humour and sadness. Both Emery and Nick are well described and as a reader I found myself really connecting with them.
The journey through Emery’s life is poignant but above all uplifting.
The ending is beautiful, very emotional and one that will stay with me for a long time.
My thanks to netgalley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

I'm grateful to the publisher and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this captivating book. From the first page to the last, I was thoroughly engrossed in the story, unable to put it down. The characters were well-developed, the plot was gripping, and the writing was superb. Overall, I immensely enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to fellow readers. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this wonderful reading experience.

When Emery stubs her toe on the thorn in the garden at the age of five, the shock of it stops her heart. Emery’s medical condition Means that her heart could stop at any sudden shock.
She learns to navigate her life in a Hazard, and sometimes careless way. She doesn’t always respect the fact that she could die.
This is because when she passes into death, she is met by a kind man towards whom she becomes increasingly fond. Each time, she dies, she is resuscitated and continues her life.
Around her, the impact of her situation and her family is monumental. Every day is a day when Emery may die and this is very hard for her family to deal with.
This is a beautiful story of love, life , hope, and family. I really enjoyed it.
Thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book ahead of publication and exchange for an honest review.

It was such a fascinating premise, completely original - or, at least it's original to me, I admit I haven't' read every single book premise in the world. But it's such a simple premise. Sometimes this can be the downfall of a book because it's not interesting enough. But executed properly, like this one is, it can be perfect, and that is how I would describe this story.

Very rarely do I have the pleasure of reading such an original book, a book so all-consuming that I quite literally was unable to put it down.
I felt like there was nothing else but this story surrounding me, and truthfully, I didn’t want anything else surrounding me. I could not stop reading this book, I needed to see it.
To feel it.
To be in it.

The characters feel real and solid, and if you wanted to, you could reach out and touch them. Their love and laughter are equally as real as the hardships and fights they face. Although the heart condition may be made up, the feelings, emotions, and life experiences are anything but.

I felt both tucked in and called out in this book. I could recognise so much of the inner monologues, thought processes, and emotions, not only within myself but also in friends and family. It was a comfort to be seen as a reader, as well as it giving way to a bit of a reality check and cause for a fire to be spurred on, of wanting to do something, anything, to get out of the uncertainty of the future and the rut of life.

This book has made itself comfortable in my heart, not intending to move anytime soon. Much like I will be carrying this story and characters with me, I feel as though I’ve left a part of myself in the book. Ready to greet me like an old friend, holding that part of me safe and sound until next time.

Thank you NetGalley for sharing this amazing book’s ARC with me.

This was an interesting romance from Becky Hunter and my first introduction to her writing. Emery has a peculiar heart defect only uncovered when she was stung on the foot by a bee as a small child. Much to her parent’s horror there is no knowing what might cause Emery to collapse again, but shock, pain, stress and exertion are all factors. How do you stop a small child from exploring their world? Emery’s parents choose two different ways. Dad is hyper-vigilant keeping Emery away from anything that he assesses as too dangerous, but as he becomes increasingly risk averse his wife is pulling away from the family, unable to cope with the uncertainty and restriction. Eventually she leaves. Emery also chafes against the restrictions the older she gets. Teenagers need freedom and she is no different. The author structures her story around each time Emery almost loses her life and we’re brought up to date with her life and how far she’s come since her last experience. We are also taken into Emery’s afterlife where she has someone waiting to meet her. His name is Nick and he talks to her while she waits to see what happens next, her doorman to the hereafter. More often than not she is suddenly pulled back into life as suddenly as she’s left it.

However, as she gets older she begins to notice that Nick is rather easy on the eye. They have a friendship, but it’s more than that. They have a connection, one that she’s never had with anyone in life. I was in two minds about how I felt because although it sounds romantic to pine for this man in the great beyond, he isn’t going to be a lot of help when you’ve had a rough day and need a foot rub or a shoulder to cry on. Surely this vivacious and courageous girl should have someone who’s here for her in life? Nick can only ever be there for her in death. I feared that her growing connection with him might stunt her ability to grow real life relationships. Could any real person ever match up to him? As Emery starts to look forward to those times between life and death, I really worried that when life got really hard might she choose Nick?

The relationships between Emery and the people in her life were the most interesting part to me, more than the romance aspect. I could see that Emery’s illness was like a small droplet of water in a still pond. As it’s rings of influence rippled outwards we could see what it was doing to her parents, siblings and friends, even to potential lovers. I hoped that Becky Hunter would take Emery’s tale more towards these living people who loved her and while I won’t reveal the end, I will say I found it moving and bittersweet.

Emery is born with a heart condition that means her heart could quite literally stop at any moment. If she receives treatment quick enough her heart will restart with no lasting damage but, each time this happens, she is briefly technically dead. And in that time of limbo, she meets Nick. Nick’s role is to help people adjust to the fact they are dead and to help them say goodbye before they move on. Emery is the first person he has met more than once and they both find an instant connection. But how can you spend your life longing for the moments whilst death lingers, just for fleeting moments together? What if your soulmate could only ever be the love of your afterlife?

This is another book that I just couldn’t put down, I devoured it in 24 hours, it was just such a beautiful read that enthralled me from the very beginning. The concept is very unique and all of the characters likeable - just a warning that you will need tissues! I loved how the story spanned Emery’s lifetime, stages marked with prominence, just as your own life, your own family and friends would be, giving even more relatability. The idea that someone is waiting for you to guide you through that final step is an interesting one and, although am sure people will have different beliefs, the premise in this title does exactly what it promises to, fully exploring the possibility of a soulmate in the afterlife.

The writing style is one that captivates you, embraces you like a warm hug, giving you all the details like a friend would, giving that instant character connection that never falters. A subject that when explained could sound a little depressing has been executed perfectly to give the exact opposite approach, creating a story that promises to warm even the coldest of hearts.

I haven’t as yet read One Moment, this authors debut title but I can guarantee I will be doing so asap. This is a book that will stay with me and I would recommend to all, look forward to reading more by this author.

I loved reading One Moment last year, so I was really excited to see that Becky Hunter has released a second novel. The concept of Meet Me When My Heart Stops is unusual, so it did take me some time to fully embrace it, but once I did, I really enjoyed the emotional ride on which the characters took us. It is this aspect of the novel where Becky Hunter excels. She captures the feelings of all her characters perfectly and always makes sure we feel them too.

We first meet our protagonist, Emery, when she is five years old and follow her at various points in her life as she manages a serious medical condition.
This was a really effective technique as it helped me to see how her relationships with both Nick and the people around her in her every day life grew and changed. I found it surprisingly easy to connect with Emery and I loved her determination to live her life to the full, but sympathised with her worries about what the future would hold for her. Her medical condition is rare and is actually fictitious, but nevertheless I found myself stopping to think about how I would react in Emery's situation.

The supporting characters are also really strong and they and their stories also have an emotional pull on the reader. I loved the way they bounced off each other and spending time with them felt as though I was with my own friends and family.

I'm not ashamed to admit that there were parts of this novel that made me cry and I will be thinking about these characters long after I finished reading, and I am excited to see what Becky Hunter does next!

It's not dramatic to say that Becky's previous book - One Moment - helped save my life. I read it during a very dark time, and it really helped lift me out of the fog, and so promised there and then that I would read everything she wrote. But there is always a worry that the second book won't live up to the first. But I needn't have worried.

I thought at first it was narrated by death, but it's more complex than that, with multiple layers running through it. I won't spoil it by confirming or denying this theory, but hopefully you'll see what I mean. But the way she's written it is great as we get to learn how Emery's condition affects everyone she encounters.

It was such a fascinating premise, completely original - or, at least it's original to me, I admit I haven't' read every single book premise in the world. But it's such a simple premise. Sometimes this can be the downfall of a book because it's not interesting enough. But executed properly, like this one is, it can be perfect, and that is how I would describe this story.

What I love about both of Becky's books is this exploration of the afterlife. Of course we can't know the truth until we get there ourselves and then it's too late to tell anyone. But I'm sure everyone has their own imagination when it comes to what's next, whatever your beliefs. But Becky has taken this idea of the unknown and run with it, and I found both books very comforting.

It's such a tender book. But it's also conflicting. Emery's parents are so cautious about her, which makes sense given the circumstances. Her Mum wants her to live her life, but her Dad is wary and frightened. But all of this means her life is never really her own. And it really gives you food for thought. Because you'd do anything to keep your child safe, no matter their age, but is wrapping them in bubble wrap and stopping them from living, really keeping them safe, or is it just another form of death?

Like Emery, I fell in love. With an idea o thinking, with a want to live your life without being held a prisoner by your health. I feel in love with a want, a desire, a passion. And with a man. But it's more about that that man represents I think, rather than him as a person. He was beautiful in many ways and I hope you think the same.

Becky's books are unbelievably touching. She has this power that she weaves through her words that...it's hard to explain, and definitely impossible to explain without sounding corny, but they're life changing. This idea of mortality, and life and death, and limbo, and strength and weakness. They're not just books for entertainment, although they are that; they have the power to create a sense of love and loss and passion and wonder an curiosity that I've rarely seen.

I have concluded that if she continues down this vein of story, they will always make me cry. And we're not talking a cute tear that falls down my cheek every so often. We're talking big, loud, breath-taking ugly sobs.

I'm sure it wasn't necessarily the aim she had when writing it, but it almost took away the fear of dying. Personally, I'm not scared of death, but I am scared of the act of dying. And whilst I am aware this is a fictional book and so make-believe (we assume), I think it has really tackled some very big topics, and ends up being so powerful, but like a gentle power, a quiet power, that just takes your hand and roars.

The way Becky writes, the characters, the story, the sentence structure, the word choices, the emotions she's woven into it, the meanings - it makes its way into your heart, into your very soul, and it sits there. It could potentially have been a downer of a story, but it's anything but. It is really life affirming and positive and hopeful and, bizarrely, joyful.

I've done my best to describe this book, to explain what it's like to read. But even though I earn my living through words, I don't have the right ones for this. It's a feeling, it's a beauty. It's something you need to sit with yourself and absorb. Everyone will get something completely different out of it frrom everyone else. And that's what makes it pretty bloody special. Once again, I think Becky will end up on my best books of the year roundup at the end of 2024.

The story of 2 people who are destined not to be together!
A tragic story, with Emery grow older and who meets someone special when her heart stops. But throughout the whole there is someone who always has her back - so there are 2 love stories to be revealed and she has a very 'special' life throughout with a guardian angel - but who is he?

This book is such an original concept I really couldn't predict at the start how it was going to play out and I really enjoyed that. There was a really logical way that Emery was able to experience what nobody else can, her medical condition is explained throughout the decades that her life and medical care progresses. I could really relate to Emery and all her ups and downs as she goes through life with a serious heart condition that constantly has very real repercussions for her and her relationships. However, as she starts to realise, the positions that each time she gets to see Nick, who becomes the one person Emery feels truly accepted and understood by, but Nicks own past and secrets becomes a source of intrigue and possible danger. The fated romance was my favourite throughout this book as was the beautiful relationship between Emery and her sister Amber. It becomes a story of hope, the importance of authenticity, and living with no regrets. A beautiful story.

To be together would be the end of a life. Emery & Nick, fated to meet only when Emery's heart stops - which is caused by a rare condition. Each time Emery is brought back to life she mourns the loss of Nick, her guide in the inbetween times when her heart stops. Can these two ever be together properly? A romance unlike any other.

"I don't know what to say. Usually, when I see someone, it is unequivocally the end. But with her, I get the sense that it's all only just beginning."

A story of life, death and love told through a unique spin on the classic fated lovers trope - Meet Me When My Heart stops is one of those stories that strikes a delicate balance between authentic, harsh reality and subtle magic to create something quite surreal and impactful.

We watch Emery grow from a frightened child, to a rebellious teenager into a fully grown woman and it’s hard not to care for her as we watch her live every day with the unknown hanging over her head, and this strange mystery following her closely behind. The whole story is narrated in a highly personal way, letting the reader into her thoughts and showing us such strong emotions with her happiest moments and worst pain and everything in between but from a unique perspective of her watchful onlooker, letting us join him and giving the reader that feeling of us protecting and looking over her too.

For me, it read a little too slow for me to fully become invested, at times felt just a little too unexplained, and perhaps I may just not have a taste for the “bittersweet” love stories anymore but I think many readers will fall in love with this bittersweet book.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Corvus /Atlantic Books for the opportunity to read Arc of this incredible book on Netgalley , I read this at the weekend and 2 days later I am still thinking about it, if you loved the authors previously book One Moment then you are going to love this book like I did and will be still thinking about it days later like I am.

Wow Wow Wow what a book and what an outstanding story I didn't think the author could top her Previous Debut Book One Moment but she has with this book, what an outstanding story which will make you think if you were in Emery' Shoes what would you do.

I loved all the characters in this book especially the best friend and family

This book will pull on your heart stings but will also make you laugh

make sure you have lots of tissues ready when you read it

Meet Me When My Heart Stops by Becky Hunter is quite unlike anything I have read before, she has such a wonderful imagination and she pours this into this endearing storyline.

The storyline is centred around the life of Emery who we first meet when she is only five years old, we quickly learn that she has a heart condition that causes her heart to stop meaning that for a short time she dies. But each time she dies she meets Nick who is there to help her come to terms with her passing however this is a first for him too as he has not had anyone return before.

As we follow Emery through her life and the continuous deaths we see how she lives a somewhat double life not allowing herself to fully embrace life but also having this pull to see Nick again.

This is an unrealistic storyline and yet it was such a beautiful one that actually really touched my heart and Emery pulled me into this storyline and didn’t let me go until she had really pulled at my heart strings. There were some really tender moments especially at the end of this book and I was choked.

The unlikely romance is at the core of the storyline but we also explore friendships and life challenges too, it was poignant and very honest to see the effect of Emery’s illness on her family dynamics as well as seeing how it altered decisions that Emery made along the way never quite letting herself live a fulfilling life when really she was protecting those around her.

It shows you that you never know how long you have in life, you could be the healthiest person and suddenly lose your life young or you could be living with ill health and live a long life so the only thing to do is live life to the fullest and make each day count like it is your last.

This was a unique and emotive read that I highly recommend, I quite honestly couldn’t put the book down.

This again was another great read by this author. I was very conflicted at first about the main character and if I liked her or not, I found her to be difficult, cold and selfish person, and I guess that is just great writing if you get conflicted feelings, and then I would be agreeing with her etc so yeah conflicted feelings. I was also constantly going what would I do in Emery’s place and it was difficult lol overall it was a great read, nice to read something different.

This is a sweet , heartwarming and sentimental read. Highly recommend to pick up.. Thank you Net Galley

This book introduces us to Emery who has a heart condition which means her heart stops when she experiences excitement, shock or pain. She dies for the first time when she is five but as her heart is restarted she comes back to life. As the novel progresses Emery’s heart stops on a few more occasions and when this happens she meets Nick who is her guide to the next world.

Nick and Emery form a strong connection but are destined to be apart belonging to different worlds. Emery longs for more time with Nick but being together for more than a few moments would mean the end of her life. Will Emery sacrifice her life to try and remain together or will she accept that they can never have a long term relationship that was the burning question I asked myself throughout the book.

I loved how we travelled along Emery’s life journey with her. The long term effects of a life threatening condition so well explored and how it not only impacts the sufferer but also the family and friends. This novel pulled at my heartstrings .I felt like I knew Emery personally and was cheering her on to find her well deserved happy ending.

I will remember this unique story for a long time ; a beautifully written bittersweet book, one I would definitely recommend.