Every Borrowed Beat

A 17-year-old girl receives a life-changing heart transplant--and uncovers the truth about her donor all while falling in love in a novel that's "alternately heart-wrenching and heartwarming" (Kirkus). A touching read for anyone seeking a story filled with hope and emotional depth.

What if the heart that saved your life also held the secrets of another's?

* "With its perfect blend of chronic illness representation, mental health exploration, and romance, this is sure to appeal to fans of books like John Green's The Fault in Our Stars . . . a standout addition to the genre."--SLJ, starred review

Sydney Wells should have died. She was supposed to die.

She never expected, after years of waiting, to receive a heart transplant. Now, seventeen-year-old Sydney doesn't know what to do with her life. Her daily routine consisted of staying indoors, eating heart-healthy foods, and posting about her transplant list experiences on TheWaitingList with her long-distance BFF (and heart failure buddy) Chloe.

Now, Sydney latches onto the one thing that gives her meaning: learning as much as she can about the person whose heart she inherited. After finding the family of her likely-donor, Mia, Sydney falls deep into her world--and may also be falling for Mia's best friend, Clayton.

But Sydney isn't the only one hiding something. Mia's brother Tanner won't talk to Clayton, and Clayton won't tell Sydney why. And hundreds of miles away, Chloe's health has taken a turn for the worse. Sydney needs to face what's in her heart--the truth, the guilt, and the future--before it's too late.

Author: Erin Stewart
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Published: 03/11/2025
Pages: 352
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.90lbs
Size: 8.40h x 5.60w x 1.30d
ISBN: 9780593710661
Audience: Young Adult


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 01/15/2025
Booklist 02/01/2025 pg. 73
School Library Journal 03/01/2025 pg. 88
Publishers Weekly 03/10/2025

About the Author
Erin Stewart grew up in Virginia and now makes her home in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains with her husband and their three children. Erin loves using her background in journalism to research and write fiction based on real life. A heart failure survivor and adoptive mother, she believes life throws plot twists and people in our path for a reason-always. She is the author of the acclaimed YA novels Scars Like Wings and The Words We Keep.