With Every Heartbeat is one of the many books in Pixelberry's Choices: Stories You Play collection. It was one of the first two books to be launched as part of Pixelberry's VIP program in December 2019 along with Hot Couture. It was released to the general public on January 27, 2021, the second VIP book after Hot Couture to be given a general release.
After the loss of your significant other, Dakota Winchester, you receive a posthumous email with a heartfelt video during your high school graduation. As you watch, you remember how the two of you fell in love, back when you were the new girl.
With Every Heartbeat includes examples of:
- Affectionate Nickname:
- Dakota's parents refer to them as Kody.
- Dakota begins addressing Sage as Teach following the chapter where Sage teaches them to ride a bike.
- The Cameo: The hospital scenes take place at Edenbrook Hospital, so understandably a few Open Heart characters make appearances.
- Dr. Ethan Ramsey appears in Chapter 7. Sage can interview him in a premium scene.
- Dr. Harper Emery appears in Chapter 15.
- Danny Cardinal appears in several chapters, though he is not identified by name.
- Character Customization: Both Sage and Dakota can be customized. Dakota can also be male or female.
- Content Warnings: A warning pops up at the start of the book, saying that it covers serious themes, such as illness and death.
- Death of a Child: Gracie, a little girl introduced in Chapter 2, succumbs to her illness in Chapter 5.
- Disappeared Dad: Sage's father died of cancer prior to the beginning of the story.
- Due to the Dead: In Chapter 16, Dakota receives a posthumous diploma during the students' graduation. The attitude touched both the students, Dakota's parents and Sage herself as a way of showing respect.
- Foregone Conclusion: From the very beginning, it's pretty clear that Dakota is going to die.
- Happily Adopted: Dakota is adopted, and has a close, loving relationship with their adoptive parents.
- Hello, [Insert Name Here]: Like all Choices protagonists, you can name you character as you wish. Her default name is "Sage Woods".
- How We Got Here: The story opens with Sage at her high school graduation receiving a video message from Dakota apologizing for not being able to be there. She then flashes back to her first meeting with Dakota and spends the rest of the book reliving the story of their relationship.
- No Antagonist: Unlike almost every other Choices story, this one doesn't have a Big Bad. Instead, the focus of the book is on The Topic of Cancer and how it has affected the lives of multiple characters.
- Star-Crossed Lovers: Ultimately, Dakota inevitably dies, making them one of a few love interests in Choices to be deceased, no matter what.
- The Topic of Cancer: The book deals with it extensively.
