Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

Shark Heart: A Love Story by Emily Habeck

32 reviews

kase1190's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

dcoul's review against another edition

emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

Minor: Abortion

cait's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Body horror, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Self harm, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

alexisgarcia's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

this was interesting… it was like the straight version of our wives under the sea 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Blood, Medical content, and Grief

dixiecarroll's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't to cry over a great white shark being lonely in the ocean. This was ultimately a portrait of grief and felt very much like a fever dream coping mechanism for someone who has experienced great and traumatic loss. This is a fast read - extremely easy to binge read in one sitting, but it is of the "weird" variety - duh. I recommend picking this up if you need to escape the reality of your own grief (or if you want to have a wild experience). 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Terminal illness, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

prestonpre's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Terminal illness, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Confinement and Blood

Minor: Body horror

campredwood's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I don’t know if I give this five stars or none. An utter train wreck, but in an endearing way? Kind of terrible but unstoppable and I could not divert my attention until it was done. 

Sometimes books have a cool premise and turn out so lame. This one is such a silly and unhinged concept and I grew very emotionally attached to the characters and their stories. I have so many feelings about this book and none of them are concise. 

Highly recommend if you like Vonnegut-ish dry humor and fucked up dates with heartwarming impact. 

**READ IT IN PRINT, I beg of you, the audiobook narration is unbearable, unless you’re stoned and laugh uncontrollably about how ridiculous that is, too**

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Grief, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Cancer and Terminal illness

Minor: Domestic abuse and Pandemic/Epidemic

Not actually cancer or terminal illness, but in a (magical realism/dystopian lite) modern day word where genetic mutation to turn into a wild animal is a known medical condition with specialists and treatment plans and family support groups.

carlyjb16's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, and Alcohol

Moderate: Animal death and Blood

Minor: Abortion and Pregnancy

laura_berger's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness and Grief

Moderate: Domestic abuse

Minor: Alcoholism, Drug use, and Pregnancy

eviemayhem's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I chose this as my Book of the Month, unsure if I would like it. As someone who has both lost a child and has a turbulent relationship with my mother, the premise spoke to me and I'm so glad I gave it a chance. The book is beautifully written; lyrical and flowing like a river. It is hard to believe this is the author's first book. There were so many points where I wanted to cry, and at times I didn't want to finish because my heart was breaking for Lewis and Wren. As someone who lives with a chronic disease, it is easy to see the story fold out from both sides: Someone living with a disease that is changing them at their core and that they can't stop, and the person giving up themselves to take care of a loved one. 

Bring a box of tissues.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Confinement, Terminal illness, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

I tried to get the content tags right, but some of these things are so nuanced, that medical trauma, medical content seemed the closest I could find.