Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

Shark Heart: A love story by Emily Habeck

50 reviews

silversparkles50's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Medical trauma, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Blood

Minor: Death of parent and Pregnancy

rover_under's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful 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? Yes

4.5

This book is a much faster read than the page count suggests, owing to its unique style. Some scenes are written as screenplays or diary entries that extend to only one or two sentences per page. I enjoyed the book. It was heartfelt and its allegory toward illness and death felt impactful and was used well. 

I don't know if I have the life experience to evaluate the book in this way, but despite the absurd premise of the book, the subject matter was handled well.

One thing I was confused by is the author's choice to hide Wren and her mother's mutation until late in the book. I initially excused it as being part of the past self that Wren had chosen to leave behind, but Lewis seemed to know all of it, though I can't recall it referenced in the first part of the book when he's going though his metamorphosis. It felt awkward and strange to have not been told since I'd initially thought it was Wren hiding it from the other characters.

Otherwise I think it's a fantastic book with a very engaging style, and I would fully recommend it for anyone who felt comfortable with the subject matter discussed.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Dementia, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Animal death, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Abortion, Miscarriage, Misogyny, and Incest

cc_shelflove's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

”Would you like to be a family?” “Family. I thought it would never happen to me.”

This book was funky! I will definitely be on the lookout for the author’s next release. Wren’s husband is turning into a great white shark. 🦈 What if she can learn to scuba dive, so that she can stay with him forever? 🥺 You will get a lot of weird looks when describing the book you are reading to others, but honestly, it was so emotional and raw! At times I was confused why certain characters were being introduced, but as I kept reading the author revealed how their stories added to the overall plot. If you’re not sure at first, stick with it. This book was so well done. Loved loved loved it!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, and Death of parent

Minor: Abortion and Violence

luverbyrd's review against another edition

emotional inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Minor: Chronic illness, Death, Pregnancy, Abortion, Terminal illness, Physical abuse, and Suicidal thoughts

jacquelynrovene's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

mtripz9's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring sad tense 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

Graphic: Body horror, Animal death, and Suicidal thoughts

booksbeyondthebinary's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-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

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Grief, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Pregnancy and Medical content

Minor: Terminal illness, Body horror, Animal death, and Suicidal thoughts

astoriareader's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

SYNOPSIS:

• Wren & Lewis are in their first (and last) year of marriage.
• The world is the same as ours, except people can inherit genetic mutations where they change from human to animal. Shortly after getting married, Lewis receives a rare diagnosis. He will retain most of his consciousness, memories, and intellect, but his physical body will gradually turn into a great white shark.
• Wren’s mother, Angela, similarly experienced an animal mutation diagnosis, and her story is woven throughout as well.

MY THOUGHTS

• A beautifully written book. It is hard to describe, but it truly is art.
• The writing structure is written different than other books I’ve read, but in a really good way. I thought it was quite clever to include play/scene sections throughout the book.
• Frankly, I am shocked I ended up loving this book. I thought it wouldn’t be for me, but it ended up being one of the most unique, oddly beautiful books I’ve ever read.
• As far out as the book may sound, it is an emotional ride, and it explores being a caretaker, finding peace, transformation, family, love, loss, grief, & how relationships grow and change.
• I am shocked this is Habeck’s debut novel, as it is the best writing I’ve ever read. I was so moved by her writing.
• What an imaginative, unique plot.

TL;DR: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Beautifully written. The book is truly a work of art. Although the plot may sound silly, trust me: you don’t want to miss this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Grief and Medical content

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Animal death, Death, and Pregnancy

gondorgirl's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Death of parent, Grief, and Medical content

Minor: Terminal illness, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Adult/minor relationship, and Pregnancy

ambgs's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

Wow…just wow. I have never read a book in half a day, but I did with this one! I could not put it down. I related to it on a personal level as I feel that it is an allegory for terminal illness and having family with terminal illness. It was so good it made me cry. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness

Moderate: Domestic abuse

Minor: Suicidal thoughts