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wormlibrary's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I am unwell.
There was a publisher’s note at the beginning of this, stating that it made them bawl and to trust it even though the premise of “man turns into great white shark” is unusual.
Now, I personally don’t need persuading to read a book about a man who turns into a shark but I wondered how exactly it would make one cry and then it promptly broke my heart into a million pieces.
This was so well written, witty and funny in the way that makes you snort and then burst into tears. I had to put my kindle down repeatedly because my soul was being ripped apart by Lewis. Or Wren. Or her mom. Or the woman pregnant with birds.
I adore magical realism but I’ve never been taken through the full range of human emotion by it like Shark Heart has done. The hopefulness permeating this story was intoxicating. The play sections gave it a sort of lightness that I really enjoyed. Watching everything come together to deliver this, at the same time heart wrenching and heartening story was so fun and sad and tragic and hopeful and wonderful.
I can’t do this book justice in my review. Just know it’s a beautiful exploration of what it means to be human and that I can’t recommend it enough.
Thank you to Quercus and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Pregnancy
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