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gpfot's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Terminal illness, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Pregnancy, Medical content, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Mental illness
stefcornell's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
4.25
The way this book is written is intriguing and entertaining. For folks that have been a caretaker for a family member with an illness, this book is heart wrenching. While the illnesses portrayed in the book aren't your typical ones, they feel reminiscent of real illnesses.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death of parent, Grief, Terminal illness, Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Medical content, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, and Suicide attempt
leahgustafson's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
When I first heard about this one, I thought it sounded absolutely bizarre. However, as more and more people enjoyed it, I naturally became curious. While it absolutely sounds very weird, this book is a creative way to explore some really difficult and complex situations.
•
This book is organized into three parts, and to be honest, I’m not sure how I feel about the structure. The first part about Lewis and Wren was interesting, and I found their navigation of challenges as a newly married couple to be relatable. I appreciate how, as different people, they both approached and processed the situation differently. There is also good discussion/character reflection around the expectations or “picture” of one’s life not matching reality.
•
Part Two threw me off a little bit. I felt very engaged in the story of Wren’s childhood and how it shaped her in the present. However some things felt disjointed and didn’t seem to flow nicely together.
•
The ending of this story felt a little forced to me—like it was trying to tie everything up into a bow. I won’t go into detail because I don’t want to include spoilers, but I was left questioning how some things added up or the purpose of other characters/events in the story.
•
All in all, this book explores some big life questions such as—How can we continue to find meaning, joy, and purpose in an imperfect and uncertain life? Because of the world the characters live in, these questions are more accessible for readers to explore. However, this book didn’t flow as nicely for me, and there are some details I still have questions about.
•
Check out what I'm reading next on Instagram @LeahsLitReview!
•
This book is organized into three parts, and to be honest, I’m not sure how I feel about the structure. The first part about Lewis and Wren was interesting, and I found their navigation of challenges as a newly married couple to be relatable. I appreciate how, as different people, they both approached and processed the situation differently. There is also good discussion/character reflection around the expectations or “picture” of one’s life not matching reality.
•
Part Two threw me off a little bit. I felt very engaged in the story of Wren’s childhood and how it shaped her in the present. However some things felt disjointed and didn’t seem to flow nicely together.
•
The ending of this story felt a little forced to me—like it was trying to tie everything up into a bow. I won’t go into detail because I don’t want to include spoilers, but I was left questioning how some things added up or the purpose of other characters/events in the story.
•
All in all, this book explores some big life questions such as—How can we continue to find meaning, joy, and purpose in an imperfect and uncertain life? Because of the world the characters live in, these questions are more accessible for readers to explore. However, this book didn’t flow as nicely for me, and there are some details I still have questions about.
•
Check out what I'm reading next on Instagram @LeahsLitReview!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Terminal illness
poisonlizzie's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
4.25
As much as I loved the sparse style of this I wish there was just a little bit more.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
karina_dreamsinwords's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Every now and then a book comes along that ends up surprising me with how much I absolutely adored it. This strange little novel has managed to burrow itself into my heart with its beautiful prose and introspective nature.
Shark Heart follows newlyweds Wren and Lewis as they navigate life after Lewis’ life altering diagnosis where he turns into a great white shark over the course of nine months.
I KNOW what you’re thinking, because I thought it too before picking this up. “Why would I want to read a book like that?” Well my friend, that’s because this is more than just that.. it’s a tale of marriage, motherhood, metamorphosis & letting go.
We see Wren care for Lewis is ways that display true love, as she has to learn to care for him during his transition. The love between the two never falters and watching Wren do everything she can for the love of her life was beautiful, heart wrenching, yet inspirational at the same time.
Shark Heart follows newlyweds Wren and Lewis as they navigate life after Lewis’ life altering diagnosis where he turns into a great white shark over the course of nine months.
I KNOW what you’re thinking, because I thought it too before picking this up. “Why would I want to read a book like that?” Well my friend, that’s because this is more than just that.. it’s a tale of marriage, motherhood, metamorphosis & letting go.
We see Wren care for Lewis is ways that display true love, as she has to learn to care for him during his transition. The love between the two never falters and watching Wren do everything she can for the love of her life was beautiful, heart wrenching, yet inspirational at the same time.
”The surface of love was a feeling, but beyond this thin layer, there was a fathomless, winding maze of caverns offering many places to see and explore. Wren used to think romantic passion only grew more intense in the depths. But this belief was naive and impractical, a by-product of a certainty-obsessed culture that equates love with longing and views ambivalence as a fatal flaw.
Wren saw that now how passion was delicate and temporary, a visitor, a feeling that would come and go. Feelings fled under pressure; feelings did not light the darkness. What remained strong in the deep, the hard times, was love as an effort, a doing, a conscious act of will. Soulmates, like her and Lewis, were not theoretical and found. They were tangible, built.”
I had to share the whole scene to showcase the absolute beauty that Habeck brings forth through these pages. This story. These characters.
The author managed to weave together this story so beautifully. I am in awe at this debut, how this all came together and how much this story touched me. The exploration of motherhood, love and hope was done so well. I applaud Habeck’s creative genius for delivering such a strange novel that has so much heart at its core. I know I’ll be revisiting this book to relive this story again.💙
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Domestic abuse, and Grief
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
aksmith92's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
4.5
"Will you let me stand beside you on your plot of earth? We'll tell the weeds to grow tall around our ankles, and when the wind gives us sycamore seeds, we'll raise them as sprouts, seedlings, saplings until they overpower, shade, and nurture us. Our trees will grow for two hundred years or more as our union becomes even more unquestionable and strong. Unquestionable because no one will remember a time when we were not creating our universe. Strong because trees two hundred years old have been great witnesses to it all. Then, one day, we’ll die gladly into the soil we shared, and fungi will take over what was once our bodies. Bouquets of mushrooms, little families, will mark the place of our lives.”
Overall, this book stood out for its unique narrative style, weaving battles of grief, illness, transformation, and change into a tapestry of strange yet poignant events.
The Setup: Wren and Lewis have been married for an extremely short period of time when Lewis receives an unexpected diagnosis after experiencing some odd symptoms: Lewis is turning into a great white shark. Animal mutation is simply part of the story here, and mostly everyone knows someone who has transformed into an animal. There are hospitals for specific animal mutations - Lewis to go into Ocean 1 first. The novel is broken up into three parts: (1) The love story between Wren and Lewis and their journey from when Lewis receives his diagnosis to when he has to be released into the ocean, (2) A flashback from Wren's family and life before Lewis, and (3) Back to present day in Wren and Lewis's new lives. Some of the story is told in play form, and other parts are just plain ole' literary fiction.
What I Loved: Truly, this was one of the more unique stories I've read. Emily Habeck's prose was original and lovely. It seemed that she had a love for poetry and theater and wove those into the sentence structure here. I did have some minor qualms with it along the way, but I truly loved her unique voice and the storytelling. This novel was innovative and intriguing and kept me vested. The characters had distinct voices and their own personalities (which I always look for in books), and I felt their emotions and overall development throughout the novel. The idea of animal mutation was something I hadn't read about before; I appreciated the thoughtfulness around this illness and how it could be connected with plenty of our own diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's, dementia, cancer, etc.) in this world. This story tugged heavily on my heartstrings and made me think a lot about love and change and family and personal growth. I really, really enjoyed this book and believe that it will sit with me for a long time.
What Kept It From 5 Stars? This is likely a me thing, but I sometimes struggle with literary fiction. I find this hard to do, and rarely can an author ultimately achieve it if they are writing literary fiction - sometimes, the sentences and flow feel forced. It's like Emily Habeck was trying deeply to be profound. A dramatic flare popped up every so often where I didn't think it needed to. While I loved the prose, don't get me wrong, once in a while, I wanted to be like, "It's not that deep, Emily Habeck." It was rare enough that it didn't impact the entire reading experience, and once again, overall, I enjoyed this book. However, it was still there, lurking every so often.
I will put a spoiler on this because while I found it predictable, it isn't the most obvious:
Please know BEFORE reading this story - if you are very much into Science Fiction, Fantasy, Speculative Fiction, or the intricacies/details of Magical Realism, and you expect this book to scratch that itch - it WON'T! This is a literary fiction book at its core, and I am finding some reviews of people who didn't enjoy this book that much because they had the wrong expectations of it. I went in knowing it was literary fiction very well; therefore, I think that mindset helped my overall experience with the book. Yes, it had a bit of a magical realism component, but it's not detailed or explained - it's just part of the narrative—food for thought as you decide if you want to read this book. I still recommend you do it because it's excellent!
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found myself shedding some tears, laughing at moments, and intrigued by the storytelling and closure. I found this to be quite well done for a debut novel, and I look forward to seeing what Emily Habeck comes out with next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Suicide attempt, Medical content, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Domestic abuse, Grief, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Gaslighting and Blood
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I selected this as a free add-on with my Book of the Month subscription.
"Shark Heart" is a heartbreaking story that explores the depths of love and commitment we have for those around us. Lewis and Wren are living their happily ever after and are still in their honeymoon phase of being newlyweds when Lewis receives a strange diagnosis. Lewis will remember mostly everything about himself, but his body will evolve into a great white shark. Wren tries to cope with slowly losing her husband and seeks solace with a pregnant woman who is going through her own situation with someone she loves becoming an animal.
This book was strange, but not necessarily in a bad way. I think this world in which people slowly turn into animals is a great metaphor for losing people to terminal diseases. Wren is experiencing the same feelings someone might feel if they found out their husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Wren is slowly losing her husband, and there is nothing she can do to stop it. She can be his caretaker until he becomes too difficult in his primal state, and she will have to say goodbye.
This is not the first experience Wren has had with people turning into animals, and the novel does explore some of her older memories to provide more narrative on more experiences of what it is like to lose someone to this horrid disease. In this world, not every person becomes the same animal, and some animals are easier to handle than others, allowing people more time with their loved ones.
Although I think this is a beautiful story that really explores love, memory, and identity in a poetic way, it did not land for me. I was never fully invested in Wren's story, and I am not 100% sure why. My heart went out to Wren, and I felt her devastation at watching her husband slowly change, but I was never captivated enough in her story to want more.
This is an interesting book and a great run at a debut.
"Shark Heart" is a heartbreaking story that explores the depths of love and commitment we have for those around us. Lewis and Wren are living their happily ever after and are still in their honeymoon phase of being newlyweds when Lewis receives a strange diagnosis. Lewis will remember mostly everything about himself, but his body will evolve into a great white shark. Wren tries to cope with slowly losing her husband and seeks solace with a pregnant woman who is going through her own situation with someone she loves becoming an animal.
This book was strange, but not necessarily in a bad way. I think this world in which people slowly turn into animals is a great metaphor for losing people to terminal diseases. Wren is experiencing the same feelings someone might feel if they found out their husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Wren is slowly losing her husband, and there is nothing she can do to stop it. She can be his caretaker until he becomes too difficult in his primal state, and she will have to say goodbye.
This is not the first experience Wren has had with people turning into animals, and the novel does explore some of her older memories to provide more narrative on more experiences of what it is like to lose someone to this horrid disease. In this world, not every person becomes the same animal, and some animals are easier to handle than others, allowing people more time with their loved ones.
Although I think this is a beautiful story that really explores love, memory, and identity in a poetic way, it did not land for me. I was never fully invested in Wren's story, and I am not 100% sure why. My heart went out to Wren, and I felt her devastation at watching her husband slowly change, but I was never captivated enough in her story to want more.
This is an interesting book and a great run at a debut.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Pregnancy, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Blood, Domestic abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Violence
lauren_shilling's review against another edition
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? Yes
5.0
This book blew me away. I had just gotten out of a reading slump, so I was a little wary of picking up a book that was this long, as I tend to stick with shorter books when I'm recovering from a slump. However, I decided to read it anyway because it was a five star prediction, and it had been calling to me for a while now. I am so glad I chose to pick it up! It was a five star, as I predicted, and I am so happy about that! This book was heartbreaking and beautiful and just full of so much emotion. I loved all of the characters, and I loved seeing all of the stories that unfold over the course of this book. Wren and Angela were my clear favorite characters, I thought their stories were told beautifully, and I felt so much for them and their experiences. I think hearing most of Wren's story and her experience with her husband's mutation into a great white shark was so heartbreaking, and then when we hear her mother, Angela's story, it tied so much more of Wren's character together while also allowing us to get to know another woman who's story is just as impactful. Everything about this book was incredibly executed, and I loved every second of it. It's also super quick to get through! There are a lot of pages, but the chapters are very short. The longest one is only about three or four pages long. A lot of them aren't even a full page long. This not only makes this book a quicker read than you might think because of the page count, but it also lends itself really well to this story. I think for me, the honest simplicity of how it was told make the very complex emotions and experiences I was reading about seem so real. I'm not really sure how to explain it, but it was so well done. It's a very honest book, and it feels so real, even as it talks about things that don't happen in the real world. I felt every second of this story, and it was so incredibly well done. Probably one of the best books I'll read this year.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Death, Pregnancy, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Abortion and Suicidal thoughts
sby'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Forced institutionalization, Toxic relationship, Chronic illness, and Death of parent
laurenalippincott's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief