Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

Shark Heart: A Love Story by Emily Habeck

46 reviews

rachelkreadsbookz's review against another edition

Did not connect with the characters like I hoped and didn’t feel their deep love for each other either. It is a weird premise, but only works if you can connect with the characters and I just could not. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness

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

itsnicholaslashay'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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Body horror, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

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

Moderate: Blood and Confinement

Minor: Body horror

orizenda's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful sad medium-paced

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

4.0

I really liked the first 2 sections of this book (my favorite was Angela). Having grown up with a father who had a cancerous brain tumor that completely changed his personality and made him very angry all the time, I personally read Lewis’s mutation in this kind of light. Be prepared for heartbreak with this book.

I do feel that Habeck has room to grow with her prose. The format of the book is pretty interesting and I appreciate that. Some of the things Lewis says to Wren are exceedingly beautiful imo. Maybe the simplicity throughout is quite purposeful and just not my taste.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Terminal illness, Body horror, and Violence

kelseyr713'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This is one of the most beautiful, fascinating, and lyrical novels I've ever read. Highly recommended.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Grief, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Violence, Death of parent, Gore, Pregnancy, Animal death, Domestic abuse, and Blood

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Abortion

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: Suicide attempt, Chronic illness, and Grief

Moderate: Terminal illness and Cancer

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.

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

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

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.

overthefroggymoon's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

I am beyond floored by this book. Its chock full of beautiful phases, with enough mundanity in between to make it still feel genuine everytime. 
A true life affirming novel. 

Despite my adoration, I do find some of the messages and themes it's going for odd at best. 

But anyways, the formatting of this book was continously grabbing and entertaining. Just a fantastic read all round.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Terminal illness, and Death

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