Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

Shark Heart: A Love Story by Emily Habeck

47 reviews

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

amanda_mh's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

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

5.0

This was by far the weirdest book I have ever read. While also being incredibly emotional and thought provoking. But strange very strange and I devoured this book 🦈 ♥️ 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Body horror, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Terminal illness

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

nicmedia123's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense 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

3.75

A metaphorical look at true and unconditional love. 
I loved this author’s writing despite the quirky plot of a husband mutating into a great white shark. 
Most of this book kept me hooked, but there were parts where the story dragged or I was tired from the overwhelming amount of metaphor being used.
I also thought it would have benefitted from a little rearranging of the chronology of the story.
Overall, I’d love to read something new from this author. 3.75/5 stars for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness and Death

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