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A review by mmarlborough
Shark Heart: A Love Story by Emily Habeck
emotional
slow-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? Yes
5.0
The concept of this debut novel is so bonkers I was excited and nervous about reading it. I wasn’t expecting the sheer beauty on each page. This won’t be everyone’s cup of tea but those who love lyrical novels about loss, must grab this one.
Lewis and Wren are married for less than a year when he is diagnosed suddenly with a rare disease that will slowly transform him into a great white shark. He struggles reconciling that he won’t ever accomplish the actor/teacher dreams he’s had while Wren struggles with accepting Lewis’ fate. Woven in are stories about Wren’s mother and her difficult childhood that correlate with the changes her husband is going through.
Habeck writes so beautifully, half of my copy is now highlighted. The format of this book in print is so unique: plays, poems, lists , and prose all come together. It all works somehow and doesn’t feel disjointed or gimmicky. She writes animal mutations like they are our cancers & other various terminal illnesses - with transformations, daily gradual losses, and the pain of grieving over your/a loved one’s life evaporating. This will remain a standout of the year for me and I can’t wait to read what else she writes.
✨Trigger Warnings: Domestic Abuse, Physical Abuse, Terminal Illness, Adult/Minor Relationship, Death of a Parent, Suicidal Thoughts, Animal Death, Medical Content
Lewis and Wren are married for less than a year when he is diagnosed suddenly with a rare disease that will slowly transform him into a great white shark. He struggles reconciling that he won’t ever accomplish the actor/teacher dreams he’s had while Wren struggles with accepting Lewis’ fate. Woven in are stories about Wren’s mother and her difficult childhood that correlate with the changes her husband is going through.
Habeck writes so beautifully, half of my copy is now highlighted. The format of this book in print is so unique: plays, poems, lists , and prose all come together. It all works somehow and doesn’t feel disjointed or gimmicky. She writes animal mutations like they are our cancers & other various terminal illnesses - with transformations, daily gradual losses, and the pain of grieving over your/a loved one’s life evaporating. This will remain a standout of the year for me and I can’t wait to read what else she writes.
✨Trigger Warnings: Domestic Abuse, Physical Abuse, Terminal Illness, Adult/Minor Relationship, Death of a Parent, Suicidal Thoughts, Animal Death, Medical Content