Wow, what a unique and interesting debut novel.

This book is a little quirky, but it 100% worked for me and I read it in a single sitting.

Lewis and Wren and newly weds when they get the terrible news that Lewis will gradually turn into a Great White Shark. The first half of the novel follows the mental, physical and emotional toll this transformation has on both Lewis and Wren. We switch views constantly between Lewis and Wren and also jump around in time as the share memories of life before the diagnosis.

The second half we jump back in time and follow Wren's mother. Her journey of trying to find her place, her desire to be loved and to provide for her daughter. We also follow along as she receives her own devastating news and what that means for herself and her daughter.

This novel is beautiful, thought provoking, emotional and poetic. Creative, lyrical story writing that provokes thought. So full of heart.

Wish I could read this book for the first time all over again.

“The. world is a big and small place, and life, a terrifying and sublime journey.”

From the gorgeous book cover to the poetic and lyrical writing, Shark Heart takes the reader on a unique and unexpected journey, exploring what it means to love others, the self, and the life experience.

The reader needs to let go of concrete thinking in order to fully appreciate this novel. Much like the character of Wren teaches us, beauty is often truly found on the abstract.

Aspects of this book I loved:
—beautiful writing, many places I wanted to jot down phrases that were so lovely and poignant.
—cover art is gorgeous.
—plot kept my interest, didn’t know how it would end.
—characters who I wanted to know better and cared about.
— creative storytelling and I loved the casual way she writes about human/animal combinations, as if these occurrences are ti be expected and part of everyday life.

Aspects of this book that I didn’t care for:
—too many characters and not enough time spent on each of them. There were so many side stories in addition to Wren and Lewis, and the book ends without enough time spent getting to really flesh out those characters (pregnant lady at swim, Rachel, Theresa).
—I couldn’t really tell where the author was trying to fit in spirituality/God/religion. At times it seemed like she was taking this story in a secular direction, more of a generalized faith or belief in some higher power, and at other times, perhaps landing in a more Christian direction. I noted that the author studied Divinity, so this likely plays a huge role in this. I think going secular or religious might have worked better instead of trying to add in all the possibilities.

Overall, I loved this book and would recommend to anyone looking for a story about love, faith (in possibilities), and seeing beauty amidst grief.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This novel was stunning! I fell in love with Lewis and Wren as I learned how they fell in love and how they dealt with the shattering news that Lewis suffered from an animal mutation that in 6 months would turn him into a great white shark. It sounds hokey, but it is anything but. Throughout the experience Lewis holds onto hope and his sense of humor until more and more of his personality slips away. You follow Wren as she comes to terms with his condition and what happens to her heart and mind after he is gone. The whole thing is heartbreaking and raw and beautiful and it made me cry. The people and the plot felt so tangible and I love how poetic the intimate moments between the characters are. I wasn't as attached to the second set of characters, Wren's mother Angela and Marco, but their story was another one of love and hardship. I adored this book.
Thank you to the publishers and Emily Habeck for allowing me access to read this book!

I received an eARC of Shark Heart, and immediately fell in love. The gorgeous cover, the fantastic premise, immediately drew me in, and once I started reading, I had to find out what happens in practical Wren's and artistic Lewis's world. Newlyweds Wren and Lewis receive a rare and devastating diagnosis a few weeks into their marriage - Lewis was in the early stages of a Carcharodon carcharias mutation: he was turning into a Great White Shark. With themes of abandonment, loss, hope, community, and of course, love, Emily Habeck writes a unique love story in a most unique way. Short, fragmented paragraphs interspersed with longer pages, "scenes" and "acts" separate sections, Shark Heart is an unforgettable book that prompts the reader to suspend disbelief and muse on all the wondrous ways of being alive.