Shark Heart was heart wrenching. A truly beautiful story about love and loss and connection. It was beautifully written with so many quotable lines. It felt simultaneously artistic and beautifully mundane and I loved the unique writing. The story follows generations and you end feeling attached to each and every character, being privy to all of their personal struggles. I loved Shark Heart.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance reader's copy of this novel.

Shark Heart is an astonishing achievement. Beautifully written, mind-bogglingly original, and a compelling read from start to finish. This one will stay with me for a very long time. I've had tear-filled conversations about this book with mere acquaintances, if that's any indication of its staying power.

This was my #12booksin12months recommendation for February and I've seen some GLOWING reviews about this one, so was super excited for the recommendation!

But, when I learned this book is about a man who turns into a great white shark my WTF o'meter shot through the roof.

I'm sorry, what?!?!

Lewis and Wren are newlyweds when they learn Lewis suffers from a mutation that turns him into a great white shark.

I should have known from the synopsis this book was not going to be for me. I didn't connect with any of the characters, nor did I feel invested in the story. I rushed to finish, just so I could move onto my next read.

A definite miss for me, although I do appear to be the unpopular opinion.

Thank you Netgalley and Simon Element for the ARC.

Available now.

⭐⭐💫

This is a book about change and grief and love and family and motherhood. It was both sad and hopeful. While there are many characters, it centers around Wren whose life is transformed when her husband begins to turn into a great white shark. Habeck doesn't shy away from the horrors of a world where humans can transform into other creatures, but it's not about the horror, but about the lives people live through devastating change. It's a book that's going to stick with me.

this was my first 5 star read of the year!!! I cannot believe how incredible this book was. it literally floored me how just unique and original this book and concept came to be. which as you may know Is very hard to do with the thousands upon thousands of books that get released each year. to create a book that felt fresh, new and unheard of is such an achievement.

I adored this book. it had me going through it. one minute I would be smiling, the next near to tears and the next angry. love when a book can convey in the reader all these emotions in one book. the layout of this book was very interesting to me too, kept me so engaged, was hooked from the word go and I was riding that wave!!!! I actually cannot wait for what the author is gonna write in the future.

What a fantastic book. I loved reading this from start to finish. The growth the characters showed was amazing. The swapping time lines wasn’t as stressful as some other books and flowed nicely.

This book is lovely and incredibly evocative. It was also very painful to read and even heartbreaking at times. I would definitely recommend it to people who enjoy magical realism or surrealism, but be aware that there's a very bittersweet tone and that the book can take you to some dark places within yourself. Not necessarily a bad thing, it's just a good idea to consider your mood and mental health before deciding to read.

Emily Habeck delivers one of the most unique books I've ever read. It is hard to wrap my mind around this being a debut novel for this author. The polish of the writing, the complexity of the characters, and the build-up of this emotional, triumphant story left me enamored.

Do yourself a favor and read this book!

AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Do you have a book that sort of lives in the back of your mind and never really goes away? Shark Heart is that book for me. It covers love, grief, letting go, and strange medical diagnoses. Why only 4 stars? Because one of my favorite non-main storylines didn't get resolved in my heart. Yes, I'm holding a star back because this book tried to break my heart.

Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Best Fiction (2023), Nominee for Best Debut Novel (2023)

I received this boom in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley. I am late to reviewing this and a lot has been said already. I’m glad this book has gotten a great reception and that there are many out there recommending this to people even if they don’t usually like “weird” books. I echo these recommendations. While it certainly can be hard to see past the magical realism elements, they are presented in such a way that they can easily be metaphors for real things in our present day lives. The writing is beautiful and does a great job capturing the enduring human condition and unconditional love.

In the immersive world of Shark Heart, the 'what if' premise breathes fresh air into the magical realism genre, captivating readers with its unique narrative and brisk pace. The theme of metamorphosis, adorned with quirky nuances, adds layers to the emotional rollercoaster, notably in the evocative ocean scene. Despite hurdles like the lack of scene-setting and a somewhat disjointed plot, the book, fueled by Bookstagram hype, provides a thought-provoking experience. The writing style, resembling a heart-on-sleeve confessional, skillfully navigates themes of loss, grief, marriage, and love. While some may find the narrative overwhelming due to ambitious storytelling, Shark Heart stands as an excellent book club choice for those willing to navigate its peculiar currents. Though not universally appealing, its distinctive concept and emotional depth spark reflections on the intricacies of the human experience, making it a captivating and contemplative read.

The story’s creativity wins “Best of” this year. I’m always drawn to magical realism to explore familiar stories in unexpected ways. Here, I think the plot is a good metaphor for terminal illness, which at times is depressing and, at other times, needs to dig emotionally deeper. I know many readers found hope in the ending. Unfortunately, I did not. Regardless, the book offers a great conversation starter, which is always a win for me. Overall, the book may not have been a “love” as with most of Booksta, but it wasn’t a “dislike” either.

This book was right up my alley. Magical and cozy and quirky in the vein of Anxious People and Remarkably Bright Creatures - two favorites of mine that have absolutely nothing to do with this book outside of sharing those aforementioned vibes. And I love a book that plays with form; the inclusion of poetry and scripts and things I’m not otherwise drawn to was really engaging, and somehow played out really well in the audiobook version as well.

While a focus of the story was on transformation, not death, I’ve been reading everything through a lens of grief after the recent passing of my father over Thanksgiving. My dad was always fascinated by sharks so this story doubled down on the feels for me. Lewis’ transformation in the book felt very parallel to death in many ways, as Wren’s navigation of Lewis’ change felt like the multiple phases of grief. Overall, I found it a hopeful, literal (while obviously not at all literal…) take on the journey across worlds. I don’t know, maybe that doesn’t make sense, but the book did and I’d highly recommend it if you’re in the mood for something a little bit different.

Shark Heart's imaginative and profound magical realism plot made this love story my favorite book of the year.

In Habeck's literary fiction debut, animal mutations can occur in humans. The first year of marriage always comes with challenges, but none could be more complicated than being diagnosed with a genetic mutation that takes away elements of your humanness.

Wren and Lewis are devastated when Lewis receives the diagnosis that he will evolve into a great white shark due to his genetic mutation.

As Wren struggles to make peace with their new reality, she does her best to support Lewis through his diagnosis as he struggles to maintain normalcy in his work and home life, all while his predatory nature and needs begin emerging.

We are given a heartbreaking, hopeful, and even (at times) humorous portrait of their marriage. Wren finds new ways to incorporate joy into Lewis's daily life, evolving their menu plan to the need's of a shark diet, finding a pool for him to get in swims, and even concocting schemes to stay together after his final evolution.

As we uncover Wren's past, we realize this is not the first time an animal mutation has threatened her existence. Told in three shifting timelines, we discover a troubling backstory that gives readers insight into a problematic past with a mutation of another kind and how that shaped Wren's life.

The fantastical elements of this genetic mutation allow the reader to distance themselves just enough from the realities of their struggles with chronic illness or disease while sitting close enough to devastate one emotionally wholly. I have a heart of steel and had to take days pausing between passages to give myself space from this story.

While I found a deep connection to this, I acknowledge that the story felt almost experimental, with storytelling mechanisms such as play scripts to shift the narrative uniquely. The short chapters, lyrical prose, and unusual timeline shifts in this character-driven story have faced criticism from readers who didn't feel pulled in by the exercise.

However, the novel reminded me of my love story and the love story of others with spouses facing complex health challenges.

It's a testament to those who show up daily- strategizing and modifying their daily existence to have the best day possible. I felt seen by Habeck's writing and surprised that something so literary could simultaneously feel grounded, relatable, and immersive.

[4.5 stars]
The premise of this debut novel is completely ridiculous, but it worked so well! Lewis and Wren are newly married when Lewis slowly begins turning into a great white shark (yep, you read that right) and he’s given 9 months before his transformation will be “complete." Lewis and Wren must work through this tragic turn in their marriage. Though the premise is completely absurd, it didn't FEEL that weird when I was reading it. I would equate the level of weirdness to the kids catching on fire in Kevin Wilson’s Nothing to See Here. I expected the story to focus on Lewis since he’s the one turning into the shark, but I actually think it’s more Wren’s story and it turned out to be a bit of a multi-generational family story (particularly related to Wren). It’s kind of sad, but also incredibly touching and makes you have faith in love and marriage. The 400+ page length is a bit misleading - there's a lot of white space on the pages and the chapters are very short (some only a single paragraph). A highly creative and unexpectedly touching story!

This book was INCREDIBLE. One of the most unique books I've read in a very long time. Beautiful prose, an engaging and heart connecting characters. After a trip to the ocean, I thought of this book often, about the what ifs in the animal world, and how deeply connected we really are. Thanks so much for a chance to read this book.

The concept behind this book was so
Unique, a newlywed couple finds out tier marriage is going to be “over”
Because the husband is going to turn into a great white shark! It is a story of love and sadness as their beautiful love story is clearly going to have a different ending than they had anticipated. The writing is poetic and vivid all at once and despite the oddness of the concept you are drawn into the hearts and minds of the characters.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Simon Element/Marysue Rucci Books for allowing me to read a copy of this book.

I'm not sure what I was expecting when I decided to read this book, but it definitely exceeded my expectations. In Shark Heart, we meet newlyweds Wren and Lewis, who live in a world where human-to-animal mutations are as common as cancer. Lewis has received a rare diagnosis (Carcharodon carcharias) which is causing him to turn into a great white shark. Not metaphorically either; quite literally. The book follows the 6-months period of Lewis transforming into a shark, and the effects that has on his relationship with Wren. As Lewis grows less and less human, it becomes harder and harder on Wren, ultimately forcing her to say goodbye. As she tries to continue to take care of Lewis, as one would a terminally ill parent, her heart breaks more and more, as does the reader's in solidarity.

This story is written from the perspectives of Wren, Lewis, and Wren's mother, but not chronologically or necessarily in a straightforward manner. There are also other people suffering from mutations as well. An Olympian-level swimmer (dubbed "tiny pregnant woman") who is pregnant with a pair of peregrine falcons; another has a brother turning into a zebra. On the surface, the concept sounds comical but under the surface it is an utterly fantastical and unimaginable story written in a heart-wrenchingly beautiful and poignant way. Wren's heartbreak is palpable, and this story will hit home to anyone who has ever lost someone they love. Her laments of "why me?" is so relatable and evokes reader empathy.

Shark Heart is an interesting and refreshing approach to love, loss, grief, and the lengths a person will go for those they care about. I wish I had read it sooner and will be recommending this book to my book club and everyone I know who love Love. Shark heart is pure poetry on the page.

I really wanted to get to this one, as it seemed interesting. This was requested when I first found out about NetGalley and I had requested so many ARCs that I could not get to all of them before they were archived. If I can find this somewhere for a reasonable price, I will try to get it!

Full of lyrical writing and imagery, this book is all about the journey through grief and finding peace after trauma. I enjoyed the full circle nature of the storyline, along with the parallels between the storylines of different characters and their journeys. The formatting of such short chapters was slightly jarring and made it a little harder to get lost in the story. Additionally, at the end, I realized that I didn't really get a lot of insight into many of the character's motivations, although I witnessed their growth. A deep read, far from light, and aimed at melding the odd with the normal, this book was interesting.