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.

A beautiful story not just about love and marriage, but about change, loss and grief. The story is well written and the premise believable because in that world, people turn into animals like people here develop cancer. It's fantastic, yet moral, and you grieve along with the couple. A lovely debut novel!

Such a strange premise to a book but it truly tugged at my heartstrings. I’ll remember these characters for a long time. I haven’t stopped thinking about it since I finished.

What a unique, lyrical experience. I did not find myself connecting emotionally to the characters as I have seen in so many others reviews. I think this was in part to the quick pace and movement between timelines and POVs and going in completely blind not knowing what to expect other than something about a man turning into a shark.
I do recommend this one for the deeper messages hidden within the bizarre storyline. I enjoyed the quick pace and story as a whole I just was not one reaching for the tissues but be aware that you may very well need them as you read as it is an emotional rides.

This was my first book to read by this author but it won't be my last! This was a beautifully written novel that evokes so many emotions. Don't miss out on this one!

Sad but beautiful, a portrait of grief and what can be found from true and deep love. Unlike anything I’ve read, but in a good way.

The pacing was slightly off for me, I had a hard time staying engaged. But I appreciate the premise.

When a friend showed me this book in July and told me a little bit about the story and predicted its success I was convinced this was too weird for me ... the whole white shark mutation just sounded a bit too strange.... fast forward a couple of weeks of thinking about this beautiful cover and I was intrigued enough to request this colorful book ... now that I finally managed to squeeze this book in I enjoyed this beautiful lyrical and metaphorical story about love and grief a lot! Thank you so much, Gen, for putting this book on my radar.
This book is unique in it's premise. Wren and Lewis are newlyweds when Lewis finds out he is going to transform into a Great White Shark over the next couple of months painfully but now very slowly with all the changes this entails ... but this also means this book has a beautiful depiction of love and grief - how this relationship and marriage came to be and what shaped Lewis and Wren into the people they are now and going forward. Once you can wrap your head around the fantastical nature of this book, it will take you on a thought-provoking journey about life, love, and motherhood. If you're looking for something different, highly recommend - but the book needs you to allow for human to animal transformations/ mutations ...
.. and isn't this cover just the prettiest ?

This book is a really innovative. A book about the grief journey, but being able to do it in a way that is humorous is a real feat. This is a book that you cannot wait to finish, but then upset that it is over.

- thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc to review!

- a heartfelt and poignant story that explores motherhood, grief, change, and the oddities, like the women who was pregnant with twin birds, and the fact Lewis, the protagonists husband, gradually turns into a great white shark. Habeck isn't afraid to explore themes of motherhood, abuse, trauma, and the past with her poignant style, and her characters struggles feel all too real, except for birthing birds or turning into an apex predator of the sea. i wish i could read this again, and at this point, i probably will because of the story explored by Habeck.

How does one even review a book like this? Just go read it! Run, don't walk, and obtain this book by any means necessary and then settle in to a beautiful world, one filled with hope and loss and pain and rejection and great beauty in ugly things.

My logic-minded brain wasn't sure I wanted to read this, I did not see how any author could make me follow along with a man turning into a shark. But the story is set in a solidly parallel world where it is not only possible, but you are able to accept the scenario. I never once felt it was a ridiculous situation, I was completely immersed in the story and the characters and the mutations that parallel those in our own world - fatal diagnoses, crippling accidents, Alzheimer's, all sorts and types of love, loss, rejection. And I think it's important for prospective readers to know this. You will be immersed so deeply into the story that you'll never question the idea of a man turning into a shark.

But is the story about a man turning into a shark? Or is it about all types of love and many types of loss and love's ability to continue on. The story spans four generations of Mother to Daughter to Daughter to Daughter. It is beautifully written, gorgeously written. I feel inept and unqualified to even review it. I'm grateful that I had a whole day to sit and read it all at once. I am grateful to NetGalley for the ARC. This book gets 5 stars and the certainty that it will land on many Top Books of the Year lists.

“How were your flights?” They ask. In all honesty, I don’t remember the flights at all. I started this fabulous and immersive book in Louisiana and didn’t come up for air until I landed in Maine. I hate flying, but the story made me forget everything except Lewis, Wren, and their tragic love story.

“A few weeks after their wedding, 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. As Lewis develops the features and impulses of one of the most predatory creatures in the ocean, his complicated artist’s heart struggles to make peace with his unfulfilled dreams.

A sweeping love story that is at once lyrical and funny, airy and visceral, Shark Heart is an unforgettable, gorgeous novel about life’s perennial questions, the fragility of memories, finding joy amidst grief, and creating a meaningful life.” (GoodReads)

Some parts are poetry, others a screenplay, and we move back and forth in time and POV, but it all flows together beautifully. Perfectly. Swimmingly. It was witty, tragic, lovely, heart-wrenching, and wholly original.

I can’t praise Habeck’s writing enough. The lyrical, engaging, and descriptive writing!

Thank you, NetGalley and Simon Element, S&S/ Marysue Rucci Books, for the Digital Review Copy.

Thank you very much for the opportunity to read this book early! I really enjoyed it. I thought the writing was very well done, and the story kept me interested. Shark Heart was a beautifully written story that honestly broke my heart, but I loved every moment of it! I believe my students/patrons would also love this book and will be acquiring it for the library!

A stunning, powerful, interesting, creative gift of a book. I loved it and found myself so moved by so many of the powerful themes that resonated. An interesting surrealist twist makes this a thoughtful and deep read.