I’m very, very surprised at the review I'm about to give for this book. When I read the summary, I expected to think it was a one star book for me. When I read the first few chapters, I didn’t think it would change at all. Slowly I found myself getting more and more drawn into it, thinking about it when I wasn’t reading it, and enjoying the characters.

Shark Heart is unlike any book I’ve ever read before. Newlyweds Wren and Lewis should be enjoying their lives together, when Lewis is suddenly diagnosed with a rare mutation that will leave him turning into a great white shark within a year or less. The couple have to navigate the loss of their marriage - not due to lack of love, but due to this mutation - and the loss of Lewis’ humanness.

Parts of the book read like a screenplay and like poetry which at first I found corny and weird, but I learned to love. I found it beautiful, for what the characters were going through.

Throughout the book we learn a lot about the backstory of the characters and what the future holds for both of them. I loved following their lives and their stories so much more than I thought.

Shark Heart is such a different book, and it surprisingly works very well. This is one I’ll be thinking about for a long time.

Thank you very much to Simon Element, S&S / Marysue Rucci Books and NetGalley for the eARC!

I think this book was above my education level, not gonna lie. I don’t think I could fully comprehend the complexities of the writing style, which was unfortunate. I feel like I’m giving the author a more negative review because of this. The writing was beautiful I was just left feeling a little bored.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of "Shark Heart" by Emily Habeck. I went into the book only having skimmed the description; I was most intrigued by the title and stunning cover. I was pleasantly surprised with the adventure that awaited me and absolutely loved this book. The main characters, Lewis and Wren, are dealing with the sad reality of a genetic mutation causing Lewis to turn into a great white shark. I liked that the author made intelligent assumptions about the reader and the ability to accept that these types of mutations are commonplace in the future. The book was broken up into sections and also dives into the life of Wren's mother as a young girl. When the parts ultimately entwine, it was a beautifully done reflection on life and what meaning we take from it. I loved this book and can't wait to read more by this author!

There must be something in the water! After the success of the documentary "My Octopus Teacher" and the release of the novel "Remarkably Bright Creatures," I was immediately caught by the premise of "Shark Heart." Habeck's writing is richly exquisite, and the themes of motherhood, love, loss, grief, and rebirth are all touched on with a delicate, gentle hand. I found myself wondering, however, whether viewing these themes through the lens of magical realism adds anything to the final result. Ultimately, to me, Lewis' metamorphosis was more of a gimmick than anything else. I'm glad I read it, though some of my colleagues simply chuckled and shook their heads when they read the jacket copy.

This one was a little too far outside my comprehension right now. That said, the writing is intricate and gorgeous, and the story is artfully woven and got me thinking. This is the rare DNF that I made a note to circle back to. I recommend you give it a go.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book.

(4.5 stars) So, this one will sound a bit crazy at first, but give it a chance... A new husband (Lewis) is diagnosed with Carcharodon carcharias, a condition that will cause his body to mutate over time into that of a great white shark. As his wife, Wren, struggles to deal with his diagnosis, she works out possible ways to keep in touch after he changes.

This is a love story, as it is billed, but it’s a whole lot more as well. This is a book about transformation…how life is full of the unexpected and how we as humans (and sharks) cope with changes. It is a multi-layered story, with glimpses into the past and how love and loss shape our lives. It’s a beautifully written, quirky debut with lots to love.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me with this e-ARC.

Thanks to publishers S/ Marysue Rucci Books and NetGalley for this advance reader copy of "Shark Heart" by Emily Habeck. I love reading debut novels and am so grateful I got an early peek at this unique story. It wasn't what I was expecting, and I am so glad. The storylines were captivating and the writing style was interesting to read. I bet the audiobook is going to be a special treat for listeners!

I wasn't completely sold on the "sharK" diagnosis, but I let the author take me along for the ride. I like to suspend reality when I read and these storylines allowed for that easily.

Cannot wait to see what else Habeck thinks up in the future.

I'm not sure i would recommend this to everyone. This book is definitely one that will appeal to a certain type of reader. ⠀
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On the surface, this is a magical realism book, about a married couple who receive the diagnosis that the husband is turning into a great white shark. As the process is happening, the couple grapple with coming to terms with with the diagnosis, having so little time left together, and the husband's personality and demeanor changing. ⠀
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At its core, this is a story that deals with grief and losing your loved ones (not necessarily physically, more like the ESSENCE of them).⠀
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I understood what this book was trying to do, and I will say the second half of the book really gripped me, but overall I'm not sure if the story as a whole hit the mark for me. ⠀
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I think the format style of the book is what really threw me off. We have bits that read like a screenplay, other parts that read almost like poetry, and then other pages that are just a sentence or two long. I feel like there was too much time spent on how to creatively tell this story, and not enough time spent on actually telling the story. I think it would have been more impactful for me if the story was just told in a regular book form, if that makes sense.⠀
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I did like the characters in the book and the animal comparisons (using the animal behavior to showcase the loved ones "losing" their sense of humanity). ⠀
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Overall, I would recommend this to lovers of magical realism and those who love stories that are multigenerational, that deal with the grief of watching their loved one succumb to their illness. ⠀
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This is one that lingers with me in a good way. One of my signs of a good book is not only that lingering after I finish reading, but one that can be read on several levels and Shark Heart is that. It’s imaginative, graceful, and there are layers. Habeck creates a world where people can mutate into animals, apparently randomly, so on one level it’s a story of heartbreaking loss. There are intimations about how we treat our world and how we treat those with illness or who differ from the norm. The characters are memorable. At first, the narrative is straightforward, even with its fantastical elements. Then it takes a turn. At first, I wasn’t sure about the structure, but by the end, I couldn’t imagine it any other way and really appreciated the backstory. The way it’s told gives added context to Wren’s character. It’s a lovely and impressive debut with definite cinematic potential.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon Element, an imprint of Simon & Schuster for the e-ARC.

I have to be honest here, I did not finish this book. For me, it was boring and hard to follow. I hate giving these harsh reviews because I know the time and work that goes into writing novels but I just couldn’t get down with this one.

Shark Heart was a super unique, interesting book to read. I loved the short chapters and the way the book was divided into parts that each gave further insight into the characters. It was really beautiful and moving (and I absolutely love the cover). The one part that I wasn’t a fan of was the epilogue, which contained one of my least-favorite epilogue tropes, so I was never going to be a fan of it. Epilogue aside, I really enjoyed the book! The writing was phenomenal and the characters felt like real people. It’s certainly a book I will be thinking about for a long time because the story was that moving.

Wow. This started pretty slowly for me, and it took a little while for me to grow into it. And when I did, I loved it. Smart, poignant, different, this tale covers three generations of a family's life and love. I am impressed with this being the author's first novel - she has a new fan. I had tears running down my face for the last 10 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher and Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

I'm not sure any review I write can do justice to Emily Habeck's Shark Heart; I will be thinking about this book for quite a while.

The premise is simple enough: Lewis and Wren are newlyweds who receive the devastating news early on in their marriage that Lewis is in the early stages of mutating into a Great White Shark. Within the year, he will need to be released into the wild. From this jumping off point unfolds a profoundly moving story about marriage, motherhood, grief, and holding onto hope even in the most dire circumstances.

This was roughly the sum of the information I had going into my read, and I hesitate to give away any more than this. What works especially well here is how often and abruptly we shift storytelling styles and formats. The characters are living in an uncertain and somewhat unstable world, and so therefore is the reader. Yet even as we are asked to suspend all disbelief and accept the rules of the world Emily has thrown us into, we are offered generously intimate insights into the minds of the characters. And no matter how far-fetched their struggles may be, there is something profoundly relatable about the feelings they're struggling with.

I cannot recommend this one more highly. I wish I could read it again for the first time. Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon Element, S&S/ Marysue Rucci Books for the eARC.

I loved this book. The realness of grappling with loss you can see coming but can’t control made my heart ache. I wanted so much more for Lewis and Wren.

This reminded me - in a less horror way - of Our Wives Under the Sea which I also adored. The idea of loving someone who is going through irreversible and consequential changes they can’t control while seeing it through the eyes of someone who just loves them.

Fantastic

Four plus.
Is it a love story? An adult fairytale? Unlike anything else you've read? Yes.

Despite being a short book, I took my time and savored it. Part prose, almost poetry. Must be willing to suspend disbelief and enjoy the beauty.

This is definitely the most beautifully-written book about a man involuntarily transforming into a shark that I have ever read.

But seriously, there was so much to love about this book. I've always been interested in stories of metamorphosis, body horror, and what it means to be human, and this is the best one I've read in a while. A unique premise, lovely prose, and I think the cover design is great as well. It's hard to believe this is the author's debut. I hope to read more from her in the future. I'll be thinking about this one for a while.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon Element for the advance reader copy!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stunning. Gorgeously written. Deeply affecting. Refreshingly unique. Debut novelist @emily.habeck has written a book that carries in its swift-moving current an abundance of lyrical prose. There are also beautiful passages reminiscent of: love letters, odes to nature-as-miracle-and-mirror, & fables. There is actual poetry and - yes - even a theater script in the making. This is an approach that enhances a beautiful story about several complex characters who become swept up in lives marked by profoundly disruptive changes in circumstances, & by literal metamorphosis. But it’s the resulting gradual transformations of their interior lives that captivate, & often resonate, at the deepest level.

The premise is purposely fantastical. Young newlyweds - Wren & her theater-teacher husband Lewis - grapple with Lewis’s diagnosis of a rare genetic condition that transforms him into a shark over the course of 9 months, & after that an abrupt release into the ocean is required; an openness to #magicalrealism is a must. But this intergenerational story isn’t about a man-turned-shark (as fascinating & visceral as this is, thanks to #emilyhabeck 's descriptive writing)...

Shark Heart is about the human condition.

This novel is about what happens when we’re presented with love - romantic; married; the love between mothers & daughters; the love of friendship & found family; false love that presents as abuse. This story is also about the overwhelming grief that can accompany the loss of love. Do we let our past experiences dictate our lives? Do we arrange our lives to completely eliminate the possibility of emotional pain, to limit risk?... Risky! Do we give up? Do we survive?...

And is surviving enough?

New, fresh wisdom is found throughout. Many pages contain only a few lines - this along with interspersed hints about Wren’s troubled past, & the weaving together of narrative forms, held my interest & kept things moving at a good clip. #sharkheart is by turns whimsical & gut wrenching. And it is consistently breathtaking.

Thanks to NetGalley, Simon Element, Simon & Schuster/Marysue Ricci Books for this #arc .

Will repost.
Pub date 8/8/23.

#debutnovel

What a wonderful read!! I was hesitant about requesting. It is a different type of book and honestly, I haven't been happy with the quirky type of books read. This was different. It was emotional, it was trying, it was satisfying. The writing style was just wonderful and I inhaled this book in a couple of sittings. Even now, as I write this, I can't get this book out of my head. This book is definitely going on my top books for 2023. Congratulations to this author, I look forward to future books.

#sharkheart #NETGALLEY #emilyhabeck.

This book is gorgeous: strange and whimsical and particular and odd and universal and winsome. If I could give it more than five stars I would. I love it and have put Emily Habeck on my list of authors that I'll read everything they write without hesitation. Please do yourself a favor and set aside some time for this book.

4.5 Stars

A story that has a lot of heart, and covers the unique transformations that occur in life, throughout life as we grow and change. Marriage, motherhood, the things in life that become a part of our identity. This is a story of love, and loss, desire for a different life, and how both love and loss leave indelible prints on our lives, leaving us forever changed. However, there is a twist to how this story evolves that I was not expecting.

This begins with the story of Lewis and Wren, who haven’t been married for less than a month when Lewis is diagnosed with a rare condition - Carcharodon carcharias. A condition where his body will evolve, over time, into another kind of creature, while retaining the majority of awareness, and memories will remain as he transitions, along with perception, and physical senses. He will, over time, physically transform into a Great White Shark. Which, obviously, will change their life. It won’t happen overnight, but by the end of a year his metamorphosis will be, more or less, complete. Needless to say, this will put a damper on their plans for the future, and leaves them both wrestling with how to navigate their future, as well as grieve over this loss.

As Wren’s attempts to find a way they can remain together, the memories of her childhood, and the years before she met Lewis are also shared. There are dark moments of her childhood, her parents’ contemptuous, abusive marriage. As time passes, and Lewis’ condition worsens, decisions must be made, but she struggles with the choices left to her.

This is a love story with a very different edge, a story of making impossible decisions, of family, of love and loss, and reminders of what was, and what will be. This is about grief, but this is also about so much more. It is a story of how fragile life can be, and of holding onto moments of wonder and memories, but there are also plenty of humorous moments.

A lovely, quirky, delightful debut.


Pub Date: 08 Aug 2023

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Simon Element, S&S / Marysue Rucci Books