I will need to come back to give and update so far I am enjoying this book and it looks like 4 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.

4.5 stars!

This was a unique and fresh take on the trials and tribulations a couple must face when one of them is diagnosed with a chronic/terminal illness. In this debut novel, Lewis and Wren are newlyweds when he discovers that he has a rare genetic mutation, which gradually turns him into a great white shark (hence a magical realism element).

The story is told through alternating POVs: Lewis, as he tries adapt to the body that he no longer recognizes, and Wren, who must cope with her own grief while simultaneously navigating life as the caregiver for someone who becomes dangerous to her safety as undergoes this metamorphosis.

Many reviews I've seen compared Lewis' condition to someone with cancer, but as a psychologist, I find dementia to be a better analogy. His diagnosis is an incurable, progressive, degenerative condition that ultimately renders his brain and body unable to think, speak, or act like a human.

This was a poignant and bittersweet read about love, marriage, grief, and ultimately finding peace and joy in new beginnings, even when they were initially unwanted and unbearable. Emily Habeck is a promising and talented new voice in contemporary fiction and I look forward to her future works!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Mary Sue Rucci Books, and the author for an advanced copy of this book to read and review!

What a very interesting book. How she divided it up into sections about people who turned into animals.. It was like a play based on a novel. Lauren was a product of a teenage pregnancy, and she had to go through life... Her mother became a snake and you'll find out how this happened. Warren had a lot of problems in life, but she knows she was bisexual or heterosexual. Your husband Lewis also turned into an animal as well. He became a shark A woman named margaret who became good friends with him Because she was also a shark. This book had a lot of twist and turns in it. And it's very interesting. How many different issues in this book.

What a completely bizarre and utterly beautiful book.

When I finished Shark Heart, I closed my Kindle cover with a satisfied thwack and sat for a moment, staring into space and dumbfounded. Then, I told my husband that I had just finished the book and it was so good.

"What was it about? he asked.

I briefly started to explain but there was just no possible way. It literally seems preposterous.

I guess that is the sign of an excellent writer because to me it made perfect sense.

Highly recommended.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for an ARC of Shark Heart in exchange for an honest review.

✨ Review ✨ Shark Heart by Emily Habeck

This book is so gloriously weird that I reveled in every page.

The content is a little bonkers -- it's set in a world where humans can mutate into different animals. Leo and Wren, newlyweds, have to navigate Leo's mutation into a great white shark. And as bonkers as it sounds, Habeck beautifully humanizes the process, making Leo's transformation and Wren's care-work and the health care system seem oh-so-relatable.

The form of the book is also wild, alternating super short vignettes (some as short as a paragraph or a few lines) with slightly longer vignettes (a few pages) and intermittent theater scripts. I freaking loved this format. It was both raw and fully formed in a way that paralleled the human mutation process. Leo's passion for theater and his own work writing a play made the script excerpts feel incredibly smart (and also made me wonder whether these were pieces of HIS plays (and thus was the narration reliable??) or were they written to honor his passions?)

The book's labeled a Love Story, but it's not just romantic love, but also the love between friends, between parents and children, and between these sort of hybrid mutating creatures and humans. There are so many love stories present here in really lovely and raw forms.

Overall, I adored this book, and can't wait for what she writes next!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: literary fiction
Reminds me of: nothing I've ever read
Pub Date: 08 Aug 2023

Read this if you like:
⭕️ clever / bizarre books, creative in content and form
⭕️ love -- romantic, familial, friends
⭕️ gorgeous book covers

Thanks to Simon & Schuster and #netgalley for an advanced e-copy of this book!

One of the most unique love stories I have read recently. The book tells the story of Wren and Lewis. They meet and fall in love. We start the book as they are newlyweds and he is diagnosed with a strange mutation that will turn him in a great white shark within the next nine months. The book also tells the story of Wren’s mother Angela and her childhood. I love the way the story is told and the uniqueness of the story. This is a moving story about facing impossible choices, learning to move on and finding joy amidst grief. It has all the emotions- sadness, humor, and happiness. Many thanks to Simon Element, S&S/ Marysue Rucci Books and NetGalley for the digital review copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Shark Heart was recently published AND featured as a pick on Book of the Month! I had to check it out. It's a strange story, ostensibly of a man who discovers that he is mutating into a shark. The story, however, pivots to his wife and her story, her past, her pain, her strength, her resilience. It's a unique read for sure, but worth checking out! 3.5 stars, rounded up.

Thanks to NetGalley for access to this novel!

*𝐍𝐨 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬*

This is a book that will stay with me forever! This is very original and so refreshing. I wanted this arc based on the BEAUTIFUL cover alone, I didn’t read what it was about and I’m glad I didn’t. Why? Because a book about newly weds who discover that the husband, Lewis, is mutating into a great white shark doesn’t call my interest. But wow Emily!! Your mind is beautiful. This would’ve been a grand mistake in my part not giving this original, emotional, wonderful book a read that easily became a top fave for the year!

This is not a sci-fi or fantasy book. Although, yes, a human transforming into a great white shark isn’t possible (👀right?) you can relate it to the process of a loved one diagnosed with something terminal like Cancer or Alzheimer’s. The external and internal changes and hardships that affects the person and people around is extremely difficult.

Besides the phenomenal writing of this debut, there’s a little something for everyone in here. Theres topics that will pull on your heartstring like the difference between loneliness and being alone, mental health, love, hope, regret, what makes someone human, what makes a family, grief, moving on, and strength. While you see the transformation externally, there’s internal change within.

Part One is all about Lewis and Wren (FMC) and his transformation and their life as it’s happening. We also later on see Wrens mothers story and Wren. And two other parts that just solidifies that this book will forever live rent free in your heart.

If you are looking for a HEA, I can tell you that this isn’t for you BUT it’s still very well worth the read! It automatically went to the top reads this year! 🥹

Thank you @emily.habeck for the arc! It’s an original. It’s beautiful and heartbreaking but should be read by everyone. 🦈❤️

𝙁𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙌𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚: “you make everything better than when you found it, even me.”

What a strange but good book! I haven’t read anything quite like it. Surprisingly sad as well.
Definitely would recommend!

Shark Heart by Emily Habeck. When I read the synopsis, I have to be honest, it sounded liked a crazy book. I decided to give it a shot because of the reviews and I am SO GLAD I DID! This was one of my favorite books this year! I was a bit obsessed and just wanted to keep reading but not read too quickly because I didn’t want it to end! Give this book a chance! I loved it. Thanks NetGalley and S&S for the ARC!

My thanks to Net Galley and Marysue Rucci Books (Simon & Schuster) for an advanced copy of this e-book.

Imagine a world where people can experience a metamorphis into an animal/ fish/ bird. However, you don't know it is going to happen to you until your body starts changing. Lewis and Wren fall in love and marry. They have the normal young couple issues with their work, adjusting to life together, until Lewis starts to notice his body changing.

When you love someone who develops cancer or Alzheimer's, you have to watch them change and not always for the better, but you love them regardless. Wren loves and cares for Lewis like this. Given the title of the book, this is a love story, but just a little too "out there" for me ( and for other reasons ). Yet so many are loving this book and I wish this debut author continued success with her beautiful, creative writing.

This was the oddest, strangest, most unique book I think I’ve ever read, but it was beautiful and endearing. Nothing like I’ve ever read before.⁣
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When I grabbed this book I was solely drawn to the cover. I had no idea what it was about. I saw “love story” and this gorgeous floral shark and was like huh, let’s try this.⁣
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It was nothing like I expected but has some truly meaningful life lessons. ⁣
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Lewis and Wren couldn’t be more opposite; he’s in theatre, lives this bright brilliant life in acting; and she’s quiet, unable to fully commit to people. ⁣
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Lewis starts developing these odd symptoms and his mutation causes their lives as they know it to flip on its axis.⁣
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Then we follow Wren’s mothers life and how it started. Her parents always fighting, her trying to run from the home, meeting a boy young and losing her virginity. He turns out not to be the great boy in the world. ⁣
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Eventually Wren is born and her mother adores her. But then her mom also starts having odd symptoms. ⁣
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It’s this unique story on metaphors and how we adapt and morph in different stages of our lives, in different situations like motherhood, marriage, friendship, childhood. It’s told in scenes for different sections.⁣
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It’s just truly unique.⁣
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’m not sure where to start with a written review, as I can hardly find the words to verbalize my feelings about this book! So here are some disjointed, heartfelt reactions.

• Because of how chaotic life is right now, at first I was unsure if I’d be able to connect to the very poetic writing of this book. Good news- I did 🙌 It just took a while.
• Relationships of so many sorts were explored. Parental from both the parent and kid perspective. Friendships. Romantic. Toxic. Healthy. It was beautiful.
• Books that explore BIG topics like grief, change, and death (AKA life!) can do one of two things. Make me sad/scared and sink into a bit of a hole after finishing. Or hug me, let me meditate in a safe space, and come out on the other side a bit braver and content. This book does the latter. Bless.

And to think that all of those thoughts come from a book about a man morphing into a shark. Totally unexpected. Totally in love.

This is a unique love story and one that I did not think I would like. It is odd, strange, weird, and quirky and I absolutely loved it.
Many thanks to Simon Element and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 @𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬.) We’re going to be hard pressed to find a more weirdly wonderful book than 𝗦𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗞 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗧 any time soon. After reading the synopsis and seeing that gorgeous cover, I knew this was a book I 𝙃𝘼𝘿 to read and am 𝙎𝙊 glad I did. It was a completely original reading experience, one I wish I could have deeply savored, but instead flew through.⁣
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Debut author Emily Habeck tells the story of newlyweds, Wren and Lewis. Shortly after their wedding Lewis is diagnosed with the Carcharodon Carcharias Mutation, a condition that has him slowly turning into a great white shark. Yes, you read that correctly. Just accept it. In this story, people-to-animal mutations have been going on for a while. It’s widely known and reluctantly accepted. Though Lewis’s slow change is a big part of this story, it’s still only a part of it. This is also a love story. How can Wren do what’s best for Lewis? Can he survive without her? How will she carry on without him? And why did Wren enter their marriage as such a lonely soul?⁣
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I feel like my words here don't do the book justice, but it’s difficult to describe without going too far. Just know it’s a book that will pull at your heartstrings and stay with you for a very long time. With a debut like 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 I cannot wait to see what Emily Habeck does next! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“‘I’ve been diagnosed with a mutation. Carcharodon carcharias.’..’A mutation . . . carcharias? Which one is that?’ The clear day with the too blue sky, and the too green grass, and the perfect orange daylilies was no longer a pleasant place. This patio would forever be the starting place of the end. ‘Great white shark.’”

I always mention that I struggle with suspicion of belief when reading. So a genetic mutation forcing a human to evolve into a great white shark?! Obviously not plausible. But this book has you believing it is. I got so lost in this story and with these characters that I was 💯 seeing that transformation in my head. It happened. It was “real”. I am in awe.

“Maybe life is a little magic after all. There can be no other way to explain it.”

I am just gobsmacked that this is a debut. Woah! This book was so full of heart and soul and imagery and lessons. I simply adored it. The writing was beautiful, the chapters were short, and the emotion was overflowing. This is a story that will stay with me. 🦈💙

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

Thank you to @_simonelement, @marysueruccibooks and @netgalley for the eARC. Add this to your tbr guys, the hype is real!

This book is fundamentally about a man named Lewis who has a condition that causes him to change into a shark. It is a magical, fantastical, funny and emotional novel that has one of the most original plots I’ve ever read. 🦈 ♥️ ⁣
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The sorry is divided into three parts, each telling the story of Lewis, his wife Wren and Wren’s mother Angela. Lewis and Wren are newlyweds when his metamorphosis begins to occur, and the author gives the reader a rich backstory on each of the characters. It is very poignant. I loved all the characters but Angela’s especially resonated with me. Her parents ignored her, her mother mistreated her, so of course she fell in love with a nonconformist free spirit. ⁣
⁣
“𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘤’𝘴 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘥 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸: 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘰𝘯.”⁣
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The author uses an unusual narrative style that worked perfectly. I alternated between the audiobook and reading, and surprisingly, the narrative style had a very powerful impact on me when I listed to the audiobook version. ⁣
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This is a magical story where humans can change into birds, Komodo dragons and great white sharks. It is filled with grace and dark humor and ultimately, hope. I read that the author has a divinity background and that fits perfectly with some of the themes in this book. I loved it!⁣
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(𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.)

* I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this book. All thoughts are my own.

I really wasn’t sure what to expect from Shark Heart but it was so beautifully written and I really fell for the story. The characters are so raw and real. I also loved the formatting of the chapters: some were short (half a page), some were scenes like in a play, and others were in typical chapter format. The mutations did take a little getting used to, but it seems to be set in a world where it’s not super uncommon to have some sort of animal mutation. I’m really curious as to what inspired the author to write this story.

I would recommend!

Shark Heart is my idea of a perfect book. There is absolutely nothing I would improve about this novel. I think the way it was written was so brilliant and very unique and really had me fall in love with the characters even more. I could not put this book down and stayed up well past my bedtime reading each exquisite chapter. If you just read the synopsis of this book, it does sound a little weird, but TRUST me, it is weird in the very best way possible. I will not stop thinking about this book for a long time and am already thinking of rereading!

This is a book you'll either L O V E or H A T E. I honestly don't see a lot of middle ground with this one. I want to start by saying that it was one of the most unique books I've ever read and I really loved the metaphorical connection she made with the husband's transformation into a great white shark with terminal/chronic illness. Through that lens, the story was quite beautiful - the pain of losing your loved one piece by piece.

What didn't work for me was the way Habeck told the story - short (sometimes just a single sentence), choppy sentence structure that kept me flying through the story instead of being able to sink into the beauty of what she was trying to convey. I didn't need a book within a book - that's not at all what I'm saying. It just felt like she thought she was packing a whole bunch of profound ideas in as few of words as possible, and instead of inspiring me, she basically made me feel like it didn't matter. And the subject was much too nuanced and important to be left wondering if I cared.

Also, right off the bat, I didn't love the relationship between Lewis and Wren. Again, it's evident that the author wanted us to see their deep love and commitment, and i felt anything but that between these two. They were borderline toxic and I just didn't buy it.

Had this book not previously been adored and endorsed by many other reviewers who I trust, this would have been a DNF for me!