Shark Heart

A Love Story

De: Emily Habeck

Narrado por: Karissa Vacker, Shaun Taylor-Corbett, Soneela Nankani

A New York Times Editors’ Choice
A USA TODAY Bestseller
A Booklist Editor’s Choice
A Goodreads Choice Award Nominee
A Massachusetts Book Awards Fiction Honors Selection
Shortlisted for the Brooklyn Public Library Book Prize

A “beautifully written” (Anthony Doerr, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of All the Light We Cannot See) debut novel of marriage, motherhood, metamorphosis, and letting go, this intergenerational love story begins with newlyweds Wren and her husband, Lewis—a man who, over the course of nine months, transforms into a great white shark.

For Lewis and Wren, their first year of marriage is also their last. 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.

At first, Wren internally resists her husband’s fate. Is there a way for them to be together after Lewis changes? Then, a glimpse of Lewis’s developing carnivorous nature activates long-repressed memories for Wren, whose story vacillates between her childhood living on a houseboat in Oklahoma, her time with her college ex-girlfriend, and her unusual friendship with a woman pregnant with twin birds. Woven throughout this “heart-wringing” (Adam Roberts, internationally bestselling author of Salt) novel is the story of Wren’s mother, Angela, who becomes pregnant with Wren at fifteen in an abusive relationship amidst her parents’ crumbling marriage. In the present, all of Wren’s grief eventually collides, and she is forced to make an impossible choice.

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. This daring debut marks the arrival of a wildly talented new writer abounding with originality, humor, and heart.

©2023 Emily Habeck (P)2023 Simon & Schuster Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Narrators Karissa Vacker, Shaun Taylor-Corbett, and Soneela Nankani breathe life into Habeck's novel, creating a unique and deeply emotional listening experience.... Together, the trio's voices seamlessly weave Habeck's unconventional narrative, exploring themes of love, loss, and transformation. This captivating and unforgettable auditory adventure delves into complexities of the human heart." (AudioFIle)

Beautiful in every way!

Thank you so much for this beautiful love story, Emily! Top books of the year for me!

The transformation & broken family

It was okay, a lot of loose ends not tied up for me. The chance of having this happen to the main character twice, how the other shark character knew Rynn’s history, Maybe Lewis told her & didn’t remember. Just okay for me

Beautiful in a thoughtful unique way

Love how the author painted this world. I would highly recommend not judging it by its unique cover or bizarre plot it is a deep felt story that you can’t help but feel connected to.

A very odd book that I wanted to be better

Seriously I don’t mind finding the meaning in books that are different. However, this book just didn’t do it for me. Weird ideas that really didn’t tie together at all. Lots of unnecessary details and verbiage that just leaves you hanging and exhausted from just trying to get through it.
I did laugh out loud a few times at some of the ironic quotes but just not enough to make me like it.

Cute and weird and perfect

I loved this book so much. I plan to re-listen soon because I can’t stop thinking about it!

Beautiful, Captivating Story

This is a truly beautlful story, written in an interesting format that keeps the reader (listener) engaged and wanting for more. It's an emotional rollercoaster showing a literary fiction representation of terminal illness, greif, and what could come after loss. I absolutely recommend this to anyone and everyone who reads; I'm so glad I took a chance on this new (to me) author.

Interesting, unique story involving mutations

Loved this story and characters. Wonderful portrayal of real life feelings of grief that in some ways reminded me of situations I know such as my friend with an alcoholic mother. Of course in the story it was Wren’s mother going through her animal change but I felt the adolescent Wren mirrored my friend during that part. The narrators were wonderful. Great book!

Love in all its forms.

Love how vivid and strong you could feel each character’s emotions and reality. Loved it was broken into theatrical scenes. Storyline had a unique, creative, and supernatural spin. Didn’t care so much for the current gender fad integrated throughout the book.

Unexpectedly gorgeous and compelling read

From the very first word to the last, I couldn’t put this exquisitely written book down. It is a beautiful exploration of love, loss, and growth with a dash of wonder and whimsy mixed in.

Wanted to like it.

I like the strange concept, and I liked the first half of the book. The second half dragged for bit, got a little better, but the ending didn’t stick for me.