Shark Heart, A Love Story, by Emily Habeck
reviewed by Rachel Baila
Some novels defy easy categorization, and Shark Heart by Emily Habeck is one of them. A genre-bending fusion of magical realism and dark romance, this novel weaves a profoundly moving love story that is both wildly imaginative and deeply human. Habeck crafts a world where transformation—both literal and emotional—becomes a metaphor for the complexities of relationships, love, and self-discovery.
At the heart of the novel are Wren and Lewis, a married couple whose love is tested when Lewis begins a metamorphosis—not metaphorically, but physically—into a great white shark. What could be a surreal gimmick instead feels heartbreakingly real, thanks to Habeck’s rich character development. Through layered storytelling, we are immersed in Wren’s complicated childhood, her difficulty trusting relationships, and Lewis’s journey from aspiring actor to dedicated theater teacher. Their backstories are rendered with such emotional depth that by the time the transformation begins, it feels like an organic extension of their world rather than an implausible twist.
One of Habeck’s greatest strengths is her lyrical, yet concise, prose. The novel is structured in short, experimental chapters, some heavy with dialogue, others presented in a theatrical format, and some more traditionally narrative-driven. Each shift in style serves a purpose, reinforcing the novel’s themes of impermanence, longing, and the evolving nature of love. Her language is evocative without excess, making every word feel intentional and every scene immersive.
Unlike conventional love stories, Shark Heart avoids clichés. It embraces the unpredictability of relationships, exploring how love endures and adapts through heartbreak, transformation, and even separation. It’s a novel that refuses easy resolutions, instead leaving the reader with a lingering sense of longing—one that stays well after the final page.
Habeck has created something rare: a novel that is at once magical, heartbreaking, and achingly real. If you appreciate books that push the boundaries of genre while delivering an emotionally resonant story, Shark Heart is a must-read. This is a love story unlike any other, and one that, like all great love stories, leaves you heartbroken in the best possible way.
Shark Heart • Marysue Rucci Books • August 2023 • 405 pages
Rachel Baila is a writer, holistic practitioner, and creative educator.
Her work explores the fertile crossroads of creative and therapeutic writing, somatic practices, and mindful expression, empowering others to overcome artistic blocks and nurture a balanced body, mind, and spirit.