Shark Heart

by Emily Habeck · 2023

Shark Heart: A Love Story is a debut novel that blends magical realism with lyrical literary fiction. Newlyweds Wren and Lewis face an impossible diagnosis: Lewis will gradually transform into a great white shark while retaining his mind and memories. Over nine months, their marriage, motherhood, and personal histories collide as Wren confronts her own childhood on a houseboat, a past romance with a college girlfriend, and a friendship with a pregnant woman bearing twin birds. Interwoven is the story of Wren’s mother, Angela, who herself faces a rare mutation. The novel explores love, sacrifice, identity, and the fragile nature of memory, earning accolades such as a New York Times Editors’ Choice, USA TODAY Bestseller, and multiple award nominations.