Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

Shark Heart by Emily Habeck

25 reviews

wreadaptation's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense fast-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

An emotional journey that left me wrecked but somehow guided me into a place of magic. This book resonated deeply with me on so many levels - as a daughter, a mother, a partner, and a friend. Habeck captures the complexity of life changes, grief, and abuse with metaphors that feel so vivid and raw.

Reading this book while navigating my own grief felt like it was heaven-sent. The story doesn’t shy away from the pain but instead weaves it into something both haunting and beautiful. It’s one of those rare books that truly understands the human experience, offering comfort and connection to anyone facing their own storms.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Grief, and Abandonment

frostyjflakes's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Terminal illness, and Abandonment

chelle22's review against another edition

emotional

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

sarafinley's review against another edition

emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Medical content, Grief, and Abandonment

rebeccakoury's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

One of the best books I've read all year. If you're looking for a book to really get you thinking about love, life, and connection, this is for you.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Body horror and Blood

Minor: Animal death, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Abandonment, and Dysphoria

lmszalay's review against another edition

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Chronic illness, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Minor: Suicide and Pregnancy

brookebatesratesbooks's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Abandonment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, Domestic abuse, and Drug use

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Abortion

dexlud's review

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Oh my god. Shark Heart by Emily Habeck is possibly the most beautiful, tender writing I’ve read in my life. The story woven throughout these pages is split and muddled around and yet it is still a beautiful one none the less. We follow so many different people, all of which contribute to Wren, our main character, who went from a hiding girl to a strong woman.

There was pregnancy in this book, which had been hinted at for a while, but is still a surprise.

I believe the entire point of the book is to be a sort of comparison against dementia, especially with how the mutation progresses. The parallels are uncanny and it almost definitely reminds me of it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Moderate: Pregnancy

Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic

aharper's review against another edition

emotional sad tense fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Animal death and Abandonment

Minor: Abortion and Death of parent

spellbindingtomes's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Alcoholism and Abandonment

Minor: Animal death and Drug use