Shark Heart

Newlyweds Wren and Lewis face a physiological crisis when Lewis is diagnosed with a rare genetic mutation that will gradually transform him into a great white shark. Over nine months, the narrative tracks Lewis’s physical transition—the hardening of skin into scales and the loss of speech—alongside the emotional fracturing of their marriage. The story expands to include the history of Wren’s mother, Angela, following the hereditary nature of grief and the practicalities of caring for a partner who is physically present but biologically predatory.

Readers who appreciate speculative fiction centered on domestic life and medical metaphor will find a clinical yet intimate look at long-term caregiving. This book serves those interested in how identity shifts during terminal illness or sudden disability. The reader walks away with a perspective on the necessity of letting go when a loved one becomes unrecognizable, and the realization that memory remains the only stable anchor in a world of biological change.

Inward-looking, contemplative and thought-provoking; a moderate read.

Best for readers like The Mindful Reader. Which reader are you?