“Trailing a respectful distance beside her pectoral fins, I could feel the sheer force of her in the water. The sound her movement made was like thunder coming from far away, yet I felt it shuddering against me. I swam instinctively, not thinking, floating in a half-dreamed place, and what came to me was the quote stenciled on the wall in room 202 of my grandmother’s hotel—the Keats Room: ‘Love is my religion. I could die for that.’ The sea, its creatures, its sharks—they were my religion. I could die for that.”

Themes:

• Balancing career and family
• Holding grudges and offering forgiveness
• Personal growth over time, and how it can change not only who you are, but who and what you need

When I first picked up this book, it was for two reasons: I love Sharks, and I enjoy Sue Monk Kidd’s work, so I thought it would be really cool to read something by her daughter. But after the first few pages, I knew this book was going to end up meaning a lot more to me than all that.

This novel was emotional for me, in ways I totally didn’t expect. I lived in South Florida for the last 15-plus years. Even before we moved there, we had family there. Some of my most vivid childhood memories take place at my grandparents’ house in Key Largo. From the mangroves to the great key lime pie debate, The Shark Club took me back to a place I’ve long considered a home in one way or another. Everything about the setting of this book and the characters’ lifestyles was nostalgic to me! read more