The Shark Club

By: Ann Kidd Taylor

Narrated by: Emily Rankin

“A quintessential summer read.” —Marie Claire

A warm and wonderfully vivid novel about taking second chances—in life and in the sea

One summer day on the beach in Florida, two extraordinary things happen to Maeve Donnelly. First, she is kissed by Daniel, the boy of her dreams. Then, she is bitten by a blacktip shark.

Eighteen years later, Maeve has thrown herself into her work as a world-traveling marine biologist discovering more about the minds of misunderstood sharks. But when Maeve returns home to the legendarily charming and eccentric Hotel of the Muses where she was raised by her grandmother, she finds more than just the blood orange sunsets and key lime pies she’s missed waiting for her.

While Maeve has always been fearless in the water, on land she is indecisive. A chance meeting on the beach with a plucky, irresistible little girl who is just as fascinated by the ocean as Maeve was growing up leaves her at a crossroads: Should she re-kindle her romance with Daniel, the first love she left behind when she dove into her work? Or indulge in a new romance with her colleague, Nicholas, who turns up in her hometown to investigate an illegal shark-finning operation?

Set against the intoxicating backdrop of palm trees, calypso bands, and perfect ocean views, The Shark Club is a story of the mysterious passions of one woman’s life: her first love and new love; the sea and sharks that inhabit it.

Critic reviews

Named one of Refinery29's best books of 2017

Named one of the best books of the summer by * PopSugar * Bustle * Southern Living * Coastal Living * Marie Claire * PureWow *

“This one’s a quintessential summer read: It's based in the Gulf of Mexico so even if you're only sunning at your local beach, you can still daydream of palm trees and pristine waters.”
—Marie Claire

“A spellbinding meditation on one woman's unresolved past . . . Consider it required summer reading for anyone still tangled in the tricky project of growing-up.”
—Refinery29

“A delicious summer read.”
—Redbook

“The beautiful descriptions of life under the sea will make you want to take a scuba diving class ASAP.”
—Fodor’s Travel

“Taylor vividly describes the tropical, touristy setting as she weaves romance and danger, taking the reader on a thrilling Florida vacation with an environmental twist. The Shark Club makes a truly delightful beach read.”
—Minneapolis Star-Tribune

“A real beach read . . . [Taylor] brings a wealth of sharply observed detail to this novel, from the right way to make key lime pie to the joys of dealing with tourists.”
—Tampa Bay Times

“A highly-readable mix of marine science and romance, set on the picturesque beaches of South Florida.”
—Birmingham Magazine

“A great summer read whether you’re on the beach or just wish you were.”
—Charleston Gazette-Mail

“The Shark Club is a captivating story of love and loss, and a beautiful ode to the ocean and those whose hearts are drawn to it. Ann Kidd Taylor—and her novel’s heroine, Maeve—understand the many sublime mysteries of sharks, and how deeply their fate is connected to our own.”
—Susan Casey, author of The Devil’s Teeth: A True Story of Obsession and Survival Among America’s Great White Sharks

“Captivating . . . An engaging novel about the loves that define our lives.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“With humor and surprises, The Shark Club moves along briskly as Maeve struggles
to forgive, let go of past love, and navigate happiness on her own terms.”
—Booklist

The Gift Goes On

I loved this book! I've been a fan of Sue Monk Kidd for many years. I feel like I've watched Ann grow up through her mother's stories. When Mother and Daughter collaborated on Traveling with Pomegranates, I traveled with them through some pivotal experiences that drew them closer to each other, but also helped Ann find her own path and discover her own gifts for writing and storytelling.

In The Shark Club, Ann firmly establishes herself as a gifted author in her own right. I loved her characters and she kept me hanging on from chapter to chapter, reluctant to interrupt the story to return to my daily tasks, or to sleep. That is the sign of a good book!

So bring on your next book, Ann! I'll be waiting. and watching for it!

Fantastic!

The Shark Club is a fantastic. A quick, summer read that I have very much enjoyed.

Fun for marine bio fans

If you love love and sharks this is the book for you! there is also a bit of mystery!

Didn’t hold my interest

Characters aren’t very compelling and I gave up about halfway through. Wouldn’t really bother at all

Cute but predictable

I enjoyed the story but felt parts were very predictable and a bit corny. I expected more from the ending and felt disappointed in the outcome.