I purchased The Shark Club by Ann Kidd Taylor (daughter of The Secret Life of Bees author Sue Monk Kidd) on a whim, when I was attracted to its bright teal cover on the tables of the Harvard Book Store Warehouse Sale. I read it during “Shark Week” because I knew that even though I wouldn’t be watching any shark documentaries on the Discovery Channel, but still wanted to fit in! 😉

This novel follows Maeve, a marine biologist who is often called a ‘shark whisperer.’ She’s just finished a research stint studying lemon sharks off the coast of the Bahamas with her attractive colleague Nicholas, and before heading off for a months-long research position in Mozambique, she heads home to Palermo Island, FL for a little break. She and her twin brother Robin were orphaned as young kids and went to live with her grandmother at her hotel, The Hotel of the Muses. When she arrives back home, she runs into a sweet & precocious young girl named Hazel — who turns out to be the daughter of her ex-fiance Daniel, newly hired as the chef at the hotel. Maeve also learns of an illegal shark-finning operation in the area and wants to get to the bottom of it, providing a little mystery in the story.

I loved EVERY character in this book — they were all really multi-dimensional and the author did an amazing job of giving enough of the characters’ background to really make the reader care about them. Additionally, the hotel itself was also a character — it was full of wacky art & literary-themed rooms.

I really enjoyed this book that was filled with a gorgeous setting full of beaches & beautiful blue waters. There was a little bit of romance, a little mystery, and a lot of heart. If you’re looking for a book to transport you to the crystal blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico, I’d suggest grabbing this one! 4/5 stars!