Shark’s Egg by Henrietta Rose-Innes is a lyrical and haunting coming-of-age novel set in the coastal shadows of Cape Town. The story follows Anna, a thoughtful and observant girl, whose intense schoolgirl friendship with the unpredictable and captivating Leah leaves a lasting imprint on her life. As the two women drift into adulthood, their complicated bond resurfaces, tangled with desire, memory, and rivalry.
At the heart of their adult entanglement is Alan—Anna’s first lover—who becomes the battleground for a subtle but powerful emotional and sexual struggle between the two women. Their story unfolds against the ever-present menace of the sea, a powerful and symbolic backdrop to themes of identity, intimacy, and personal transformation.
Poetic and quietly unsettling, Shark’s Egg explores the complexities of female friendship, the fragility of youth, and the echoes of past choices. Henrietta Rose-Innes, one of South Africa’s most acclaimed literary voices, delivers a deeply evocative novel filled with mood, tension, and insight.
