Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
on May 3, 2022
Genres: Drama / American / General, Fiction / Animals, Fiction / Family Life / General, Fiction / Fantasy / Humorous, Fiction / Friendship, Fiction / Humorous / Black Humor, Fiction / Humorous / General, Fiction / Literary, Fiction / Magical Realism, Fiction / Mystery & Detective / Cozy / Animals
Pages: 384
Format: Paperback
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

“𝘏𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘴. 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴.”
—Marcellus, Giant Pacific Octopus

Shelby Van Pelt’s Remarkably Bright Creatures is one of those books that sneaks up on you. I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did—but once I started, I couldn’t stop. Heartfelt, quirky, and unexpectedly profound, this debut blends mystery, healing, and an unusual friendship into a story that’s hard to describe—but easy to love.

At the heart of the novel is Tova Sullivan, a widow quietly carrying the grief of losing her teenage son decades ago. To keep herself occupied, she takes a job cleaning at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, where she meets the most unlikely companion—Marcellus, a cranky, brilliant giant Pacific octopus with a dry wit and an eye for human behavior. Told in part from his perspective (yes, really), Marcellus quickly became one of my favorite characters. Surprisingly insightful and often funny, he offers both comic relief and emotional depth—and plays a vital role in uncovering the truth behind Tova’s long-lost son.

The novel is a delicate exploration of grief, found family, second chances, and the surprising ways we find connection—even across species. The writing is warm, the pacing never drags, and the characters (both human and octopus) are compelling throughout. There’s a quiet magic in how Van Pelt weaves everything together, and I was always eager to see what would happen next.

Remarkably Bright Creatures is a tender, uplifting story full of heart, mystery, and unexpected wisdom. It’s a standout read that proves sometimes the most remarkable friendships come from the most unlikely places.