Name: Remarkably Bright Creatures
ISBN: 9781526649645

Shelby Van Pelt

Remarkably Bright Creatures

karina

Humans. For the most part, you are dull and blundering. But occasionally, you can be remarkably bright creatures. 

Lynn

Baylea Fancher

“You don’t recover. Not all the way. But you move on. You have to.”

“I miss you. Both of you.” She taps her heart. 

Much of human parlance is nonsense, but perhaps most ludicrous among the rubbish they spew is their tendency to glorify their own foolishness. By this, I mean absurd statements such as: What he doesn't know won't hurt him! Or, worse: Ignorance is bliss!

Here, in the kingdom of animals, ignorance is dangerous. The poor herring dropped into the tank lacks any awareness of the shark lurking below. Ask the herring whether what he doesn't know can hurt him.

I am not like you and Mary Ann and Barbara. I don’t have children who will come stay with me when I've had a fall. I don’t have grandchildren who will stop by to unclog my drain or make sure I’m taking my pills. And I won't put that burden on my friends and neighbors.

"There's your problem," says Janice softly. "Assuming it’s a burden.”

Zachary Roberts

Once your soul was soaked though with grief, any more simply ran off, overflowed, the way maple syrup on Saturday-morning pancakes always cascaded onto the table whenever Erik was allowed to pour it himself. 

For fans of A Man Called Ove, a luminous debut novel about a widow's unlikely friendship with a giant Pacific octopus reluctantly residing at the local aquarium--and the truths she finally uncovers about her son's disappearance thirty years ago. After Tova Sullivan's husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she's been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in the Puget Sound over thirty years ago. As she works, Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn't dream of lifting one of his eight tentacles for his human captors--until he forms an unlikely friendship with Tova. Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova's son disappeared. As his affection for Tova grows, Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it's too late. Charming, compulsively readable, and full of wit, Shelby Van Pelt's debut novel is a beautiful exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope--a reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible.

A Novel

I thought this was going to be something…more. It was fine for what is was.

I really enjoyed the characters (except the main character: young man, not Tova) and pace of the first three-quarters. But the end was too rushed and too pat. I wanted to see the film version with Sally Fields, but now—I fear it will turn even more treacly on film. This is my first “cozy” so maybe this is how they all are, and this is what people enjoy about cozies? 

For the audiobook, the actors were fantastic. I gave a full star just for the presentation of it.

Margaux Yiu

I thought this was going to be something…more. It was fine for what is was.

I really enjoyed the characters (except the main character: young man, not Tova) and pace of the first three-quarters. But the end was too rushed and too pat. I wanted to see the film version with Sally Fields, but now—I fear it will turn even more treacly on film. This is my first “cozy” so maybe this is how they all are, and this is what people enjoy about cozies? 

For the audiobook, the actors were fantastic. I gave a full star just for the presentation of it.

Michelle Dsouza

“Humans. For the most part, you are dull and blundering. But occasionally, you can be remarkably bright creatures.” ― Shelby Van Pelt, Remarkably Bright Creatures That line really says it all. Remarkably Bright Creatures is a warm, quietly emotional novel about grief, loneliness, and unexpected connection, but for me, the real heart of the book was never in the human characters. It was in Marcellus. The story follows Tova, an older woman still living with deep personal loss, Cameron, a drifting young man trying to find his footing, and Marcellus, the giant Pacific octopus whose observations give the novel its wit, charm, and much of its emotional clarity. The premise is unusual, but Shelby Van Pelt handles it with enough sincerity and restraint that it never feels as gimmicky as it could have. ⚠️ Spoilers below. Marcellus was, without question, the standout. He is funny, perceptive, and strangely moving, and his chapters gave the book a distinct personality that the rest of the story sometimes lacked. It would have been very easy for him to feel like a clever narrative trick, but instead he felt like the most vivid character in the novel. Every time the story returned to him, it sharpened. I also really liked Tova. There is something deeply affecting about the way her grief is written—quiet, contained, and woven into the routines of her life rather than constantly announced. Her chapters have a steadiness to them that gave the book much of its emotional weight, and her connection with Marcellus was easily the most compelling relationship in the novel for me. Cameron, on the other hand, was a struggle. I found him insufferable for much of the book, and every time the narrative shifted heavily toward him, my interest dipped. I understand the role he serves in the story, but he never felt nearly as compelling as the book seemed to think he was. That imbalance mattered because it left me loving certain parts of the novel and merely tolerating others. What worked overall was the storytelling itself. It is clever in structure, gentle in tone, and clearly written with a lot of heart. What held it back for me was that I was not equally invested in all of its moving parts. I loved Marcellus, really liked Tova, and found much of the human drama far less engaging by comparison. In the end, this is a book I can absolutely appreciate, even if I did not love it as much as I wanted to. It is thoughtful, tender, and memorable largely because of one extraordinary octopus. Loved Marcellus. Not so much the humans.

For fans of A Man Called Ove, a luminous debut novel about a widow’s unlikely friendship with a giant Pacific octopus reluctantly residing at the local aquarium—and the truths she finally uncovers about her son’s disappearance thirty years ago. After Tova Sullivan’s husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she’s been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in the Puget Sound over thirty years ago. As she works, Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn’t dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors—until he forms an unlikely friendship with Tova. Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova’s son disappeared. As his affection for Tova grows, Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it’s too late. Charming, compulsively readable, and full of wit, Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel is a beautiful exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope—a reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible.

I have such a deep fondness for all of these lovely characters, especially Marcellus. 

I’ll write a full review later but for now I would like to ruminate on my thoughts. 

Emilia Vulliamy

What a remarkable story.

I have such a deep fondness for all of these lovely characters, especially Marcellus. 

I’ll write a full review later but for now I would like to ruminate on my thoughts. 

The audiobook is 100% the way to go. Both the narrator’s did a fantastic job and really brought the story to life. It was lighthearted and touching and I think it handled really tough subjects with a lot of grace. I also really liked how this book can be enjoyed by anyone because there’s literally a character for everyone to relate too (for me it was Marcellus) 

soph 

Had so much fun with this book. Marcellus POV was the best and I liked how everything came around together. I still didn’t love Cameron at the end but I was such a fan of Tova

Paige Paul

Lost track of the plot at some points but that's on me, doing work while listening to this. There was also a lot of "let go of a breath they didn't know they were holding."

A very character-driven story, heartwarming and human.

Lost track of the plot at some points but that's on me, doing work while listening to this. There was also a lot of "let go of a breath they didn't know they were holding."

A very character-driven story, heartwarming and human.

- wonderful wonderful premise but kind of a dull and uninspired execution... i really wanted to love this :(

- if the book was split 50/50 between marcellus's observations and tova's acts of kindness and whimsy and her reflections of getting older and experiencing loss and being human... it would've been so perfect. but alas

- the whole found family twist (and everything in this book related to cameron) was just... not what i wanted. it's like a trashy romance novel somehow got shoved into what was supposed to be a cute grandma book about the struggles of getting older and moving on

smile??

- wonderful wonderful premise but kind of a dull and uninspired execution... i really wanted to love this :(

- if the book was split 50/50 between marcellus's observations and tova's acts of kindness and whimsy and her reflections of getting older and experiencing loss and being human... it would've been so perfect. but alas

- the whole found family twist (and everything in this book related to cameron) was just... not what i wanted. it's like a trashy romance novel somehow got shoved into what was supposed to be a cute grandma book about the struggles of getting older and moving on

- heck u cameron

hilarious and beautiful and perfectly heart wrenching 

Ralie Sutton

Cute! Loved the octopus, wish I heard more from him but whatever. Kinda boring

Allysen

It was a bit slow at first, but I ended up really enjoying it

Brenna Rutherford

Margo Koss

Cute beach read. I love Marcellus the octopus 🐙 just enough family drama and quirky small town shenanigans to keep this book interesting — it was the perfect palate cleanser after a darker read.

Katelyn Caillouet

If you're looking for a slow, cozy read that tugs at your heart in the best way, this book might be just what you need. Part of the story is told through the perspective of Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus, and honestly, I'm a sucker for animal narrators. Marcellus is sassy, witty, and has a knack of observing human behavior—his chapters were some of my favorites.

What stuck with me most was the book's message about resilience and how life can throw curveballs, but there's always hope for something better if you keep going. I especially loved how it shows that sometimes all it takes is one person (or octopus) to give you a break or show you kindness to help you find your footing again. This book left me feeling hopeful about life's unexpected second chances. 

Cynthia

If you're looking for a slow, cozy read that tugs at your heart in the best way, this book might be just what you need. Part of the story is told through the perspective of Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus, and honestly, I'm a sucker for animal narrators. Marcellus is sassy, witty, and has a knack of observing human behavior—his chapters were some of my favorites.

What stuck with me most was the book's message about resilience and how life can throw curveballs, but there's always hope for something better if you keep going. I especially loved how it shows that sometimes all it takes is one person (or octopus) to give you a break or show you kindness to help you find your footing again. This book left me feeling hopeful about life's unexpected second chances. 

kait

This book really makes you view life and death in a very interesting and unique way. The audiobooks was amazing and I loved the writing style and lastly, the mystery itself was really captivating

Sofia B

This was a very sweet, heartwarming book that kept me engaged with the characters. I want to know Tova and Marcellus in real life. 

Coley T

This book started out a little slow but I actually really enjoyed it. The character development was great.

At first I personally felt like Cameron had zero redeeming qualities, and hated reading his chapters, but by the end I had started to change my mind. 

I LOVED Marcellus’s POV’s and I adored Tova’s character.

This book started out a little slow but I actually really enjoyed it. The character development was great.

At first I personally felt like Cameron had zero redeeming qualities, and hated reading his chapters, but by the end I had started to change my mind. 

I LOVED Marcellus’s POV’s and I adored Tova’s character.

Overall, it was a very sweet read. 

This wholesome and heartfelt story lifted my spirits during the gloomy days I've been experiencing lately. I would have loved this book if I had read it when I was young, but it's not strictly a children's book; I believe readers of all ages will appreciate its charm. Van Pelt skilfully weaves together the intertwined lives of her human characters and one exceptionally intelligent octopus. The book hooks you with an intriguing start, keeps you eagerly turning pages through the captivating middle, and concludes with a beautifully satisfying resolution. It's an impressive accomplishment, especially for a debut novel.

Heartwarming, creative, unique, and addicting - absolutely loved this book! Has been on my shelf for some time after hearing wonderful reviews and so happy I finally gave it a chance. 10/10

Sarah Wilson

lovely story about family (especially those who are found) — a bit predictable and slow at times — but heartwarming all the same

petrina

I absolutely loved this book! Everything I thought it would be and more. 

Rodney Crawford

Very much a character driven book, good story. It truly deserves a higher ranking but character driven books such as these are typically not my style. I would definitely recommend to someone who likes these types of books

Tabitha Rone

this book was a really wholesome story about family and intelligence, and at the center of it was one of my favourite animals: an octopus !

i really enjoyed how this book explored three different perspectives and it was a really kind and warm world to escape to in  the busy last few weeks. it didn't require a lot of brainpower to follow, and the characters were likable and kind.

i would recommend it to anyone looking for a chill lit fiction read, potentially someone younger as the themes aren't incredibly complex.

to conclude, even if i enjoyed it i found it didn't challenge my thinking, was just a nice book to pass the time and feel the fuzzy thinking. this is why its a 3 stars! solid, but not mind blowing

Ashna Nirula

this book was a really wholesome story about family and intelligence, and at the center of it was one of my favourite animals: an octopus !

i really enjoyed how this book explored three different perspectives and it was a really kind and warm world to escape to in  the busy last few weeks. it didn't require a lot of brainpower to follow, and the characters were likable and kind.

i would recommend it to anyone looking for a chill lit fiction read, potentially someone younger as the themes aren't incredibly complex.

to conclude, even if i enjoyed it i found it didn't challenge my thinking, was just a nice book to pass the time and feel the fuzzy thinking. this is why its a 3 stars! solid, but not mind blowing