Remarkably Bright Creatures: A Read with Jenna Pick Hardcover – May 3, 2022

OMG I loved this book. I kept seeing it recommended everywhere and finally sat down to read it—and I’m so glad I did!It has a little something for everyone: a touch of romance, some real emotional depth, and yes—an animal with actual thoughts (which somehow totally works). The story was wholesome, clever, and made me both laugh and cry.The character development was beautiful, especially for the two main characters. The book explores themes of grief, loneliness, and childhood trauma in such a gentle and thoughtful way. It’s one of those stories that quietly stays with you after you finish.Highly recommend if you want something heartwarming but still layered with meaning.

A beautifully layered, unexpected story that stole my heart.At its core, Remarkably Bright Creatures is a powerful story about grief, connection, and second chances — told in a way that feels both whimsical and deeply human. Set in a small coastal town, the story follows the unlikely friendship between Tova Sullivan, a lonely widow working the night shift at an aquarium, and Marcellus — a highly intelligent, curmudgeonly giant Pacific octopus with a keen eye for human behavior (and secrets).Yes, you read that right — an octopus, and yes, somehow it works perfectly.This is not a book I would have normally picked up. The idea of an octopus as a point-of-view character honestly threw me off at first. But wow — this book blew me away. The writing is exquisite, the pacing gentle but purposeful, and the emotional depth is undeniable. Shelby Van Pelt has crafted a story that is both tender and quietly profound, blending subtle humor with moving insight.This book surprised me in every possible way. It made me laugh, it made me reflect, and even made me tear up at times. It’s a story about loss, yes, but more than that, it’s about found family, forgiveness, and the unexpected ways we find healing.If you’re looking for something heartfelt, character-driven, and just a little bit magical, Remarkably Bright Creatures is the kind of story that will stick with you.

I stumbled on Remarkably Bright Creatures among my recommendations. As often happens, the premise intrigued me enough to read it even though I didn't know the author. Well, if Shelby Van Pelt often writes like this, I definitely want more of her books.The friendship between Tova the aquarium cleaning lady and Marcellus the giant Pacific octopus is a definite selling point in this book. It's a great twist on the "A Kid and Their X" trope (the kind of thing you see in stuff like Where the Red Fern Grows, Old Yeller, Free Willy, and so forth). This one, I am pleased to report, is far less cheesy and saccharine. Tova is a multifaceted character whose life may seem small in her estimation, and probably is if we go by what is a "normal" life in a small seaside town. Yet that life has been stuffed with complex emotions, unanswered questions, and a longing for "more" that I think everybody can relate to. At least, I certainly could.As for Marcellus, he's multifaceted, too. A part of me did stick with his point of view, and story, because it is a story of a "remarkably bright," underestimated creature trapped and controlled in a world he doesn't understand. I have cerebral palsy and was diagnosed as level 1 autistic this spring; I'm still looking back and trying to heal from a lot of the latter's implications. So in a visceral way, yeah. I'm not a captive animal or mistreated, but I understood how Marcellus felt. What I liked even better about his story though, is that Marcellus' story doesn't stop there.Marcellus actually has a life and a history that Shelby Van Pelt, Tova, Cameron, and other characters dig into. He's not just a captive yearning for freedom and mourning lost opportunities, as often happens with similar stories. He makes wry, witty, yet quiet, non-snarky observations about humans. He cares deeply for Tova because she took time to know him as a "person," but also because she's the only human who has ever stopped long enough for Marcellus to know as a real "person." Marcellus gets to be the conduit of real revelation and change for people inside and outside his world. That's amazing, and frankly, it's a lot more than many human characters get.Remarkably Bright Creatures couldn't succeed with just Tova or Marcellus though, or at least not as well as it did, I think. The other characters pop off the page as well. Cameron is my favorite, precisely because I didn't expect to like him at first. By his own admission, he comes off as a burnout and a loser, and I admit, that's how I saw him to begin with. But as with Tova and Marcellus, Cameron is hiding a lot of layers, a lot of depth. He's got a great heart, but he's still a typical, kinda clueless 30-year-old guy (and I'm still a 30-something so I say that tongue in cheek). He's vulnerable but not pitiful; he plays the victim sometimes, but then he gets mad at being called out on that and wants to do better. He struggles and is a burnout, but he's got good, solid friends and some real interests and potential. In other words, I got really into his arc, especially once Tova, Marcellus, and even Ethan got involved.As for Ethan, he's unexpectedly cool, as well. I admit some brownie points with him, as I love all things Scottish or Irish and he is of Scottish descent. But I also didn't expect a shopkeeper in his '70s with a gruff edge to be a Grateful Dead fan or to get along so well with a neat and tidy, tiny Swedish aquarium cleaner, so brownie points on plot and character there. In fact, Ethan's role in the story, in particular, went all kinds of unexpected places, so without spoiling anything, I'll tell you to keep an eye on it.Finally, Shelby wins some extra brownie points for a lot of the "little" things that "pop" out at me when reading a book like this one. For instance, I love cats and love the reluctant yet affectionate relationship Tova develops with a stray cat. I love Marcellus' Collection and the pride and care he takes in it. I love and felt some heartbreak over Tova's reminiscing about the attic playroom that never got to be a playroom.But I think the thing I loved most about Remarkably Bright Creatures is how remarkable Shelby showed readers humans--and creatures--can be, without getting heavy-handed or cheesy. There are some romances here, so to speak, but this is a relationship novel, and those are, have been for the past several years, some of my favorite ones.There is some language here, so caveat emptor if that's not your thing. From a writer's perspective, I also wondered how much some threads or characters were actually needed. For instance, looking back, I understand why Tova had a brother, but I'm unsure how much he furthered the plot. Similarly, I understand the roles of Avery and Marco but again, am unsure how much they furthered the plot.Also, I almost hate to say it, and I could be wrong about this. After all, I know about as much concerning octopi as the average person who watches Jeopardy (which I do). But while Marcellus' plot thread is great, and while I definitely understand suspension of disbelief, I did wonder along with Cameron how much those boundaries were pushed. I mean, I buy Marcellus getting out of his tank, and with the right Collection items, I guess Tova and Cameron could've figured out whatever they needed to know. But...there's a logical shard of me that isn't quite sure she buys how everything lined up, I guess.All that aside though, Remarkably Bright Creatures is still a remarkable book. As often happens, I'm now eager to find more like it. And yes, it does get a hearty recommendation. At the very least, I'll want to take closer looks next time I go to an aquarium.

Remarkably Bright Creatures is one of those rare novels that sneaks up on you with quiet beauty and ends up staying in your heart long after the last page. Shelby Van Pelt’s debut is charming, emotionally layered, and refreshingly original.The story, told in part through the surprisingly wise and witty eyes of a giant Pacific octopus (yes, really!), explores themes of grief, connection, and second chances. Tova is such a beautifully written character—her quiet resilience and daily routines at the aquarium are soothing, until they become something transformative. The alternating perspectives are masterfully balanced, and the pacing is just right—calm yet compelling.This book made me smile, tear up, and think about the ways we carry loss and find unexpected family. And yes, Marcellus the octopus might just be one of the most delightful narrators I’ve ever encountered.Whether you’re in a reading slump or just looking for something gentle but meaningful, this book is a truly uplifting and memorable read. Highly recommend for fans of Fredrik Backman, The House in the Cerulean Sea, or anyone who loves character-driven fiction with a touch of magic.