“Remarkably Bright Creatures is a beautiful examination of how loneliness can be transformed, cracked open, with the slightest touch from another living thing.”—Kevin Wilson, author of Nothing to See Here

For fans of A Man Called Ove, a charming, witty and compulsively enjoyable exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope that traces a widow's unlikely connection with a giant Pacific octopus

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 Puget Sound over thirty years ago.

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 a remarkable friendship with Tova.

Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova’s son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it’s too late.

Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel is a gentle reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible.

Listening Length

11 hours and 16 minutes
Author

Shelby Van Pelt
Narrator

Marin Ireland, see all
Audible release date

May 3, 2022
Language

English
Publisher

HarperAudio
ASIN

B09DTGQHKJ
Version

Unabridged
Program Type

Audiobook
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From the manufacturer

Read with Jenna Pick Amazon #1 Best Book

Listening Length	11 hours and 16 minutes
Author	Shelby Van Pelt
Narrator	Marin Ireland, Michael Urie
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com Release Date	May 03, 2022
Publisher	HarperAudio
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B09DTGQHKJ
Best Sellers Rank	#4 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) #1 in Literary Fiction (Audible Books & Originals) #1 in Mysteries (Audible Books & Originals) #1 in Animal Fiction (Audible Books & Originals)

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5

16,069 global ratings

5 star		72%
4 star		21%
3 star		5%
2 star		1%
1 star		1%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Gifted Guru

A great personal and book club read

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 3, 2023

Verified Purchase

This story crosses so many genres. Modern fiction, book club fiction, magical realism (octopus narrator), coming of age, and probably more. It nails all of them.

In addition to a great story, the book is beautifully laid out. The chapters where the octopus is narrating (trust me, they're great), have gorgeous design elements.

On the surface, this is a story of three people and one octopus making their way through grief and challenge and fear to find their path. We have Tova, who's had more grief than any one person should endure. Cameron, abandoned by his mother and never living up to anyone's expectations (not even his own). Ethan, attracted to Tova, but too hesitant to make a move. Marcellus, the octopus, determined to make the most of the little time he has left.

The story is set on the coast of Washington, north of Seattle. I appreciated the setting's treatment in the story because it was clear and important, but the author didn't hit you over the head with it. There was no showing off ("Look how much research I did about this place!"). That can be so annoying.

What I loved:
- The characters are developed. Ethan needed more backstory, but other than that the character development was terrific.
- The premise is unusual, but it works.
- The narrative shifts are easy to follow.
- The layout is lovely. I love a well-made book.
- The author resists easy solutions, and she leaves one story not completely resolved. This can be dangerous, but here it fits completely.
- There are strong life lessons and takeaways, but the author doesn't beat you over the head with them.
- The story moves apace. There's no lagging. There's also no rushing. It's well-paced.
- The solutions aren't easy and pat. There is a definite deux ex machina feel in a few of the story points, but I think that's to expected when there's an octopus afoot.

What I didn't love:
- Nothing worth mentioning. Well-crafted, well-designed, and well-executed, this book is a winner.

Overall, this is a great person read, and a great book club read.

55 people found this helpful

Helpful

Escondido

An unforgettable tale

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 24, 2023

Verified Purchase

The imagination of new author Shelby Van Pelt is truly to be admired.

This charming and heartwarming story is about an elderly widow, Tova, who keeps active with a job cleaning a public aquarium in a small coastal tourist town. There, alone in the evenings, she amuses herself by sharing her thoughts with the various sea creatures as they swim around taking no notice of her. All except one. Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus who is a keen observer of the people around him. His observations, expressed on the page in short chapters, are astute and correct. Tova is fascinated by him and he by her, though she can't explain why.

We'll eventually learn the reason why in a bit of magical storytelling that had me weeping with joy.
This lovely story is a cut above anything I've read in a very long time and you, too, I hope, will believe in Marcellus.

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

Lynne M. Spreen

Heartwarming story of people finding each other

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 5, 2023

Verified Purchase

Tova is 70, dealing with widowhood and the mysterious disappearance and presumed death of her son. Stoic and resolute, she works at the city aquarium as a cleaning woman, and it's there that she befriends Marcellus, the Giant Pacific Octopus. Marcellus is a point-of-view character in this book, and he's so smart...if he were human, his IQ would probably be around 150. His observations about humans are spot on. Marcellus has knowledge that can mend Tova's heart, but how to convey it without being able to speak? And he's on a very short timeline.

Meanwhile, Cameron is a thirty-year-old failure-to-launch character. Abandoned in childhood by a mysterious father and drug addict mother, Cameron is down to his last four dollars when he gets a job filling in at the Sowell aquarium. An unlikely friendship is born, one that'll be wrenched apart when Tova sells her house and moves north to assisted living. The clock is ticking. Will Marcellus be able to convey his news before it's too late?

This is a compelling, smart, funny tale of lonely humans coming together. Put me in mind of the writing of Fredrik Backman ("A Man Called Ove" and "Britt-Marie Was Here"). Highly recommended.

17 people found this helpful

Helpful

L. Brown

A perfect grumpy/sunshine friendship.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 16, 2023

Verified Purchase

This is such a beautiful, gentle story with great characters. Tova is not a character we get to see often in fiction: an older woman grappling with what it means when you aren’t sure of your purpose anymore. But Marcellus is the true wonder here. He is funny and wise and clever. His voice is well written and strong. And the extended characters are all well drawn and create a world that I wanted to stay in

The only thing I can say is that I did not like Cameron for a very long time. But to the author’s credit, she recognizes that he has a lot of growing he needs to do. His self-pity and immaturity are commented on and he is given realistic opportunities for growth. I don’t mind when a character behaves in ways I don’t like as long as no one thinks those ways are reasonable.

I definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes sweet and unusual stories.

11 people found this helpful

Helpful

Jonathan Swift

A Lovely, Feel-Good Book

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 1, 2023

Verified Purchase

This book leaves me smiling. After reading lots of mysteries showing the worst of humankind, I enjoyed Remarkably Bright Creatures for showing the best of creatures and those of us trying hard for a happy ending despite roadblocks. It's a lovely book that I couldn't wait to read whenever life took me away from it for a meal, etc. It will make you smile and feel good. This is a sweet, happy, not saccharine but just delightful story. Give it a chance despite the fact that a brilliant octopus narrator doesn't sound very promising. It is, it is.

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

PAULA WESCOTT

A Must Read For Everyone

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on June 8, 2022

Verified Purchase

I have to say that this book will stay with me for a very long time to come. Tova is a kindred spirit who I cannot shake off, nor do I want to. She’s so adorable - quirks and all. Every character you bring into this story has a history and life that we want to invest in as readers. We adore Marcellus, we wonder initially about Cameron - but are so rooting for him to succeed. Ethan is also easily lovable … as is Terry, etc. I love it all, basically. I miss Marcellus even though he is now free, be it only for a short while. I can feel his absence in the hearts of your characters, and…. The conclusion resolved really well. We wanted to know about Erik and that closure was both important but well delivered. I can’t tell you how much this book affected me, it is so beautiful and almost reads like a creative nom-fiction piece. Very, very well done. Your characters will remain with us for longer than you think 🤔☺️

6 people found this helpful

K. Porter

Tears at work, colleagues think I’m nuts!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on November 23, 2022

Verified Purchase

Absolutely love this book but don’t read the ending at work as people will look at you strange for crying! (No one at my work reads)

It’s like those books with a dog character - at some point you realise it’s not immortal and you will have to say goodbye.

This had a lovely goodbye different from what I expected. I will have a book hangover for some time as going to miss the wonderful characters who all felt like friends in this book.

2 people found this helpful

Mrs. K. Watt

intriguing book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on June 4, 2022

Verified Purchase

I loved the way the story is told in different voices Surprisingly I even liked that we know the solution to many of the questions before the main characters. Trying to figure out how the solutions were going to be given to the characters was not easy.
I don’t want to give away any of the plot lines, suffice to say nothing was done in my house until I came to the end!! Happy reading.

2 people found this helpful

jenny plows

Great book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on July 19, 2022

Verified Purchase

This was a great book that I couldn’t put down. Be warned it’s a tear jerker in places

3 people found this helpful

LauraRo

An absolute joy!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on October 14, 2022

Verified Purchase

I bought this book after a recommendation from someone and I read it over just a few days.
The characters are fantastic & you are totally rooting for them especially Marcellus in particular. I loved every page of this book. Totally worth the buy!

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