Heartwarming 5-Star Read!

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Such a heartwarming and emotional story that made me laugh, cry and feel all the feels. This also left me wishing for a pet or octopus friend like Marcellus. I loved Marcellus and Tova too. This was a story that I was hearing rave reviews about and was on my highly anticipated list so I was thrilled to receive an ARC and I can definitely say this book deserves all the love and rave reviews and more. This story lived up to the hype and more.
It’s about a widow named Tova who after her husband died began working at the Sowell Bay Aquarium doing mostly janitorial type work at night. Working and keeping busy is how she copes which she’s had to do because her 18-year-old son Erik mysteriously disappeared on a boat over 30 years ago. Tova and Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus at the aquarium get to know each other and become friends. Marcellus is the one who actually figures out what happened to Tova’s son who vanished and does everything he can to help discover the whole truth for Tova before it’s too late.
The way that the story plays out is amazing and blew me away at how Marcellus plays the part he does in the whole story and how he helps figure things out. I found myself emotional in parts and blown away by the way everything fits together to have the mystery of her son’s disappearance solved right before your eyes. The outcome of solving what happened with her son and the friendship Tova develops with Marcellus is amazing and I did not see that answer to the mystery coming. It was a wonderful story that left me feeling uplifted and enlightened. I also found myself going to research giant Pacific octopuses after reading this and they’re very intelligent and fascinating creatures.
I can’t recommend this one enough. If you haven’t heard of this book, well you have now so go check it out! You don’t want to miss out on this one, trust me. Go read it! This may be one of my favorite books this year and maybe ever now. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Ecco for letting me read and review this gem. All thoughts and opinions are my own.



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