Remarkably Bright Creatures, by Shelby Van Pelt
A Review, via Haiku
Eight arms hold secrets
Lost things may still find their way
Hope has many forms.
The Review
What happens when an unlikely friendship changes your whole world?
Shelby Van Pelt’s Remarkably Bright Creatures is a warm, funny, and surprisingly moving story about loneliness, grief, friendship, and the hope of new beginnings. At the center of it all is Tova Sullivan, a widowed woman who works the night shift at an aquarium—and Marcellus, an exceptionally intelligent octopus who has been watching the humans around him very carefully.
And Marcellus has opinions.
The story moves between several characters whose lives gradually become intertwined: Tova, Cameron, a young man searching for answers about his past, and Marcellus, who may understand the people around him better than they understand themselves.
The result is a book that feels cozy without being shallow. There is humor, mystery, heartbreak, and a lovely undercurrent of hope running through the entire story.
What I especially loved is the way Van Pelt explores the idea that we rarely know how much another person needs us—or how much we might need them. Tova isn’t looking for a grand transformation. Cameron isn’t expecting to find a family. And Marcellus certainly isn’t expecting to become anyone’s therapist.
But sometimes the people (and octopuses) who enter our lives unexpectedly are exactly the ones who help us find our way forward.
And yes, the octopus really is the star.
Marcellus’s perspective gives the book its charm, but it also gives the story something deeper. He observes human behavior with a mixture of curiosity, amusement, and genuine affection. Through him, ordinary human choices can suddenly look extraordinary—and sometimes wonderfully ridiculous.
There are moments when the book leans heavily into its feel-good qualities, and readers looking for a darker or more complicated literary story may find some of its resolutions a little tidy. But honestly? That’s part of its appeal.
Sometimes a book doesn’t need to break your heart.
Sometimes it just needs to remind you that people can surprise you, friendships can appear in unlikely places, and it’s never too late for life to change direction.
📚 At a Glance
- Book: Remarkably Bright Creatures
- Author: Shelby Van Pelt
- Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Magical Realism
- Setting: Sowell Bay, Washington
- Best for: Readers who love heartwarming stories, found family, unlikely friendships, second chances, and quirky characters 🐙
📦 Would We Include It in a Box?
Absolutely.
This is a perfect Scribble & Spark book for someone who likes heartwarming stories with a little mystery, quirky characters, and a whole lot of hope.
It’s especially well suited for a reader who enjoys books about found family, second chances, unexpected friendships, and characters who stay with you long after you’ve finished the last page.
And if you happen to love animals?
Even better.
📦 Want a Box With This Book?
We’ll build you one!
A Remarkably Bright Creatures box could include cozy reading treats, something ocean-inspired, and a few surprises for anyone who believes the best friendships aren’t always the ones you expect.
📚 Just Want the Book?
Buy it through Bookshop.org and support Scribble & Spark Bookworks!
📚 If You Loved Remarkably Bright Creatures, Try These Next
| If you loved… | Try… |
|---|---|
| The idea of having an octopus as your therapist | The Soul of an Octopus — Sy Montgomery |
| New understandings of what it means to be family | The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry — Gabrielle Zevin |
| The landscape of Washington State | Where’d You Go, Bernadette — Maria Semple |
| The unexpected friendships | A Man Called Ove — Fredrik Backman |
| The idea that it’s never too late for a new beginning | The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry— Rachel Joyce |
