I came to #remarkablybrightcreatures (which for some reason I seem to want to call Bright Shiny Things 😂) blind. I had no idea what it was about. I left it with a lovely cozy feeling and a knowledge of some of the most disgusting looking creatures in the sea.

If I had to describe in one word what the book is about, I’d say - love. Love in numerous forms - love for partners, for children, for family, for friends, for animals, love within the generations and across them, love beyond the grave, unrequited love and love lost. But it’s more than that, it also addresses abandonment, failure, fear, grief, loneliness and longing.

It’s an easy read and, despite the sadness in it, it’s not a sad book. It’s a book of hope. I’d recommend it for anyone in a reading slump. But please don’t wait until you’re in one to read it. You’ll meet a lovely bunch of characters from Tova, the 70 year old main character, to a 30 year old man seeking a purpose in life to a grumpy 4 year old octopus (yes, you read correctly) who’s a bit of an escapologist, their families and friends. What can these people from different states and this invertebrate from the ocean possibly have In common?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a definite four star+ read for me. It would have been a five star had it not been for the octopus (bless him!). I loved the character but octopuses gross me out and the descriptions of his escapology freaked me 😂. I loved the foibles of all the characters - main and secondary - and I was inspired to Google the sea creatures who share the aquarium with Marcellus the octopus - and colourful, cute tropical fish they are not! Minor and pedantic moan to the author - never refer to Scotch whisky (and there are numerous references to it) as ‘whiskey’.

Remarkably Bright Creatures is a sad read in places but it leaves you with a warm feeling that all is right with the world (if only!). Go on, treat yourself!

My thanks to @netgalley and @bloomsburypublishing for a free copy of the book in return for my honest opinion.

#contemporaryfiction #booksoflove #arcs #shelbyvanpelt #booklover

A really heart-warming story that was perfect for reading over a rainy weekend. Unexpectedly drawn in by the relationship between Tove and Marcellus. Profound reflections on loneliness and widowhood. One to read this summer.

This novel made me feel!! If you've ever read a book that did that then you'll know what I mean (and I'm not trying to be weird, it's a genuine thing I swear!). I fell into the lives of the characters after initially not expecting there to be more than one narrator. I came to enjoy the switchover and I don't think I ever really liked those types of books before. Shelby Van Pelt has a mesmerizing way of describing things, from the very beginning with an intricate description of rain falling from the sky and hitting upon the rooftop to the comings and goings of the mind of a highly intelligent octopus! That same way of writing is what drew me to connect with each of the characters and I soon found that I was picking apart the way they behaved. I realized that I didn't particularly like shards of their personalities, I yearned for them to learn from mistakes, I smiled when they did and I felt an overwhelming sense of joy in where their paths eventually took them.

The story pulled me in and I soon noticed a big secret (and I'm sure if you read it you will too! Then again, I'm aware it was probably intended that the reader should know but yeah...I wanna feel like I was the one who figured it out and it wasn't just handed over to me). I don't know if that's a spoiler, damn it. It unleashed in a good way tho because up until then I hadn't been expecting it and then there was like a fuzzy feeling where you're all OH MY GOD!! It ties things together very well.

It was a calming read that I at first thought held a sort of unnerving undertone but then I got into the swing of what was really going on and I saw that it's actually a comforting read with a whole lot of mystery thrown in! Even when I as the reader, knew what was going on and wanted the characters to see it for themselves, it wasn't the type of thing that made me want to put it down just because I thought I had the plot all completed, it drew me closer to connecting with the people themselves , ,Tova especially, Cameron in his own way and Marcellus the most! (What's bigger, especially or the most, you'll never know because I can't decide for myself). It feels strange referring to an octopus as a character that can have such a huge impact and even develop as the story goes on but there you go! I got annoyed more than once, I thought about it when I wasn't reading it, I laughed and I cried when it drew to a close. I found ways to relate to the characters and they felt REAL. The story was spun in such a magical way that I might as well have been watching it play out infront of my eyes. The minds eye saw it all and even tho I'm not good with faces in my head (who else can't picture faces when they think about people/dream?) I could envision their environment with thanks to the author's detailed descriptions that allowed me to escape further into that world I often forgot was fiction.

I liked that there were hidden messages running throughout the book highlighting what really matters in life, it added a whole other layer to the story that ran in sync with the plot perfectly. The characters put things up on a pedestal that didn't really matter so it was nice seeing that come to light. It was like when the characters did something they needn't have done or changed their ways for the better through even the smallest of signs, it taught a lesson and had a meaningful place in the story.

I loved witnessing Tova step out of her shell through doing things you can tell she'd never have believed she was capable of and Marcellus was hilarious! I don't think I'll be able to not think about him whenever I see anything to do with octopuses. At times one character in particular annoyed me a lot and I don't want to name any names....but I have to, it was Cameron!! I couldn't hold back because he was kinda irritating ngl. I will say this tho, I do understand why he behaved the way he did and what had drilled that way of seeing the world and also himself into his personality. In a lot of ways he's relatable, maybe even more so for me than Tova was but she was more of a person I wanted to read about. I personally think that it was intentional to have him behave in a certain way so that you can see a lot of potential growth to be made and it certainly was, I'll give him that much! I think he needed things to play out the way they did so that he could realize the world doesn't revolve around him. I did want the best for him tho because he wasn't a bad person, he was only human! (I'm really reaching for a compliment there aren't I?).

There was a side I wished could have been delved more into but then again, a part of me thinks it was best left because it's more of a real interpretation of how things would turn out and it's true that things don't always go the way we'd like them to. One criticism I have is that there were loads of spelling mistakes, well maybe not spelling exactly but there were a lot of errors. I only started noticing them halfway through as I think I took anything that went wrong before that as problems to do with reading via my Kindle because it loaded as a document instead of a book. The errors were double words or important words like "the/of" missing from sentences which would throw me off a bit when I was reading in a free-flowing manner. It didn't take away from the story at all but it did make the text appear to be kind of rushed/not checked over but that could just be a Kindle thing anyway!

Remarkably Bright Creatures is a book that truly needs to be read and experienced and I was so sad when it came to an end! It sounds silly but there's been a little bit of a changeover from who I was before I finished it and who I am now, it provided a sense of calm that only a journey like that with a hint of otherworldly charm can hold. Although I guessed part of the ending (like I'm sure the majority of readers will do/have), there were still puzzle pieces to be connected and everything fell into place. With this being my first book review on the blog in over two years, I can honestly say I wouldn't have wanted it to be anything else as these words just appeared and I've really wanted to express how much I enjoyed it. I'm thinking about getting a paperback version to pass around my family as I know they'd love it too and since this is me just getting back into reading, it feels good to be recommending an amazing read!

This was a new and fresh book for me. I warmed to Marcellous immediately and was intrigued by his and Tova’s relationship.

I enjoyed the backstory that was unraveling throughout and was pleased by it’s conclusion.

A definite one to read.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Remarkably Bright Creatures tells the tale of Tova, our occasionally stoic but incredibly kind and hard-working heroine, Cameron, whose extremely smart but lacks direction & Marcellus...a mystery solving, escape artist Octopus.
Yes, you read me right. One of our main characters is an octopus. And honestly, it's gorgeous. Our leading ensemble are going through life, when certain chance encounters allows for a 30 year old mystery to be solved, as well as giving them a new purpose.
Remarkably Bright Creatures is written in a fabulous way, it succeeds in providing back-story, day-to-day life and brief encounters without ever a dull moment. There is a plethora of fabulous characters, Ethan, Aunt Jeanne & the Knit-Wits to name but a few, which keeps it funny, sad, joyful and also exciting for what our characters have to come.
I have promised no spoilers, I went into this knowing very little, and I recommend you do the same. It's genuinely my favourite book read so far of 2022. I've laughed, I've cried and I've loved it. I'm not particularly a 're-reader' but this will definitely have a spot on mybookshelves once available and will be read again (and probably again.) The easiest 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 I've ever given. Cannot wait to see what #shelbyvanpelt does next.
❤️ Thank you to @netgalley & @bloomsburypublishing for an e-copy of #remarkablybrightcreatures in exchange for an honest review - I've loved it. To friends and family, expect this as a Christmas gift!!
Remarkably Bright Creatures is available tomorrow!!! (26th May!)

After years of living within an aquarium Marcellus, a giant Pacific Octopus is befriended by elderly cleaner Tova, who is still mourning her son Erik after his disappearance over 30 years ago.

This book is the best one I have read this year!

The concept is entirely original and instantly drew me in. I was immersed in the world of Sowell Bay immediately. At points I felt like I was stepping into the pages of the book through the descriptions of the area, and I sorely wish to visit.

All of the characters in this novel are distinctive, each with their own voice and motivations. Marcellus and his antics were enjoyable but also cast with melancholy at his predicament. The way the author has written him is perfection. There is a difference in tone and in the language used during Marcellus’s sections and I feel that it adds weight to the concept, making it more believable for the audience.

The pacing of the novel strikes the right balance, we are drip fed small clues regarding what happened to Erik. From tiny actions such as Tova touching the ticket booth to Avery mentioning a woman she spoke to on the pier, we discover the truth along with the characters even though we may already have our own suspicions.

Overall, this novel was an absolute joy to read, and I haven’t stopped telling people about it since I completed it.

Bravo Shelby Van Pelt!

Thank you to NetGallery and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Remarkable characters that will stay with me a long time. Books like this make me realise again why I love reading, totally enjoyable with no hassles attached, loved it.

Whilst I'm not an expert in marine biology, I've seen enough wildlife documentaries to know that octopuses are, as the title says, remarkably intelligent. So telling a novel partly from the perspective of a captive octopus is an inspired idea, and it works well. The octopus in question lives - he would say is imprisoned - in an aquarium in a run down seaside town on the Washington coast. He's getting on in years, but is still able to escape his tank each night to snack on his fellow exhibits. This is perfectly plausible - there are plenty of real life examples of octopuses managing extraordinary escapes from tanks.

The narration is shared with two human point of view characters. Tova is the aquarium's cleaner, an elderly woman who lost her teenage son to the ocean and quietly grieves. Cameron is a good hearted drifter who arrives one summer in search of his absentee father. A chance encounter between Tova and Marcellus the octopus one evening leads to a bond between the two very different creatures. Marcellus realises he has information that could help bring Tova some peace about her lost son - but how on earth can he communicate it to her before he succumbs to old age?

I found most of the intelligence and abilities ascribed to Marcellus plausible enough - it's a proven fact that octopuses are intelligent, are able to manipulate complex objects (like open locks), escape from small spaces, use tools, and form bonds with humans. It's not beyond belief that they could understand human speech if exposed to enough of it - like whilst living in a busy public aquarium. I did find his ability to read less plausible, simply because I can't see how he'd had exposure to enough of a variety of written materials to learn. But that is forgivable.

It is a 'feel good' story in the same vein as popular writers like Frederick Backman - a good book to read if you're feeling a bit down and want something uplifting. However unlike a lot of examples of this genre, it isn't saccharine. I was impressed by how un-sickly it managed to be. This type of novel can range from excellent, to awful, and this one comes in at the excellent end of the scale. It never descends into mawkishness and whilst the plot is a bit predictable and relies on a certain amount of coincidence, it certainly caused me to shed a tear or two and didn't stretch my credibility too far.

This is a must-read for fans of Backman and similar writers, and of course for anyone who likes marine creatures. Liking octopuses isn't essential, but I defy anyone not to be a fan of them by the time they finish reading!

I loved it! It's one of the books you want to never end. I loved all the characters and their relationship. It is a truly heartwarming story told beautifully. I am grateful to the author for this lovely gift of a novel. I will look out for her next works. Can't wait.

An octopus called Marcellus communicating with people, being able to leave his aquarium in order to help a human he developed a liking for? I can hear your scoffs. However, that’s what is happening and lots besides. It is a heart-warming story, occasionally drifting into sentimental waters (see what I did there?), but well-constructed and entertaining.

Remarkably Bright Creatures
by Shelby Van Pelt

Heartwarming and lighthearted story set mainly in the Pacific North West north of Seattle, in a quiet coastal community, once a busy tourist area, now a down at heel, slightly isolated spot. From the first paragraph you can tell that this is no ordinary tale. Our first narrator is a Giant Pacific Octopus called Marcellus, who is serving out his captivity in the local aquarium. With switching POVs, Tova, a recent widow, Cameron, an unmoored young man and Marcellus, our intrepid mollusc, the story unfolds, bringing these well developed characters to life in a way that will capture your heart. The location, though fictional, is at once familiar to anyone who ever spent any time in anywhere along the Washington seaboard. There are some gorgeous descriptions of Puget Sound, the way the light hits the sea, it brought me right there.
We get to experience the Swedish expat life through Tova, whose folks emigrated from Uppsala in the 1920s. This explains the incongruous cover (UK) with the image of the Dala Horse, when the US version features a colourful octopus, which seemed more appropriate until then.
As a normally stoic reader, I was surprised at how invested in these characters I was, how much I was rooting for it all to come together, and I will admit...there were tears.
Thank you to #NetGalley and #BloomsburyPublishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review

I am not usually one for heart-warming books, but this is a really touching novel about family, friendship, and the links that we make. It mostly revolves around the story of Tova Sullivan, a widowed cleaner who, having lost her son, several years ago, and her husband, from illness, spends her time cleaning at the aquarium. It is also partly narrated by Marcellus, a Giant Pacific Octopus who is in his 1,299th day of captivity, when we meet him.

Tova rescues Marcellus, who likes to escape his tank for short excursions, and the two form an unlikely bond. Tova has friends, including the ‘Knit-Wits,’ and, along the way we are introduced to Ethan, a shop owner and Cameron, a new employee who never knew his father. Mostly, though, it is about Tova’s struggles to come to terms with the loss of her son and of how Marcellus and she mutually help each other to escape the life they are leading. The characters have excellent voices, and you care about them deeply by the end of the book.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.

Wonderfully written. Immensely heartfelt. An exploration of person and animal in such a moving way. Grab a blanket, Make a cup of coffee and look forward to a weekend with this book!
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The characters are so engaging and the author has seamlessly wound an easy cosy story with elements of true heart felt emotion that hit in all the right ways.
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Thank you so much to Netgalley & Bloomsbury for the ARC!

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and the last few chapters really packed an emotional punch!!

I began the book finding it hard to connect to any of the characters except Marcellus but as Tove and Cameron’s stories unfolded I began to up the pace of reading and really connected with them all.
Although a very light weight and easy to read novel the book does introduce areas for further thought or discussion lol in the conservatory notably: ageing and how to do it well (and what that looks like for each character) parenting and what it means to be a parent and to lose a parent or child, and of course the discussion as to how intelligent many creatures are and whether they can think like we do and communicate with us.

I read Remarkably Bright Creatures over the long Easter weekend and it was the perfect heart-warming book to keep me company over sunny, laid-back afternoons. I saw the one on the cover featuring a Swedish Dala Horse and decided to read it based on that. (Yes, I DID judge this book by its cover.) My gran has these horses in her house, so they remind me of her.

This turned out to be a fitting link as the lead character in Remarkably Bright Creatures, Tova is a charming older lady in her 70s.

Have you ever read a book with chapters narrated by an octopus? Yes, one of our narrators is INDEED an octopus, a giant Pacific octopus called Marcellus to be precise. You’re either going to like this fact and get invested in this idea or not. I fully suggest going with it, as our octopus friend is wise, pithy and cuts to the chase much quicker than humans. His chapters are a delight.

Tova Sullivan lives in Sowell Bay, Washington. The type of place where everyone knows everyone and you can never shed your past, no matter how tragic it is. And Tova does sadly have pain in her past. She is a cleaner at the local aquarium, which is where she strikes up her unlikely friendship with Marcellus.

Meanwhile, Cameron is turning 30, a little lost in life and on a hunt to find his father which takes him to… Sowell Bay. His path crosses with Tova’s and we discover more about both of them.

What I really enjoyed was how Remarkably Bright Creatures blended a cosy main story with pockets of heartbreak and despair to give it real depth.

Plus, I mean, Marcellus the octopus, loved him! My heart was just bursting by the end, such an enjoyable and charming read that tapped into the nuances of human nature in a way that had you rooting for all the characters.

Overall I felt this was a light and easy breeze to curl up with over the weekend.
Going in I didn’t realise how heartwarming it would be-I’m more into very dark and intense books but it still had enough depth to the fluffiness that it isn’t too soft and airy.
I really connected to the animal-human friendship and felt it was written wonderfully.
I found myself invested in this charming octopus and often thought of him more than the background and frontline storylines.
I felt it was a lighter, cleaner mix of A Man Called Ove and, although certainly not as a troubling or complicated relationship, still reminiscent of The Shape of Water with a human-sea creature friendship of a slight oddball and trapped sea creature.
I would definitely retry it one day because although it was a little too warm and fuzzy for me, I really liked how the slice of life was handled during this day job, and thought all the descriptions of a day-to-day were realistically normal and that made it easy but comforting to read.
The three stars are by no fault of the book,
I just never really rate a lighter, fluffier book very high but overall for a less dark book it’s well written, charming, emotional, and also very easy to get lost in because of the easy pace and likeable characters.

I really enjoyed this book, It was well written with an interesting and engaging storyline and well developed characters that I fell in love with honestly - especially marcellus. It was lighthearted and hunmourous and I couldn't put it down. I really enjoyed it.

I blitzed through this book over the weekend as I just could not get enough. Light and witty I enjoyed every second. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very enjoyable read. I was gripped from the first page, especially being told the story by an octopus. As other narrators joined in, the plot continued to be very intriguing and enjoyable. It was a lovely story. There were a few unlikely coincidences but I really enjoyed the way the different storylines came together, and I can recommend this as an easy, but satisfying read.