Remarkably Bright Creatures : A Book Review

Book Review: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

I kept seeing Remarkably Bright Creatures recommended on BookTok, and during a recent trip to the bookstore I noticed the sticker on the cover announcing its upcoming Netflix adaptation. I’ve always enjoyed watching adaptations of books I’ve read, even though they can sometimes disappoint, so that alone made me curious enough to pick it up. With its bright and colorful cover, I expected a quirky, light hearted and easy to read story.

What hooked me first?

The opening chapters hooked me immediately. The first chapter is narrated by Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. It’s not every day you read a first person monologue from an octopus, so that instantly grabbed my attention. What gave those first few pages an emotional weight was learning that Marcellus only had 160 days left to live. Knowing the short lifespan of an octopus made him feel like an old, wise creature nearing the end of his life.

For some reason, I read his voice in my head as if it were narrated by Morgan Freeman. His tone felt calm, observant, and quietly amused by the strange habits of humans.

What the book is about?

The story takes place in the fictional coastal town of Sowell Bay in the Pacific Northwest, where three lives slowly converge. It follows Tova Sullivan, a 70 year old widow still mourning the disappearance of her son decades earlier. It also follows Cameron, a drifting thirty year old searching for the father he has never met. And then there is Marcellus, the aging octopus observing it all from inside the aquarium. Slowly, their pasts begin to intertwine, and the quiet town of Sowell Bay holds the answers they’ve been searching for.

My thoughts on the pacing and the characters….

The pacing is slow, but in the best way. It reads like a cozy slice of life novel with a gentle mystery at its center. There are moments where the story lingers, especially as Cameron wanders around town trying to find his place, but it allows the reader to fully soak in the atmosphere of the Pacific Northwest, my most favorite place in the US!

While the human characters are interesting, Marcellus is undeniably the star of the book. He is intelligent, mischievous, and playfully sarcastic. His narration feels wise and observant, sometimes slightly condescending toward humans, yet still warm and sincere. I honestly wish the author had given us more chapters from his perspective.

Tova’s character, meanwhile, represents the complexity of human emotion. She continues to carry grief over her son’s disappearance while navigating widowhood, friendships, and unexpected new connections. Cameron’s growth throughout the story is also satisfying, as he slowly finds direction and belonging in Sowell Bay.

What are the themes in the book?

Several themes run through the novel, including grief, loneliness, aging, connection, and healing. The theme that resonated with me most was the importance of community. As someone who has gradually become more introverted in my forties, I found myself appreciating the quiet relationships and small acts of care between characters.

What stood out to me?

One of the most memorable moments for me was when Tova returns Marcellus to the ocean and we read about his first day of freedom. He simply describes the feeling as being home. I couldn’t help wishing the book had given us more time with him exploring the ocean again.

My tentacle ratings…

Emotionally, the book left me feeling sentimental. Despite its cheerful cover and light tone, there are moments that quietly hit hard, especially toward the end of Marcellus’s journey.

Overall, I would rate this book 8 out of 8 tentacles.

I’d recommend Remarkably Bright Creatures to readers looking for a cozy, character driven story set in a charming coastal town. It’s an easy read with heartfelt themes, and it’s definitely a book I wouldn’t mind rereading or gifting to someone.