Remarkably Bright Creatures

2026 has been an exceptional reading year for me, and Remarkably Bright Creatures has been one of its finest discoveries. Shelby Van Pelt delivers a heartfelt novel filled with quiet wisdom, gentle humour and emotional depth. The characters are wonderfully realised but it is Marcellus-the perceptive giant Pacific octopus-who steals the show with his wit, intelligence and surprising humanity. While the story embraces a few happy coincidences, its exploration of grief, healing, friendship and found family is so sincere that it's impossible not to be moved. This is the kind of book that leaves you with a lasting sense of warmth and wonder.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 When a slow burning yet a happy ending book makes you emotional, it has something to do with the way you attach with the characters, take time to understand the plot, remember characters, make connections between the characters, etc. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt is such a book. It hits after almost half way through but it makes you stay excited all the time rummaging for what’s next in the plot. This story follows three plots simultaneously, featuring the Giant Pacific octopus, Marcellus, the 70-year-old Tova Sullivan and Cameron. The Octopus is a rescue kept as an exhibit in an aquarium and the story begins when Tova lands at the aquarium for a job as a cleaner. Later on, Cameron joins Tova for the work giving her a wonderful company. While the Octopus indirectly helps Tova to find the mystery behind her dead son, Erik, she realises that she is blood-related to Cameron and she is the happiest grandmother as the story ends. Though she still misses her dead son it was the happiest moment of her life. I liked the parts of the book when Marcellus comes up with his thoughts about humans, shares his treasures that he has collected over the years and makes me laugh at some of his silly dialogues. I waited all the time for those parts to be revealed. While the story slowly unfurls the mystery, it revolves around the themes of friendship, loneliness, grief, companionship, freedom, intelligence, etc. Also, the other characters (there are many tbh) play a very important role in shaping the plot beautifully. This is a beautiful book for the people who love to explore plots having meaningful connections and relationships, bonding between humans and animals, etc. It is a beautiful one indeed. I highly recommend this masterpiece!!! A thought/ reflection of mine: “Sometimes meaningful and beautiful relationships and connections are built with living creatures apart from humans too and it stays forever like how Marcellus, even after he was sent back to the place he belonged to, remembered Tova and her love and care for him.”

Simply brilliant....full of warmth, hope, humour and relationships - not just human!! Loved it

The most unique and memorable part of the book was definitely Marcellus, the octopus. His chapters were witty, emotional, and surprisingly comforting. The story beautifully explores grief, loneliness, healing, and unexpected companionship through Tova Sullivan’s life. Despite its emotional themes, the book feels incredibly warm and wholesome throughout. Overall, this was such a heartfelt and memorable read.

The beautiful bond between Tova, a 70 year old janitor, and Marcellus, a Pacific octopus is endearing. Tova's character is well sketched. The small setting, a sprinkling of different characters, and their quirks add to the plot with a dash of humor. It begins well, with a warm and fuzzy feeling. You smile as Marcellus keeps sharing his observations of humans passing his tank in the aquarium. You want the old, petite, strong, and resilient Tova to find her son or some sort or a closure. Her journey to that end with Marcellus as the guide/ conspirator is the core of this book. In comes Cameron, a man in search of a long lost father. The small town bursts with chatter. And here on the Story dives right into a typical movie plot of lost and found relations, reunions and happy endings that give every character the piece of pie they were after. It's a nice feel good read but halfway down the old tropes and formulae writing try your patience.

This was the first read of the year and thoroughly enjoyed the read! It's a deeply seeded emotional story, for some reason I thought the book is going to be all about octopus. It is the main character but in ways you will least expect it to be!

This is hands down one of the best books I’ve read in 2026...it gave me every possible emotion.. it broke my heart, made me laugh, comforted me, and left me emotional in the best way possible... Honestly, the first 70 pages felt a little slow for me and I genuinely thought about DNFing it...But I decided to give it one more chance… and thank god I did, because after that, this story completely consumed me...at the center of the story is Marcellus..a giant Pacific octopus counting down his last 160 days at an aquarium..While the humans around him are grieving, lost, lonely, and falling apart, Marcellus quietly watches everything unfold… and somehow gives them answers they couldn’t find in 30 years...This book felt so comforting, wholesome, and deeply human... I was always waiting for Marcellus’ POVs because he truly became the heart of the story for me. And the ending? It made me cry so baddd😭and i already miss Marcellus terribly.. I genuinely wish I could erase my memory just to experience this book for the first time again... 200% recommend this if you’re looking for a comforting, emotional, wholesome read that stays with you long after the final page....

You know what makes this book interesting? Seeing human beings from a perspective of the giant octopus, Marcellus but with over time, the way Marcellus forms a bond with humans is incredible. I love how the title and cover exactly portrays what’s inside the book. Remarkably symbolises emotional depth of both human being and creature. You will see a visible change/shift in perspectives of both if you will compare them with how the story begins and how it ends. It all felt like a beautiful memory that has hit the mark. While Bright speaks about the grief, abandonment, loss, and loneliness, the characters felt in this book yet hope and resilience kept them moving. Creatures because they play an essential role in this book. They are the protagonists of the story. The story will stay with you like an external part of your soul because at the end, how misunderstandings clears and each of their bond strengthens. Especially Marcellus and Tova. For Cameron and his mother, I felt bad. There was a part where Cam said his childhood was robbed off and he grew up with his aunt, knowing that he has been abandoned by his parents. While there were clues that unveiled Daphne’s story. I felt so emotionally connected with this book and characters in it. Finishing it felt like leaving behind something that I wanted to stay a little longer. This book felt like a warm hug and read along made it even more interesting.

At first glance, with the title and cover, I expected the octopus to take center stage in the story—but it turned out to be more of a family-searching journey, which was a lovely surprise. That said, the octopus adds just the right spice to the story, offering a unique perspective on the human world. Personally, this book reminded me of my grandfather, who was adopted as a baby and spent years searching for his original family. It gave me a deeper understanding of why people feel such a strong desire to know their roots.

Lovely history

A wonderful read. I didn't want to watch the movie until I had read the book and I'm so glad I did this. The book reveals the thoughts and actions in depth. The movie recreates the story quite well, but it's a movie so you aren't privy to the wonderful details of thoughts and actions to the same degree...as can be expected. Both are good - the book is great!

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt is heartwarming and comforting, leaving the reader with a bittersweet feeling—sad to say goodbye to the characters, yet grateful to have been part of their journey. The story follows Tova Sullivan, a widow who spends her nights cleaning the Sowell Bay Aquarium, and Cameron Cassmore, a young man who unexpectedly finds himself single, unemployed, and without a place to stay. Readers are also introduced to Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Intelligent and mischievous, Marcellus avoids human interaction when he can, yet he is gradually charmed by the small woman who cleans the glass of his enclosure each night. Shelby brilliantly portrays his curious and perceptive nature, at times allowing the reader brief insight into the workings of his mind. As the story unfolds, the reader is gently drawn into the intertwined lives of all three characters. What makes this book so compelling is the way the author captures the softness and perseverance of each character, despite the challenges they face. One of the most enjoyable elements is the brief, interspersed windows into Marcellus’s mind, captivating the reader with his honest and bemused reflections. However, some readers may find the momentum slows briefly toward the end, as the characters take a bit longer to uncover the final pieces of information. Remarkably Bright Creatures is a wonderful choice for readers seeking a light, wholesome, and heartfelt story. You grow to love these characters and think of them with genuine affection. This book is truly more than just a beautiful cover.

Loved the story, although a bit predictable at one point. Told from a different perspective which was intriguing.