Author: Shelby Van Pelt
Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Literary Fiction
Ideal For: Readers who love found-family stories, animal lovers, fans of A Man Called Ove, and anyone who believes the smallest connections can change a life.
Some books grab you with a gripping plot, others with unforgettable characters. Then there are books like Remarkably Bright Creatures that quietly sneak into your heart, curl up, and refuse to leave. Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel is a beautifully crafted story that blends warmth, humour, grief, and hope in a way that feels both gentle and profound.
It’s a novel about second chances, unlikely friendships, and the ways in which loss can carve out space for unexpected joy. But what truly sets it apart? An octopus with a voice so sharp, tender, and utterly memorable that you’ll never look at an aquarium the same way again.
Plot Summary (Spoiler‑Free)
Set in the small coastal town of Sowell Bay, Washington, the novel centers on Tova Sullivan, a 70-year-old widow who works the night shift at the local aquarium. She’s precise, methodical, and keeps her grief neatly tucked away. Decades earlier, her teenage son vanished in what was deemed an accidental drowning. Her husband has since passed, and Tova, while outwardly composed, drifts through her days with quiet loneliness.
Her unlikely companion in these late-night shifts is Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus who is highly intelligent, deeply observant, and (in his own opinion) vastly superior to the humans around him. Through alternating perspectives, we see the world both through Tova’s restrained human lens and Marcellus’s wry, often hilariously judgmental observations.
When Cameron Cassmore, a young man with a messy life and a missing father, arrives in town, their paths cross in ways that feel at once coincidental and deeply fated. Slowly, the pieces of Tova’s past—and Cameron’s—begin to click into place. And in the middle of it all, Marcellus, who knows more than he lets on, hatches a plan to bring closure before his time runs out.
Why It Works
Van Pelt’s greatest strength lies in her ability to weave emotional depth into a deceptively light narrative. The premise might sound quirky (an octopus narrator?), but the execution is deeply human. Marcellus is no gimmick—he’s a fully realised character whose intelligence and perspective serve as a mirror to the human flaws around him. His chapters are some of the most memorable I’ve read in recent fiction, a blend of sardonic wit and heartbreaking wisdom.
Tova’s storyline, meanwhile, captures the loneliness of aging with quiet grace. Her grief isn’t melodramatic—it’s embedded in her routines, in the way she polishes the glass tanks, folds her cleaning cloths, or resists opening up to others. It’s incredibly relatable, especially for readers who have experienced loss and know how it lingers in small, ordinary moments.
The secondary characters—Cameron, Ethan, the Knit-Wits knitting club—add texture without feeling like filler. Everyone has a role to play, and the way their stories converge is both satisfying and emotionally resonant.
Themes That Stay With You
- Found Family – The relationships here aren’t based on blood, but on shared moments of kindness and understanding.
- Interconnection – From the ocean to the human heart, the novel suggests we’re all more linked than we realise.
- Redemption and Growth – Cameron’s arc, in particular, shows how change can start in small, almost invisible ways. The Beauty of the Ordinary – The setting isn’t glamorous, but Van Pelt makes the quiet aquarium nights feel luminous.
The Writing
Van Pelt’s prose is deceptively simple. It’s the kind of writing that feels easy to read but lingers with you afterward. She doesn’t over-explain, trusting readers to connect the dots emotionally. There’s a balance between humor and poignancy, which makes the heavier moments land all the more powerfully.
Marcellus’s chapters are especially sharp, delivering emotional gut punches right alongside dry, laugh-out-loud observations. The shifts in perspective between him, Tova, and Cameron are seamless, never breaking the story’s flow.
What Makes It a Five-Star Read
This is the kind of novel that feels comforting yet thought-provoking, the literary equivalent of a warm mug on a rainy day—but one that also asks you to sit with life’s deeper questions. It’s not a plot-heavy page-turner, yet you find yourself reading “just one more chapter” because you’re so invested in the lives unfolding before you.
By the time the pieces of the mystery click together, the reveal is satisfying without feeling forced. The ending strikes the perfect tone—hopeful but not saccharine, complete but leaving just enough space for you to imagine life continuing beyond the final page.
Memorable Quotes
“Humans. For the most part, you are dull and blundering. But occasionally, you surprise me.” – Marcellus
“Grief isn’t something you fix. It’s something you carry.” – Tova
“Sometimes the family you need is the one you find along the way.”
These are the lines you’ll find yourself underlining—not because they’re overly poetic, but because they feel true.
Final Verdict
Remarkably Bright Creatures is more than just a heartwarming story; it’s a reminder that connection can come from the most unexpected places, and that it’s never too late for healing. Shelby Van Pelt’s debut feels like the kind of novel you’ll want to gift to friends, reread in a year, and keep on your shelf as a reminder that kindness—human or otherwise—can change everything.
It’s rare for a book to balance quirky charm with genuine emotional depth, but this one does so effortlessly. Tova, Cameron, and Marcellus will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.
