Examine what it means to be a friend.
We know what friendship looks like, right?
If the first book by Shelby Van Pelt is any indicator, maybe not.
In Remarkably Bright Creatures friendship is shaped in a unique way.
In a lifeless little Pacific Northwest town, the most unexpected bond forms; it is not between neighbors, but between a grieving widow and an octopus.
Yes, you read it right. This story is a good blend of warmth, clever, and quiet depth.
The author builds a world that feels both original and familiar, launching herself into literature. It’s the kind of debut that makes the reader excited to see what is coming next.
At its heart are two worn-down souls. First, meet Tova Sullivan; the 70-year-old is the night cleaner at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. Her rigid routine a fragile shield against a grief that’s lasted decades.
Then there’s her unlikely colleague: Marcellus. He’s a giant octopus, smarter than your average human, painfully aware his four-year life is almost up. He’s absolutely cynical, funny, and dramatic.
He’s also an escaper, sneaking out of his tank for midnight treats.
Their paths literally intertwine one night when Tova finds Marcellus tangled in electrical cords.
She simply sets him free, and in that quiet moment, a relationship is born.
From his glass prison, Marcellus has seen everything. And piece by piece, using clues he’s hoarded like treasure, he starts unraveling a local mystery that cuts straight to the heart of Tova.
Things get more interesting with Cameron’s arrival.
He’s a lost young man, hoping to confront his absentee father in Sowell Bay. He ends up with a job at the aquarium and forms an unexpected bond with Tova.
Van Pelt crosses these lives together, never letting the subtle comedy surround the pain of her characters. Just like life. This is a story about grief, a bizarre one, and beautiful ways to find a new family.
The observations Marcellus makes on the strange absurdity of humans are hilarious, and hard to face. Van Pelt uses an outsider perspective to ask tough questions about memory, solitude, and the relentless tick of time.
The book will have a Netflix adaptation coming in in 2026, with Sally Field (a two-time Oscar winner, no less) attached to play Tova and Lewis Pullman co-starring.
Some will probably believe the project is in very able hands.
Remarkably Bright Creatures shows, more than tells, that a little curiosity and compassion can build a bridge across the widest suffering hearts – even when those hearts differ between land and sea. It whispers that healing and new beginnings don’t come with an expiration date.
The book will make the reader laugh on one page, wipe a tear on the next, and close the cover feeling strangely hopeful.
Sometimes the brightest beings are often hiding in the deepest depths, and the friendships that light our way can come from the most unbelievable places.
