Despite the unorthodox relationship at its core, the debut novel offers a wholly original meditation on grief and the bonds that keep us afloat.' - Elle 'Infused with heartfelt humor, Van Pelt's elegant portrait of a widowed woman who finds understanding and connection with a clever octopus is refreshingly, if surprisingly, relatable. 'rilliant upcoming novel about hope and reckoning.' - Business Insider 'The best books about grief find a way to illuminate the darkness of loss, and Remarkably Bright Creatures offers a masterclass.' - Marie Claire 'A unique and luminous book.' - Booklist (starred review) 'A debut novel about a woman who befriends an octopus is a charming, warmhearted read.' - Kirkus Reviews

' Remarkably Bright Creatures an ultimately feel-good but deceptively sensitive debut about what it feels like to have love taken from you, only to find it again in the most unexpected places.

Shelby Van Pelt's debut novel is a gentle reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it's too late. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn't dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors-until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova.Įver the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova's son disappeared. Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she's been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago. Memorable and tender.' - Washington Postįor fans of A Man Called Ove, a charming, witty and compulsively readable exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope that traces a widow's unlikely connection with a giant Pacific octopusĪfter Tova Sullivan's husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. ' Remarkably Bright Creatures an ultimately feel-good but deceptively sensitive debut. NAMED A BEST BOOK OF SUMMER by: Chicago Tribune * The View * Southern Living * USA Today

A Read With Jenna Today Show Book Club Pick!

Shelby van pelt