I have recommended this book to everyone I know and I will never stop recommending it. This is most definitely the best book I’ve read this year and possibly the best of my life. It was incredibly poignant and just the perfect read. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt is a must read for anyone who wants a fun story but one that is deeply emotional and intricately written. 

This review might be just a little longer, because seriously I will never stop talking about this book. I tend to dislike books when I feel like the characters weren’t written well, but I have never seen characters written more perfectly than the ones in this book. The point of view from each character was perfect, it was if you were going through life at the same time as them. Tova, the main character, is keeping busy while dealing with the grief of losing her husband by working the night shift at the aquarium in Sowell Bay. And Marcellus (cool name by the way), is the octopus that lives at the aquarium. Who would’ve thought that I’d ever read a book with a point of view from an octopus? An incredibly intelligent octopus by the way. And we also get the perspective of 30 year old Cameron who has come to Sowell Bay in search of family connections after being abandoned as a child. 

The bonds that form between the characters are so nice to read about and so comforting. Anytime there were any misunderstandings in the book, I actually felt worried for the outcome of the characters and found myself in tears when it all worked out. I actually cried multiple times throughout this book and if you don’t cry while reading it, I will probably just assume you’re emotionless. The ending made me so sad because I was so sad to see the characters go and I wish I could’ve just stayed in their little world forever. The comforting presence of the octopus was a nice reminder of how fond we are of our animal friends anytime we need comforting. 

I genuinely could say so much more about this book, and I would even go as far as to say I would write a critical paper about it for fun. The way all of the characters came together and the way I was so invested in Marcellus’ mystery solving, made me never want to put this book down. This is such a comforting book and you’ll be happy that you’ve read it once you do. Every single person that I’ve recommended this book to has loved it just as much as I did, and I hope you do too. Definitely deserving of a five-star review, and I wish I could do more than five stars.