Remarkably Bright Creatures: ‘That Octopus Book’, the international bestseller, now a major Netflix film

A lovely story of relationships and intertwined histories. Beautifully written without being over sentimental. A most enjoyable holiday read. 👍

I had high hopes for 'Remarkably Bright Creatures' as I have been learning about octopuses and am quite in awe of them. It seemed then completely wonderful to find a book with an octopus as the central character, but this book isn't quite that. Marcellus the octopus is the character that I am left with a lasting impression of and I am so glad that I met him in this book. He is fascinating, funny, wise, and magical and the book is worth reading just for the role he plays. Several of the other characters are also likeable and tenderly drawn. This is a sometimes funny, sometimes moving, sometimes annoying, and sometimes faintly tedious book and I found myself forcing my way through the middle section. There was enough to keep me reading, but only just. It is worth persevering for the ending though and, of course, for Marcellus. If you love octopuses you will be glad that you read this.

Brilliant and tender, it made me chuckle and it made me tear up, the characters and the plot are so relatable! Especially Marcellus... We have all been "imprisoned" in some way at some point in out lives... I loved it and absolutely recommend it.

This is a lovely story about unlikely friendships, love and loss and an incredible octopus. It is hard to describe, but worth exploring this world yourself.

This book was quite an entertaining read and it was worth picking up and indeed finishing, but I would have to say that it didn't live up to the advertising hype that probably drew me to it. In all honesty, few of the books I've read actually merit the exclamations as to how wonderful they are by the blurb that advertisers use to promote their books, which has the effect of making me take these with a pinch of salt. However, that is another story but this story was good and certainly had a feelgood factor about it. Of course, reading a book like this requires you to suspend reality somewhat but nevertheless there was a good story with some well written characters and some folks would love it and some others perhaps not so much. I was sort of middling about it but I come down on the side of it being worth a read.

I had seen the recommendations for Remarkably Bright Creatures for a while, but was reluctant to read a book about an octopus. However, what a lovely, gentle story this is. The story centers around Tova, her growing relationship with Cameron and both their back stories. Marcellus, the octopus features intermittently, weaving Tova and Cameron's story together. This is an easy, heartwarming read.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good story. Sad in parts, but always engaging. We listened to the book on a somewhat stilted auto reader on an 11 hour return trip from Burnley to London and were gripped almost immediately. We couldn't wait to hear the end. Marcellus is a revelation.

Not a book I would have picked up in the bookshop but as it was recommended by our book club I bought it and read it and I loved it. Fell in love with all the characters including the octopus. The book s so much better than the film. Would highly recommend it.

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.