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Remarkably Bright Creatures
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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Michellesibs
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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Pickpick

We follow our main protagonist Tova who is 70 years old. Her husband has recently died, her son three decades before. Night after night she mops the floors of the local aquarium.

Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus, has been held captive in the aquarium for the last four years and has knowledge of Tova's son.

We can only snuggle up and watch how this story unfolds.

Im ugly crying, this was such a nice read.

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CoveredInRust
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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Pickpick

A sweet book, charming characters, good story. I don't think it matched quite the hype it got, but I can't fault a book for what I like to call Performative Hyperbole. It is quite a charming story and the Marcellus chapters were 🤌

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NikkiCureton
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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Pickpick

I know I‘m late on this one, but I absolutely loved this book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🎧

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Lenamarcela339
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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Writeme
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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Pickpick

This did not live up to the hype, but I did enjoy it. A little too cozy for me.

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MommyWantsToReadHerBook
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
Pickpick

I really loved this. It was an easy but meaningful read that made me tear up a few times and made it difficult to get into bed at a good hour.

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melissajayne
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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Pickpick

4 ⭐️ Really enjoyed this book #2025 #fiction #contempoary #friendship #family #animals

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MommyWantsToReadHerBook
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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My view at breakfast. Staying in downtown Cape Town for my conference (a block away in a fancier hotel) has been wonderful and reminded me why this city is so loved.

I stayed up way too late reading after getting in at 23:00 - look at me being up past my bedtime! My presentation is today and I go back tomorrow morning.

BarbaraBB Great setting! 2mo
AmyG Oh wow! Enjoy what time you have left. Beautiful view. (edited) 2mo
Tamra What a view! 2mo
dabbe 🤩😍🤩 2mo
CarolynM Great view! 2mo
41 likes1 stack add5 comments
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Felso
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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I stayed up all night finishing this book. Loved it so much, sad it‘s over.

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Felso
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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Gave up on Bear, so started on Remarkably Bright Creatures. Not very far in but so far so good!

18 likes1 stack add
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totefairie
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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Karisimo
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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Starring Sally Field as Tova- this should be good!!!

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SheReadsAndWrites
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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Pickpick

I loved this. The characters. The story. The octopus. Definitely going on my top ten list of favorites. 🥰

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Honeybeebooks
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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Pickpick

This was an easy read. Tova is 70, lives alone and each evening cleans the Sowell Bay Aquarium to keep busy. She loves her maritime friends at the aquarium especially Marcellus, the Giant Pacific Octopus. Marcellus is a wily escape artist, collector and wise observer of humanity. An accident and a visitor are the catalyst for big changes for the two unusual friends. A happy diversion at 3.5/5 ⭐️.

11 likes1 stack add
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azulaco
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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Pickpick

This book has been on my to-read list since it came out. Why did I wait so long to read it? It was wonderful! I couldn‘t stop reading to see how all the human pieces would fit together. It made me happy cry a little at the end. My only complaint is that I wish there had been more of Marcellus the octopus! It‘s rare that a feel-good book can pull off a happy ending without getting too treacly, but this book does it. #readyourkindle

Texreader On my tbr forever too! Great review!! 3mo
Cupcake12 One of my favourite reads of last year x 3mo
16 likes2 comments
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ElizaMarie
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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Mehso-so

This was a decent book, but --- It was a #NotForMe type of book. I can see why people loved it, but I found it pretty predictable and sappy, which - I guess it's the type of book it was supposed to be. Oh well.

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ElizaMarie
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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Finally got an outdoor #HammockReading day in yesterday. Woke up today to so much rain! I am glad I took advantage of yesterday!

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JanuarieTimewalker13
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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Pickpick

5🩷 This Book! I absolutely LOVED the narrator for Marcellus! What a great story with good characters and of course, an octopus extraordinaire❤️ I took the physical copy out of the library also to jot a few things down. Was not aware that Octopuses had 3 hearts!!! Also had never heard of the wooden carved Swedish Dala horses!
#Washington(state of). I love when a book is so heart warming and teaches me things.

JanuarieTimewalker13 5/14/25 Book 12 2025 6mo
45 likes1 comment
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SarahBookInterrupted
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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Dive into Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt with Book Interrupted this #ManuscriptMonday! A heartwarming story of unlikely friendships and deep-sea wonder.

Read more: https://www.bookinterrupted.com/post/manuscript-monday-remarkably-bright-creatur...

#RemarkablyBrightCreatures #BookInterrupted #BookClubReads #MustRead #BookLovers

38 likes2 stack adds
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wanderinglynn
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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#wondrouswednesday

1. I still have a Dexter shape hole in my heart. He was the bestest dog & I will always miss him. But Jasper has been a blessing & keeps me entertained.

2. Yes, both fiction and non-fiction.

3. Tagged!

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 6mo
Eggs Thx for joining in 🥳 6mo
TheBookHippie Jasper has grown!!! Such a handsome young man. 6mo
wanderinglynn @TheBookHippie thank you! He has filled out to be a handsome boy. 6mo
49 likes4 comments
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Centique
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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Mehso-so

I bought this book because I love an octopus and yes, i loved Marcellus. But.. and it‘s not you, book, it‘s me… this was a little too sweet for my tastes and I could predict almost every event in the book a long while before it happened. Would have liked a book 100% from Marcellus‘s point of view! But if you liked The Storied Life of AJ Fikry i think this is a similar level of sweet plus an octopus 🙌 so don‘t let me put you off!

TheLudicReader The octopus was the best part; the rest of the book was 🤷‍♀️. 6mo
sarahbarnes Agree with your review of this one! 6mo
Reggie Omg did you think Aj Fikry was too sweet?!!! 🫣lol 6mo
Centique @Reggie it was SO long ago! I may be wrong. i just remember thinking that the grumpy man was gonna get won over by the kid and the missing mom. Have i remembered right? Maybe this one isnt sweet either!!! Remember i thought Mongrels was a lovely family story … 😜 6mo
66 likes4 comments
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MaleficentBookDragon
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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I needle felted my own little Marcellus this weekend. #craftersoflitsy

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Loved this one 🐙 7mo
ICantImReading So cute! I just finished re-listening to this story 🥰 7mo
dabbe 🤩🤩🤩 7mo
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kspenmoll Love your little octopus!🐙 7mo
Leftcoastzen So cute ! Good job! 7mo
Prairiegirl_reading That is so cute!!! 7mo
Bette 🐙❤️👍 7mo
65 likes1 stack add7 comments
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rwmg
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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Mehso-so

Marcellus, an octopus exhibited in an aquarium, is bored, while Tova , the aquarium's night cleaner, is working as a form of grief therapy. Together they may be able to resolve each other's problems.

I didn't hate it. I thought it was too obvious too soon who Cameron was, and I wasn't convinced by Marcellus. An octopus POV should be a lot stranger than Marcellus's musings. The story was cute enough to keep me going but it didn't enthuse me.

CSeydel Exactly! 8mo
32 likes1 comment
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rwmg
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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TheBookHippie Such a lovely read. 8mo
29 likes1 comment
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maich
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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#CoverStories #LargeAnimal @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

We always talk about book boyfriends. But what about book animals or book pets? Do you have any of these? I read a lot of books starring animals. The ones that stick in my mind the most are Buck (The Call of the Wild), Moby Dick, Rosie (Water for Elephant), Lassie (Lassie Come Home), Marley (Marley and Me), Bob (Street Cat Named Bob)...
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maich Last year I listened an audiobook Remarkably Bright Creatures and after a few months the book was translated in slovenian language and I need to have because I love octopus Marcellus. And I love slovenian cover. Orange octopus and dark blue background are the perfect combination. The story is about an older lady who works as a cleaner in an aquarium. She forms a wonderful friendship with an octopus. It gives you a lot to think about life.🐙🐙🐙 8mo
Eggs This was a favorite for #LargeAnimal! (edited) 8mo
maich @Eggs Marcellus has a lot of fans. 8mo
39 likes3 comments
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Steph.Titus
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
Mehso-so

12.2025

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dabbe
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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Lesliereadsalot I loved Marcellus! 8mo
LoverOfLearning Waiting for my audiobook hold to come in! 8mo
dabbe @Lesliereadsalot 🎯🎯🎯! 8mo
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dabbe @LoverOfLearning Hope it comes in soon! I loved this book, especially Marcellus. 🩶🐙🩶 8mo
LoverOfLearning @dabbe 🐙 cute 8mo
Eggs Perfect 😍 8mo
dabbe @Eggs 🩶🐙🩶 8mo
Kitta 🐙 ❤️ 8mo
dabbe @Kitta ❣️🐙❣️ 8mo
65 likes2 stack adds9 comments
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MaleficentBookDragon
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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Eggs Excellent 👌🏼 8mo
MaleficentBookDragon @Eggs of course now that I think about it, Marcellus really wasn‘t THAT big. Oops! 8mo
67 likes2 comments
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LapReader
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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Pickpick

Started this yesterday arvo after my zoom 🩰 class. I had a weird experience with a 🐕 following me onto the 🏝️. He was too excitable for my liking & eventually zoomed off & I was able to relax. God knows where the owner was. I think everyone thought it was my uncontrollable 🐕 off leash at a no 🐕 🏝️! Anyway 📕 is for Hornbag‘s Book Club & I‘m enjoying it so far 🐙 Really should have been doing house work but also needed a rest after a big w/e.

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DebbieGrillo
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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Pickpick

It's easy to see why this book appeals to such a wide audience. Tova, Cameron, Marcellus, Ethan, all lovable characters. This book will stay with me for a long time. A sentient octopus that understands humans better than humans can understand them? Totally works!

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I loved this one 🐙 8mo
Aims42 This is a favorite of mine, I love recommending it 💛🧡🩷 8mo
LoverOfLearning Will be my next read on audio :) 8mo
CoverToCoverGirl Definitely a hidden gem. 💎 8mo
66 likes4 comments
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Powered_By_Plants
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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Pickpick

Had this one on hold at the library for a fair few weeks , when it was delivered I had forgotten it was ‘that octopus book‘ , the cover for the audio book has nothing resembling an octopus 😂
Cute, slow paced , warm and fuzzy . I really enjoyed it , although wanted more Marcellus 🐙. It‘s made me want to go and watch the octopus documentary on Netflix! So will add that to my list 😊
Adored Tova and the T-shirt situation 😂

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TheLudicReader
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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Pickpick

It‘s a soft pick for me. I found it all a bit too saccharine and Cameron acted like he was a kid instead of a grown ass man. I enjoyed Marcellus‘s voice most of all, and wish there had been more of it.

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 9mo
Lesliereadsalot Every time I turned a page I was hoping it would be Marcellus! 9mo
56 likes3 comments
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thecheckoutstack
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt

Deciding to put this one down. I love the octopus parts and am meh about everything else. Made it about halfway.

thecheckoutstack Also weird nitpick but I‘m dubious that an octopus would know and use the word “cuckold” (edited) 9mo
ElizaMarie Ha Yes!!! Cuckold is not a word most would use - so where did he pick it up from?

I am reading this one now, but it's so slow going, I might have to stop. It's taking forever! And it's okay. Not bad, but just a bit too -- maybe not for me type of book. I am still gonna think about whether I am gonna finish it.
5mo
13 likes2 comments
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DebinHawaii
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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#25Alive!

#Bright immediately makes me think of this book & Marcellus. 🧡🐙💙 The audiobook remains a favorite.

JenReadsAlot Such a great book! 9mo
Lesliereadsalot Really liked this one from my #auldlangspine exchange! 9mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Love Marcellus!! 🐙 9mo
Eggs Perfect 💙🐙 🧡 9mo
57 likes4 comments
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Kar2b
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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Pickpick

I loved this story… Marcellus is the best! There are so many great characters… Tova, Terry, Ethan, the Knit-Wits, and Aunt Jeanne. I read that Sally Field might play Tova in the movie version. I hope they do make a movie of this book!

JamieArc Oh! I can see Sally Field in that role (and it would be great to see her on the screen again). 9mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I loved this one!! 9mo
LoverOfLearning I so badly want to read this one! Waiting for my hold! 8mo
21 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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WorldsOkayestStepMom
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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Pickpick

I loved Marcellus and Tova! Easy to read, this book will stay with me for a while.

WildAlaskaBibliophile Marcellus! Marcellus! 9mo
WorldsOkayestStepMom @WildAlaskaBibliophile isn't he such a cool character?! 9mo
52 likes3 comments
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RoseMallow
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
Pickpick

Love this story !!!! Fantastic.

1 like1 stack add
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Lesliereadsalot
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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Pickpick

Really liked this story partially narrated by Marcellus, a giant octopus, and also told through the eyes of Tova, a cleaning lady at his aquarium, and Cameron, a down-on-his-luck guy who is slowly integrated into the story. I just read it‘s going to be a movie with Sally Field which should be awesome. Lots of brilliant observations by Marcellus keep the story moving.

@thegreensofa @monalyisha #auldlangspine

thegreensofa Marcellus is the best! 🙂 I loved this book. I am so happy you enjoyed it. I could be friends with Marcellus he‘s my type of guy. Patient and intelligent! 🙃. I am picking up ‘They‘re Going To Love You‘ from the library today! Very excited!!! 🩰💕 10mo
Lesliereadsalot @thegreensofa Picking up Lenny Marks at the library! Hope you like “They‘re Going to Love You”! 🩷 10mo
thegreensofa Lol, i‘m a dufus!!🤓 I went to the library and it was Shark Heart 🦈🩶 I was picking up. But I‘m still excited! 😁✨ 10mo
Lesliereadsalot I know you‘ll like Shark Heart. It‘s such an interesting story. 🩷 @thegreensofa 10mo
28 likes4 comments
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HettyG
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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Pickpick

I did not love this book the way I expected given how many people have raved about it, I have no idea why. I had a hard time connecting with the characters even though I did love Marcellus. I am still giving it a pick because it really was a lovely story!

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Cupcake12
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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I love finding new books whilst reading everyone‘s #12Booksof2024. @Andrew65 Here‘s mine for January 2024.

Andrew65 On my TBR from last year I believe. 10mo
53 likes1 comment
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Read4life
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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Andrew65 I‘ve still not read this! No doubt will be a popular choice. 10mo
JenReadsAlot Great book! 10mo
tpixie Merry Christmas 🎁🎄📕 ( I expect you will enjoy this book!) 10mo
53 likes3 comments
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PirateJenny
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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Mehso-so

I have to say I wasn't as enamored of this book as many people seem to be. I loved the parts with Marcellus, especially those narrated by him. The human parts of the plot, however, just didn't do it for me.

thecheckoutstack Same, putting it down halfway. I was disappointed since it was such a hit for others. 9mo
13 likes1 comment
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AudiobookingWithLeah
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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Pickpick

5⭐
•Honestly, Marcellus and the ending were everything in this book. It can be a bit of slow-burn but the payout and the snippets from Marcellus made it all worth it.
•Marin Ireland was the perfect narrator for this and she never disappoints. Michael Urie was also excellent as Marcellus.

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MindyK59
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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Pickpick

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. A widow who lost her son 30 years before works nights cleaning at the aquarium. She connects with an octopus who lives there. The octopus takes it upon himself to help the woman figure out what happened the night her son disappeared. I personally had no idea about octopuses and based on my reading they really are remarkably bright creatures. It really was a beautiful story.

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Bookfan1414
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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Pickpick

Oh Marcellus… you beautiful brilliant creature. Gods this book was a great read! I listened to Marcellus‘ chapters on the audio book and whoever narrated him should have all the hugs. I will admit that I am still crying… and I may have outright sobbed, just a bit. A million and one stars ✨

RosePressedPages The narrator for Marcellus was so flipping good. It really made listening to the audiobook such a memorable experience 🐙♥️ 12mo
9 likes1 comment
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Bookfan1414
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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I cannot believe I relate so much to this octopus 🐙…

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chlolovesbooks
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5/5
This book felt like a hug. I really needed it. 🩵

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CozyBookworm
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
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Pickpick

Octopus are fascinating animals and I really enjoyed this book. I love Marcellus and just wished (as many other reviewers noted) he had a larger role in the story. His sections were my favorite to read 🐙