Audiobook Review: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Author: Shelby Van Pelt
Narrators:
Marin Ireland
Michael Urie
Published: May 3, 2022
Audiobook: 11 hours 16 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: October 8-14, 2025
Jessica’s Rating: 5 stars
Book Description:
After Tova Sullivan’s husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. 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.
Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. 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.
Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova’s son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it’s too late.
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.
Jessica’s Review:
I adore this book! This was a book club read and had been on my TBR for a while. It will also become a Netflix film in the future starring Sally Field and Lewis Pullman (yes, Bill Pullman’s son.) As I read and also listened to the book, I pictured Sally Field as Tova knowing that she will be playing her.
This is a very strong debut novel. We have 70-year-old Tova who works nights at the local aquarium and we have Marcellus who is a giant Pacific Octopus that lives in the aquarium, and his time is running short for his lifespan. They form a connection, friendship, and bond.
Thirty years ago, Tova’s 18-year-old son disappeared. Marcellus figures out what happens and it becomes a race against time for Tova to also understand. In the middle of this Tova sustains an injury and is unable to work. This introduces Cameron who takes over her job while she is out. We learn about all three characters and the connections that form between all three.
The central theme in the novel is loneliness as all three of our characters are dealing with this emotion in varying degrees. You can’t help but become attached to these characters and root for them. The friendship between Tova and Marcellus is so special. How everything comes together warms the heart and it might just cause a tear or two to drop when you finish this novel.
I had heard that the audiobook was wonderful and it is perfection for me! Marin Ireland is wonderful as usual, but Michael Urie steals the show with this audiobook as Marcellus! He just brings this character to life.
I look forward to the movie when it comes out on Netflix next year (hopefully sooner than later!). I can see the film version of Remarkably Bright Creatures being the Free Willy for a new generation.
Remarkably Bright Creatures will be one of my top reads of 2025 and I cannot wait to see what Van Pelt writes next!