I’ll be honest, this book includes one of my most dreaded lines in fiction: “letting out a breath they didn’t know they were holding.” And not just once, but multiple times. Still, in spite of that overused phrase, I absolutely loved this novel. The mystery at the novel’s core unfolds gently, revealing a beautiful portrait of human (and non-human) connection. Van Pelt writes with sensitivity and wit, infusing the story with warmth and hope without straying into sentimentality. The characters feel real in that quietly flawed, endearing way, and their lives begin to intersect in ways that are subtle at first but become incredibly meaningful by the end. And then there’s Marcellus. I did not expect to be so emotionally invested in an octopus, but his chapters might have been my favorite part. His voice is clever, a little jaded, and surprisingly tender. Those sections added such a unique perspective and helped set the book apart from anything else I’ve read recently. Despite the cliché breath-holding moments, Remarkably Bright Creatures completely won me over. It’s thoughtful, original, and quietly powerful in a way that lingers long after you’ve finished.

I’ll be honest, this book includes one of my most dreaded lines in fiction: “letting out a breath they didn’t know they were holding.” And not just once, but multiple times. Still, in spite of that overused phrase, I absolutely loved this novel. The mystery at the novel’s core unfolds gently, revealing a beautiful portrait of human (and non-human) connection. Van Pelt writes with sensitivity and wit, infusing the story with warmth and hope without straying into sentimentality. The characters feel real in that quietly flawed, endearing way, and their lives begin to intersect in ways that are subtle at first but become incredibly meaningful by the end. And then there’s Marcellus. I did not expect to be so emotionally invested in an octopus, but his chapters might have been my favorite part. His voice is clever, a little jaded, and surprisingly tender. Those sections added such a unique perspective and helped set the book apart from anything else I’ve read recently. Despite the cliché breath-holding moments, Remarkably Bright Creatures completely won me over. It’s thoughtful, original, and quietly powerful in a way that lingers long after you’ve finished.