Remarkably Bright Creatures - Paperback

Remarkably Bright Creatures - Paperback by Shelby Van Pelt is a heartfelt and uplifting novel about grief, friendship, second chances, and the surprising connections that can help uncover long-hidden truths.

After the death of her husband, Tova Sullivan begins working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. Staying busy helps her cope with the unexplained disappearance of her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, who vanished on a boat in Puget Sound more than thirty years earlier.

At the aquarium, Tova develops an unexpected friendship with Marcellus, a clever and observant giant Pacific octopus. Marcellus knows more about the mystery surrounding Erik’s disappearance than anyone realizes. As time grows short, he must find a way to help Tova understand the past and discover a future she thought was no longer possible.

This paperback is a thoughtful choice for book clubs, literary-fiction readers, and customers searching for memorable titles from a Pittsburgh bookstore. Pair it with book journals, pens and notebooks, bookish accessories, or curated stationery and gifts from the Pen & Page bookshop.

Book Highlights:

• Written by Shelby Van Pelt
• Paperback edition
• New York Times bestseller
• A Read With Jenna Today Show Book Club Pick
• Adapted into a Netflix film
• Features an unlikely friendship between a widow and a giant Pacific octopus
• Explores grief, hope, friendship, family, and second chances
• Combines literary fiction, mystery, warmth, and gentle humor
• Ideal for book clubs and contemporary-fiction readers
• Thoughtful gift with a journal and pen or other bookish accessories
• Number of pages: 384
• Dimensions: 1.2 × 8 × 5.3 inches
• Publication date: April 29, 2025
• Reading level: 5.2
• Interest level: Grades 9–12