Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

This special deluxe edition features stunning sprayed and stenciled edges, elegant silver foil accents, and a reading group guide—making it as remarkable to hold as it is to read.

A New York Times Bestseller and Read with Jenna Today Show Book Club Pick, this charming debut has captured hearts across the country and is soon to be a Netflix film. The Washington Post calls it “an ultimately feel-good but deceptively sensitive debut…memorable and tender.”

After losing her husband, Tova Sullivan takes the night shift at Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and keeping her hands busy—anything to quiet the grief that’s followed her since her son Erik vanished in Puget Sound over thirty years ago. But something unexpected happens in the quiet hours: she befriends Marcellus, a curmudgeonly giant Pacific octopus with a talent for observation.

Marcellus is no ordinary octopus. He’s clever, surprisingly empathetic, and—though he’d never admit it—lonely. As an unlikely friendship blooms between woman and cephalopod, Marcellus begins piecing together the mystery of what happened to Tova’s son all those years ago.

What follows is a tender exploration of grief, hope, and the surprising connections that help us heal. Shelby Van Pelt weaves humor and heartache into a story that reminds us it’s never too late to uncover the truth—or to find your way home. Perfect for fans of cozy, character-driven fiction with a touch of magic.

Additional information