Summary
Remarkably Bright Creatures, the debut novel of Shelby Van Pelt, is a story of loss and determination driven by a decades-old mystery and the unlikely friendship between Tova Sullivan, a 70-year-old widow, and Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus. Released in 2022, the novel was featured as a Read With Jenna Today Show Book Club Pick and quickly became a New York Times bestseller. Along with its popular appeal, Van Pelt's work received widespread praise from critics and accolades including the 2023 McLaughlin-Esstman-Stearns First Novel Prize.
In 2024, Netflix announced plans to adapt Remarkably Bright Creatures into a film, directed by Olivia Newman and starring Sally Field as Tova. Production began in March 2025.
Plot
Remarkably Bright Creatures tells the story of Tova Sullivan, a 70-year-old widow who works as a night cleaner at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. Tova has been coping with grief since her husband's death and the mysterious disappearance of her son Erik over 30 years ago. During her shifts, she forms an unexpected bond with a giant Pacific octopus who lives in the aquarium. Marcellus, known for his intelligence and cunning nature, initially shows no interest in interacting with humans. As he observes Tova night after night, however, he develops a fondness for her. The unlikely pair begin to form a unique friendship, with Marcellus becoming increasingly invested in Tova's life and past.
As their relationship deepens, Marcellus's detective-like instincts kick in. He starts to piece together clues about the night Tova's son Erik vanished in Puget Sound. Realizing he may hold the key to solving this decades-old mystery, Marcellus becomes determined to uncover the truth for Tova. With time running out, Marcellus must use all of his octopus abilities and intelligence to reveal what really happened to Erik. The story unfolds as Marcellus races against the clock to help Tova find closure and potentially open the door to a future she never thought possible.
Themes
Friendship across species and generations
Coping with loss and grief
The power of persistence and determination
Uncovering hidden truths from the past
Finding hope and purpose in unexpected places
The intelligence and emotional capacity of animals
Transformative power of human-animal connections
Setting
Set in the present day, Remarkably Bright Creatures unfolds primarily in the fictional town of Sowell Bay, located in the Puget Sound region of Washington state. This coastal setting, with its misty shores, bustling marine life, and deep, mysterious waters that hold secrets from the past, provides a rich backdrop for the story.
Much of the action takes place in Sowell Bay Aquarium. For the protagonist, Tova Sullivan, this local attraction serves as more than just a workplace—it becomes a sanctuary of sorts, a place where unexpected connections are forged and long-buried truths begin to surface.
The story also touches on broader geographical elements of the Pacific Northwest, particularly the Puget Sound itself. This body of water, with its complex network of inlets and islands, plays a crucial role in the narrative, both as the site of a decades-old tragedy and as a symbol of the vast, unknowable forces that shape the characters' lives.
Characters
Tova Sullivan: A 70-year-old widow who works the night shift at Sowell Bay Aquarium. Tova has been coping with the loss of her husband and the mysterious disappearance of her son Erik for over 30 years. She forms an unlikely friendship with Marcellus, the giant Pacific octopus at the aquarium. Tova's journey of healing and discovery is central to the story.
Marcellus: A giant Pacific octopus living at Sowell Bay Aquarium. Highly intelligent and observant, Marcellus becomes friends with Tova and helps uncover the truth about her son's disappearance. Despite his captivity, Marcellus plays a crucial role in the narrative, using his wit and abilities to assist Tova.
Erik Sullivan: Tova's son who mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over 30 years ago. His disappearance is a central mystery in the story.
Cameron Cassmore: A young man who comes to Sowell Bay searching for his birth father. He becomes involved in the story and helps unravel the mystery surrounding Erik's disappearance.
Ethan: The manager of Sowell Bay Aquarium. He is Tova's boss and plays a supporting role in the story.
Avery: A teenage girl who works at the aquarium gift shop. She forms a friendship with Cameron and assists in the investigation.
Quick facts
Remarkably Bright Creatures is Shelby Van Pelt's debut novel, published in May 2022.
The story features an unlikely friendship between a widow and a giant Pacific octopus.
Most of the action takes place in the fictional Sowell Bay Aquarium and the actual Puget Sound in the Pacific Northwest.
Remarkably Bright Creatures was selected as a Read With Jenna Today Show Book Club Pick.
The novel has gone through 30 reprintings due to its popularity.
Remarkably Bright Creatures explores themes of friendship, loss, reckoning, and hope.
The novel was featured on The New York Times bestseller list for many weeks and has sold more than two million copies worldwide.
Remarkably Bright Creatures won the 2023 McLaughlin-Esstman-Stearns First Novel Prize.
The audiobook, narrated by Marin Ireland and Michael Urie, was a finalist for the 2023 Audie Award for Audiobook of the Year.
In March 2025, production began on a film adaptation for Netflix, starring Sally Field as Tova.
About the Author
Shelby Van Pelt is an American author of contemporary fiction. She made her publishing debut in 2022 with Remarkably Bright Creatures, a novel centered on the unexpected friendship between a 70-year-old widow and a giant Pacific octopus. It was awarded the 2023 McLaughlin-Esstman-Stearns First Novel Prize by the Writer’s Center, selected as a Read With Jenna Today Show Book Club Pick, and became a New York Times bestseller.
Van Pelt's roots are firmly planted in the Pacific Northwest, where she was born and raised. Currently residing in the Chicago suburbs with her family, she admits to missing the mountains of her home region. When not writing, she balances her time between caring for her children and juggling the demands of multiple feline companions. She indulges in flash fiction, describing it as an “addiction,” and maintains an active online presence, engaging with readers through her website and social media platforms.
