Of Octopuses and Men

By: Misha Bell, Anna Zaires, Dima Zales

Narrated by: Erin Mallon, Sebastian York

Length: 6 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

My grandparents’ grumpy neighbor is as hot as the lethal Florida sun. And like the sun, he’s bad for me. My taste in men is the worst - just ask my ex and his restraining order.

What am I doing in Florida with my grandparents, you wonder? Well, my best friend is an octopus, and he needs a bigger tank. So, I took a job at an aquarium in the Sunshine State.

I didn’t expect that sexy, long-haired grump to try to buy my octopus for some nefarious purpose. Nor did I expect to make out with him during a late-night swim at the beach.

And the last thing I expected was to run into him on my first day, at my new job, where he’s my boss....

Note: This is a stand-alone, raunchy, slow-burning romantic comedy featuring a sun-phobic marine biologist, her scorching hot grump of a boss, and an octopus who likes to go on walks in his mobile tank. If any of the above is not your cup of tea, run far, far away. Otherwise, buckle in for a laugh-out-loud, feel-good ride.

©2022 Misha Bell (P)2022 Misha Bell

Olive & Oliver!!! SOOOO CUTE!!!

I was so excited to read the next Hyman Sisters book by Misha Bell. Of Octopuses and Men was another laugh out loud, slow burn, romantic comedy that had me smiling and feeling happy throughout the whole book. This book was wild, so many quirky characters and full of lots of interesting facts about sea creature. Olive was just as funny as her sisters, but definitely more “normal” in her quirks. Her life revolves around her pet octopus, Beaky, she loves swimming as a mermaid and is obsessed with wearing sunscreen to reduce the chance of getting skin cancer. She clashes with her sexy neighbor, who turns out to be her new boss and his name is Oliver!! How funny is that!! Olive & Oliver!! Can this story get any sillier, LOL. Overall, this story was such a fun read and listen, I enjoyed every minute of it and the narration by Erin Mallon was just phenomenal. Erin did a great job portraying all these crazy, quirky characters, especially bringing Olive & Oliver to life. Let’s not forget Sebastian York’s narration of the epilogue as Oliver, *swoon*. I always look forward to the epilogues and getting a glimpse of the male POV. Cant wait to see what happen’s next with the Hyman sisters, or if Oliver’s brothers will get their story told.

All you never knew about sea creatures and LAUGHS!

This book was shockingly funny. So much knowledge all packed into a sexy rom com. Prepare to laugh out loud if you can get into the book. But if lots of sea life references aren’t your thing this might not tickle your funny bone as much.

What a fun listen!

Another fun read from on of the Hyman girls! Olive was pretty tame compared to some of her sisters books. She has a weird obsession with mermaids. I should say she has a weird obsession with sunscreen as well, but let's face it, she's right about UV damage so I can't even fault her.

We got to meet the grandparents in this book and I adored them. The grandma had a few cringe worthy moments but that does explain why Olive's mom is the way that she is. I think you really can die of embarrassment if you lived through some of what Olive and her sisters had to experience with this family. It makes for an entertaining read for sure.

Last but not least, Oliver was drool worthy. Based off his descriptions, I couldn't help but search for pictures to fit him and I found some good ones! I just love how these hunky men fall for these slightly neurotic women and love them all the more for it.

Hilarious!

OMG! Olive and Oliver's story is hilarious, steamy, and sweet. Olive is such a colorful character, funny, sassy, and determined. Oliver is very handsome. I liked the amazing characters, the slow burn romance, the eccentric Hyman family, and the witty humor. This is an excellent, hilarious, and original Romantic Comedy. Erin Mallon did an outstanding job with the narration. Sebastian York as Oliver reading of the Epilogue was the perfect choice! This story is interconnected with Hard Byte (Holly's story), Royally Tricked (Gia's story), and Femme Fatale-ish. (Blue's story). If you like a laugh-out-loud Romantic Comedy, this one is definitely for you. Misha Bell never disappoints!

Olive and Oliver!

I don’t know how author Misha Bell does it but every story with one of the Hyman sisters just keeps getting more hilarious and more steamy. This is Olive’s story, she’s a marine biologist, who’s sometimes a mermaid, and very passionate about octopuses. Therefore, her BFF is Beaky, a super smart octopus. Then we have Oliver, who’s also a marine biologist and hot AF. Their meet cute is hilarious and every one of their encounters after that keeps getting funnier and crazier, especially when we add in her kooky family. This was a fun and hilarious read. I also learned a lot about octopuses. Indeed a very interesting animal.

Erin Mallon’s narration is brilliant and wonderful to listen to and she’s exceptionally always on point with the comedic scenes which makes those scenes even funnier. Sebastian York is great even though he only narrates the epilogue. His voice always hit the right note for me.

Quirky fun, plenty of steam

Audiobook:  Narrators - Erin Mallon and Sebastian York


Ms. Mallon did a remarkable job of bringing to life Olive and her quirky sidekick, Beaky.  I loved Beaky while reading this book, but listening to Ms. Mallon’s fun interpretation of how he would sound made this even more fun.  The same can be said of any of the interactions with Olive, her family or her friend Fabio.  I just couldn’t quit smiling.  And laughing.  And falling in love with Olive and Oliver.  This has very little drama, lots of crazy antics, and so many laugh out loud moments. 


I loved this light hearted fun read with its quirky sea creatures and even quirkier characters, a steam level that was nuclear when this couple broke the rules, and an ending that was total satisfaction.  Definitely recommend it if you like all of the above.

 

Hysterical!

This book had me laughing out loud from the beginning! There is such a quirky and lovable quality about Olive that just makes her irresistible. Her obsession with octopuses, and lack of interest in dolphins, makes her my favorite fictional marine biologist.

OMG Loved it!

Super cute and fun!! Love hearing about the Hymen sisters and the guys they find - and also the rest of the stories in this series!!

Can’t wait for the next one!

Of Octopuses and Men

Another crazy funny and wildly entertaining audiobook from Misha Bell. I always read the ebook before the audio and found that to be delightful. The narrated version. By Erin Mallon reminded me so much of Olive. I can admit I wish Sebastian York would have narrated more than just the epilogue (which he performed awesomely as usual) which wrapped up the ending and final scene so well even the God Cathulu would have been proud!
It had been a couple of months since reading the book and I can’t get enough of the hilarious Hymen family and the men who love them.
The author has a marvelous way of integrating hilarity , numerous absurdity, seggie scenes and wonderful stories with characters it’s hard to get enough of. I highly recommend both the book version as well as this wonderful audiobook!

Of Octopuses and Men

Absolutely hilarious from beginning to end. Couldn't ask for a better listen. Narration was excellent as well.

Disappointing.

This was a huge disappointment. I have read/listened to several books by the same author before and really enjoyed them, but this was terrible. Olive was just downright annoying with no redeeming qualities whatsoever, and rather than making me laugh this book largely just made me cringe.

Nutty but brilliant plot and characters!!

Utterly insane, nonsensical discussions with her octopus … hooked me in in a few pages!

The main two character are both marine biologists, and the sheer amount of research that must’ve gone into some of the knowledge and inside jokes they share is staggering.

Yet both are gooky weirdos, and Olive especially with her inner monologues and perceptions of what other people or more likely sea creatures are saying had me cracking up often.

It’s almost like the romance was background noise, and that was brilliantly unexpectedly but worked!

Good fun

I adore Misha Bells books. They are fun and light hearted and make me laugh each time. Thanks Misha 💜

Beaky!!!

Just when I need a good laugh most, Misha Bell swoops in with another installment of the Hymen sisters! These girls and their antics never get old! I never learned so much about sea creatures! Olive loves octopuses, and we learned that in other stories, but this one focuses on her and Beaky! Olive needs a bigger tank for her octopus, so taking a job at an aquarium near her grandparents seems to be a good solution. Until she realizes their neighbor and the man she met on the beach to be her new boss! Hysterical, laugh out loud moments with not only Olive's parents and grandparents, but Beaky himself had me smiling through this zany adventure. I love this series not only for its humor, but the quirkiness and originality of each sister! They are amazing! I can't wait for the next one!

Erin Mallon continues her comedic timing in this romcom. I love her voices, she just makes me laugh! Her ability to go from aging grandparent to cranky octopus is incredible! Loved it! And Sebastian York finishing it up is just a treat. Another fabulous listen.