The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus: A Read with Jenna Pick

A Novel

By: Emma Knight

Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER | READ WITH JENNA BOOK CLUB PICK AS FEATURED ON TODAY

“Undeniably delicious.” —The New York Times

“A spellbinding debut about friendship, motherhood, first love, and the choices that bind us. . . I couldn't put it down!” —Carley Fortune, #1 New York Times bestselling author of This Summer Will Be Different

A witty, atmospheric, and brilliantly told novel that offers compelling portraits of womanhood, motherhood and female friendship, along with the irresistible intrigue surrounding an extraordinary British family

Arriving at the University of Edinburgh for her first term, Pen knows her divorced parents back in Canada are hiding something from her. She believes she’ll find the answer here in Scotland, where an old friend of her father’s—now a famous writer known as Lord Lennox—lives. When she is invited to spend the weekend at Lord Lennox’s centuries-old estate with his enveloping, fascinating family, Pen begins to unravel her parents’ secret, just as she’s falling in love for the first time . . .

As Pen experiences the sharp shock of adulthood, she comes to rely on herself for the first time in her life. A rich and rewarding novel of campus life, of sexual awakening, and ultimately, of the many ways women can become mothers in this world, The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus asks to what extent we need to look back in order to move forward.

realistic personalities to the sea creature

the relationships between characters and the way personalities and histories played out over time. colorful details of surroundings

Boring. DNF.

OMG. Usually I can’t wait to get back to an audio book. This was SO BORING. I quit with 5 hours to go, and at 1.4 speed. Do yourself a favor. Don’t.

Well written and excellent and performances by the narrators, but shallow story.

What was the point of the novel? The story was not worthy of a novel. Very weak premise.

the story was real and perceptive

What a beautiful reading of a lovely story. A story of coming of age amongst the familiar and unfamiliar. Read on and discover this lovely story and may be a little of yourself.

Captivating

The author wraps you in a journey where you are invested and can’t wait for the next chapter. Must read!