Remarkably Bright Creatures: 'that Octopus Book', The Major Bestseller Coming To Netflix Soon

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt is a warmly observed contemporary fiction novel with a sly, irresistible twist: one of its sharpest narrators is an octopus.

Tova Sullivan, still carrying the weight of her son Erik’s disappearance decades earlier, works nights cleaning the Sowell Bay Aquarium. There she meets Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus with a keen eye for human habits and secrets. As their unlikely friendship deepens, small-town routines begin to shift, and long-buried questions tug to the surface—without the story ever forcing its hand.

Perfect for readers who love character-driven mysteries, gentle humour, and emotional family drama, this is also ideal for book clubs and anyone drawn to coastal settings and found-family connections.

Add it to your stack if you’re after a smart, tender read you’ll want to savour—and then press into someone else’s hands.