Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Nice story, but the pacing was irregular and the style inconsistent.
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Gorgeously written, and perhaps I'm biased having just returned from Edinburgh, but the place felt like a character I've met in passing amd want to know deeper.
Lovely layered characters kept my interest when the pace lagged a bit, and Pen's development in her young adulthood is truly endearing.
I want to read it again!
Lovely layered characters kept my interest when the pace lagged a bit, and Pen's development in her young adulthood is truly endearing.
I want to read it again!
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Title: The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus
Author: Emma Knight
Genre: Contemporary
Rating: 3.00
Pub Date: January 7, 2025
I received a complimentary eARC from Penguin Random House Canada via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted
T H R E E • W O R D S
Unique • Witty • Convoluted
📖 S Y N O P S I S
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, intriguing family, Pen begins to unravel her parents’ secret and to fall in love for the first time.
Her best friend, Alice, an aspiring actor, is starring in a university production and making the most of the feminine power she wields—until a tryst with her tutor threatens to spin out of control.
As Pen experiences the sharp shock of adulthood, she uncovers the truth about her own family and comes to rely on herself for the first time in her life.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I was lucky enough to receive an early copy of The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus, from debut Canadian novelist, Emma Knight, shortly after adding it to my list of anticipated releases for 2025. But like many other readers, I struggle having too many books to read and not enough time, so it took me awhile to finally pick it up, even after seeing all of the hype (or maybe in spite of it?).
A coming-of-age story filled with themes of female friendship, motherhood, first love, and sexual awakening, it sure has a lot going on within its pages. While it does provide perspective from many different characters, the abrupt perspective switches made for a clunky and rather confusing reading experience. Because of this, I never found myself entirely immersed in the narrative.
My favourite part of the entire book were the parallels between the life cycle of an octopus and motherhood. And I wish there would have been more of an emphasis on this entire aspect throughout the narrative. There was certainly something beautiful within the metaphor and could have easily been explored to a greater degree.
The bones of The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus were solid, however, the execution and delivery could have used some polishing. I'll admit I had the highest of expectations going in, and while it didn't live up to everything I was hoping it would be, it's definitely possible this is another case of the hype negatively impacting my reading experience. Despite not adoring this one as much as I had hoped, I would definitely be willing to pick up something else written by Emma Knight in the future.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• campus life
• self-discovery
• a touch of mystery
⚠️ CW: bullying, sexual assault, rape, sexual violence, toxic relationship, emotional abuse, gaslighting, misogyny, sexual harassment, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt, infidelity, infertility, pregnancy, miscarriage, abandonment, stalking, alcohol
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"The mother who insists on keeping that inner self of hers alive is monstrous. No one blinks when a father continues devoting himself to whatever it is he most wants to accomplish in this world. But a wife and mother who has priorities of her own and refuses to put them last? Hers becomes a life of conflict, between who she is and what is expected of her. Society deems her selfish and unnatural. If she lets herself believe it, she’s doomed, and so are her children."
"I was your home for awhile, I think, as I hold your head in the palm of my hand. And I will be your harbor for a long time yet. But not forever."
Author: Emma Knight
Genre: Contemporary
Rating: 3.00
Pub Date: January 7, 2025
I received a complimentary eARC from Penguin Random House Canada via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted
T H R E E • W O R D S
Unique • Witty • Convoluted
📖 S Y N O P S I S
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, intriguing family, Pen begins to unravel her parents’ secret and to fall in love for the first time.
Her best friend, Alice, an aspiring actor, is starring in a university production and making the most of the feminine power she wields—until a tryst with her tutor threatens to spin out of control.
As Pen experiences the sharp shock of adulthood, she uncovers the truth about her own family and comes to rely on herself for the first time in her life.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I was lucky enough to receive an early copy of The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus, from debut Canadian novelist, Emma Knight, shortly after adding it to my list of anticipated releases for 2025. But like many other readers, I struggle having too many books to read and not enough time, so it took me awhile to finally pick it up, even after seeing all of the hype (or maybe in spite of it?).
A coming-of-age story filled with themes of female friendship, motherhood, first love, and sexual awakening, it sure has a lot going on within its pages. While it does provide perspective from many different characters, the abrupt perspective switches made for a clunky and rather confusing reading experience. Because of this, I never found myself entirely immersed in the narrative.
My favourite part of the entire book were the parallels between the life cycle of an octopus and motherhood. And I wish there would have been more of an emphasis on this entire aspect throughout the narrative. There was certainly something beautiful within the metaphor and could have easily been explored to a greater degree.
The bones of The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus were solid, however, the execution and delivery could have used some polishing. I'll admit I had the highest of expectations going in, and while it didn't live up to everything I was hoping it would be, it's definitely possible this is another case of the hype negatively impacting my reading experience. Despite not adoring this one as much as I had hoped, I would definitely be willing to pick up something else written by Emma Knight in the future.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• campus life
• self-discovery
• a touch of mystery
⚠️ CW: bullying, sexual assault, rape, sexual violence, toxic relationship, emotional abuse, gaslighting, misogyny, sexual harassment, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt, infidelity, infertility, pregnancy, miscarriage, abandonment, stalking, alcohol
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"The mother who insists on keeping that inner self of hers alive is monstrous. No one blinks when a father continues devoting himself to whatever it is he most wants to accomplish in this world. But a wife and mother who has priorities of her own and refuses to put them last? Hers becomes a life of conflict, between who she is and what is expected of her. Society deems her selfish and unnatural. If she lets herself believe it, she’s doomed, and so are her children."
"I was your home for awhile, I think, as I hold your head in the palm of my hand. And I will be your harbor for a long time yet. But not forever."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting
Moderate: Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Sexual harassment
Minor: Alcohol
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Enjoyed this book! Her writing style felt a little Virginia Woolf-esque in that we were able to see perspectives from many different characters throughout, which I felt really added to the book. I enjoyed Pen’s coming of age journey and the writing itself was quite beautiful.
First-year college student abroad, "Pen" works through friendships, first love, sex, and the patriarchy. Wondering why her middle name is Elliot, she gets in touch with a long-lost friend of her parents, and discoveries are made.
Disclaimer: I, like many others, didn't pay enough attention to the description of the book and was then woefully disappointed that no octopus plays a large part of the story.
When you look past your disappointment, it's not a bad read. It is a coming-of-age story. The reason for Pen's adventures into the Lennox family is a little far-fetched, but the characters are entertaining enough.
Disclaimer: I, like many others, didn't pay enough attention to the description of the book and was then woefully disappointed that no octopus plays a large part of the story.
When you look past your disappointment, it's not a bad read. It is a coming-of-age story. The reason for Pen's adventures into the Lennox family is a little far-fetched, but the characters are entertaining enough.
⭐️⭐️⭐️, grudgingly. This probably would have been a great story if I had read it before “Remarkably Bright Creatures,” but alas.