Scan barcode
jkull_10's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Abandonment, Drug use, Grief, Drug abuse, Child death, and Classism
nc_unknown_user's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I enjoyed the characters (mostly) and eventually learning how their stories intersected. I wasn’t crazy about how long it took to get to that point or that it felt like you started somewhat in the middle of things with no clear explanations and just had to trust the process until it got to that point. Overall it was a nice story and something different to read. Not something I likely would’ve picked on my own. I enjoyed it for the most part though.
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug abuse, Abandonment, Addiction, Drug use, Suicide, Grief, Death, and Death of parent
dwdillydally's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Suicide and Alcohol
Minor: Animal death and Drug use
cursedkirst's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide and Drug use
stacy837's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Grief, Child death, and Animal death
Moderate: Cursing and Alcohol
Minor: Cancer, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, and Suicide
ehoustonmyatt's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-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
4.0
I listened to this one and the narrators were great, especially the one for Marcellus. This was a very sweet story about grief and how we move forward through it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, Drug use, Suicide, Confinement, Death, and Addiction
saramoser's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Okay, when I first started this I was reading it on my kindle and I DNF’d it because I just couldn’t get into it, maybe the hype? Not sure, but it became available as audiobook and I tried again and I am so happy I did! The audiobook was great, and I really like the narrator! Would 100% recommend the audiobook! Such a neat story, and not one you read in every book!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Drug use, and Death of parent
socolorfull's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
slow-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
3.0
I think my expectations for this book were too high. Everybody I know absolutely LOVED it. Alas, I did not. I did not hate it, but it was not a favorite.
First, the good: the Audiobook was fantastically narrated. Definitely a treat for your ears. The cast of characters was a loveable lot... Well... Mostly loveable. Cameron was annoying. Sweet little Tova stole the show, but the shopkeeper was a close second, and Tova's group of friends who loved her so much were just the sweetest bunch of elderly folks. I hope to have a group of friends like that when I'm a little old person. Jane was also a hoot. I even enjoyed Terry, the head boss of the aquarium, who we don't see much of but when we do see him, he seems like a nice, slightly eccentric guy.
Now, the bad: predictable. Which made it boring because why did it take so freaking long to get to the most predictable ending of all time? The book opens with all of these different, seemingly unrelated characters. I found it difficult to follow the jumping back and forth between the two groups of characters - the ones in California and the ones in Washington.But you know that if you are jumping back and forth between two sets of characters that they are going to be related somehow. And then when you find out more about both sets of characters, you can easily guess how it will all end. By the end of the first 25% of the book, you know what's going to happen. You don't know exactly how you're going to get there, but you basically know how the book will end.
For those who enjoy the journey, and don't really care about a predictable story, I guess the journey is fine. I found it to be a little long, drawn out and boring, personally. The book takes FOREVER to get going. Was all that back story REALLY necessary? Like almost 50% of the book worth of back story?
I also wish Marcellus the Octopus had more of a presence. I felt like the book was billed as being narrated by an Octopus but I feel like 90% of the book was narrated by humans. I thought it was going to be all about the Octopus when, in fact, it was mostly about humans. I guess most people want to read about humans but I read a lot of stories about humans and have never read one about an Octopus so I was excited by that.
Anyways, I don't think it lived up to the hype but I'm in the minority (as usual) so give it a go if you want a sweet little story about finding family and love when you feel like you've got nobody and nothing.
If you like books with animal narrators, check out Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton. Do yourself the favor of pretending the sequel doesn't exist though - it's not really that good.
First, the good: the Audiobook was fantastically narrated. Definitely a treat for your ears. The cast of characters was a loveable lot... Well... Mostly loveable. Cameron was annoying. Sweet little Tova stole the show, but the shopkeeper was a close second, and Tova's group of friends who loved her so much were just the sweetest bunch of elderly folks. I hope to have a group of friends like that when I'm a little old person. Jane was also a hoot. I even enjoyed Terry, the head boss of the aquarium, who we don't see much of but when we do see him, he seems like a nice, slightly eccentric guy.
Now, the bad: predictable. Which made it boring because why did it take so freaking long to get to the most predictable ending of all time? The book opens with all of these different, seemingly unrelated characters. I found it difficult to follow the jumping back and forth between the two groups of characters - the ones in California and the ones in Washington.
For those who enjoy the journey, and don't really care about a predictable story, I guess the journey is fine. I found it to be a little long, drawn out and boring, personally. The book takes FOREVER to get going. Was all that back story REALLY necessary? Like almost 50% of the book worth of back story?
I also wish Marcellus the Octopus had more of a presence. I felt like the book was billed as being narrated by an Octopus but I feel like 90% of the book was narrated by humans. I thought it was going to be all about the Octopus when, in fact, it was mostly about humans. I guess most people want to read about humans but I read a lot of stories about humans and have never read one about an Octopus so I was excited by that.
Anyways, I don't think it lived up to the hype but I'm in the minority (as usual) so give it a go if you want a sweet little story about finding family and love when you feel like you've got nobody and nothing.
If you like books with animal narrators, check out Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton. Do yourself the favor of pretending the sequel doesn't exist though - it's not really that good.
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug use, Suicide, and Drug abuse
ukponge's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Abandonment
Moderate: Drug abuse and Drug use
jodean's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moving and heart warming
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Child death, Drug use, and Grief
Moderate: Suicide and Animal death
Minor: Pregnancy