A review by sukidookie
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

emotional hopeful lighthearted sad slow-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

3.0

I was drawn to this book because of its charming cover, description and atmosphere. I thought the relationship between Marcellus the octopus and the aquarium's cleaning lady was endearing. The various mysteries kept me intrigued throughout the story and I liked all of the characters. Despite how cute and well-written the book was, it didn't hit the mark for me. I don't think Cameron's character arc was strong enough to make up for his previous behaviour, and I felt let down that Tova didn't end up with Ethan in the end. The moral theme felt ambiguous; I never really knew what the author was trying to say. We knew Erik was Cameron's father fairly early on, so it didn't make a huge impact when Cameron and Tova finally found out. Also, for someone who's supposed to be smart, Cameron should have figured it out a lot sooner instead of denying it. Lots of little things just didn't make sense and I think the plot suffered because of it.
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