A review by oliviasbooktalk
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

5.0

 If I could make everyone read one book, this would be it. I don’t know what secret ingredient Shelby Van Pelt used to make this so enchanting, but it had just the right amount of everything. Heartache, optimism, finding meaning in life at any age, loss, companionship, acceptance, contentment, determination…I truly could go on and on. All of those unavoidable aspects of life are told through the lens of an unlikely friendship between an elderly woman and a giant Pacific octopus, making the magical realism all the more, well, remarkable. Having an elder, seasoned main character is not seen often enough and it's unironically refreshing to have a mature, somber perspective. It drives home the truth that we go through life hand-in-hand with Grief on one side, and Hope on the other.