A review by alexiasp
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

hopeful lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

In the case of cozy books like this one (in my opinion), there are two ways to go: go fully for the cozy and make the book SHORT and re-readable (so less than 300pg), or go the other way and make it very reflective. Do both of these things if you can manage. This book stands awkwardly in the middle, where it's not too cozy but not super reflective either. There's some mysterious plot happening, but not enough to keep you interested. So then you have these long-ass paragraphs full of character descriptions that you don't care about or just mundane tasks (which can work, as it did in Legends&Lattes, but not here). Which makes the book kinda boring.

The best part is obviously Marcellus, the octopus, and his way of making fun of the people visiting the aquarium.

I hope he survived longer after Tova set him free in the sea.

Marcellus:

Tell me again about the intelligence of humans. They cannot even manage to comprehend predictable meteorological events. 

Smart cookie. I am smart, but I am not a snack object dispensed from a packaged food machine. What a preposterous thing to say. 

Humans. For the most part, you are dull and blundering. But occasionally, you can be remarkably bright creatures.