After the Dragons
Cover of Remarkably Bright Creatures

Literary · Mystery

Remarkably Bright Creatures

by Shelby Van Pelt

4.2 out of 5, from 1,216 ratings from Hardcover readers

A widow who cleans a small-town aquarium at night strikes up a friendship with a giant Pacific octopus. He has long watched everything that goes on in the building and has his own opinions about her missing son.

Facts last checked 2026-10-16

First published
2022
Pace
Medium
Length
Medium
Pages
360
Format
Standalone
Borrow free with Libby Compare prices Save to my shelf

Read this if you want a gentle, funny story about loneliness in later life and an unusually clever animal.

Skip this if you want fast pacing or a sharp edge; this is a soft, steady and sentimental read.

The feel

Content warnings

  • Grief
  • Death

Also reported by Hardcover readers:

  • Pregnancy
  • Suicide attempt
  • Death of parent
  • Animal death
  • Addiction
  • Abandonment
  • Injury/Injury detail
  • Cursing

Quick answers about Remarkably Bright Creatures

What is Remarkably Bright Creatures about?
A widow who cleans a small-town aquarium at night strikes up a friendship with a giant Pacific octopus. He has long watched everything that goes on in the building and has his own opinions about her missing son.
Who should read Remarkably Bright Creatures?
Read it if you want a gentle, funny story about loneliness in later life and an unusually clever animal. Skip it if you want fast pacing or a sharp edge; this is a soft, steady and sentimental read.
How long and how fast is Remarkably Bright Creatures?
It is a medium-paced, medium read of about 360 pages, first published in 2022.
Does Remarkably Bright Creatures have content warnings?
Content we flag: Grief, Death.
Can I borrow Remarkably Bright Creatures for free?
Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends Remarkably Bright Creatures; the borrow button above searches it for you.
What should I read after Remarkably Bright Creatures?
Readers who liked it often move on to A Man Called Ove, Where the Crawdads Sing, The Thursday Murder Club.

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