Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

This one has been in my to be read crate for sometime, and I am sorry I did not read it sooner.  With a giant Pacific octopus as a character and the Puget Sound as the setting, this book is really a great beach read, or read anytime. Tova is working nights at the Sowell Bay Aquarium to keep herself busy after her husband died, and her son went missing 30 years ago (he is dead). While at the aquarium Tova befriends the octopus Marcellus, who was a rescue, and Marcellus realizes how to fix Tova’s heart. Cameron comes into Sowell Bay hoping to find the father he never knew growing up, and possibly get a nice cash settlement, and while waiting to find his father Cameron finds a better life. Cameron befriends Ethan, owner of the only grocery store in town who also helps him get a job at the aquarium. Cameron meets Avery while hunting for his father and starts a relationship. While working at the aquarium Cameron learns from Tova to take responsibility for his actions and his life. With Tova and Ethan’s help Cameron goes from being a screw up to realizing he has responsibilities in the world, holds down a job for the first time, and at the age 30 does some serious growing up. Marcellus provides insightful commentary on Tova and Ethan, and realizes that his only friend needs help healing his heart and that he has the knowledge to show her what is needed. Marcellus is a remarkably bright octopus and his adventures in the aquarium help Tova find closure on her son’s death and start a new chapter of her life. Tova is heartbroken over the son she lost, the future her son never had, her husband’s death from cancer and realizing she is alone after receiving news of her brother’s death in a nursing home. Tova decides to sell her house and move into a nursing home (she will change her mind), but while all this is taking place Tova realizes she is not one for a nursing home and ends up staying in Puget Sound with her family. 

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