Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt


 This book really gives so much to the reader! I got really emotional while I was reading the book, so make sure you keep a box of tissues handy. Since feelings like grief, loneliness, and inadequacy are all feelings everyone feels during their lives, these characters are really easy to connect to. This is a really good read if you like mysteries or are going through a hard time.


My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars 


Part of a Series or Standalone: Standalone


Genres: Mystery, Contemporary 


Tropes: Grief and Loss, Connection between animals and people, Small town vibes, Widow, Failure to launch adult, Loneliness, Coming of Age, Unreliable Narrator, Animal viewpoint


Things I liked: I really loved all the characters in this book! Everyone was such a real person! They would hurt and misunderstand each other but then grew from that letting themselves connect afterward. 

I loved the mystery in the book! The author perfectly executes timing for when we discover certain clues but doesn’t just hand it to the characters. We get to watch them solve it themselves as well. It's just very satisfying. 


Things I disliked: I would have really liked a flashback chapter so we could read about the main subject of the mystery as it happened. While that might have been a bit morbid, my curiosity really has me in a chokehold. 


Audiobook or Physical? I read the physical book since I got it as a copy when I still worked at Barnes and Noble. I will need to listen to the audiobook in the future sometime. 


If animals are abused, die or are killed in this book: I can’t share anything here since that would be a huge spoiler but it gets revealed pretty early in the book so I don’t feel too bad. 


Extras: Switches POV’s 

Debut Novel

There's going to be a Netflix movie coming out based on this book! Hopefully in 2026


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