4.35
Genre ~ cozy animal fiction
Setting ~ Sowell Bay Aquarium, Washington & California
Publication date ~ May 3, 2022
Est page Count ~ 368 (66 chapters)
Audio length ~ 11 hours 16 minutes
Narrators ~ Marin Ireland, Michael Urie
POV ~ single 1st (Marcellus), dual 3rd (Tova & Cameron)
Featuring ~ debut, a super smart sneaky octopus, some mystery, grief, small town community vibe, slow burn
My review:
A mostly delightful debut!
Marcellus has been living at the aquarium for 4 years, much longer than heās expected to live. Before he dies heās on a mission to bring some happiness back into Tovaās life. I wish he had way more chapters because I loved him so much. The fun facts sprinkled in were a nice touch.
Tova is in her 70ās and enjoys cleaning the aquarium at night and has made an unlikely friend in Marcellus. Their friendship was so cute. It seemed like they were really talking to each other with their actions. Tova had a nice set of human friends, as well, who really looked out for each other.
30 year old Cameron is ready to find out who his father is, so he sets off from California to Washington with only a picture and a name to guide him. Do I think he could have been a much more mature for his age? I sure do as he was super annoying for most of the book. He bugged me towards the end with expecting to get whatever he wanted just because he thought he could do it. He did mature by the end though.
Where the plot is going is obvious, even without Marcellusās meddling, but itās a slow burn thatās all about the journey for each of the characters. The ending is a sad, yet heartwarming one.
Narration notes:
The narrators were quite good. I donāt have any complaints.
Get your copy on ~ Amazon
Add to your never ending TBR ~ goodreads
Iād love to hear your thoughts if youāve read it.
Book blurb:
For fans of A Man Called Ove, a charming, witty and compulsively readable exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope, tracing a widowās unlikely connection with a giant Pacific octopus.
After Tova Sullivanās husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which sheās been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago.
Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldnāt dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captorsāuntil he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova.
Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tovaās son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before itās too late.
Shelby Van Peltās debut novel is a gentle reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible.
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