Book Series Guide

Shelby Van Pelt

Author guide

Shelby Van Pelt Books in Order

Shelby Van Pelt is an American novelist born and raised in the Pacific Northwest who now lives in the Chicago area with her family. Her debut novel, Remarkably Bright Creatures, was published in 2022 and became an international bestseller.

literary fictioncontemporary fiction

Catalog record updated .

Shelby Van Pelt's Newest Book

Cover of Remarkably Bright Creatures

Remarkably Bright Creatures

novel · First published 2022

After Tova Sullivan's 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 she's 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 wouldn't dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors--until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova. Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova's son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it's too late. Shelby Van Pelt's 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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Cover of Remarkably Bright Creatures

Remarkably Bright Creatures

This is Shelby Van Pelt's debut and only published standalone novel.

Outside the series

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Novels (1)
  1. Remarkably Bright Creatures

    novel · 2022

    After Tova Sullivan's 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 she's been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik,…

Frequently asked questions about Shelby Van Pelt

Who is Shelby Van Pelt?

Shelby Van Pelt is a novelist born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. Her debut novel, Remarkably Bright Creatures, was published by Ecco in 2022.

Source: shelbyvanpelt.com (opens in a new tab)

Where does Shelby Van Pelt live?

Van Pelt was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest and now lives in the Chicago area with her family.

Source: shelbyvanpelt.com (opens in a new tab)

What inspired Shelby Van Pelt to write Remarkably Bright Creatures?

She was inspired after seeing a video of a giant Pacific octopus trying to escape its enclosure at the Seattle Aquarium. A later writing-workshop prompt about using an unexpected point of view helped the character Marcellus take shape.

Source: today.com (opens in a new tab)

What awards has Shelby Van Pelt received?

In 2023, she received the Heartland Prize for Fiction and The Writer’s Center’s McLaughlin-Esstman-Stearns First Novel Prize. The audiobook of Remarkably Bright Creatures was also a finalist for the 2023 Audie Award for Audiobook of the Year.

Sources: shelbyvanpelt.com (opens in a new tab)audiopub.org (opens in a new tab)

What is Shelby Van Pelt best known for?

She is best known for Remarkably Bright Creatures, which became an Instant New York Times Bestseller and a Read With Jenna book-club pick. Her official biography says the novel has sold more than two million copies and spent over a year cumulatively on the New York Times hardcover bestseller list.

Sources: shelbyvanpelt.com (opens in a new tab)today.com (opens in a new tab)