2022
WISE Score
Amazon
A lonely widow, a snarky octopus, and a decades-old mystery—it’s basically 'Charlotte’s Web' for grown-ups, but with more tentacles and better prose.
4.6
4.6View →Our reviews and ratings are 100% unbiased, but as an Amazon Associate, Screenwise earns an affiliate fee if you buy a book or game by clicking one of our links. We don't get any credit if you just Google it instead :)
This is the rare 'feel-good' book that doesn't feel like it's trying to sell you a Hallmark card. It's smart, a little bit weird, and genuinely moving.
If you’re tired of the usual 'brain rot' thrillers or books where everyone is miserable for no reason, this is the antidote. It’s a masterclass in empathy that manages to make a cephalopod the most relatable character in the room.
Best for 14 and up. It’s written for adults, but the vocabulary and themes are perfect for high schoolers who want a story that actually has some soul to it. Younger kids will find the pacing too slow and the 'adult problems' boring.
It's a deeply human story about a widow finding connection with a giant Pacific octopus. While it handles heavy themes like grief and aging, the tone is fundamentally kind and life-affirming without being cheesy.
Marcellus, the octopus narrator, is a stroke of genius. His snarky, hyper-intelligent perspective on human behavior is fresh and forces you to think about non-human consciousness in a new way.
Generally very safe for its intended adult/teen audience, but parents should know it deals with the disappearance of a child and mentions a past suicide. There's also some moderate profanity.
It's an empathy-building machine. It explores the dignity of aging, the weight of secrets, and the biological wonders of marine life. It's the kind of book that makes you smarter and softer at the same time.
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