Here is a book that jumped up to the top of my favorite-books-of-2022 list, and I doubt that I will read another book this year that will nudge it out of first place. The story has small-town, heartwarming appeal and has multiple narrators/perspectives; my favorite narrator is a giant Pacific octopus named Marcellus (full name: Marcellus McSquiddles). Marcellus is an aging octopus and is counting down his remaining days as a captive in an aquarium’s tank. I do not always love a story that is told from the perspective of an animal, but when it is done right (like in Garth Stein’s The Art of Racing in the Rain, for example), it is irresistible.

Remarkably Bright Creatures consists of two storylines, which overlap with each other as the novel progresses. One story features Tova, who works as an evening cleaner at the aquarium in Sowell Bay, Washington, and becomes aware of how much Marcellus, the octopus, understands about his surroundings. Tova keeps as busy as she can, including working at the aquarium, to keep her mind off of her son’s death. Tova’s son Erik died at eighteen years old, and even the passing of thirty years has not diminished Tova’s belief that Erik died in an accident, rather than a suicide, as ruled by the police.

The other storyline focuses on Cameron, a struggling musician who is feeling discouraged after his most recent breakup and the dissolution of his band. Cameron was raised by his aunt when his mother, who battles addiction, could not care for him, and Cameron never knew his father. Cameron decides to take a road trip to Sowell Bay to find his father, whom he believes he has identified based on some clues he finds in his mom’s left-behind photographs.

Cameron and Tova’s paths cross, kind of predictably but pleasantly. Although they are on very different quests, Cameron and Tova are both looking for answers and (maybe unknowingly) seemingly searching for companionship. It takes them both quite a bit of time to realize that they both have a very wise, stubborn, and determined supporter in Marcellus, who works hard to help them solve their mysteries and get the answers that they seek before he can no longer assist them.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough; I do not remember reading a book that I liked this much in…forever, possibly.