You ever finish a book and just… sit there? You don’t want to close it because closing it feels like saying goodbye to a friend. That was me with Remarkably Bright Creatures. And listen, I never thought an octopus would break me like that. But Marcellus? That wise, cranky sea creature? He got me good.
And Tova. Oh, Tova. The way she moved through grief, quietly, folding it into her routines… I swear I wanted to drive over to her house with a casserole and just sit at her kitchen table while she told me about her life.
That’s the kind of book this is, the kind that sneaks up on you with tenderness disguised as humor, and suddenly you’re crying into your coffee. And once you’ve been cracked open like that, you go looking for other books that can do the same. Because one heartbreak-hug story is never enough, right?
So here’s my list. Not “5 books you must read immediately.” More like, “Hey, these are the books I’d press into your hands if we were swapping favorites at the café.”
Books Like Remarkably Bright Creatures
1. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
Meet Ove. Grumpy, rule-obsessed, convinced the world has gone soft. Underneath? A heart the size of a small country. Just like Tova, he’s walking around with grief strapped to his back, pretending he doesn’t need anyone. And just like Marcellus, life (and some meddling neighbors) refuse to let him stay alone.
This one will break you, fix you, then make you want to bake cinnamon buns for your neighbors.
2. Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
Eleanor is awkward. Painfully awkward. But oh, the things she teaches you about loneliness, survival, and the surprising kindness of strangers. Much like Tova, she builds her life around routines until something, or someone, nudges her out of it.
It’s funny in the way awkward real life is funny, and sad in a way that sneaks up on you.
3. The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer
Clover is a death doula, which sounds heavy, but here’s the twist: she learns more about living from the people she guides through dying. The balance of humor, mortality, and connection? It’s got the same DNA as Remarkably Bright Creatures.
Reading this felt like sitting in a quiet garden with someone wise, where grief and hope can share the same bench.
4. Meet Me at the Museum by Anne Youngson
This one isn’t loud. It’s letters, slow, thoughtful letters, between two strangers who find friendship in the unlikeliest of ways. If you loved the quiet intimacy between Tova and Marcellus, you’ll fall for this book’s gentleness.
It’s proof that sometimes the softest stories hit the deepest.
5. The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin
Three misfits, a beekeeping farm, and an unlikely community. If you liked the way Marcellus held the center of Van Pelt’s novel, the bees play a similar role here, connecting lives that might never have crossed otherwise.
It’s quirky. It’s tender. It hums with second chances.
Why These Work
Here’s the thing: these aren’t “if you liked X, you’ll like Y” gimmicks. They’re cousins of Remarkably Bright Creatures, stories with quiet oddballs, unexpected friendships, and the stubborn belief that it’s never too late to find connection.
Read them slow. Let them sit with you. Because some books aren’t meant to be gulped down. They’re meant to keep you company.
Know Your Author
Hi, I’m Emon
I’m the voice and heart behind Whimsy Read. After nine years in the world of banking, I followed my passion for storytelling into the world of SEO and content strategy. Now, I blend that analytical eye with a deep love for literature to bring you book reviews that are thoughtful, honest, and always focused on the stories that stay with you.
When I’m not reading or writing, you’ll find me enjoying joyful chaos with my wife and three kids, getting lost in a new series, or revisiting my old loves: theater, music, and gaming. At the end of the day, I believe great books are meant to be shared, and I’m so glad you’re here to share them with me.
Leave a Reply