Jess

I'm giving it an extra star because I actually stuck with it and finished it. Nothing was technically wrong with this book but I put it down so many times and swore I wasn't going to pick it up again. I haven't DNFed a book yet and I think it's only my pride or masochism that left me coming back for more. I like the premise of finding other species with whom to communicate with on Earth and I will be rethinking eating takoyaki for a while. However, the fact that every character in this book was constantly grappling with what it means to be human in the most suffocating way possible took this down a lot of pegs for me. I really wanted more of the research side and while I appreciate Nayler's perspective that the octopi probably see us as monsters, I kept hoping the book would end sooner than it did rather than contemplate our destructive existence on Earth.

My mom bought me the CD version of this audiobook when I was a kid and I remember reading along while listening to the narration. I was feeling nostaligic so I relistened to it and loved it just as much as I did when I was small. The humor is dry and witty and the characters are all complex and interesting. For a mid-grade book, it delves into a lot of deep conversations and topics with a grace I appreciated.

3.5 ✯

Maybe I'm cliche but I love a book with a headstrong and slightly annoying female character. Lila's personality carried the story, I feel like Kell was just kinda There and Conveniently Magic. Not that I'm complaining, I think it worked and I'm sure we'll get more of him later. The worldbuilding was fleshed out well and the story had good pacing to keep me hooked. Looking forward to finishing this series soon.

Few books have such beautiful lines as to make me cry and yet this book exists. Words don't exist to describe how much I adored this novella.