Part 4 – 266 to the End

A Flood of Tears and a Perfect Ending

Where do I even begin with the ending of this beautiful story.

Tova, the sweetest lady I think I have ever read in the history of my reading journey. She spent 2 thousand dollars to replace the shirt she ruined, because she felt bad. I think that is just so selfless and speaks so much to her character, that she will do anything for those she cares and that she does not want to leave bad impressions. But with all of this nice behavior I want to also give a shout out to Janice who asks Tova to cut the crap and really asks her why is she leaving. I do not believe that Janice is at all the reason why she stayed in the end but she is the one who planted to seed and kind of snapped Tova back into reality. Like: “who do you think you are, people love you and why would you leave us? Because you think you are a burden? Wrong.”

So page 286 is where the tears first fell. This was when Tova gives Ethan the shirt and something about that scene really did it for me and I just broke down and cried. It was just sweet and sincere, something I love seeing and getting to read that scene warmed my heart.

Marcellus, my oh my do I love this octopus. I was laughing because as he was watching these two I could feel that he was just saying “Are you all dump?”. Then this guy risks his life in his final few days to make sure that Tova gets the ring so that she can finally connect the dots and finally “meet” her grandson. He was able to fulfill his own dying wish and connecting her with Cameron and then she turns around and sets him free. Something this these pages just unlocked something in my chest and I just was crying uncontrollably. This friend was just one of those unexpected thing but it was so sweet. I will say that Shelby Van Pelt made my a little mad because of all of the tears. I am just glad he got to go in his former home and that we did not have to read a page where Tova had to find his body. I think I would have lost it if that was part of this novel.

Cameron, our troubled boy takes one last lap of mistakes before return and getting answers. He wakes up and is just in a mood as he fights with Ethan and then he stands up Avery just so he can go meet his fake father (I do think he should have texted Avery instead of waiting). This marks Cameron sinking back into his old habits because when he gets into it with Tova and just starts venting at her, he just packs up and leaves. But this it typical in most plots is the character who makes the most growth will revert back to old ways before realizing this in not who they are anymore and return back to their new and better life. Once Cameron returns he is told the story of EELS, Eric Ernest Lindgren Sullivan.

In this reveal there is something that speaks to ability of the author. Tova remain matter of fact and does not focus on herself as she is becoming a grandmother but rather focusing on Cameron and goes on to show him the house. This was good writing because throughout the entire novel Tova is very matter of fact and not very emotional, so her keeping this composure was authentic and really felt real. Also most of the grandmothers I have met have been similar and kind cold in how they show emotions.

in the end they’re all together a little family and Avery. It is just so sweet. But the thing that really touched me was when Tova went to the gravesite and spoke to her husband and tell him the house dear. She mentioned how silly it is to talk to somebody who’s gone because clearly they can’t hear you. And she goes out to the bay, and she says to her cherished and an expectational octopus,

“I miss you. Both of you.”

Also shout out to Cat. So glad that he got be kept around and that he was not just some loose thread and actually got added to the final picture.

Final Review

I feel like I truly got to know Tova and Cameron—not just who they are now, but how they became the people they are. Seeing their relationship develop was such a joy, and now that the book is over, I don’t quite know what to do with myself. I also have to get ready for work, so am I really processing this right now? Probably not.

Tova and Cameron: Two Journeys, One Theme

Tova and Cameron’s stories are different but parallel. Cameron needed to escape the life he was in—the shadows of failure that had followed him for years. When everyone expects you to lose, you start to believe you will. His entire life in California was filled with people questioning his failures, reminding him that he was a screw-up. But in Soul Bay, there was no one to reinforce that narrative. He was finally able to step into himself, to see that he wasn’t doomed to fail. And then there was Tova. We don’t know all of Cameron’s thirty years, but Tova saw something in him beyond what he believed about himself. And she was right. That wasn’t who he truly was.

Cameron made something of himself. He found stability, a job, and love. And Tova, after thirty years of keeping herself locked away, finally allowed herself to take up space. In the end, she found connection, people to remember her. Both of them had been waiting to fully be—and they finally got there.

The Beauty of Grief and Self-Discovery

Tova’s arc, in particular, resonated with me. She spent decades keeping herself small, buried in grief. And now? She’s a volunteer, stepping back into life in a way that reminds me of Emily Gilmore in A Year in the Life. It’s sweet, and it’s powerful.

This book doesn’t just discuss grief—it gives space for the conversations about how we live with it. There was that one line Tova had at the end:

“You don’t recover. Not all the way, but you do move on. You have to.“

That hit hard.

At its core, this wasn’t a book about solving a mystery. It was a book about discovering yourself, about realizing that who you are has always been there, waiting. You just have to give yourself the space to live it. Tova finally took up space, and Cameron finally stopped running from himself.

Sweet Ethan and the Role of Marcellus

And then there’s Ethan. Sweet, wonderful Ethan, who just wants to be around people he loves. Maybe he has a crush on Tova, maybe he doesn’t, but his presence is so endearing. He’s a quiet, grounding force in this story, and I love him for it.

And Marcellus. Was he needed? No. The book would have flowed just fine without his chapters. But was he necessary in the way that made this book special? Absolutely. Marcellus provided a tonal shift when we needed it, especially when Cameron was at his worst. His perspective gave us humor, warmth, and that rare kind of dramatic irony that’s actually fun. His chapters set this book apart, and honestly? He may be one of my standout characters of the year.

More Than a Mystery—A Story of Discovery

Going into this book, I thought it was going to be a mystery about what happened to Eric. But that’s not what it was at all. It was about discovery—both for the characters and for the reader.

Did I figure out that Eric was Cameron’s father early on? Yes. But looking back, I don’t think it was meant to be a twist. It was given to us early, and the book wasn’t about shocking reveals. It was about watching these characters find their way to each other, and that was so much better.

I loved this book. I will absolutely recommend it. Between Addie LaRue and now this, 2024 is off to an amazing start. I don’t know what I’ll read next, but whatever it is, it has a lot to live up to.

Final Rating

This is an easy one for sure. I loved this book and every word that was within it. There was not a moment that I was upset or annoyed. I just sat and read and loved. This is the easiest 5 stars I have given.

The After-Credit Scene: My Rambling Thoughts

This part feels like the after-credit scene of my review. Doing voice-to-text for my notes is always a trip because I get so caught up in the moment. When I look back at my transcriptions, I realize how often I say I love it. I love it. I love it.—sometimes five times in a row. Or I’ll find these random, half-formed theories that I forgot I even considered.

Like, at one point, I thought: What if Lars was Cameron’s father and Eric found out and killed him? That theory got debunked almost immediately, but wow, did my brain take a dark turn.

And let’s talk about Marcellus. If I included every time I said “I love Marcellus” in this blog, we’d probably hit fifty occurrences. Every scene with him? I loved it.

Now, as I wrap this up, I realize—I don’t know what to read next. There’s no sequel. There’s no Octopus Chronicles on the horizon. If Shelby Van Pelt ever writes a novella, I’ll read it in a heartbeat… but if it’s about Tova’s death, I might need to have a word with her. And by “word,” I mean I will find a way to involve an octopus in my revenge plan.

What’s Next?

It’s that time again—time to pick a book club read. We went from a fantasy-light book to this, and I’d love to read another fantasy novel, but who knows what everyone else will want? March is coming, and I have no theme planned. Maybe something for St. Patrick’s Day? I’ve got plans for a Pride book in June, but March? No idea.

Also, side note: I finished this book way ahead of schedule because I have a show weekend coming up. I was supposed to start this part on Saturday, but here I am, finishing it on February 20th. Oh well—sometimes, when a book is this good, you just have to devour it.

Five stars. No hesitation. This book was about grief, discovery, family—and, of course, an octopus. And I loved every minute of it.