How does Shelby Van Pelt develop the setting?

Shelby Van Pelt develops the setting of Remarkably Bright Creatures primarily through the Sowell Bay Aquarium, where much of the story takes place. The aquarium is vividly portrayed as a place of quiet observation and hidden lives, especially during the night shifts when Tova Sullivan works as a cleaner. This setting creates an intimate, somewhat mysterious atmosphere that supports the novel’s themes of loss, memory, and discovery. The detailed depiction of the aquarium environment, including the life and behavior of Marcellus the giant Pacific octopus, grounds the story in a unique, immersive locale that reflects the characters’ emotional states and the unfolding mystery surrounding Tova’s missing son.