Of Octopuses and Men: Laugh-Out-Loud Romantic Comedy

by Misha Bell, Anna Zaires, Dima Zales

My grandparents’ grumpy neighbor is as hot as the lethal Florida sun. And like the sun, he’s bad for me. My taste in men is the worst—just ask my ex and his restraining order.

What am I doing in Florida with my grandparents, you wonder? Well, my best friend is an octopus, and he needs a bigger tank, so I took a job at an aquarium in the Sunshine State.

I didn’t expect that sexy, long-haired grump to try to buy my octopus for some nefarious purpose. Nor did I expect to make out with him during a late-night swim at the beach.

And the last thing I expected was to run into him on my first day at my new job… where he’s my boss.

NOTE: This is a standalone, raunchy, slow-burn romantic comedy featuring a sun-phobic marine biologist, her scorching hot grump of a boss, and an octopus who likes to go on walks in his mobile tank. If any of the above is not your cup of tea, run far, far away. Otherwise, buckle in for a laugh-out-loud, feel-good ride.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Rom Com, Contemporary, Humor, Audiobook, Enemies To Lovers

332 pages, Paperback

First published March 24, 2022

About the author

I love writing humor (often the inappropriate kind), happy endings (both kinds), and characters quirky enough to be called oddballs (because... balls). If you love your romance heavy on the comedy and feel-good vibes, visit mishabell.com and sign up for my newsletter.

Reviews

[Syndi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Of Octopuses and Men is a rom com. Usually Miss Bell is smart funny. However in this book, she fails to bring even a smile.

Some of the jokes are horrible and made me cringe. And what is it about the obsession for sea creature? I am allergic to any type of sea ceature, so I fail to connect with the story.

The jokes are immature to my taste. Both of the characters are also childish. Really not my taste.

2 stars

[Carvanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy sea urchins, this was pure enjoyment!





I absolutely loved Olive. She was quirky and fun with traits that made her one of the most original heroines I’ve read in a very long time. I’d love to have a friend like her but I have to admit, Beaky would need to stay at home.





This is written completely in Olive’s point of view, but the author gave Oliver enough reactions to give a clue as to what was happening with him. It takes a special kind of hero to be able to handle her family and Oliver was a natural.





This is very low angst and just a tad of drama which was handled pretty quickly. The main attractions, not counting Olive and Oliver, were the sea animals and the human animals. As always, Ms. Bell takes true to life information and turns it into humor. If possible, I stay away from juvenile humor. While there were times it felt as though we were going to be entering a force field of it, the author managed to skirt away just in time making it all the more enjoyable.





I loved this light hearted fun read with its quirky sea creatures and even quirkier characters, a steam level that was nuclear when this couple broke the rules, and an ending that was total satisfaction. Definitely recommend it if you like all of the above.

Heroine POV with Hero POV in the epilogue
Safe no ow drama; om drama was h’s ex but he does not cause separation between h/H; h not a virgin; H not a manwhore
Triggers characters accidentally eat something with cannabis in it and get high
Steam steamy; explicit; there is a discussion regarding protection prior to sex

[Anna Zaires]

[Mindy Lou's Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun read from on of the Hyman girls! Olive was pretty tame compared to some of her sisters books. She has a weird obsession with mermaids. I should say she has a weird obsession with sunscreen as well, but let's face it, she's right about UV damage so I can't even fault her.

We got to meet the grandparents in this book and I adored them. The grandma had a few cringe worthy moments but that does explain why Olive's mom is the way that she is. I think you really can die of embarrassment if you lived through some of what Olive and her sisters had to experience with this family. It makes for an entertaining read for sure.

Last but not least, Oliver was drool worthy. Based off his descriptions, I couldn't help but search for pictures to fit him and I found some good ones! I just love how these hunky men fall for these slightly neurotic women and love them all the more for it.

[Darlene I read WAY to many books · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ll be honest… at first this book was good had some wacky characters and a MCs I enjoyed until about 40% it just got old pretty fast for me.. the jokes about aqua man as the H, the grandparents were fun at first then it was over the top, the H started to get annoying with his push and pull and always walking away from h like one second he was somewhat into her then boom push away. I know it’s slow burn but got it was annoying after the 6th time it happened.. only person who I didn’t find annoying after 40% was the dog.

With over the top grandparents you also have a OTT parents and siblings and best friend.. it just got to much for me. When the author says slow burn they don’t have sex or I love you’s until maybe 70ish percent…I also was alittle annoyed the H never got a POV until the epilogue…. I was just disappointed how it turned out.


Om drama, no cheating, drama, slight secondary chars, sexy time, no virgins


Recommend-maybe
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level- 🌶🌶


Slow burn
Push away from both
Violence
Mention of past verbal abuse
Drug use (both got high)
No condom
Hea
Epilogue

[Inna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars… but maybe just a little closer to 3 stars for me. I felt like this book was too similar to other books by this author (the hard code series). I found it extremely weird to read some of the same “jokes” that were previously such a big part of other books. The whole voicing her octopus’ thoughts was also used in another book with the heroine voicing her pet’s thoughts. I mean, how many people like that really exist? It’s a fun quirk one time, but beyond that seemed immediately overused.

In addition, this story is the same as others by this author in terms of the storyline layout. The hero and heroine meet, he does some pushing away, the heroine is only kinda reluctant (but totally willing when he makes any kind of move). Then, the hero gives in to his feelings and suddenly there is a HEA. It’s not all bad, but a change would be nice.

Oh and the sex obsessed parents/grandparents. It seemed that all the supporting characters are nymphos. This has also been used before. Idk, it’s just not as funny the second or third time that the same jokes are told in different books.

Safe; no virgins, some OM drama from heroine’s crazy ex, no scenes with OM/OW, no cheating, no OW drama.

[Kelly_Reads_Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

These stories of the Hyman family are laugh out loud hilarious that had me chuckling and giggling from page one!
Olive and Oliver meet as neighbours and then the twists and innuendos begin. Olive is so funny with her interpretation of what her octopus Beaky is thinking and the Tofu and the manatee’s get in on antics of comedy and mayhem.
Misha Bell writes the ridiculously funny stories and I absolutely loved the family antics of her parents and siblings but the grandfather takes the cake with his need to arm and defend.
Fabulous break from the seriousness of life!

[Min]

DNF-ed at 70%

I think my days of reading romances with terrible innuendoes and P and V jokes are over...

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is a little ridiculous, a little absurd, but lots of fun to read and made me feel like I learned about all sorts of sea creatures. Olive was a bit of a trip, very quirky, she had me laughing at her love of sunscreen, how much she cared for Beaky and her crush. Oliver was just as quirky in his own way. The two of them together had me laughing. The number of times they were cockblocked by different things, getting high with Olive's family, leading everyone to eat everything in sight and see Olive's parents in a way no one should. To the odd way they wouldn't talk about their attraction. It all worked for them in the end, both were happy as can be in their own oddness.

[Buffyanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A marine biologist with a sun exposure phobia takes a new job in the Sunshine State of Florida, and meets a gorgeous, blond Aquaman and his dachshund on her first outing with her pet octopus. That's how Olive Hyman meets Oliver Jones in this funny, quirky, nerdy rom-com that somehow exceeded my expectations, even though it is the sixth Misha Bell book and the fourth one featuring one of the eight brilliant, but neurotic, Hyman sisters.

"How much for the octopus?"

He wants to buy Beaky? Why? Does he want to eat him? Gritting my teeth, I point at the tail-wagging dog at his side. "How much for the bratwurst?"

Misha Bell has a quick and irreverent sense of humour, with a bit of slapstick and a lot of dirty jokes. But there is also a depth of heart and soul. I always, and I mean ALWAYS, learn a lot from a Misha Bell book. Faithful to the two main characters' occupations and world views, this one had lots of marine biology trivia, plant-based diet ideas, and ethical energy product placement. Olive's protective grandparents and her cringey hippie parents provide further hilarity and heart-warming moments.

One of the things I love most about a Misha Bell hero is his acceptance and consideration of his heroine's quirks or neuroses. For me, Oliver nailed it when he put sunscreen on Olive's face while she was still sleeping, after their first night together, because he knew she wouldn't want the sun on her face. *swoony face* Olive and Oliver had me from the first pages. I loved them so much that I feel like a gymnastics judge who has given away too many 10.0’s already and is wondering if the system would break if I added an 11.0. I’m full of joy because there are at least four more Hyman sisters and a house full Gia Hyman's magician ex-roommates waiting in the wings…

This is a beta read review, etc. but if you've been following my reviews then you know I can't deny this author rings my bell.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

HILARIOUS!

This book seriously had me laughing out loud. I listened to it on audible and the narration was great as well. The family is so out there and embarrassing while also being fun.

Possible spoilers beyond this point...


I really enjoyed all the Florida attractions. As a kid we went to Florida every summer and I visited Weeki Wachee a couple of times. Then as an adult I revisited it with my husband. It's such a unique place. Also the key lime pie... it will never taste as good as a fresh pie from Key West. yum!
Also had me laughing at the Dark side of the rainbow! I remember trying that in high school... NEVER thought I'd read about it in a book. Amazing.

Overall I really loved this book.

[April ♥"LOS" ♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me laughing out loud from the beginning! There is such a quirky and lovable quality about Olive that just makes her irresistible. Her obsession with octopuses, and lack of interest in dolphins, makes her my favorite fictional marine biologist.

[Gwen (The Gwendolyn Reading Method) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was ok

[BB · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I've read one other book by these authors. Pretty much the same thoughts.

Characters stay in the grey area the vast majority of the book. It whips out internet jokes/references from like a decade ago like they're new(although I guess technically it never claims to be original, feels a little bit like stealing, but if its reposted thousands of times on the internet can anyone really claim it as theirs?)

It delves into facts/random trivia in place of really developing the characters or their relationship.

But. Despite a weird background stalker ex plot,(that had me questioning if this was actually a sequel and that crap ass nonsense was leftover garbage from something else) it's pretty low key.

I don't really remember details of the other one, but I get the sense I liked this one better. Possibly because it was semi closer to reality. Also who doesn't love fun facts about sea animals?

Based off the teasers for the other siblings (part of me cringes and really hopes they all don't get a book((talk about a bad sign)) ) I don't think that's going to be true for the rest

It's a commuter book. Fluff. Read it on the bus/metro, and never be concerned about missing your stop

Edit: Yep it's a shitty sequel. Ughhhhhh that's mildly unfair. I get irritated when I inadvertently read shit out of order. Shit can be standalone and still be listed together. Fucksake. I hope someone wakes up with a spider bite on their face for this.

[Nine Vogel-Ketel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meerdere malen hardop gelachen, heerlijk boek met humor en Spice.

[AMM · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pathetic and Cringe Worthy

The author most likely wrote the blurb for her own novel! I can't imagine any intelligent reviewer would write that this novel is a "laugh-out- loud Romantic Comedy". At best, the level of the humor is middle school with repeated and stupid puns about the name " Olive"! I made myself finish it because I was hoping it would get better. Stupid me --- I wasted my time.

[Romanticamente Fantasy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ally - per RFS
.
Care Fenici, ormai chi ha letto uno dei libri di Misha Bell sa che la sua scrittura è la sua firma; divertimento e stramberie non possono mancare, così come le scene sexy che ci regala.

Già da questo preambolo si capisce che il libro mi è piaciuto. Dopo Hard Code ho iniziato a seguire le vicende della famiglia Chortsky e ora sono le sorelle Hyman che ci accompagneranno alla scoperta delle loro vite.

La cosa che trovo più simpatica è il modo in cui l’autore regala a ognuna delle otto gemelle una fobia diversa e unica; sì, avete letto bene: le sorelle sono otto, due delle quali nate da una prima gravidanza e ben sei dalla seconda; gli Hyman ripopoleranno il mondo! 😉

In questo libro conosceremo l’affascinante Olive, biologa marina specializzata nel realizzare attività interattive per gli animali degli acquari in cui lavora, in modo da rendere più piacevole la loro permanenza.

Nata a New York, si trasferisce in Florida solo per il bene del suo migliore amico, il polpo Beaky. Infatti, l’acquario dove Olive lavorava è fallito e tutti gli animali sono stati trasferiti in altre strutture, tranne Beaky che era destinato alla soppressione, così Olive lo addotta e accetta un posto di lavoro nello stato del sole, nonostante la sua fobia all’esposizione solare, per poter dare una casa al suo amico acquatico.

Olive va a vivere dai nonni materni e inizia la sua avventura; non mancheranno le stranezze, come il fatto che lei porti a passeggio il suo polpo grazie a un acquario motorizzato di sua invenzione, o la sua ossessione per la crema solare, o, ancora, un nonno sempre armato e un ex fidanzato manipolatore che si fa vivo per minacciarla.

Questo libro è stato così divertente che alcune scene mi hanno fatto sbellicare dalle risate. Le scene sexy, invece, fanno davvero alzare la temperatura corporea e trasmettono emozioni forti.

Ora parliamo del protagonista maschile, che merita davvero: Oliver Jones è il tipico serfista con i capelli lunghi baciati dal sole, spalle larghe e labbra carnose e sexy. Fissato con l’idea di ridurre l’impatto di anidride carbonica per salvare il pianeta, ha proprio tutte le qualità per fare colpo sulle donne. Un Aquaman reale, ma fra lui e la nostra Olive è scontro al primo sguardo, tanto che lei decide di soprannominarlo aqua-stronzo.

Con loro due Sealand non sarà più la stessa, e nemmeno il quartiere, visto che Oliver è il vicino di casa dei nonni di Olive.

Battute sconce e brutte figure ci accompagneranno in un esilarante viaggio in Florida; fra meduse dal morso velenoso, polpi amanti dei vibratori e sirene, questo libro non può mancare nella libreria di chi cerca una fuga dal grigiore.

Ho amato come l’autore abbia adottato per Olive un linguaggio con termini puramente marini e come abbia perfino ricercato un Dio polpo, Cthulhu, che lei adora.

Forse è proprio questa ricerca del dettaglio che rende questi libri così belli e profondi, oltre che divertenti.

[Marty Sandvik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olive moves to Florida with her octopus Beaky to live with her grandparents and work at Sealand. She meets her grandparent's neighbor Oliver while he is out walking her dog and they immediately argue about her octopuses' tank not being big enough for him. Eventually the two get to know each other more and can't fight the attraction they feel for one another. They almost have sex on the beach, but things are stopped when Oliver is stung by a jellyfish.
The next day Olive discovers that Oliver is her boss at Sealand and that he has a strict no fraternization policy. Olive is disappointed but thinks it may be for the best because she is still weary after her last relationship. Her ex-boyfriend was controlling and had a violent streak. Oliver is sweet but he seems to get jealous easily.
When the two of them can no longer fight the attraction, they have sex but a misunderstanding leads Olive to believe that because they had sex, Oliver is firing her.
I liked Olive and Oliver together despite the rocky start. I thought this book was really funny. I love that the Hyman siblings make voices and thoughts for the animals they come across, such as Beaky and Tofu in this book. I was glad that Beaky got a bigger home and Olive got her dream job, and that her and Oliver worked things out.

[MsMoxy · Rating 5 out of 5]

With every new story about the Hyman sisters comes more quirks, more laughter and a repertoire of animal facts that has me

Marine biologist Olive Hyman moves from Upstate New York to Florida for a new job and to get away from her crazy ex-boyfriend who attempted to kidnap and hold hostage her pet octopus.

Yup! And this is where the story begins!
The new job means Olive will provide a better living space at SeaLand for her pet Octopus and to work towards her dream job. Olive is fun, she loves sea life and she also had a thing for her grandparents’ neighbour Oliver.

What more could a girl ask for? Well, Olive’s quirks are interesting, she moves to the sunshine state of Florida but has a phobia of the sun and UV rays, she’s constantly lathering sunscreen on her skin, and not to mention she has a fetish for wearing a mermaid tail while swimming and hopes to find her real life aqua man!

Of Octopuses and Men is an unforgettable rom-com! I love Olive’s story and reading about the Hyman family! Each sibling is larger than life and hilariously memorable!

I’m cheering on the sidelines for Olive to go get her AquaMan!!! I love this read!

[Claire Letnic · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75-4⭐️’s - super cute and cheesy… and the puns and situations Olive & Oliver get into is hilarious and/or cute!

[Fos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook

Narrators: Erin Mallon, Sebastian York
❤ Erin Mallon

Audiobooks are the only way to go with this Author.

Olive and Oliver
Really cute, but not my favorite. Too much family involvement this time.

Hard Code is, by far, my favorite!!

So looking forward to Fabio's story!

[DemetraP · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I liked the book and it had some funny moments.

But there were somethings that annoyed me.

The heroine's parents and grandparents were both too crazy and over the top. Her parents get high and end up having sex in the hero's house while covered in peanut butter. Not cool.

Heroine's ex boyfriend shows up a few times to threaten her. He gets arrested at the end of the book.

The heroine's fish expressions got annoying Oh carp instead of Oh crap and things like that.

SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER

There is a very funny scene involved the heroine's tentacle "adult toy" that her octopus steals.

[kur · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a very ridiculous book, point blank. I read it just because and it wasn't great and didn't have much to stick around for.

[Unfortunate Reads · Rating 1 out of 5]

Please for the love of god trust the Amazon reviews, I didn’t and now I need eye bleach. Kindle unlimited kept showing me ads for this, so I bought it just to see why they were so heavily pushing it.

If you assume a book like this will have hentai in it…you’re right. I did, but I wasn’t expecting it as the very first line of the very first page. Nor was I expecting the MC to be watching it with her grandmother? Or for her pet octopus to steal her tentacle *toy* and keep it for himself.

This whole book is an acid trip of sunscreen paranoia, never ending sea life puns (she calls her clit her pearl…and not just once), and bad sex.

After a completely unnecessarily long set of chapters where the characters accidentally get high off edibles (which is written in a way that makes me feel like the author has never experienced being high…EVER), resulting in the MC walking in on her parents covered in peanut butter having wild sex…you read that right…I should have given up. But I don’t DNF books so I kept pushing through so you don’t have to.

I really try to be open with these books I read a bit of everything, but this story is a trip I’d rather never take again.

[Alyssa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had higher hopes for this book. Oliver is dull and boring, a one dimensional character. Olive and her family are a bit too manic Pixie dream girl for me. I finished the book, but I was never eager to continue reading it.

I’m also incredibly bothered by the geography of the story. They say Oliver surfs, so he would have to live on the east coast on the Atlantic Ocean. But they have manatees at Sealand, and manatees only live in warm waters which would have to be the west coast against the Gulf of Mexico. And then they talk about driving from Tampa to Saint Augustine and Orlando. Tampa to Saint Augustine is 3 1/2 to 4 hours, so one doesn’t just go back to work after an all day meeting. Florida is a massive state, so there are no quick drives anywhere.

[Izzie (semi-hiatus) McFussy · Rating 4 out of 5]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 for the cover. ✨✨✨✨✨ for the title. I enjoyed the story, but you know how some yummy desserts leave an aftertaste? That’s how I felt about this book. The story was packed with fresh ideas, phrases, and quirkiness, gaining momentum until the halfway mark, then it coasted until it reached the epilogue, bursting once more into a shower of adorableness.

[Danielle · Rating 1 out of 5]

No. Just, no. This was way to strange an cringy for me.

[Serena]

Lo dico, mi hanno costretto a leggerlo.
Perché dopo la sorella che annusa come un elefante africano non farebbe mai (e visto che per scrivere questi libri la Bell svolge perfettamente le sue ricerche che ama inserire di tanto in tanto così che noi sappiamo come i polpi fanno la pupù o che amano giocare con i vibratori o che hanno settordici cuori, ventordici occhi, settecentotriliardi di esofagi... ebbene anche io ho svolto i miei compiti e so che l'elefante africano ha 5 volte l'olfatto più potente dell'uomo (meno che della sorella sniffatrice seriale) e il doppio dei cani. Tiè, Bell!)
Ma torniamo a noi, dopo la sniffatrice ecco la polpomaniaca de casa nostra, Olive.
Ora il sipario si alza con nonna e nipote che guardano un hentai, con la nonna che educa la nipote al mondo pornoanime.
E già li, dopo forse dieci righe sai di essere sprofondata nell'abisso nero della demenzialità. E che non puoi vedere la luce fino alla fine di questo tunnel.
Dunque abbiamo la nonna guardona di hentai, consumatrice abituale di maria, a favore del poliamore e di sane e divertenti snusnuzzate per togliersi l'ansia di dosso. Che anche se l'altro ti sta sulle pelotas, se è carino e ha un *polpomanico* degno di nota va bene farci una sana cavalcata. Senza però dimenticare che la nota equestre va bene solo in questo contesto.
Lo diciamo, seguire le vicende di queste sorelle gemelle può essere divertente. Ma anche no.
Come nel precedente episodio (ma credo che cronologicamente questo vada letto prima) il troppo stroppia.
Non c'è una giusta dose di umorismo. Se fa ridere allora va inserito. Ma senza pensare che tanta carne sul fuoco porta a bruciare l'arrosto se non controllata attentamente. E quando diventa troppo... è troppo. E porta a togliere attenzione e porta a togliere suspance e porta a togliere il piacere della lettura perché tutto è già noto. Sai che il personaggio X, sopra le righe farà il tutto sopra le righe. Non c'è più aspettativa, non c'è più un colpo di scena intelligente.
Quindi confermo il mio NON voto per questo capitolo, per questa serie. E se l'autrice è così sempre... confermo il mio no anche per questa penna.

[Lorraine Brattin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never laughed so hard.

Oliver and Olive are truly meant to be together. From the moment they met, I just knew this is it. Olive is a Marine Biologist and just moved from New York to Florida with her best pal Beaky, who happens to be an octopus. Currently staying with her kooky grandparents, Olive is obsessed with putting on sunblock. She also has Beaky in a portable tank so she can move him around and take him for walks which is how she meets Oliver.

While taking Beaky for a walk she spots a gorgeous man who looks like Aquaman walking his weiner dog. As he nears her, he looks angry then asks if he can buy Beaky. Thinking he's a weirdo who probably wants to eat him, she yells no. After a few words they walk away.

She gets back and tells her grandparents what happened. They don't know which neighbor that could be so they drop it. Then Olive starts her new job at SeaWorld and when she comes home she notices that guy from before sitting at the table with her grandparents. Angry though, she does sit down and has dinner with them.

A few days later, she finally meets her boss, and it turns out to be Oliver. So much funny and delightful things happen between these two. Olive's family is a hoot. I swear I never laughed so much reading a story. I really hope they do more stories with these characters. Must put on top of your TBR file. Enjoy

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

***ARC/AUDIOBOOK REVIEW***
I was so excited to read the next Hyman Sisters book by Misha Bell. Of Octopuses and Men was another laugh out loud, slow burn, romantic comedy that had me smiling and feeling happy throughout the whole book. This book was wild, so many quirky characters and full of lots of interesting facts about sea creature. Olive was just as funny as her sisters, but definitely more “normal” in her quirks. Her life revolves around her pet octopus, Beaky, she loves swimming as a mermaid and is obsessed with wearing sunscreen to reduce the chance of getting skin cancer. She clashes with her sexy neighbor, who turns out to be her new boss and his name is Oliver!! How funny is that!! Olive & Oliver!! Can this story get any sillier, LOL. Overall, this story was such a fun read and listen, I enjoyed every minute of it and the narration by Erin Mallon was just phenomenal. Erin did a great job portraying all these crazy, quirky characters, especially bringing Olive & Oliver to life. Let’s not forget Sebastian York’s narration of the epilogue as Oliver, *swoon*. I always look forward to the epilogues and getting a glimpse of the male POV. Cant wait to see what happen’s next with the Hyman sisters, or if Oliver’s brothers will get their story told.