After seeing all the fantastic reviews for this book, I had to pick it up! I did worry a bit about it being overhyped before starting it. So is this book overhyped? Absolutely not!

Firstly, this book is not a fantasy book in the traditional sense. It is a contemporary story with magical elements to it. However, the fantastical elements are not the focus of this story, which is worth keeping in mind before picking up this book.

I loved almost everything about this book. TJ Klune’s writing is accessible, making it easy for the reader to follow the plot and connecting to the characters. Moreover, there are so many great quotes in this book. Both children and adults can appreciate and enjoy this story since the overall plot is easy to follow while simultaneously being filled with wisdom and thought-provoking ideas. The House in the Cerulean Sea reminds the reader of some important lessons such as ‘not judging a book by its cover’, ‘people can change’ and ‘the value of love and respect’.

The reader is also introduced to a fantastic cast of characters, where each person is unique and memorable. Klune uses the magical elements well to give each character unique traits. My favourite character is the protagonist Linus, and Lucy!

The plot is quite predictable, which might bother some readers. However, I appreciate Klune sticking to a positive tone and direction throughout the story.

The House in the Cerulean Sea is a heartwarming and memorable story, which will stick with me for a long time.

4 / 5 stars

Perhaps one of the loveliest books I’ve ever read!
I was nervous to read this one because the hype surrounding it has been huge. I can assure you if you read it, you’ll completely understand the hype.
It’s a beautiful book full of many many important lessons. It touched my heart and I loved every second.

While I can totally see where everyone is coming from by how utterly pure and serotonin supplying this book is, it isn't flawless. Far and away the kids are the stars of this book. Linus certainly suffers from self esteem issues and it does get a little repetitive in spots. Will I come back to this book? Absolutely. Not only for the lyrical writing, but the kids and bellhops and buttons. Adorable.

Linus Baker is a stickler for the rules and a dedicated, thorough case worker for DICOMY (the Department In Charge of Magical Youth) which oversees children in state orphanages. He’s summoned by Extremely Upper Management (😁) and given a strange and classified task to travel to the orphanage on Marsyas Island. There, six extraordinary children reside. There’s Phee who’s a sprite, Theodore who is a wyvern and lover of buttons, a female gardening gnome called Talia complete with beard (obviously), an amorphous unidentified blob called Chauncey who is desperate to be a bellhop, a very nervous Sal who is a were-Pomeranian and finally, wait for it, there’s ‘Lucy’ the antichrist. Their caretaker and man in charge of their education and well being is the charmingly enigmatic Arthur Parnassus whose one aim is to keep the children safe. What will Linus find as he embarks on the journey to Marysas?

To describe the writing, the characters, the plot, the ideas expressed, in fact the whole shebang, as cerulean and colourful fails to do it justice as it’s the full range of colours on an artists palette or the entire art shop. I am absolutely enchanted by the characters (with the odd exception!) and Lucy in particular brings a huge smile to my face and several laugh out loud moments. It’s funny, wry, delightful, creative, magical, fantastical and written in vivid HD definition. In the background we are serenaded by music from another era, think Buddy Holly et al and this adds to the warmth and glow. The novel makes serious points but in such a gentle way, at times this is done subliminally, at others more overtly. It makes you think about preconceptions and prejudice and most certainly about absolute acceptance of our differences whatever they may be and wholeheartedly embracing them.

It’s a wonderful quirky book which tells a beautiful story and makes me feel cerulean now I’ve finished it. More TJ Klune? Yes, please.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Pan McMillan/Tor for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

This was beautiful. It was soft and endearing and whimsical and filled me with such a warm wonderful feeling when reading. This is the second TJ Klune book I have read and both have shocked me and delighted me in the best possible ways.

This book is so character-driven -there is a plot and it is a good one; engaging and beautifully woven- but the central focus and draw of this novel is its cast of characters. The three adult characters; Linus, Arthur, and Zoe are intriguing and extremely well fleshed out but personally, it was the six children who drew my attention the most. They all had well-developed personalities and motivations and a clear, succinct voice. For a character that didn't say a single word, I would sell my soul for Theodore and his buttons (but also literally all of them). I'm a sucker for found family and this story is a great example of the trope done extraordinarily well.

The relationship element was an extreme slow burn and subtle but done well and filled with warmth. The pacing worked so well for this. The descriptions in this were top tier, I usually don't pay a lot of attention to descriptions of settings; characters and plot are what holds my focus but the descriptive language in this are glorious and lovely.

Overall I adored this book so much and it's going to be on my mind for a while.

Headlines:
Warm and whimsical
THE most endearing found family
Hurt and healing

Well, I didn't know much going into this other than various friends' love for the book and this review isn't going to enlighten you. It's going to be more of a feels than a plot review.

This is a totally character-driven story with a very engaging plot in the background but as a reader, all eyes were on the characters. From Linus, awkward and formal to my favourites Sal and Chauncey. Almost every character was special and sneak-stole my heart. It was a story about the unwanted being wanted and it had political and governmental tones. There were important themes that resonate.

He was but paper, brittle and thin, and he clutched the photograph to his chest, hugging it close.

This was a warm tale, full of whimsy and delightful magic. I got lost in the story and really enjoyed the experience. It made my eyeballs leak a little and I experienced that fuzzy feeling on ending.

*side note*
I read this book after the stories of the heinous maltreatment and murder of indigenous children in Canada broke and so I entered this story with trepidation. In the early reading of the story, I saw a few uncomfortable parallels but I was able to sink into the story. However, I am not suggesting you forget the premise foundation for this story which is based in some reality, go out there and educate yourself as I intend to do further. My book bestie suggests this read as a starting place 21 Things You Might Not Know About The Indian Act.

Funny, witty, warm, and highly imaginative. Linus Baker is adorable, and his found family of unusual children all tug at the heartstrings in different ways. Inclusive, with lots of life lessons about standing up for what you believe in, being kind to others, and keeping yourself open to love, it does tend to get a bit schmaltzy sometimes, but I didn’t care – this book was exactly what I needed: a giant hug of a comfort read.

My heart is soooo full right now!!!! This book is sooooo adorable that I just want to hug it forever and ever and stay in this cocoon of warm gooey feelings it has left me in.
In these times of stress and worry, this book is the perfect pill for your anxiety ridden brain. It presents you with these adorable supernatural munchkins, one of whom is the cutest little devil’s son aka the antichrist Lucifer aka Lucy and the purest, most precious green blob of unknown origins called Chauncey and the heartbreakingly soulful were-pomeranian called Sal and a whole bunch of charming characters who will endear themselves to you for life. It sounds absolutely weird and it maybe true as well, but the story and the characters within are still completely relatable in how human they are and I am at a loss to explain how whimsical and wonderful and beautiful this book was.
It’s wonderfully diverse and queer and is perfect for readers looking for a feel good book that is also thought provoking.
Rating: take all the stars.. just take it and leave me to float in my feel good cloud.