A beautiful follow up to a house on the cerulean sea. This sequel takes us back to the Island, all is well but not for long. Arthur must testify about his time at the home, to prove the children need to be left where they are, but the it’s no use when DICOMY have already made up their minds . If you enjoyed Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix you’ll get very big Deloris Umbridge vibes. I enjoyed this story but it wasn’t what ai expected. As always I think it’s tough to write a sequel when the first is so well liked. But we see more of our favourite characters and find out the true nature, and how wonderful Zoe Chapelwhite. Over all the book is a heartwarming cosy story that you would expect, I enjoyed it.

Just as wholesome and lovely as the first one, if a little syrupy and repetitive here and there.

Mr Klune knows how to write children well, and brings so much joy through their little bubbly innocent perspectives that it ignited a tiny maternal thing in me. I particularly appreciated the distinct voices and personalities in the kids, because to me they are all very unique and special in their own way and that's very hard to do even for adult voices. Chauncey was once again a favourite, David the Yeti was a fantastic theatrical addition that perfectly embodies the sillyness of kids playing games and how big childhood dreams are born. Lucy a delivilish delighht as always.

I did actually prefer Linus' perspective in book 1 as it was an interesting journey to follow, more nuanced, from meaningless and stale life with some moral battles to a full transformation, walls crumbling and forming of beautiful genuine relationships with the kids and Arthur.
In this sequel Arthur's perpective felt a bit superfluous and the story slightly over-long.

The criticism I do have for this book is two part, one being the entire book felt like fan service, while I did enjoy spending time in this cozy world with these beloved characters, every beat felt predictable and exactly what fans want. The other part is the preachiness, there was a message of magical being being persecuted and must be liberated (which is in itself a great message!), but it was in every single chapter over and over and it became a bit tedious.

Overall, I don't think we needed this book but I enjoyed reading it nonetheless.

This is a book about fighting for who and what you love and I couldn’t stop crying (from emotional moments but also from joyful ones!).
Klune gives us more time with truly some of the most splendid characters I have ever encountered in literature! I thought everything about ‘Somewhere Beyond the Sea’ was spot on: the pacing, the plot, the character development of literally everyone. He very easily could have ruined a lovely standalone by choosing to write a sequel to ‘The House in the Cerulean Sea’, but it works so well as a duology and keeps the great vibes going!
A beautiful, hilarious, heartwarming book!
5 stars from me!

Thank you NetGalley for this eARC.

I loved the House in the Cerulean Sea, it was heart warming, whimsical, gave all the fuzzy feels.

Somewhere Beyond the Sea just didn’t hit the same feels. It was lovely to be with the characters again, I’ll forever love Chauncey and their bellhop dreams, and David was a lovely new addition - although why did the audbiooks make him sound like Lumpy Space Princess?

This book was a “copy but don’t make it too obvious” of the first, with very heavy handed preachy speeches.
I’m pretty sure anyone picking up this book is already all inclusive; I don’t think the tone was correct for this audience. The audience who needed this, aren’t the ones reading this.

Overall, a fun little read but essentially not needed.

I enjoyed the book's sample. It's just pure nostalgia. I think we all wanted another book after the first. It's like coming home to family with these characters. Love them all.

Klune understands how to balance tradgedy with hope, and it shines through in this book. There are people who have called this an unnessecary sequel, and if they think that, they aren't paying attention to the world around them. Somewhere Beyond the Sea is a call to action; a direct response to the vitriol spewed at the LGBTQIA+ community on a daily basis. It's a calm reminder that there is light, there is hope, and there is a way to fight back.

TJ Klune books always hit the spot. Cosy fantasy that make you want to curl up under a blanket and devour it and this book didn’t disappoint with that. I loved the first book in this collection and this was such a good sequel

This story really hit me. Following Arthur and the magical kids on that strange island felt like coming home to a family I didn't know I needed. The story digs deep into themes of belonging and acceptance and it's so touching to see Arthur confront his past while fighting to protect those he loves. Klune's writing is warm and heartfelt and the characters feel incredibly real. This one stayed with me long after I turned the last page.

Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune is the highly anticipated sequel to The House in the Cerulean Sea, bringing readers back to the magical world of Marsyas Island. This time, the story focuses on Arthur Parnassus, the caretaker of the orphanage, as he faces the consequences of his mysterious past while fighting for a future where magical beings can live freely.

Klune delivers another heartfelt, whimsical, and deeply emotional tale, filled with themes of found family, acceptance, and resistance. The novel maintains the cozy, comforting tone of its predecessor while introducing new stakes and characters, including a magical child who challenges Arthur’s beliefs.

While some readers feel the sequel suffers from "sequelitis", revisiting too much of the first book’s plot, others praise its warmth, humor, and powerful message of inclusivity. If you loved The House in the Cerulean Sea, this follow-up offers another dose of magic, love, and hope.

My in store review:

“A return to Marsyas for more found family, feel-good cosy vibes. There’s a dash of hard cold reality along with the hopeful adventure a the first book and of course, my fave, Lucy the Anti-Christ!”

I absolutely loved a trip back to this world with these characters. It didn’t hit home quite as well as the first book for me but I still enjoyed it all the same!

A heartfelt, whimsical sequel that expands on the magic of The House in the Cerulean Sea, Somewhere Beyond the Sea delivers charming characters, emotional depth, and a fight for acceptance.

✨ Arthur’s past comes to light 💙 Found family & resistance 📚 A beautifully hopeful story

I read this while listening to the audiobook, and the narration was absolutely brilliant—so much fun! Daniel Henning’s performance brings humour, warmth, and distinct voices to the characters, making the experience even more immersive. While some plot elements feel a little predictable, the emotional core of the story shines, making this a worthy continuation of Klune’s world.

If you love cosy, uplifting fantasy, this one is a must-listen!

Arguably this book is not necessary, but I did really enjoy being back with these characters (especially the kids) and in this world. This one is a little heavier in some of the subject matter, but so good.

It’s an amazing book. We read it as our buddy read and enjoyed the discussion about the children’s magical powers, wittinesses. A must read for people who are new to Fantasy genre or who loves to read fantasy books.

1/5 stars! I don't know why I keep trying books by this author. He is known to be problematic and the other books I've read have been disjointed and boring. I was hoping for something different with The House in the Cerulean Sea but it was more of the same and highly problematic for appropriating the idea from people who have suffered. May have to swear off this author for good moving forwards.

A brilliant return to the Cerulean Sea! Loved revisiting these characters, especially dear Lucy. Actually a fantastic addition to the original story and a beautiful ending that truly encapsulated all that TJ Klune does best. Hope, humanity, kindness, acceptance.

The sampler remind me of why I love tj klune writing so much. It's funny yet serious. Lighthearted but dramatic at the same time.
I was overjoyed to reunite with all tje characters the cerulean house ! Can't wait to read the full book.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Cerulean Sea was excellent, although not my favourite fantasy world ever. This does add to the world which I can appreciate, but I don't think this necessarily elevated it in any way.

If you liked Cerulean Sea, you are sure to love this! It has the same magic!

Adore this author, and this fantastic work is a hit. Enjoyable read. This author has set the bar high from previous works, and this more than meets the standards,

Thank you NetGalley and PanMacmillan/Tor for this limited arc!

Just the start of the novel was enough to bring me back to the cosyness of this found family story and the full story is fun, warm and humorous in classic Klune style.

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the orpportunity to read an advanced digital copy.
I loved the first book, within the first few lines it became one of my comfort reads. This one was a fantastic continuation and while it did have some serious themes, it was still delightful to read.