This is not a full review (sampler only).

I cannot wait for this to be released, especially after reading the first four chapters. Somewhere Beyond the Sea contains all the tenderness, hilarity, and coziness I came to love in the first book, but it also holds a heartbreaking level of anxiety born out of love.

Primarily given from Arthur's point of view, the story follows their attempt to make ripples of change for magical children. It was interesting to see the couple depart the island for the testimony, and it really shows how grim a world without magic is - rainy, dark, and bereft of warmth.

I am so excited to see how everything progresses. Bring on release day!

This title was included on National Book Tokens Discover in our article "24 more books we can't wait to read in 2024", which was promoted via our website, newsletter, and social media.

Somewhere Beyond the Sea by T.J. Klune
Stacey's pick

A story of resistance, lovingly told, about the daunting experience of fighting for the life you want to live and doing the work to keep it. The sequel to the cosy and enchanting The House in the Cerulean Sea, which Stacey adored when she read it earlier this year.

This book was just, everything that I wanted it to be. Scratch that, it was even more than I wanted it to be. It was pure magic.

The House in the Cerulean Sea is my favourite book; so I was beside myself with joy when it was announced that we would be welcomed back to Marsyas and be reunited with our lovely family. And it was absolutely wonderful.

I laughed, fumed and cried. This book is simply magical. It conveyed every emotion imaginable; nothing was left unsaid. Nothing will match the unbridled joy that I felt reading the first page, all the way through to the last. I did not want it to end, and I say that with every fibre of my being. This is a book that will stay with me forever, and will always be at the back of my mind. It will become a book that I will constantly recommend to every person that I meet. I also think it was such a wonderful way to cap off such a lovely and beautiful book series. It absolutely did the first book justice.

The characters were all of their spectacular and wonderful selves. Their transformation from the first book was beautiful, particularly their relationships with Arthur and Linus as parental figures. Their family has grown and become a proud unit.

I LIVED for all of the romance and sweet moments shared between Arthur and Linus; they are my favourite fictional parents and one of my favourite couples. They're just the cutest and sweetest and loveliest couple. They are so perfect for each other; they just understand one another and bring out the absolute best in each other.

Now, I will admit that the angst got to me! I could feel my heart beating fast and my breath becoming laboured. I have only ever felt this way about one other character before, and that was Umbridge. I felt so intensely while reading this book; and they just shows have well written it was. This may sound silly, but I felt like I couldn't separate the fact that it was fiction! I was so invested in the story, that I felt irate on behalf of the characters.

This book will forever hold a very special place in my heart. I will continue to recommend this book (and series) to everyone. You will never forget a book like this.

A brilliant sampler, I cannot wait to read the final book when it comes out, shaping up to be a fantastic sequel.

Gutted it was only the first four chapters! But good nonetheless. I would love to give 5 stars, but because I just don’t know how the book will unfold, I can’t really do that, Even if I I need to read The rest of the book first but I can’t wait to continue with the characters, I just love them all so much!

Thank you so so much Pan Macmillan and NetGalley, for providing me with this arc excerpt!!

The House in the Cerulean Sea is one of my favorite books ever, so getting approved for this excerpt meant the world!! It felt so good being back.. and it made the wait for the release of the whole book a lot less hard!

I have read this excerpt 4 times now :), I’ve posted about it on my Bookstagram and I will post my full review of the whole book after it releases, on my Bookstagram, Goodreads and on Amazon.

This was only a sampler, so I cannot give a full review. However, I’m so so excited to continue and want to know more immidiately! Arthur was my favorite in the House on the Cerulean Sea, so getting his story is amazing.

Ok... I guess now I'm going to preorder the whole book😌
This preview was amazing.
I felt at home, coming back to a literary place I have loved so much. Among characters I've loved so much.
The story is already interesting, there are new and higher stakes that make it breathtaking. What's going to happen? I don't know.
I recognised the writing style, which is similar as that of the first book, and different from other books by T. J. Klune, in a good way. It is heartwarming and calming and moving and engaging and interest-inducing as pages go on.
I was so sad when I understood I was reading the last page... I so look forward to reading the whole book!!!
Thank you for this preview! I loved every word.
I came back home for a short while. I look forward to going back there with the whole book in my hands❤️

Thank you to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions!

I really enjoyed reading the first four chapters of Somewhere Beyond the Sea. It felt like coming back home, because right from the start you're welcomed by Arthur, the love interest of Linus from The House in the Cerulean Sea. We also encounter the old gang - magical children, who created their own community on a faraway island and want nothing more than to have a normal childhood without the fear that it will be taken away someday. I didn't expect this book to get a sequel, so I was excited that there is a continuation and can't wait to read the full book in September once it's released!

I have read the first four chapters of Somewhere Beyond the Sea through NetGalley, thanks to Pan Macmillan !

These first chapters were very sweet, I love how they reintroduced all the characters for The House in the Cerulean Sea, I had missed them !

I cannot wait for the actual release in September !

I am so excited to see that there is going to be a sequel to The House in the Cerulean Sea - such a wonderful, magical book.
Although this is only a sample, the 4 chapters were long and I loved how they reintroduced all the characters from the first book, in particular, the detailed descriptions of the children.
A tantalising tease of what’s to come!

It was all so cute and heartwarming! For a few chapters I returned to the fantastic world of The House in the Cerulean Sea that made me fall in love with Klune and his writing way back in 2020. I can't wait to read the full book this fall!

This is just as good as the first one! Arthur returns to the orphanage where he grew up. He cleans it out, makes repairs and with help from friends he waits for their first group of kids to arrive. They are ready for an adventure!

Thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for providing the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This sampler has around 4 chapters starting with how Arthur brought his children to the island and what happens going forward now that they're all settled including Linus. I believe from the direction the story took Arthur and Linus will try to take forward what they've achieved to make change to the rest of the world. Absolutely loved it but badly craving for more. The sampler ends with a question from Arthur, "Why?" which made me fall for the story hook, line and sinker.

I read the sample ARC and loved it, can't wait for more. I'm hoping we see more of the world around the House and that Linus' experiences help Arthur, in a reversal from last book

‘The House in the Cerulean Sea’ is one of my all-time favorite novels, so you can imagine my excitement when I heard there would be a sequel! ‘Somewhere Beyond the Sea’ quickly became one of my most anticipated books of the year. Thanks to NetGalley, I had the amazing opportunity to read a sampler, and let me tell you, it did not disappoint.

I’m absolutely thrilled to dive back into this enchanting world TJ Klune has created, and I can't wait to see where this new adventure will take us. If you loved the first book as much as I did, get ready for another heartwarming and magical journey!

Thank you Pan Macmillan Tor, TJ Klune and NetGalley for providing an e-ARC sampler of this book, in exchange for this honest review.

I was really excited when I got this sampler, unfortunately I didn’t realize it was a sampler and not the actual book… normally that’s a bit clearer on netgalley… so that was a bit of a bummer. But the 4 chapters I read were amazing, I was immediately back into the world and the wholesomeness is epic. I have no idea what else to say in this review as 4 chapters isn’t a whole lot to write a review on.

I got sucked right back into the world of Arthur and Linus, by just the first sentences.
I am so excited to read the whole thing, I can barely wait.
I'm glad Klune took some time to write a 2nd book, a the first had a very satisfying ending and works as a standalone very well. But from what I've read about Arthur having to go through a court hearing about the kids and the fact that he's a phoenix, it's going to be another amazing read.

I would love to give 5 stars, but because I just don’t know how the book will unfold, I can’t really do that, Even if I feel I should ;D I need to read The rest of the book 1st, but I can’t wait to continue with the characters, I just love them all so much!

This sampler was perfect, never expected to see these characters again but my god am I so happy this exists!!
Continues where the last book left off and ohh I need the rest now!!
I won't say anything about the plot, but wow, if you're already a fan, you'll love it.