Reviews

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

envy4's review against another edition

5.0

One of the best books I’ve ever read. Wholesome and yet still engaging. Couldn’t put it down. It filled my heart.

melissalabelle's review against another edition

5.0

I wish I could erase my memory of reading this book and read it brand new again

lbarsk's review

5.0

Oh this was gorgeous and special and just what I needed. Queer, found family, anti-establishment... what more could you want?

anna_dunn's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I love, love, loved this book🥺 it took me a second to get into it, but as soon as the characters were introduced I was smitten. A beautiful story.

ametakinetos's review against another edition

4.0

Never knew a story involving the Antichrist could be so heartwarming.

3.5/5

Overall, I greatly admired this book. The fairly minimal worldbuilding perfectly matched the storylines, and the cliché of found family felt beautifully well done.

Spoiler

I absolutely teared up when Chauncey gets his chance to be a bellhop at the hotel.

My biggest issue that sharply prevented my experience from receiving a higher rating was that it seemed obsessed with telling rather than showing. Characters have these lengthy monologues conveying their feelings or a thinly-veiled morality lesson or love for each other or any such thing with such frequency that it took away a lot of the impact that

Spoiler

Linus's big tirade against Extremely Upper Management in the end

would have otherwise had. It seemed more like a self-help book in its overt "this is the message you are going to take away from this paragraph so help me" vibe rather than showing the same sentiments through action - which was still there, but it felt redundant. Found myself zoning out through a significant portion of the dialogue.

Still. Enjoyed the experience.

valecore's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

librarydreams's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Every so often a book touches your heart and changes how you see the world. This is one of those books. Klune has done a magnificent job crafting a world that is magical and harsh and hopeful. A world where we can be more than what the world says we are.

lilanye's review against another edition

hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

2.0

daydream218's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

jadehan's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0