Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

184 reviews

jjnb13's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying

Minor: Cursing

mirichasha's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

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

5.0

New favorite book???? New favorite book!!! Like maybe this is actually my new reread and Red White & Royal Blue can take at least a short break (we'll see though, I have already read it three times this year). This book was just so joyful, so sweet, so full of hope and so relatable in its journey from sadness to a life of color. I want that for myself. This book gives me something to dream about.

See content warnings for discussion of fatphobia in this book, though.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming and Fatphobia

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Bullying, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, and Religious bigotry

bigotry against magical beings, internalized shame for same, abusive group homes/orphanages. I will say that although I absolutely adored this book essentially from page one... I was and still am frustrated about the fat rep. The blurb on the top of one of the copies (the one showing on storygraph) quotes Seanan McGuire saying, "This book is very close to perfect" and IMO the thing keeping it from perfection is the amount of body shaming happening with Linus. Most of it comes from himself, but in my view it doesn't get checked enough outside of the (appreciated) pushback from Talia and the appreciation from Arthur. Like. The growth around this came too little too late for me, although it did happen. I still wholeheartedly recommend this book, I'd just say be wary around this and don't let yourself internalize it. Again, a disappointing part of an otherwise perfect book.

mandkips's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted slow-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Confinement

Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, and Panic attacks/disorders

leanne's review against another edition

inspiring lighthearted reflective 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? Yes

4.5

"The things we fear the most are often the things we should fear the least. It's irrational, but it's what makes us human. And if we're able to conquer those fears, then there is nothing we're not capable of."

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Content Warnings

Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Fatphobia

fromjuliereads's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I don't even have words. I was going into this book hoping that it would live up to the hype it has, and it really and truly did. 

I loved this book.

The characters are the absolute best. I just want to hug the kids and Arthur and Zoe in so many parts of the book! I laughed out loud, teared up, and even felt angry with the characters. This book is so incredibly important and so well done. Highly recommend.

Now I just need to figure out what to do with myself now that I am done reading it...

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Physical abuse

Minor: Cannibalism

alreads13's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

So beautiful! The story felt like a tightly squeezed hug. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Bullying

anacereading's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Fatphobia

readbymegs's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, and Confinement

bookishnatalia's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Mental illness, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Homophobia, and Religious bigotry

moonlit_paperbacks's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Bullying