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melist6's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
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? Yes
4.0
Really enjoyed it and had 4.5 potential but many things including lack of nb/trans character dev. & other controversial talk surrounding this book (stolen story of Native people retold by the author). For this i give it 4 stars bc still a really cute/ fun/ meaningful story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia and Body shaming
Moderate: Child abuse
emmagreenwood's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Fire/Fire injury, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Xenophobia, Child abuse, Racism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Fatphobia, Grief, and Hate crime
sierraclimbs's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
This book was so immensely heartwarming. I was really worried about it being over hyped with how much I’ve heard people rave about this book, but it did not disappoint.
I’m definitely learning that found family is one of my favorite tropes & this does that trope INCREDIBLY. Every day I was so excited to get back into this world to be with all the characters, it felt like home.
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this to everyone & anyone.
I do think it maybe was a little on the nose about some of the messaging it’s trying to convey, but I’m sure there are readers out there that need that & it didn’t detract from my personal enjoyment of the story.
Side note: Did anyone else get a Tim Burton vibe from this? Or was it just me?
I’m definitely learning that found family is one of my favorite tropes & this does that trope INCREDIBLY. Every day I was so excited to get back into this world to be with all the characters, it felt like home.
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this to everyone & anyone.
I do think it maybe was a little on the nose about some of the messaging it’s trying to convey, but I’m sure there are readers out there that need that & it didn’t detract from my personal enjoyment of the story.
Side note: Did anyone else get a Tim Burton vibe from this? Or was it just me?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Body shaming, and Death
Minor: Child abuse and Bullying
I think the author handled the nature of abuse suffered as children, especially in such places as foster care or orphanages, with great care & sensitivity. Nothing was graphic, but it was very emotional.aharrison_33's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Body shaming, and Child abuse
novella42's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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? No
4.25
It's hard to put into words why I didn't adore this the way everyone else seems to. It was a sweet book and I appreciated the gentle and positive queer representation. I guess the hype just led me to expect different things. It might also be because I DNF the audiobook version--the narrator just wasn't for me--and that initial experience made it harder for me to connect with the characters? I don't know.
I wanted this to hit me like Sangu Mandanna's The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, which I realize was written two years after The House in the Cerulean Sea. Why was I swept away by that one enough to buy a copy for my comfort bookshelf, but not by this one? Especially when I love queer romances of all genders, I really thought that'd tip the balance for me. Maybe the spice level was higher in the other? Maybe because I don't do well with body horror, which felt fairly graphic in The House in the Cerulean Sea? (Probably folks who read a lot of horror would consider it tame, but it kept repeating a trigger for my C-PTSD, so I'm biased here.)
Spoiler about a problematic theme related to the children's make-believe adventures: I was very disappointed by the repetition of the "cannibal" theme they had in the children's fantasy adventures. I know it's meant to be a lighthearted "kids being kids" kind of thing, but the more Indigenous authors I read, the more something like that makes me cringe. All I can see is them playacting the story of "European colonizers and missionaries dehumanizing Indigenous people with unfounded racist fears." I know I'm a bleeding heart liberal killjoy, etc. but honestly, it's 2024, why are you writing "savage cannibal" themes into anything? They could have been imagining so many alternatives. It just was so dissonant with the book's overall message of celebrating differences and respecting the original inhabitant of the island.
Still a good book overall. I might pick up the second book at the library someday, when all the furor dies down.
I wanted this to hit me like Sangu Mandanna's The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, which I realize was written two years after The House in the Cerulean Sea. Why was I swept away by that one enough to buy a copy for my comfort bookshelf, but not by this one? Especially when I love queer romances of all genders, I really thought that'd tip the balance for me. Maybe the spice level was higher in the other? Maybe because I don't do well with body horror, which felt fairly graphic in The House in the Cerulean Sea? (Probably folks who read a lot of horror would consider it tame, but it kept repeating a trigger for my C-PTSD, so I'm biased here.)
Spoiler about a problematic theme related to the children's make-believe adventures:
Still a good book overall. I might pick up the second book at the library someday, when all the furor dies down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Death of parent, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, and Eating disorder
Minor: Cursing
scarlett_f's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
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
4.0
Recommend for teens+. Pages: P. 156 'A vagina being penetrated by a penis.' P. 263 use of pot/marijuana. PP. 274, 276 'deft little bitch'. P. 363 '...shove demerits up his ass.' The Anti-Christ. Just some items to be aware of that may not be suitable for a younger age. Positive queer representation. Belonging, family, nature vs nurture, inclusion, acceptance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Gaslighting, Drug use, Xenophobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Hate crime, Abandonment, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Child abuse, Death, Confinement, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent and Fire/Fire injury
bzliz's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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? Yes
5.0
I’m so mad at myself for not reading this sooner. From the moment Linus Baker stepped foot into Arthur’s world, I was utterly enchanted. His journey to finding a family and a home was opposed by his 17 year long career and staunch following of the Rules and Regulations but it didn’t take long for the residents of the Marsyas Orphanage to worm their way into his heart. Honestly, he never stood a chance. I didn’t either. By the time the story concluded, I was legitimately kicking my feet with glee.
The adults of the world are so lovely but the children made my heart soar. They’re all so distinct- a lot of authors struggle to flesh out their underage characters- and individually special. I was delighted by every foul threat from Lucy and Talia just as much as I enjoyed their respective passions for music and gardening. Theodore challenged everything I have believed about family in the real world. Phee and Chauncey rounded out the crew, showing opposite desires entirely yet desiring their family most of all. And sweet Sal. I think Linus needed him the most. He needed a reminder of how the system can fail and how he as an individual can make an extraordinary difference to a child in need.
I cannot recommend this book to everyone enough, but I especially recommend it to anybody who has ever felt stuck in their own life, longing for more.
The adults of the world are so lovely but the children made my heart soar. They’re all so distinct- a lot of authors struggle to flesh out their underage characters- and individually special. I was delighted by every foul threat from Lucy and Talia just as much as I enjoyed their respective passions for music and gardening. Theodore challenged everything I have believed about family in the real world. Phee and Chauncey rounded out the crew, showing opposite desires entirely yet desiring their family most of all. And sweet Sal. I think Linus needed him the most. He needed a reminder of how the system can fail and how he as an individual can make an extraordinary difference to a child in need.
I cannot recommend this book to everyone enough, but I especially recommend it to anybody who has ever felt stuck in their own life, longing for more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Xenophobia
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Fatphobia, and Body shaming
cozyfantasyfaetay's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
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
5.0
This is my 2nd TJ Klune and I'm a fan. The writing and characters always pull me in. A hard act to follow. Beautiful, deep storytelling, multidimensional. Read this and feel your heart grow three sizes.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Cursing, and Body shaming
moond4ncer's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
5.0
I loved my experience with this book. Funny, witty, compassionate and a beautiful reminder of all the good things in life. I'll return to this book and recommend it to many friends.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Physical abuse, Body shaming, Child abuse, Fatphobia, Confinement, and Forced institutionalization
driedmintleaves's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
5.0
THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD. I have not weeped with tears of joy at a books ending like this in a long time.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Body shaming, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Homophobia and Religious bigotry