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emotional
hopeful
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:
Yes
I loved this book so much! The setting was crafted so well, I could imagine the world so easily. I love that young adult novels have a unique way of making the world so visible.
I was intrigued right away with this hyperbolic world of grayness turned to color at the cerulean sea. Linus was a rule follower who had his eyes opened when they were splashed with a little bit of color, and I love him for it.
There is so much sincerity in this book, andthe found family aspect is just so sweet. I just felt so happy reading it the whole time.
I think TJ Klune did a good job creating a story that felt fun and exciting, even if the plot wasn't a complex thing. This is not really and adventurous book, but a portrait of hope and found family. I love all the characters so much.
I was intrigued right away with this hyperbolic world of grayness turned to color at the cerulean sea. Linus was a rule follower who had his eyes opened when they were splashed with a little bit of color, and I love him for it.
There is so much sincerity in this book, andthe found family aspect is just so sweet. I just felt so happy reading it the whole time.
I think TJ Klune did a good job creating a story that felt fun and exciting, even if the plot wasn't a complex thing. This is not really and adventurous book, but a portrait of hope and found family. I love all the characters so much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Death, Death of parent
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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:
Complicated
This book is so pure. For all the tough subjects it covers, it still feels incredibly lighthearted and hopeful without minimizing the dark aspects. The romance is so cute and absolutely grew on me. Character development is incredible. Just a great fun read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry
Minor: Child abuse, Hate crime, Death of parent
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
Linus, a completely unremarkable man was tasked with an adventure. He just didn't know it yet. Breaking down his walls he fell in love, and not with just himself.
"He thought of the life he had. How he could ever have thought it'd be enough. His thoughts were alll cerulean."-Linus
Linus found where he belonged. The children, though they didn't seem like it at times, found their home. Arthur found his other half.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Blood, Death of parent, Abandonment, Classism
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
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, Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Death of parent, Colonisation
Minor: Cursing
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:
Complicated
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: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Although this is a slow-paced story with very simple and sometimes stilted prose, it’s a new favourite! Not only is every detail purposeful and well-placed, but the characters are fully fleshed-out and beautifully crafted. The relationship was slowly and painstakingly developed, which was a welcome change in a fantasy novel. At first, I wasn’t sure I liked reading from Mr. Baker’s POV, but by the 30% mark, I understood why the author chose him. It’s an interesting depiction of prejudice and the approach to the topic is nuanced and thoughtful. Absolutely adored Arthur and Talia, but Lucy was honestly the star of the show.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Racism, Grief, Death of parent
adventurous
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Bullying, Self harm, Death of parent
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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:
Complicated
I don’t think I’ve ever read a book as sweet as this one. The characters were so loveable and precious to me that I couldn’t go a page without smiling at their interactions. This is a new comfort read for me and I’ve recommended it to all of my friends.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment
Moderate: Body shaming
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Fatphobia, Death of parent
The main character has internalized fatphobia that is addressed as something to overcome in a route to self-love.
emotional
funny
hopeful
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:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Fatphobia, Racism, Abandonment
Minor: Body shaming, Death, Death of parent
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
personal review notes:
C 7/10
A 8/10
W 5/10
P 5/10
I 4/10
L 7/10
E 5/10
-> 5.1/10
-> 3 stars
- C: the characters were super adorable and diverse, i liked how they were described, i didn' really felt connected though & i personally don't really vibe with linus
- W: some feelings and situations felt over-explained, sometimes it left way too hopeful und overly positive, especially towards the end i sometimes cringed at some of the dialogues and writing
- P: the second half the story kinda dragged on, the over all outcome was very foreseeable
- I: at first, i couldn't put it down and towards the end the only motivation to read was to get this book done.
- E: in the beginning i really enjoyed it, was alright over all, glad that i read it, wouldn't read again
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Abandonment
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Gaslighting
Minor: Body shaming, Death, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder