A review by emthom
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

adventurous 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

5.0

I loved this book so much! The characters are incredibly endearing and I found myself attached to all of the children that were at the orphanage. The romance is sweet, and all in all, I couldn't recommend it enough. Fantastic LGBTQ+ romance with lovely magical realism, and I'd LOVE a sequel. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Eating disorder and Xenophobia

Minor: Physical abuse

The main character has body image issues (this is manifested in slightly disordered eating, though in my opinion this is used to further explain the dystopian world and the effect it has on this character) and his weight and body are mentioned further throughout the book in a more positive light. There is a passing reference to one of the children being physically abused in the past. I wasn't sure what else to tag it, but the magical children as a whole face societal discrimination.