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

adventurous 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? Yes

3.75

"Hate is loud, but I think you'll learn it's because it's only a few people shouting, desperate to be heard. You might not ever be able to change their minds, but so long as you remember you're not alone, you will overcome."

Even though fantasy is not my favorite genre, there was no way I was bypassing this book—it was getting a ton of rave time in my online book groups and I wanted to see if it lived up to the hype. 

After just a few pages, I was surprised to find out that it's actually young adult fiction. (If it's not officially classified as such, somebody was sleeping on the job or had some sort of literary agenda.) While very pleasantly and well written, it's definitely way more simplistic than most adult novels. And, it's far lighter than Harry Potter.

On the politically correct scale, it's a heavy weight. Even Lucifer (AKA Lucy), the son of Satan, is not to be feared or judged. 😄 

If you're looking for a marshmallowy feel good book, you've found it. It's basically the equivalent of watching one of those intelligent animated movies that speak to both kids and adults. (In fact, if this isn't made into a movie, I will be shocked.) Thanks to TJ Klune, I could literally see each character on my mental movie screen.

For me, this was an enjoyable romp into young adult land. I'm not a raver, just a liker.



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