Review by podanotherjessi - The House in the Cerulean Sea

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podanotherjessi 's review for:

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

3.5

hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

This book was cute and fun and sweet. It's not a book to analyze and have deep discussions about. It's just a light, fluffy read. That's what I wanted from this book, and it's what I got. I think the message was sweet but so oversimplified and watered down that it felt like it was barely saying anything at all, and that was really my main complaint. The characters are all one-dimentional - although also very sweet - and all made just to deliver this message, and the message felt weak. Still, very cute.
I'll also note that the audiobook made me feel a little like I was being talked down to. I don't know if it was the prose or the narration itself, which is why I specify the audiobook. It was very simple prose, and the tone just felt condescending. It was the kind of audiobook that I picked up as a kid and made me swear off audiobooks for the next 10 years. It does get better later in the book - or maybe I just got used to it - but something to be aware of.

Characters: 6
Plot: 7
Setting: 9
General appeal: 7
Writing style: 6
Originality: 9
Ending: 8

Content Warnings