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A review by ayloutzenhiser
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
hopeful
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book was a quick read. J enjoyed it and felt driven to finish it, but found it to be a little cheesy. The symbolism is very overt. Neither of these are criticisms, this book would be a 5 star read for someone who enjoys a light, cheesy read. It just wasn't my style.
I gave it 3.5 stars because I thought it was a good book, but didn't feel that I took things as deep, as it could have had a bit more world-building and character development and it felt like it relied on pre-conceived stereotypes surrounding foster children, adoptive families, immigrant rights, and the holocaust. However, I really liked the themes on internalized fatphobia and diet culture, queer themes, and the fact that it was a quick read that I could enjoy during a time when I needed a less thought-
I gave it 3.5 stars because I thought it was a good book, but didn't feel that I took things as deep, as it could have had a bit more world-building and character development and it felt like it relied on pre-conceived stereotypes surrounding foster children, adoptive families, immigrant rights, and the holocaust. However, I really liked the themes on internalized fatphobia and diet culture, queer themes, and the fact that it was a quick read that I could enjoy during a time when I needed a less thought-
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Xenophobia
Minor: Ableism, Death, Eating disorder, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment