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

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

New favorite book???? New favorite book!!! Like maybe this is actually my new reread and Red White & Royal Blue can take at least a short break (we'll see though, I have already read it three times this year). This book was just so joyful, so sweet, so full of hope and so relatable in its journey from sadness to a life of color. I want that for myself. This book gives me something to dream about.

See content warnings for discussion of fatphobia in this book, though.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming and Fatphobia

Moderate: Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Confinement

Minor: Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Homophobia, Bullying, and Xenophobia

bigotry against magical beings, internalized shame for same, abusive group homes/orphanages. I will say that although I absolutely adored this book essentially from page one... I was and still am frustrated about the fat rep. The blurb on the top of one of the copies (the one showing on storygraph) quotes Seanan McGuire saying, "This book is very close to perfect" and IMO the thing keeping it from perfection is the amount of body shaming happening with Linus. Most of it comes from himself, but in my view it doesn't get checked enough outside of the (appreciated) pushback from Talia and the appreciation from Arthur. Like. The growth around this came too little too late for me, although it did happen. I still wholeheartedly recommend this book, I'd just say be wary around this and don't let yourself internalize it. Again, a disappointing part of an otherwise perfect book.