Book Review: The House In The Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
This book will wreck you. But in a good way.
I am wrecked by this book.
At the turn of the last page, I leaned deep into the couch cushions, hugging the book close to my chest. I wanted to breathe it in, absorb as much of it as I could before I put it back on the shelf.
I fully admit that I am an emotional reader. I knew I was invested when I went from holding back tears on one page to bursting out laughing a few pages later. I fell in love with the children written in these pages because I could see so much of my own children described. The bizarre conversations, impromptu adventures, silly arguments about who "started it." My heart ached for them.
"We are who we are not because of our birthright, but because of what we choose to do in this life. It cannot be boiled down to black and white. Not when there is so much in between. You cannot say something is moral or immoral without understanding the nuances behind it."
It was witty and sharp, beautiful and real. I truly felt that I was in the background occasionally, witnessing some of the scenes in person. It was like I had forgotten that I was reading.
"A home isn't always the house we live in. It's also the people we choose to surround ourselves with."
Final Thoughts: Should You Read It?
I’d rate The House In The Cerulean Sea ★★★★★ (5/5 stars).
- Way funnier than I expected it to be.
- Takes the Found Family trope to the max.
- Beautifully told story that everyone should read.
If you're looking for a wholesome, easy-to-read, heart-wrenching and heart-warming fantasy book, then this is the one for you.
Book Summary
- Title: The House in the Cerulean Sea
- Author: TJ Klune
- Genre: Fantasy, LGBT, Fiction
- Who Should Read It? Anyone. Seriously. It's a wonderful story.
Synopsis: Linus Baker is a by-the-book case worker in the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. He's tasked with determining whether six dangerous magical children are likely to bring about the end of the world.
Arthur Parnassus is the master of the orphanage. He would do anything to keep the children safe, even if it means the world will burn. And his secrets will come to light. The House in the Cerulean Sea is an enchanting love story, masterfully told, about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place―and realizing that family is yours.
