House in the Cerulean Sea (Cerulean Chronicles, 1)

To the people that recommend this book to me, thank you! This was exactly what I needed. This book was amazing. It started out reading like a parody of 1984. “Extremely Upper Management” was a great title for those characters, and my kind of humor. Most of this book was spot on for my dry, dark sense of humor. It wasn’t overbearing, and it didn’t take away from the heavy subjects discussed. The was a good balance between funny, sweet, and sad. The book covered what it was like to be a child in the government’s hands, and added prejudice to that. So much fear and prejudice in this book, even Linus himself wasn’t exempt from it. I loved that we saw him learn and grow. This was a beautiful book about love in all its forms. Found family, romantic, friendship. I’d call this a feel good story, even with all of its heavy topics. I fell in love with all of the characters. An easy favorite. I’ll definitely be reading this one again.

What a delightful read. There is wonderful character development and vivid descriptions so the reader can get fully immersed in the story. A beautiful story about what it means to be a family, and finding yourself. For anyone who has ever felt like an outsider, this book will truly touch you.

I wanted very much to not like this book... and ended up loving it. “The House in the Cerulean Sea” is a fantasy book—a genre I left behind in high school after reading Lord of the Rings, Dune, Stranger in a Strange Land. I much prefer real life: history, biographies, medical, science, exploration. But a much-respected, intelligent cousin recommended it and I thought, time to expand your reading! I didn’t care for it at first as I was bored (of course, which the author wants us to be!). So much dialogue too—I thought I was reading a play! But somewhere along the way... the characters came alive. The island came alive. The main character began to develop and grow, and despite the obvious morality lessons along the way, I just loved the flow of the story, the “unique” personalities, and wondered where this journey would take us. My favorite character? The AntiChrist (and no, the book is not anti-Catholic, and I am Catholic). It’s not an original plot: it’s one we’ve come across many times in movies, adult fantasy books and children’s books, from Harry Potter, to the Island of Misfit Toys, to Pinocchio. But it is so freshly told, and up-to-date for these times, that it’s really hard not to fall in love with the kids, the two main characters who protect them and the ending was just amazing. Well done, TJ Klune! I was most and pleasantly surprised by all the references to music from the 1950s: Everly Brothers (and the very night I read the book I was off to see a tribute band of them!), Ritchie Valens, Big Bopper, Little Richard, Sam Cooke, and my ultimate favorite... Buddy Holly. That the AntiChrist and I share a love of Buddy Holly made me laugh out loud! I only had a small curiosity: why does Klune refer about three times to how dumb or useless “men” are? This jarring global statement seems to contradict the main message of the book of inclusion, to accept people or creatures as they are without prejudices, allowing differences. It just seemed an odd juxtaposition in an otherwise crisp, colorful and creative tale that has stayed with me and warmed my heart for days.

I absolutely love this writers style. The story is so emotional and the characters are charming and have personality that leaps off the page. I must read more!!!!!!

What a story, with such a serious message and the happiest and funniest characters. I love the deadpan delivery and adventure.

This reading adventure began, as many do, with recommendations. The startling thing is that I followed through and read the book at all. In my life as an English teacher, I’ve learned that books are many, time is short, and during the school year I will get no reading done (unless forced). TJ Klune’s The House in the Cerulean Sea started popping up all over the place on Instagram first – and not just around its release date, but a swell of love and support over many months. That was fine, and I noticed it, but it didn’t prompt me to take action. Then I showed up to my book club’s Zoom meeting a couple of months ago and it was personally recommended by long-time reading friends. Their arguments were persuasive – I purchased the book then and there! And only 2ish months later, I read it all in one day. The House in the Cerulean Sea delivered on its promised cozy vibes, and reading it was a nice way to slide into summer mode. The House in the Cerulean Sea is the story of Linus Baker, a government worker in a fictional (and nominally magical) world who is desperately lonely, but keeps himself too busy fulfilling his job according to the draconian Rules and Regulations to think very deeply about his dissatisfaction with his life. The only bits of happiness he has are the sunflowers in his garden, his cat Calliope, and his record collection. Linus’ internal monologue is immediately hilarious, but his life overall is sad and dreary. This metaphor is extended even further in tragicomic fashion: Linus constantly misses the bus (or it is late), forgets his umbrella on rainy days, and engages in light self-hatred (about his weight), along with holding a seeming life-long goal of blending in with the wall paint. Luckily, the business of the book is to make him happy. Author Klune accomplishes this by delving into the fantasy portion of the novel, when Linus must make an unusual casework visit to a whimsical island and observe the family who live there. Over the course of his visit, Linus (or Mr. Baker, as he goes by at the orphanage he is “investigating”) slowly develops his capacity for happiness, and by the end of the book all’s well that ends well. What I knew going into reading the book: magical house/school, cozy vibes, quiet read, LGBTQ+ characters. What I got in the first several chapters: an absolutely miserable main character in an awful desk job that gave me flashbacks to some of my own worst working experiences. Let’s just say there was some whiplash between expectations and reality. I almost put the book down about 5 times in the first 5 chapters. I kept going because of the promised payoff from the recommendations of others. So, with that off my chest, I can say… this book IS lovely in many ways, as is Linus, but they both require a bit of patience from the reader to uncover their strengths and treasures. Author Klune’s task in this novel is a complex and delicate one: to start with a character that the reader can immediately identify as unhappy, unambitious, and with low self-esteem, and expose them to a combination of plot and character elements that will thoroughly change their outlook on life, actions, and future, all without seeming “out of character.” It is a masterful character study, but it doesn’t feel contrived – it instead is a story suffused with homey, magical details, and I think that is why it is so beloved. So, that’s the book. I think it was successful on its own merits, and a feat of engineering! And obviously, cozy vibes and quiet reads are nothing to shake a stick at. BUT DID I ENJOY IT??? That is a tough question, and one I’ve been asking myself over and over again in the last 12 hours or so since I finished the book. And I think the answer is, to use one of my favorite words, complex. On one hand: yes. I can appreciate the underpinnings that make this book art, and I appreciate the aura of it all, and of course I love magical stories. But one thing about being in the head of a character with such low self-esteem, and such a dreary outlook on life, is that is hard not to get trapped in the emotional transference. Other people in the book kept telling Linus he was worthy and delightful, and yet… on his side, he couldn’t see it. And thus, in a way, the reader (or at least THIS reader) couldn’t see it. As I said, complex. I feel satisfied that I didn’t waste my time reading the book, but it’s not a favorite, or even a “keep it on my shelf” book. It’ll go live instead in my classroom library at school! I do appreciate LGBTQ+ characters getting to live everyday lives, and being the centers of cozy books. I also appreciated that, while the book is marketed to adults, it will be very popular with younger readers and those who read YA and crossover titles. Because of the novel’s focus on children’s lives and children’s well-being through Linus’ line of work, the feel is quite innocent and light, even when it deals with heavier themes like prejudice and child abuse. In all, a perfectly satisfactory summer read, and one for when you need a dash of whimsy and warmth in your life. Recommended for: fans of Katherine Addison’s books (especially The Angel of the Crows, which I read and also enjoyed in a complex way last summer), those who enjoy quiet fantasy with hints of Diana Wynne Jones and/or Robin McKinley, and anyone who wants to see more LGBTQ+ representation in science fiction and fantasy!

I absolutely adored this book! The first and most important thing about this book are the characters. I genuinely loved and cared about each and every one of these characters (and I sort of feel so protective of them that I swear I would die for any one of them). Linus Baker, our protagonist, is living a quiet life working for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth (DICOMY) as a Case Worker. He seems to mostly enjoy his job, but it's clear to readers that despite whatever Linus chooses to tell himself about his life, he isn't really living and to say he's 'happy' seems a stretch. Linus is one of those characters that you sort of just want to hug (although you probably wouldn't because he doesn't seem like the type to enjoy hugs from random people) and watching him embark on an experience unlike any he's ever been on, where he learns new things about himself and the world around him, was remarkable. I was so drawn to Linus' character and found that so many of the things he struggled with were applicable to my own--such as realizing that sometimes 'good enough' isn't really enough--and I couldn't have asked for a more wonderful character to follow. He isn't the most enthusiastic sort of person, but he has this fantastic dry wit for his sense of humor that I couldn't get enough of. In addition to Linus is the rest of our phenomenal cast of characters: there's Arthur Parnassus, the man in charge of the orphanage Linus visits; the magical youth living at the orphanage: Chauncey, Lucy, Sal, Talia, Phee, and Theodore; the resident island sprite, Zoe; and, of course, we can't forget Linus' cat, Calliope. I fell so hard for all of these characters and sincerely loved all of them. Each one was so carefully crafted with such distinct and wide-ranging personalities--it's rare to see such amazing characterization that holds strong and true for each and every character, but I can tell that characters must be Klune's strong point because they were all so well-written. I would try to pinpoint one of my favorites, but honestly, I think they are all my favorites. Linus' cat, Calliope, truly steals every scene she's in, though. Altogether, each and every one of these extremely varied and rather odd characters makes up the most perfect mismatched family and I have never want to be a part of a family as much as I wanted to be a part of this one! Klune also appears to be a master at writing dialogue, and the banter among all of the youth easily became of the most enjoyable parts of this book. I laughed out loud so many times while reading this book and I felt so fulfilled and happy every time I picked it up and put it down. The way that he captures what it's like for an adult like Linus to be interacting with such a wild and unpredictable group of magical youth was a true delight. Additionally, the more serious dialogue that occurred for more serious and difficult topics was also carefully done and felt both authentic and full of impact. Klune is really good at maneuvering within a huge variety of topics in such a deft way that never makes it feel difficult to get through or understand. I don't want to spoil anything specific about the plot, but I can tell you that one of the reasons that I think I liked this so much is because of it's sort of 'slice-of-life' feel, where there aren't really intense action-packed scenes or anything, but rather it is following Linus as he observes and tries to understand how things at Mr. Parnassus' orphanage work and about the youth that live there. The pacing was perfect for me and was what I would call very steady--not too slow, but not too fast, either, just very continuously moving forward while still taking the time to focus on certain topics and scenes whenever necessary. There is also a tiny bit of romance in this book and it is so beautiful and innocent and truly made my cold black heart just melt. It doesn't take over the story, but it fits in like the perfect final piece of a puzzle--small, but vital to the completion of the entire puzzle. This story handles some extremely heavy but very important topics and I think Klune weaved all of those elements into the story so smoothly so that they never felt overwhelming, but they were very clear and easily understood. Honestly, this book is just beautiful. I laughed and teared up (for both happy and sad reasons) and I also found myself subconsciously reading this book so slooowly because I don't think I ever wanted to finish. It was hard for me to move on from this book and get my headspace ready for another book after because it just made me feel so good to read this book. It spoke to me not only from a personally relevant standpoint, but because it's such a wonderful story of love, acceptance, and what it means to be a family. This is easily going to be a book that I re-read and re-read over and and over, especially when I'm struggling a lot with depression or anxiety because it made me feel so at home and content and happy. I really can't recommend this story enough--it's bittersweet at times, but also hilarious, relevant, and full of life and love and family.

I picked up The House in the Cerulean Sea looking for something light, and it was exactly that. It has charming characters, a quaint setting, and an uplifting story. While it isn’t the kind of book I connect with on a deeper level or one that I think will stay with me for a long time, it was enjoyable in the moment and exactly what I needed right now. I listened to the audiobook, and the narration was outstanding. The narrator brought each character to life with distinct voices and personalities. Chauncey was an absolute delight to listen to. I’d definitely recommend it if you’re looking for something light, heartwarming, and easy to get lost in for a while.

It's a delightful book! There are so many good things about it that it's hard to know where to begin. This isn't an action-packed fantasy book, and it doesn't aim to be one. It's a fantasy story about a lonely bureaucrat from a children's protection department (well, magical children) who goes to investigate an orphanage and discovers much more than just an orphanage. The environment is endearing, the characters are nicely described, and the story flows smoothly with good pacing and wonderful writing. I loved Linus and how he is totally believable—he's forty, overweight, and struggles with normal human challenges. The way he grows during his journey is definitely captivating. And his relationship with Arthur is great! No instant love and no overly sensualization. Just two people getting to know each other and building a meaningful connection. PROS: Great world-building, nice plot, and storyline. Well-built and consistent characters. Sweetheart vibes without being overly saccharine. Beautiful gay romance between two mature men. CONS: Sometimes, it veers towards something a little bit naive and juvenile. But I'm just saying that to include something in the "CONS." All in all, it's a very, very nice read for those looking for a good, sweet gay fantasy story. I loved reading it and totally recommend.

The House in the Cerulean Sea is one of those rare books that feels like a hug from the very first chapter. I loved how TJ Klune blends fantasy, found family, humour, and emotional depth into a story that feels both magical and incredibly human. It’s the kind of book that makes you smile without even realising it. The character development is what truly won me over. Every child at Marsyas Island is written with such warmth and individuality that they feel real, despite their fantastical origins. And Linus — watching him slowly open up, question the rules he’s lived by, and allow himself to care — is so satisfying. His growth feels earned, genuine, and quietly powerful. The romance between Linus and Arthur is tender, quiet, and incredibly wholesome. It’s written with such softness that it never feels forced or overly dramatic — just two people discovering that they deserve love and support. Their relationship adds even more warmth to the found-family atmosphere, and I loved how normalised and unproblematic their queerness is in the story’s world. It’s a subtle, affirming queer element that enriches the book without ever overshadowing the plot. There’s also a wonderful sense of humour threaded throughout the book. The banter, the absurd moments, the deadpan delivery — it all balances so beautifully with the emotional themes. Nothing ever feels too heavy, but nothing feels shallow either. TJ Klune manages to keep the tone light while still exploring acceptance, prejudice, and chosen family in a meaningful way. What I appreciate most is how well the book blends everything together: fantasy elements that never overwhelm, heartwarming character moments, queer romance, humour, and a storyline that moves at just the right pace. It’s comfort reading at its best — hopeful, cosy, magical, and full of warmth. For me, The House in the Cerulean Sea is a perfect 5/5: a book that leaves you a little kinder and a little lighter after turning the final page.

I wanted to be a character in this book and live within it. I heard great things about this author and this book and it more than lived up to the hype. Reading this was like a warm, therapeutic hug especially since I just finished reading Yesteryear which is also amazing but like I needed a palatte cleansr after that (iykyk). I’ll definitely be reading more books by this author! I really recommend this to anyone!

4.5 out of 5 stars. The House in the Cerulean Sea is truly so lovely, it warmed my entire heart. I teared up twice while I was reading it, and that is a very rare occurrence for me. I was just constantly like this: 🥺 🥺 🥺 I literally teared up because of a pile of buttons… If that makes no sense to you, please read this book because then you will Understand what I was going through lmao The House in the Cerulean Sea is found family excellence. It’s not only about the power of found family, but it’s also about learning to be brave enough to step out of your bubble, finding out where you truly belong and embracing the life you deserve. The main character, Linus Baker, was so precious. And his character development was fantastic. All of the characters in this book were so distinct and lovely in their own unique way. I honestly can’t even pick a favourite character, I just love all of them so much. This book truly made my heart sing with joy. I loved the ending so much!!! It was just everything 🥺 The only reason that I didn’t give this five stars is because the first half of the book is pretty slow. But in the grand scheme of things, that’s not a very big deal so I’m only knocking off half a star. If it weren’t for the slow pacing in the beginning, this book would honestly have been perfect. OVERALL, The House in the Cerulean Sea is an absolutely wonderful book and I highly recommend it!! Do be warned, though: you might cry. A lot.

Laugh out loud, cry at times, be so tenderly moved.. this book has it all. A great read about prejudice, love, found family and a terrific story. The kind of book that stays with you well after you finished it.