Review: The House in the Cerulean Sea

The House in the Cerulean Sea The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

🧚‍♂️ 🌊 💙

4.75 ★

This was such a cute, warm, and genuinely lovely story. I was immediately intrigued by the concept of Linus being essentially a social worker for magical children, especially when he is sent to an island where the children are considered potentially dangerous.

What I loved most was the broader theme of acceptance. These children are different, and because of that, society has decided they are something to be feared. I really liked how the book explores that idea without losing its sense of humor or warmth. There is something particularly effective about seeing these supposedly dangerous children simply being themselves and getting to know who they actually are.

And honestly, the children completely won me over. There are so many funny, adorable, and genuinely sweet moments throughout the book that had me feeling all warm and fuzzy. Even the child who is basically considered hell incarnate somehow manages to be ridiculously cute.

I also really enjoyed the island setting and the magical elements. The world has this whimsical quality that makes the book incredibly easy to sink into, while the themes underneath it give the story more substance than I initially expected.
For me, this was ultimately a story about acceptance, belonging, and looking beyond the labels people put on others. It made me laugh, made me smile, and left me with a massive soft spot for these characters.

A very wholesome, charming read with more emotional weight underneath all the magic than I expected.

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