ReviewA NEW YORK TIMES, USA TODAY, and WASHINGTON POST BESTSELLER! Show "I loved it. It is like being wrapped up in a big gay blanket. Simply perfect." ―V.E. Schwab, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue"It will renew your faith in humanity.” ―Terry Brooks, New York Times bestselling author of the Shannara series“It’s a witty, wholesome fantasy that’s likely to cause heart-swelling.” ― The Washington Post“ The House in The Cerulean Sea is a modern fairy tale about learning your true nature and what you love and will protect. It's a beautiful book.” ―Charlaine Harris, #1 New York Times bestselling author“ 1984 meets The Umbrella Academy with a pinch of Douglas Adams thrown in. Touching, tender, and truly delightful, The House in the Cerulean Sea is an utterly absorbing story of tolerance, found family, and defeating bureaucracy.”―Gail Carriger, New York Times bestselling author of Soulless“Sweet, comforting, and kind, this book is very close to perfect. The House in the Cerulean Sea is a work of classic children's literature written for adults and children alike, with the perspective and delicacy of the modern day. I cannot recommend it highly enough.” ―Seanan McGuire, New York Times bestselling author of Every Heart a Doorway “Is it possible to fall in love with someone’s imagination? If so, consider me fully smitten. TJ Klune creates worlds where fear and threat can be conquered by kindness, and a tender, queer heart is more valuable than any weapon or power.” ―David Levithan “Quirk and charm give way to a serious exploration of the dangers of complacency in this delightful, thought-provoking Orwellian fantasy from Klune.... This tale of found family is hopeful to its core. Readers will revel in Klune’s wit and ingenuity.” ― "Lambda Literary Award-winning author Klune ( The Art of Breathing, 2019, etc.) has a knack for creating endearing characters, and readers will grow to love Arthur and the orphans alongside Linus... fans of quirky fantasy will eat it up. A breezy and fun contemporary fantasy." ―Kirkus“This is a sweet narrative about the value of asking questions and the benefits of giving people (especially children) a chance to be safe, protected, and themselves, regardless of what assumptions one might glean from, say, reading their case file.” ― Booklist“This inclusive fantasy is quite possibly the greatest feel-good story ever to involve the Antichrist.... The House in the Cerulean Sea will delight fans of Seanan McGuire's Wayward Children series and any reader looking for a burst of humor and hope.” ―Shelf Awareness“A beautiful little gem of both irony and, yes, kindness.” ― Fantasy & Science Fiction“TJ Klune is a master storyteller.” ―The Mary Sue "A delightful tale about chosen families, and how to celebrate differences." ― Library Journal"This contemporary fantasy can satisfy any sweet tooth with its found family story and its gentle queer romance." ― Book Riot“If ever there was an author to watch out for, [Klune] is definitely that author.” ― Culturess DailyAbout the AuthorTJ KLUNE is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling, Lambda Literary Award-winning author of The House in the Cerulean Sea, The Extraordinaries, and more. Being queer himself, Klune believes it's important―now more than ever―to have accurate, positive queer representation in stories. Out of the 20 book choices I was given to review, I found myself immediately drawn to the title and summary of The House in the Cerulean Sea. A book about magic? Check. Themes of order, love, identity and suppression. Double check. The unique word ‘cerulean’? Sold. The House in The Cerulean Sea by T.J Klune is a multi-award winner. Not only is the young adult novel a bestseller in the New York Times, USA Today and Washington Post, it also won the 2021 Alex Award and 2021 RUSA Reading list. The book certainly offers some unique contributions within the fantasy and young adult genres, and it is backed by a robust plot with thought-provoking themes and lovable characters. Yet, I cannot help but feel that the style of writing is slightly overpowering, making this read a bit of a miss. A Fresh Perspective within Fantasy Fiction The strength of this novel lies in its unique perspectives. For one, Klune chose to write from the point of view of Linus, an everyday government worker, rather than the magical superhero that one would expect from the fantasy genre. You might get slightly frustrated at the lack of magical powers that Linus possesses (I was honestly waiting for him to unleash some untapped ancient magic), but you’ll otherwise still be drawn to his journey of growth and courage. In fact, I found myself appreciating the fact that Linus doesn’t become the hero in the traditional sense. It makes the story more grounded, giving us hope that while we may not be able to become a Captain America or Thor, we can at least make do with being a Linus. I also particularly enjoyed the angle Klune went for for the romance in the story. The subplot makes you reconsider the notion of love along the lines of sexual orientation and age, ultimately providing a fresh addition to LGBT literature and a unique perspective to the romance and fantasy genres. I can clearly see why Klune was particularly noted for his contributions to LGBT works. In 2013, his novel, Into this River I Drown, won the Lambda Literary Award, an award recognising the best of LGBTQ books. Robust themes packed into a solid story Klune’s novel is a solid display of multiple themes expertly woven into the lives of its many characters. The conflict between the authoritative DICOMY and the children of the orphanage show the difficulties of those who struggle to fit into a system that is designed against them. We are able to compare the actions of characters across a spectrum – from Extremely Upper Management to the bystanders of the island, enabling us to understand the power of the individual in creating change. And Klune doesn’t just throw these themes in a mess at you. He develops them within a very nicely-packed story about a man’s unwanted introduction to adventure. As Linus opens himself up to opportunities outside his comfort zone, I found myself reflecting upon my own responses to my life experiences. Ultimately, Klune shows that no matter your age or stage in life, there is always an opportunity for growth, if only one is willing to respond to it. However, the hyperbolic writing can be overwhelming at times Klune writes in a comedic fashion, using exaggeration and caricurisation to evoke a humorous response. While I thought Linus’ klutzy way of interacting with the world was funny at first, I did observe that this descriptor of the main character tended to be overused. At some points of the novel, Klune over-caricurises his observations of daily life, making the writing unnecessarily dramatic. This exaggerated manner of writing, while intended to create humour, also has the side effect of reducing the nuances of Klune’s characters. I saw this especially with the characters within DICOMY. The use of archetypes to emphasise the stifling, bureaucratic nature of government work became too unrealistic, diluting Klune’s central argument about the dangers of blindly following the rules and regulations. Finally, the dilemmas faced by the characters were a tad too simplistic for me I say this while keeping in mind that the book is intended for young adult readers. There is a danger of making the story too complex for such readers, I agree, but I felt that Klune was playing it too safe. There is too clear a division between good and evil, and Linus doesn’t really face a dilemma that involves a particularly gut-wrenching sacrifice. I also wished that there would have been a greater focus on the backstories of the children of the orphanage, which would have nicely added more nuances to their current behaviour. While Klune did a fantastic job in introducing the gay romance in the novel in a sensitive way for younger readers, I wasn’t particularly drawn into the romantic dilemna as a subplot. Some of the interactions were more mechanical than organic, and there were portions of the writing that focused too much on the thought process of the characters in love. In other words, Klune brought in some refreshing themes through this book, but there were gaps in his delivery. Still a good commuting read I apologise if some of my criticisms about this book were sharp. I might have opened this book with extremely high expectations, given my fascination with the fantasy genre. Unfortunately, I must also remind myself that I am no longer the young adult that this book was intended for. Nevertheless, The House in the Cerulean Sea should still be a solid read for long commutes on the way and back from work. You’ll find yourself smiling throughout, even if you found the delivery of the story a little bit over the top. Overall Rating: 3.2/5 Reviewed by: Haris Arman Thong, Publicity Assistant Director, ReadNUS What age group is The House in the Cerulean Sea for?This book does include “grown-up” themes (such as romance, maltreatment of foster children) but with a gentleness that makes it accessible and appropriate for upper elementary and middle schoolers. Great messages about being yourself, family, and courage, with humor and fun along the way! 2 people found this helpful.
Is The House in the Cerulean Sea for adults?“Sweet, comforting, and kind, this book is very close to perfect. The House in the Cerulean Sea is a work of classic children's literature written for adults and children alike, with the perspective and delicacy of the modern day.
Is house in the cerulean sea LGBT?It's a fantasy novel about finding one's place in the world, discovering found family, and it's filled with tenderness, consciousness, wit and humor. The House in the Cerulean Sea is also a gentle, sweet, LGBTQ love story.
Is there romance in The House in the Cerulean Sea?And that's what makes this so relatable. Any one of us could be Linus, and just like him, we could be the change we wanted to see. I loved this book more and more with every turn of the page. The House in the Cerulean Sea is an expected coming-of-age story with hints of romance and self-acceptance.
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