Review | The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune

Title: The House in the Cerulean Sea

Rating: ★★★★★

Publisher: Tor Books

Release Date: March 17, 2020

“I have other things to think about, Like tomorrow. Why is it that I must always worry about tomorrow.”

This books is a pure serotonin shot straight to the heart. I don’t know if anything has made me feel so happy and comforted as The House in the Cerulean Sea. It’s the warm hug we all need after the past year.

We follow Linus Baker, a caseworker at The Department in Charge of Magical Youth whose monotonous life is upended as he’s sent on a classified mission to a secluded orphanage to report on the dangerous and unusual children and caretaker of Marsyas island. What follows os one of the most wholesome and heartwarming stories I’ve ever read.

T.J. Klune’s writing is the perfect combination of whimsical and grounded. We get the hyperbole from the children and their different abilities, but a strong foundation in Linus’ journey. Both compliment another perfectly. The whimsy and strong (and effective) humor also feel very youthful, appropriate to a story centered on so many amazing kids, while never talking down to the audience.

I wouldn’t say the story is plot focused in the slightest. I could tell you exactly where the story was going to go from the second chapter. The amazing cast of characters are more than enough to keep you engaged. All the kids have distinct personalities and are all precious in their own right, and I love them each so much I could never pick a favorite. I love Lucy’s humor, Talia’s grit, Sal’s resilience, Chauncey’s optimism, Theodore’s curiosity, and Phee’s resolve. And Arthur is a wonderful caretaker who encourages individuality and personal growth which Linus also needed help with.

Precious, wholesome, heartwarming, comforting, and endearing are all words I say describe The House in the Cerulean Sea perfectly. If you’re looking for a warm and comforting reading experience, heavy on the wit and laughs, look no further. The hype is incredibly well deserved.