Why is it important to step outside your comfort zone once in awhile? Because you might find a gem where you least expect it!

I have seen more positive reviews on this book than I have probably ever seen about another. I looked it up on Goodreads and thought…hmmm…I don’t know about that. So I waited and then looked for it at the library and it wasn’t available so I waited some more. Then when I had some money to spend at B&N, I thought, I’ll grab it and then can give it away if I don’t like it. Positive thinking right there, huh?!?

So I loved it! It took me way out of my normal brain and allowed my unimaginative brain to come out and play. It was so well done; the descriptive writing was top notch! The characters were endearing and the story line was a beautiful message.

So, even if it may not seem your style, I highly recommend it!! ( )

Fear of the unknown is almost always an irrational one, and it must be faced directly in order to grow in any way. This is the lesson the book's main character, Linus Baker, learns when the government operation he works for (DICOMY, the Department in Charge of Magical Youth) plucks him from his boring, safe, desk job in the city and thrusts him into an island orphanage overlooking a cerulean sea. Baker is assigned to a month-long investigation on the island, where he must determine the future of the orphanage itself, head-mastered by the mysterious Arthur Parnassus.

What starts as Linus's standard DICOMY investigation, governed strictly by its Rules & Regulations Handbook, evolves into a gentle unravelling of the illusion Linus has lived under all his life. Forced to always remain impartial, "unbiased", and disconnected from the people he works with—those he investigates—life at the island and with the children has a way of distinguishing truth from lie, courage from fear, and family from foe. By the end of the book, Linus Baker becomes the sweet, gentle hero we all wish to see in the world.

Aside from some questions I have about some of the backstory's logic, and some minor gripes about being a little too cliché at times, the story is a very sweet and enjoyable one for what it is. Narrator Daniel Henning offered a well-done performance, and I will definitely be interested to read (or listen to) more of Klune's work. ( )

I was told about this book by a friend, and I’m so glad he recommended it. It’s such a beautiful mix of silliness and serious subjects.

The book begins with a look into the dull life Linus Baker, a human in a world where creatures from folklore are real. He works a caseworker for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth (DICOMY for short), inspecting orphanages to make sure the children are being treated well. Linus is miserable at his office, but he follows the rules and truly believes he’s helping the magical children he’s assigned to. When Extremely Upper Management assigns him to visit and report on an orphanage by the sea, he has no choice but to do his job and go, despite being kept in the dark about what awaits him until he gets there. When he reaches the orphanage on the beautiful Marsyas island and gets to know its inhabitants, he begins to learn about himself and how unjust the system is just as much as he learns about the children and their mysterious caregiver.

The House on the Cerulean Sea is beautiful and hilarious and at times, heartbreaking. Klune builds a world that is absurd and over-the-top but still somehow feels completely relevant. It’s not hard to grasp the main points of this story. Magical people are feared by humans because they are the unknown, just like people in the LGBTQ community and people of color. One quote that stuck with me in particular;

“Hate is loud, but I think you’ll learn it’s because it’s only a few people shouting, desperate to be heard. You might not ever be able to change their minds, but so long as you remember you’re not alone, you will overcome.”

It’s a strong message about acceptance. And the characters are all wonderful. The children are endearing and funny, especially Lucy, a very intelligent six-year-old with a dark sense of humor.

If you enjoy British humor, fantasy, and queer representation (and throw in the antichrist to top it all off), you’ll enjoy The House in the Cerulean Sea. ( )

Both the content and narrator were not to my liking. ( )

The House in the Cerulean Sea is a lovely book. It's a bit slow getting started, but all of the buildup pays off. There are a lot of funny parts, and so many heartfelt moments. The characters have depth and they are genuinely likable. I love the relationships between all of the characters on the island. The romance is subtle for much of the book, but it's very sweet.

The story is wrapped up with this book, but if there is ever a sequel I'll definitely want to read it. ( )