The House in the Cerulean Sea

Bookseller recommendation

“If a book was a hug … it’d be this one.”

— Kirstin • Margins Bookstore

Bookseller recommendation

“There aren't many books that can leave you wishing you were a parentless magical child feared by the rest of the society. But with characters like the ones in The House in the Cerulean Sea, you can't help but wish you belonged to such a wonderful, magical family. And the dialogue! You will not be able to drive while listening to it because you'll be laughing way too hard!”

— Chris • Belmont Books

Bookseller recommendation

“Amazing! As my first introduction to TJ Klune's books, it was the perfect first book. I fell in love with this whimsical story from the very beginning. This story will make you feel all the feelings and laugh right after. ”

— Elizabeth • McLean & Eakin Booksellers

Bookseller recommendation

“A whimsical, cozy story about family, belonging, and acceptance with some of the most wonderful characters I’ve ever encountered. I never wanted it to end!”

— Quinn • Newtonville Books

Bookseller recommendation

“My favorite read in 2024! I fell in love with this fantasy and all the characters in it. ”

— Julie • Tropetastic Books and Gifts

Bookseller recommendation

“This audiobook is amazing! This is a beautiful story about a type A social worker for magical youth. He is tasked with a highly classified assignment to go to an island to see if the kids there are too dangerous for the 'normal' world. The narrator uses different voices for each character, which made me fall in love with all of them <3. This is a must read, even if you don’t like fantasy books!”

— Maggie • River Bend Bookshop

Bookseller recommendation

“I cannot get over how amazing this book was! It had everything I was looking for - adventure, fantasy, whimsy, lovable characters, and romance! It follows the life of Linus Baker, a lonely, middle-aged government employee who feels as though something is missing from his life. Every day, Linus wakes up, goes to work, completes his mundane job, and then goes home. Nothing has changed in the past 17 years. Then, all of a sudden, he is summoned by Extremely Upper Management, the top government officials in his office. Linus has been chosen specifically, and he is being sent on a top-secret assignment. Suddenly, everything in his life is no longer as it seems, and Linus must rely on his own instincts to cipher out the truth and decide what is truly important to him. ”

— Maddie • A Great Good Place for Books

Bookseller recommendation

“The characters! Funny and sad, touching all the feels! ”

— Cynthia • Pages Books and Coffee

Bookseller recommendation

“The sweetest love story I've read in a long time! Misfit magical kids being raised in solitude, one of them is Lucifer (Yes, THAT lucifer) *shrug* he's pretty adorable. You'll root for all these awkward kids and their caretakers as they discover their found family in each other. Found family, LGBTQ+ romance, heartwarming, cozy read.”

— Jenise • Maple Mercantile Book & Gift Shop

Bookseller recommendation

“I adore this book. The story begins in a morose greyscale, setting you up with the story of a hard-working but not terribly inspired man, Linus Baker. Linus works for the equivalent of Magic CPS, evaluating the homes that care for magically gifted children. He is pulled out of his drab and grey life in the city when he is assigned to address a new sort of home, by the sea. As soon as Linus arrives in the house by the sea, via train (a common vehicle for normal to magical transportation, as we all know), Linus' world explodes in color, chaos, and children. The traumatized children in the house by the sea open up Linus' eyes and heart, and give him the inspiration to help them in return. Excellent for fans of Pratchett and Gaiman, whimsy and magic, sarcasm and a healthy dose of pragmatism.”

— Gwyn • Hudson Booksellers

Bookseller recommendation

“TJ Klune absolutely stole my heart with these characters. ”

— Jamie • Bookish

Bookseller recommendation

“It is rare to find a book of substance with a happy ending. THE HOUSE IN THE CERULEAN SEA is that book. Middle-aged, portly, queer Linus Baker is a by-the-book, no-nonsense Case Manager in the Department in Charge of Magical Youth - and his lonely heart cares what happens to the magical children who have been placed in segregated orphanages. Tall, wise, soft-spoken Arthur Parnassus is the master of the secret orphanage that houses six of the strongest and most unique magical children in the world - and he has secrets of his own. When Linus is sent by Extremely Upper Management to investigate whether this orphanage should exist (especially under Arthur’s care), it sets off a chain of events in which fears are realized, dreams are manifested, voices are found, raised, and heard, and the definitions of love, family, and home become as inclusive as possible.”

— BrocheAroe • River Dog Book Co.