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

You know how some books just have… the vibe? Like you open to the first page and you immediately start nodding your head because you know it’s going to be a good one. That is exactly what The House in the Cerulean Sea did for me. Vibes all the way, and I knew from the very beginning it was going to be a good one.

But what I didn’t expect was that it was going to be THE one. A favorite. Top of the list. Will forever hold a place in my heart.

I warn you, the characters in this story are everything. You will most definitely become deeply attached. So, before I gush too much about this book, let’s get into my review of The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune.

Okay, most importantly, I would die for Chauncey.

Anyway, this book was a magical, surreal experience. One of the strongest aspects of this story was the incredible characterization. Anyone who has been following me for some time knows how important characterization is to me. I just simply cannot enjoy a book if the characters are flat. And that was to complete opposite for this story.

In fact, this book was reliant on the strong characterization to push it through. Although there was a plot, it was not at the forefront of the story. I was interested in the fact that this world has magical beings and the intricate governing system that comes from that. But, the reader never really gets to understand this intricate governing system because that isn’t the goal of the author, T.J. Klune. The focus is solely on the characters.

Oh, these characters I have been talking about, you ask? Fiercely loyal, uniquely different, and unlike anything I have ever read before. I have never seen an author write so many characters with so many different personalities and backgrounds, and do it so successfully. Each character’s voice is strong and clear.

In addition to the beautiful writing, we are given a strong message of inclusion, acceptance, and love. Yes, I have read a lot of books with love, however, I have never quite felt it as much as I did with this book.

Fortunately, I decided to read this book through the audio format, and I strongly recommend this to anyone looking to embark on this journey. The narrator, Daniel Henning, was incredible. Without a doubt, I have never read a book with better narration. Each character had a distinct voice, and honestly, I think Henning made me love Chauncey even more.

Good luck if you decide to read this book! I was crying like a baby by the end of it. I wanted nothing more than to climb into this book and absorb all the warmth that it was offering.

Thank you so much for stopping by! Let me know in the comments below if you have read this book!

Also, check out my last post, where I answer some fun questions about my bookish lasts!