The House in the Cerulean Sea

Bookseller recommendation

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

— Jamie • Bookish

Bookseller recommendation

“This story has me by the heart. At turns hilarious and heart-wrenching, Henning's reading does a wonderful job giving extra flavor to a text that really needs none. I could not recommend more.”

— Dani • Story Line Books

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

“Magical, fun, emotional. Such a great read.”

— Sherry • Roaming Pages & Blooms

Bookseller recommendation

“Loved this sweet, funny, magical story of an unlikely family”

— Kimberly • Volumes Bookcafe

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

“Escape with me to a wonderful world where magic and magical creatures exist. Linus Baker, a quiet and lonely man, finds an unexpected and challenging task as he's assigned by the government to report on an island where an orphanage with extremely classified magical children reside and a charming caretaker with many secrets. He encounters many unexpected things which make him question everything he thought he knew and believed about the world and himself. I recommend this to anyone who needs a little island getaway!”

— Lance • Skylight Books

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

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

— Kirstin • Margins Bookstore

Bookseller recommendation

“This is a warm hug of a book! The audio book version just adds an extra layer of magic!”

— Karlie • Novel Bay Booksellers

Bookseller recommendation

“This book is one of the most heartwarming books I have ever read! When it ended, I felt so full, but also needed more of the characters. I am so excited for the sequel Somewhere Beyond the Sea to release! ”

— Bethany • Card Carrying Books & Gifts

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.