The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
Book Review
This book is truly a gem. If you love light and sweet stories with magical characters galore, this is a must read. I listened to this one on audio and while I’m not typically a big audiobook listener - I have a much easier time staying focused when I’m visually engaged by reading words on a page - this story successfully held my attention and made me laugh out loud.
Linus Baker is a middle-aged gay man who thrives on structure, rules and routine. As a longtime employee of the Department in Charge of Magical Youth, Linus spends his days investigating and reporting on the state of government-sanctioned homes designed to keep tabs on children with supernatural powers. One day, Linus is summoned by Extremely Upper Management to investigate a highly classified orphanage on the remote Marsyus island. As Linus soon learns, this is no typical orphanage, but rather, it’s home to Luci (aka Lucifer, the son of Satan) and other seemingly precarious creatures beyond Linus’ wildest imagination. Despite their eccentricities (and ability to bring about the end of days), Linus grows quite fond of the children at Marsyus as well as their charismatic caretaker, Arthur Parnassus.
This corky story is all about acceptance, equality and love in all its forms. With humor and sentimentality, the author tackles tough subjects through thinly veiled metaphors and fantastical-yet-relatable scenarios. These enchanting and wholesome characters will make you smile and stick with you long after reading. If you’re looking for a family-friendly tale packed with real-world lessons, look no further.
On a separate note - I was reading this book at the same time as Less (review coming soon!), which also features a plucky middle-aged gay man as the protagonist. I found myself wishing I could set-up Linus and Less - as much of their humor, cynicism and overall demeanors felt quite similar. Despite my desire to play matchmaker (to literary characters 🤪), it seems they both found their fictional happy endings. 😉
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5
Have you read this one?? If so, what was your biggest takeaway?
