The House in the Cerulean Sea

Beautiful imagery, yet a trite, predictable story. A thinly disguised love story hidden under social advocacy. The child characters were unrealistic and poorly written. The adults characters were formulaic. It is an obvious allegory for LGBTQ+ rights but presented in a shallow, predictable way.

From the very start, humor is number one in this book. Don't believe me? Check out snippets like the below to reinforce why. "Well, I suppose there are all sorts of factors. Modern research suggests extreme emotional states can trigger instances such as yours. Sadness. Anger. Even happiness. Perhaps you were so happy; you accidentally threw a chair at your friend, Marcus?" With the above just at the first chapter, I know that things will be interesting, and the author has successfully proven it to me. Each character in the book contributes ample (if not more) humor at appropriate and sometimes much-needed segments. I love it! Readers can expect a lot of these sorts of humor and interjections in all the characters as Linus starts learning each one of the children like no one else in his position has. The book's voice and perspectives are from Linus Baker only - first-person POV. It may not be something I read in the past, but I realize that as I move to more YA, sci-fi, fantasy, suspense, and mystery books, this is the most common and most successful route to use. It is also a refreshing take in books since the reader does not know everything (less time to be frustrated on telling off a character that they are wrong, etc.). So, instead of knowing everything, the reader gets entrenched in that character's perspective and (hopefully) connects with the primary (and supporting) characters as they mature and grow as the story progresses. The writing and pacing are perfect. Ample "space" and character development were given and respectfully discussed. Many quotes will make you think and reflect. I enjoy books that make me curious. This book has light humor and many heavy topics like social issues, human rights, privilege, preconceived notions, etc. It is hard to write about these controversial topics without coming off as propagandistic. It is an art to balance social commentary AND good storytelling, and the author did it flawlessly! I love the internal struggles that readers will see in all the characters, even if it's all from Linus' POV because these children he's assigned to observe are vocal enough to share when they are ready. The deep thoughts and philosophies these It was impossible not to love the book with all the conundrums and discussions instilled by the orphanage's master, Mr. Arthur Parnassus, and his students! Some were enlightening, like "categorical imperative," while some get pretty frustrating (same feelings as the character) on how the world's perception of things are. The ideas in the book are great conversation starters and will make you want to "start the change" from within yourself, radiating outward. Before I forget - the ending was magnificent! I want to say, and this is NOT a spoiler. HEA was not evident even after a few "revelations" happened. Instead, there was a lot of uncertainty and limbo situations that I got lost, especially why Linus did what he did. There were a few confrontations but a lot of "pondering time" that kept me on edge. Thankfully, the story wrapped up for the moment, but the problem would persist unless we start somewhere. Linus knows it, and I am sure that even after readers like myself have read the last sentence of the last chapter, the "seeds of change" have taken root and will slowly and steadily grow and flourish into a brighter future for the characters. Overall, The House in the Cerulean Sea will make you laugh, cry, and see the world in a new light. It will teach you about empathy, self-worth, and love in all types and levels. It was impossible NOT to become emotional when reading this book because, like Linus, these children in Linus' case file are endearing and uplifting in their words, thoughts, and action. I cried in various chapters because of all the poignant, controversial discussions - right and wrong and, especially, the "grey areas." I am sure that this book has impacted how I see people, raise my kids, and the kids I guide at times. It has me hugging my kids more and sharing messages to others on how we should see things.

Couldn't stop listening. The warmth and heart and depth of truth in this novel has completely overtaken me. It in some ways has the beats of a light family-focused rom-com, but with so much life and detail poured into the characters that this fantasy love story somehow feels more real and true than any film ever could. All that, and it also serves as a beautifully empathetic allegory for the importance of caring for and standing up for those facing oppression. A whole-hearted five stars.