The House in the Cerulean Sea

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

“This is hands-down the best cozy fantasy I’ve listened to! There are problems for our characters to overcome, of course, but the story goes right back to being cozy after each bump in the road. The writing is excellent, the narration is spirited, the characters are unique and lovable, and the ending is so sweet I nearly cried. Plus, the positive queer representation is spot-on. I loved every word, and I think you will, too! ”

— Olivia • Martin House Books

Bookseller recommendation

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

— Cynthia • Pages Books and Coffee

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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“The House in the Cerulean Sea is whimsical, big‑hearted, and so much fun. As a lover of the Harry Potter series, this one gives a similar sense of wonder through a magical setting, loveable characters, and that rare blend of humor, heart, adventure, and second chances. But TJ Klune brings a gentler, more affirming tone and reminds you that kindness can be its own kind of magic. ”

— Jon • Aveson

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

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

— Kirstin • Margins Bookstore

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