Reviews with content warning for Body shaming - The House in the Cerulean Sea

Reviews tagging 'Body shaming'

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

270 reviews

aharrison_33's review against another edition

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adventurous funny hopeful inspiring fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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novella42's review

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dark emotional hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

It's hard to put into words why I didn't adore this the way everyone else seems to. It was a sweet book and I appreciated the gentle and positive queer representation. I guess the hype just led me to expect different things. It might also be because I DNF the audiobook version--the narrator just wasn't for me--and that initial experience made it harder for me to connect with the characters? I don't know.

I wanted this to hit me like Sangu Mandanna's The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, which I realize was written two years after The House in the Cerulean Sea. Why was I swept away by that one enough to buy a copy for my comfort bookshelf, but not by this one? Especially when I love queer romances of all genders, I really thought that'd tip the balance for me. Maybe the spice level was higher in the other? Maybe because I don't do well with body horror, which felt fairly graphic in The House in the Cerulean Sea? (Probably folks who read a lot of horror would consider it tame, but it kept repeating a trigger for my C-PTSD, so I'm biased here.)

Spoiler about a problematic theme related to the children's make-believe adventures:

I was very disappointed by the repetition of the "cannibal" theme they had in the children's fantasy adventures. I know it's meant to be a lighthearted "kids being kids" kind of thing, but the more Indigenous authors I read, the more something like that makes me cringe. All I can see is them playacting the story of "European colonizers and missionaries dehumanizing Indigenous people with unfounded racist fears." I know I'm a bleeding heart liberal killjoy, etc. but honestly, it's 2024, why are you writing "savage cannibal" themes into anything? They could have been imagining so many alternatives. It just was so dissonant with the book's overall message of celebrating differences and respecting the original inhabitant of the island.

Still a good book overall. I might pick up the second book at the library someday, when all the furor dies down.

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scarlett_f's review

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Recommend for teens+. Pages: P. 156 'A vagina being penetrated by a penis.' P. 263 use of pot/marijuana. PP. 274, 276 'deft little bitch'. P. 363 '...shove demerits up his ass.' The Anti-Christ. Just some items to be aware of that may not be suitable for a younger age. Positive queer representation. Belonging, family, nature vs nurture, inclusion, acceptance.

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bzliz's review

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emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I’m so mad at myself for not reading this sooner. From the moment Linus Baker stepped foot into Arthur’s world, I was utterly enchanted. His journey to finding a family and a home was opposed by his 17 year long career and staunch following of the Rules and Regulations but it didn’t take long for the residents of the Marsyas Orphanage to worm their way into his heart. Honestly, he never stood a chance. I didn’t either. By the time the story concluded, I was legitimately kicking my feet with glee.

The adults of the world are so lovely but the children made my heart soar. They’re all so distinct- a lot of authors struggle to flesh out their underage characters- and individually special. I was delighted by every foul threat from Lucy and Talia just as much as I enjoyed their respective passions for music and gardening. Theodore challenged everything I have believed about family in the real world. Phee and Chauncey rounded out the crew, showing opposite desires entirely yet desiring their family most of all. And sweet Sal. I think Linus needed him the most. He needed a reminder of how the system can fail and how he as an individual can make an extraordinary difference to a child in need.

I cannot recommend this book to everyone enough, but I especially recommend it to anybody who has ever felt stuck in their own life, longing for more.

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cozyfantasyfaetay's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is my 2nd TJ Klune and I'm a fan. The writing and characters always pull me in. A hard act to follow. Beautiful, deep storytelling, multidimensional. Read this and feel your heart grow three sizes.

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moond4ncer's review

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adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I loved my experience with this book. Funny, witty, compassionate and a beautiful reminder of all the good things in life. I'll return to this book and recommend it to many friends.

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