From the Bookshelf of The Rebellious Readers …

The House in the Cerulean Sea (Cerulean Chronicles, #1)

T.J. Klune

Start date: February 1, 2021

Finish date: February 28, 2021

Discussion: BOTM Discussions

Discussion leader: Lucy Tonks (the invisible life of a reader)

Why we're reading this: It won second place in the BOTM poll and so people would have more variety I decided this month to have t…more
[close] It won second place in the BOTM poll and so people would have more variety I decided this month to have two BOTMs!

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February BOTM 2021 - The House in the Cerulean Sea (T.J. Klune)
By Lucy Tonks , Shadowhunter - Head of BOTM · 5 posts · 23 views

last updated Feb 09, 2021 09:14AM

February BOTM 2021 - Red, White and Royal Blue
By Lucy Tonks , Shadowhunter - Head of BOTM · 2 posts · 14 views

last updated Feb 01, 2021 09:24AM

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What Members Thought

Apr 25, 2021 rania rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, 5-stars

"Home isn't always the house we live in. It's also the people we choose to surround ourselves with."

Everything (and I mean every single thing) about this book was so heart-warming. I couldn't stop smiling for the longest time. I will never understand the reason I didn't pick this up before.

Linus Baker is a strict rule-follower. He does what he's expected to and doesn't question anything. He lives a simple life in his little house with his sassy black cat, Calliope, and just goes on with his "Home isn't always the house we live in. It's also the people we choose to surround ourselves with."

Everything (and I mean every single thing) about this book was so heart-warming. I couldn't stop smiling for the longest time. I will never understand the reason I didn't pick this up before.

Linus Baker is a strict rule-follower. He does what he's expected to and doesn't question anything. He lives a simple life in his little house with his sassy black cat, Calliope, and just goes on with his day the same way every time. But all that changes when he's given an assignment to oversee the residents of the Marysas Island Orphanage.

I loved all the children so freaking much. They all had such distinct personalities that it was just impossible to not fall in love.

"The things we fear the most are often the things we should fear the least. It's irrational, but it's what makes us human. And if we're able to conquer those fears, then there is nothing we're not capable of."

The children of this orphanage are feared because of what they are. They stand out from normal people and don't quite fit in. But the orphanage's master, Arthur is always there to get them back on their feet.

That's what I adored about this book. Arthur had such a formidable relationship with each child, it was like they were his real children. Which, to an extent, is true. They all think of him as a father figure and look up to him.

Linus, of course, is terrified at first. He just wants to do his job and get out of there. But he becomes so attached to the people of that house, that he can't help it. His character development was amazing and to see him break out of his shell made my heart swell. During his time at the Marysas Orphanage, he learns more about the children, as well as their master. What I loved was that even towards the very end, he dealt with inner conflict on whether he was making the right decision, and that's definitely not something you see a lot.

I have to say, Lucy was probably my favourite character. He has a very imaginative mind and never holds back to his true self. On the outside, he might be a little intimidating, but once we get to him, we see a whole different person, and I loved all of it.

The romance in this book was sweet, to say in the least. It wasn't very insta-lovey, but it did feel a bit rushed to me. But what's that to stop me from shipping Arthur and Linus?

"Sometimes, he thought to himself in a house in a cerulean sea, you were able to choose the life you wanted.
And if you were of the lucky sort, sometimes that life chose you back." ...more

19 likes · Like · see review

Jul 27, 2021 Audrey added it

Shelves: lgbtq, on-my-bookshelf, a-x-reading-challenge, ultimate-flowers-reading-challenge, july-2021

When I initially picked this book up, I thought it was going to discuss and critic the foster system in America. Has someone with adoptive siblings, adoption and foster homes are subjects that I'll actively discuss. But it seems like I was in the wrong and that this story was inspired by the residential school in North America? Had I not read an article about it, I would have never known. Considering that he seems to have romanticized one of the darkest times in Canadian history. I'm not comfort ...more

8 likes · Like · see review

Apr 10, 2022 Georgia Radka rated it it was amazing

I’m absolute awe of this book, immediately in my top ten. Beautiful, joyous story about found family and love. The writing is clever, funny and heartbreaking. Ahhh <3

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