“Because even the bravest of us can still be afraid sometimes, so long as we don’t let our fear become all we know.”

The House in The Cerulean Sea is such a beautiful read. It stars Linus, a man who largely sees the world as being quantifiable within his trusty handbook of Rules and Regulations. Linus works as a caseworker for magical children. When he is summoned by Extremely Upper Management to go on an extended visit to a remote magical orphanage, Linus is not enthused by this prospect. Upon arriving there, he meets Arthur, the eccentric master of the orphanage. As Linus uncovers secrets, gains the children’s trust, and gets to know Arthur- he starts to question the motives behind Extremely Upper Management’s decision to send him to the island.

I absolutely loved this book. It is one of my new favorites that I’m going to try and convince as many people to read as possible! Featuring some extremely lovable magical children, LGBTQ rep, and found family- this book stole my heart. As someone who works in special education, a lot of this book really resonated with me. Arthur and Linus work together to battle preconceived notions, prejudice from the nearby village, and try to help the children flourish in a safe environment. It’s also just very funny, sweet, and made me laugh out loud. The children are absolutely fantastic and portrayed very realistically. This book has a lot to say about labels, assumptions, what family means, and that normal is vastly overrated. If you want a sweet and magical read, if you work with children, or if you have ever felt different- I highly recommend this book.