Somewhere Beyond the Sea was such a warm and heartfelt read. TJ Klune has this way of writing that feels like coming home—cozy, funny, and full of love, but also layered with deeper emotions about grief and healing. I laughed out loud at the quirky characters and their banter, but there were also moments that hit me right in the chest.
The only reason I’m not giving it five stars is that a few parts felt a little drawn out, and the pacing slowed down here and there. Still, the heart of the story more than made up for it. By the end, I felt like I’d been wrapped in a big comforting hug.
If you love found-family stories with a touch of magic and a lot of heart, this book is definitely worth picking up.

First off, I don't think it was clear enough that this is only an excerpt. This is the first 65 or so pages of the book and the only reference to an excerpt I could find was the hashtag.

I can tell you that, while there is nothing at all wrong with this book, I have no desire to immediately get a full copy and continue reading.

This was just a snip of the book (wishing I had the whole thing), but what I read I loved! It brought me back to the first book and I felt a sense of home in that. TJ Klune writes the most impactful stories with great character development. I cannot wait to read the full book to see what happens next.

Somewhere Beyond the Sea reaches far beyond its predecessor The House on the Cerulean Sea. This is the story of a group of magical orphans, who are scorned for their differences, finding and becoming a family.

One of the reasons TJ Klune is one of my favorite authors is how he manages to make me so invested in the characters he creates. As I read through the story, Klune's writing has me wanting to hug the yeti, cheer on Zoe as she established her claim on the island and protect all the wildy crazy kids at the orphanage. When the first book is as beloved as The House on the Cerulean Sea is I sometimes shy away from reading the sequel, but in this case Klune managed to make me fall in love with this new installment.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/ 5
“Some stories just feel like coming home—and this is one of them.”
This is the sequel to The House in the Cerulean Sea, so I was thrilled to dive back into the world of Linus, Arthur, and the magical children they care for. The first book felt like a warm hug on every page. While this one might not be quite as heartwarming, it still carries so much of the original’s charm and whimsy.
The story follows Arthur and Linus as they navigate new challenges—trying to gain acceptance from the broader community, caring for their foster family, and surviving another intense inspection (with some shady motives involved). We even meet a new child, and of course, the kids we know and love are still wonderfully chaotic, sweet, and funny. It’s hopeful and cozy, and it reminds you how beautiful found families can be.
Where this sequel feels a little different is in the character arcs. In the first book, we got to watch Linus undergo a huge transformation. Here, the characters remain mostly consistent from beginning to end. There is growth, especially in how the family adapts to change, but it didn’t hit quite as hard as that original arc did.
Still, that didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed reading this. It’s a heartwarming, gentle fantasy with LGBTQ+ representation, lovable characters, and moments that will make you smile. If you liked the first book, I think it’s absolutely worth picking this up to spend more time with this magical little family.

There are very few authors with the ability to create magic between the pages- TJ Klune happens to be one of them!

His ability to blend family, love, comedic humor, and pure joy is unfallible.

I always feel like I have learned many life lessons at the end of his books- “But I believe the greatest weapon we have at our disposal is our voices. And I am going to use my voice for you, and for me. Hate is loud. We are louder.”

T.J. Klune's dedication to providing heartwarming tales about the LGBTQIA community is a legacy to be extremely proud of- I love how he doesn't back down from shaming those who talk ill of this community, and I will always support his work.

To say this book is close to my heart is an understatement- opening the pages felt like returning home. Even after all the challenges faced by Athur and Linus, their ability to welcome and give love is outstanding.

Of course, there's a new baddie (Jeanine) who is out to get our beloved characters. This is in itself an essential lesson on learning that some people will always oppose you without really knowing you.

The kids banded together to showcase their collective power, reminiscent of the community and the power they hold in numbers.

All the emotions that were possible were felt in this title- from the pain, the joy, and the anger. I know this book can connect with people of all ages.

Another 5-star read by the master!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

TJ Klune never misses with any of his books, and the same is true here. Definitely an auto-read author for me at this point.

I loved this book and thought it was an excellent follow-up to The House in the Cerulean Sea. Loved the addition of new characters and thought it did an excellent job of tactfully addressing social issues.

Beautiful, heartfelt, thought-provoking. TJ Klune does it again with a beautiful addition to the Cerulean Sea.

This book was way different from the first, which was filled with whimsy and discovery and fun creatures finding their place in the world. This book was intense, and very much took us into a thinly veiled real world complete with all the traumas it continues to assault us all with. I agreed with all of the messaging, but I was looking for the sweet feeling of the first book and didn't find it here.

I'm still not over the fact that I was approved for this book, so thank you so much to Tor for approving me for this one.

No one needs an introduction for this one, since it's the sequel to such a beloved book, The House in the Cerulean Sea. Did I love it? Hell yes, absolutely. Did we need a sequel? Absolutely not, but I am glad to be back in the world of Marsyas Island and the beloved magical creatures of the story, including the new magical creature, David the Yeti.

The book starts off relatively slow, with Arthur Parnassus bringing David into the home and meeting the other children. We go through scenes of what the children are up to in the house, and how they are excited to have David in the house, but there is no real plot or character development, that we haven't read about these characters before. We do learn about how Arthur feels within his fight for these children, and how he would do anything for them, and what they deserve. We also learn about his dark past and how it affects him caring for his kids, because the way he was treated, he doesn't want the same for them.

Klune's message is very clear-cut in this book, also. Klune is very anti-Rowling, and it's obvious in this book where he doesn't hold back, especially with the way he acknowledges in his acknowledgements at the end of the book. His strong opinions about the queer community, finding where you belong, and standing up against an unjust government are also very clear in this book. It makes it seem like he wrote this book because of everything happening in this world and how angry he is about it.

Overall, I absolutely loved this book. I love these characters and the meanings behind what he writes. I can't wait to see what Klune writes next.

I loved having these characters back in my life. While I just got an expert through NetGalley, I purchased this book immediately since I knew I’d love it.

I love Klune’s consistent message of inclusion and kindness. Just like every TJ Klune book, 5 stars. I’m ready for a book all about Lucy.

TJ Klune did it again! This is a sequel that adds to the depth of the characters and the heart of the story built in Cerulean Sea. It touches on what excites and scares me as a parent, and a book that I wish everyone would read. The way the adults on the island care about and for these mismatched children is so heartwarming. There's no perfection, just all heart. And no spoilers, but the way the children also help the adults grow is so magical.

Thank you TJ for another delightful story, and to Tor for the advanced read.

Perfection. No notes. This will melt you down into a puddle then put you back together again. This story will stay with me for a long time.

The sequel I didn’t know that I needed! I enjoyed this story so very much. David was a wonderful addition to the family and I loved how he was welcomed with open arms.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced digital copy of this book.

So excited to finish the rest of this!!!! TJ is a forever favorite author and I always appreciate the depth of his characters and plots.

Somehow, TJ has reached right into my soul and pulled out all the things I hope for and worry about as a parent, and put them into words. This book is so fierce and full of love—I laughed, I cried, and I laughed so hard I cried.

What a magnificent sequel. I adore this weird, beautiful family, and it felt so good to be back.

Beautiful, heartfelt, thought-provoking. TJ Klune does it again with a beautiful addition to the Cerulean Sea.

This was the perfect teaser of a very much anticipated book! I love to visit this world. Thank you to Tor and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.