Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this sample! I’m hesitant to review because i’ve only read the first 4 chapters, but i think this book had a lot of potential!

A worthy sequel to the original.

I gave the original book to one of my 12th grade students for an independent novel study, and she ended up loving it. I then proceeded to give her the sequel here, and she read it over the following weekend.

An excellent series of books that should find their way into any teacher's classroom library.

This short surprised me. It seems like this one will be more political that #1 but I did love seeing all our favorites from #1. I am excited to read the rest and hope it’ll be just as cozy as the first.

While The House in the Cerulean Sea was all about Linus, this was really Arthur's story. We start off with seeing his original return to the island and getting it ready for him to take on the guardianship of magical children. We then skip forward in time to present day when Arthur and Linus are preparing to return to the city to discuss Arthur's experiences as a young child in the care of DICOMY (Department in Charge of Magical Youth).

While in town, Arthur and Linus bring a new magical child back with them, and much of the book deals with how this child is incorporated into life on the island and is made to feel safe in this new environment.

Similar to The House in the Cerulean Sea, DICOMY sends an inspector to the island to determine if it's a safe place for the magical children to live. This is in multiple definitions of the word "safe". Are the children safe from the person in charge of the home? Is the outside world safe from the magical (and possibly dangerous) children?

The different children in this book are just great, and their various personalities are well fleshed out. I definitely enjoyed the continuation of this story.

The House in the Cerulean Sea was my favorite book in 2023, so when I found out TJ Klune was writing a sequel, I NEEDED to get my hands on it as soon as I could because I wanted to go back to the house where my favorite, adorable magical children creatures were growing up.

I enjoyed Somewhere Beyond the Sea a lot, it's nods to oppression to certain groups of individuals hits harder especially in today's social climate. I love being transported back to this world and even being able to hear more of Arthur's past helped make the story even more captivating and character development so heartbreakingly beautiful. The commentary to what the magical creatures have to endure is so relevant. And I'm always grateful when TJ gives us great hope in coming together as a collective community to fight back for what right. The new character added so much comedic relief, I laughed so much, but also cried (no surprise there).

Although it did not beat it's predecessor, it was so much fun to read and to be back home by the sea with my favorite magical creatures 😈🦠🧙‍♂️🧚‍♂️🐕🐉🐦‍🔥. It felt like a big welcome home hug and I can't wait to come visit again. 💖

I loved the first book and basically would have pushed babies out of the way to get this sequel if I had to. (No babies were harmed in the reading of this book.)

Somewhere Beyond the Sea picks up where the second one leaves off. Arthur and Linus have their family of special children and oh look, here comes another! David is new and has some special needs, but he’s a nice addition to the group. That said, I do wish we had a little more time with all of the kids. They’re such a lovely and lively bunch of characters. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love Arther and Linus but if I could have an entire book on just the kids, wow. They entertain me to no end. Not just the magic and humor but the really hard, lovely warm stuff too.

Anyway, Linus and Arthur are being put through it as the Department in Charge of Magical Youth, go a little crazy and go after Arthur. So Arthur has to face his past and his fears to stand up to them, and so he can keep his family in tact.

It’s a solid sequel. I slipped into the story again with ease, transported back to the island the colorful cast of characters I loved from the first. The injustice was maddening, and it was hard for me to read some of the things that happened. I wanted to jump through the pages and hit people over the head. (I didn’t, cause you know, physics.) But it was tempting.

I think anyone who loved the first one will enjoy this sequel. In my opinion, it was a bit darker, but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book.

TJ Klune returns to the magical world of The House in the Cerulean Sea with Somewhere Beyond the Sea, a heartfelt and emotionally rich sequel that deepens the story of Arthur Parnassus and his extraordinary family.

Arthur Parnassus is headmaster of the orphanage on Marsyas Island. He has worked hard to create a safe, loving home for a group of magical children who have been labeled dangerous by the outside world. Alongside Linus Baker, his partner in life and love, Arthur has built something rare and beautiful. But peace is fragile... When Arthur is summoned to testify about his past before the same government agency that once threatened their home, it brings old wounds to the surface. A new inspector is sent to the island, bringing with them fresh challenges and the risk of losing everything they have built. As Arthur faces ghosts of his past and new threats to his family, he must decide how far he’s willing to go to protect what matters most.

Reading Somewhere Beyond the Sea felt like coming home. Klune’s writing is tender, humorous, and often quietly profound. This book is just as charming and emotionally resonant as the first, but with added layers of grief, healing, and resistance. Arthur really shines here as we get to see him not just as the loving caretaker, but as someone still learning, still growing, still reckoning with who he was and who he wants to be.

Klune has a rare gift for writing fantasy that feels both whimsical and deeply grounded in real emotion. This book made me laugh out loud, tear up more than once, and left me with a sense of hope that feels especially valuable right now.

Fans of The House in the Cerulean Sea will find Somewhere Beyond the Sea a worthy continuation. It's thoughtful, it's affirming, it is full of heart. A story about family, healing, and standing up for the life you believe in. I didn’t want it to end!

I love these characters SO MUCH 😭 They’re so perfect and I’d read about their adventures any day. I had such a great time but the last 20% fell flat for me. I know that the point is to give our community stories full of hope where we win sometimes, so maybe I’m just so full of trauma (lol) that this just didn’t feel believable? But I also think that it was hard to feel the tension in this book because everyone is just so emotionally regulated and always makes the right choices. Even when Arthur lets go a few times, he is still doing it in the safest way possible. So the ending felt anticlimactic. But not sure if that’s the book or just me lol.

It took me so long to mentally and emotionally prepare myself to read this book. The House in the Cerulean Sea is one of my favorites so I was terrified that this book was going to fall short. This was a ridiculous thought because even though TJ Klune can break my heart, I always trust him to handle my heart with care. He loves these characters and wouldn’t do anything to cause unnecessary harm.

I loved this. I loved that we got Arthur’s point of view this time so we could see how his brain works, how much he loves his family, and how willing he is to do whatever it takes to keep them safe. A truly poignant book and story in 2024, but really it’s ultimately so hopeful. I kept thinking “the horrors persist, but so do I,” and boy, if that isn’t the Arthur Parnassus mantra, I don’t know what is.

TJ Klune is such a real one, making sure that his readers know that his books are a safe place for them to go to, as evidenced by his dedication, author’s note, and acknowledgements at the end.

If this is where the series end, I’ll be happy and satisfied. If there are more, I won’t drag my heels on reading them because I trust the story TJ Klune is here to tell.

the sequel I didn’t know I needed! felt like I was being wrapped in a blanket surrounded by my favorite characters again. loved seeing the growth and closure we all needed.

Do I think this needed to be a series? No. House on the Cerulean Sea was a wonderful standalone for years. I’m not going to complain about expanding on Arthur’s past and the world of this series in general. It was like a welcome surprise. The scenes with the kids were adorable and I hope that they are present for more of the book than not.

Somewhere Beyond the Sea is everything fans of The House in the Cerulean Sea could have hoped for—charming, tender, and brimming with love in all its magical, messy forms. TJ Klune once again proves himself a master of cozy fantasy, crafting a world that feels like a warm hug even as it tackles themes of grief, belonging, and the legacies we choose to carry. The return to Marsyas is both nostalgic and fresh, and Klune balances whimsy with emotional weight in a way that’s as comforting as it is cathartic.

The characters remain the heart of it all. Linus and Arthur’s relationship deepens with grace and vulnerability, and the children—each delightfully strange and full of soul—continue to steal every scene they’re in. Klune’s humor sparkles, his dialogue sings, and beneath the enchanting setting is a thoughtful meditation on healing, chosen family, and what it means to build a kinder world. There’s a gentleness to the storytelling that feels radical in today’s often cynical literary landscape.

If there’s a critique to be made, it’s only that the pacing in the middle stretches a little thin—but honestly, it feels intentional, like a lingering exhale before the final emotional crescendo. Somewhere Beyond the Sea isn’t just a sequel—it’s a love letter to hope, growth, and the beauty of staying soft in a hard world. Klune delivers another heartfelt triumph that will leave readers misty-eyed, smiling, and maybe just believing in a bit of magic again.

I loved this book, almost as much as the first one. The only thing I didn't like was that this particular version wasn't the full story, but only an excerpt. I wish I would have been able to get access to the full book, rather than having to find it elsewhere.

The first book in this series is one of my favorite books of all time, so I was very excited to see how everything turns out for this beautiful found family. Predictably, I cried at the end of each chapter in this excerpt. I love how thoughtful, loving, and honest Linus and Arthur are in the face of adversity. I’m so excited to see where the story goes, how the showdown with the government turns out, and how David slots into this beautiful family.

Appreciated this shore excerpt. It got me even more excited to read the book when it released. I enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about Arthur’s life and how that shaped him. It was also great meeting new characters and seeing their family grow, even in the face of hate and fear. Great messages all around.

When I requested this, it didn't say excerpt. I don't want to read it bc the book doesn't come out until September and I won't be able to wait bc I know it will be good!

I can not wait to read the whole book. This first chapters left me so hooked and wanting to go get the physical book. I can’t have enough of all this characters, soooo happy to back with all of them from the previous book. Love everything T.J. Klune writes.

After adoring *The House in the Cerulean Sea*, I had high expectations for *Somewhere Beyond the Sea*, and TJ Klune did not disappoint. This sequel is a beautifully written, heartwarming tale filled with love, acceptance, and whimsical charm. Klune’s storytelling remains magical, with vivid world-building and endearing characters that feel like family. The themes of found family, hope, and embracing differences shine through, making it an emotional and uplifting read. The humor and warmth perfectly balance the deeper moments. If you loved the first book, this one will steal your heart all over again. An absolute must-read and an absolute addition to my high school library.

I already want to re-read this. I can not get enough of TJ Klune's writing. And I love this world, I love the cast of characters, the dialogue, the banter. Such a comfy, lovely, cozy read.

3.9 ⭐️ I absolutely adore these characters. I loved seeing the kids again and their personalities, especially Lucy and Chauncey 🥹. Butttt was this book necessary to read? Nooo, it could have easily ended with the first book. It was a bit long for the storyline, so it took me a while to finish. But it’s impossible not to adore this story; it could easily be made into a cute cartoon movie or show. Glad I finished the series.