I was excited to read the first few chapters of the sequel to The House in the Cerulean Sea, but upon receiving my excerpt from NetGalley and peeking at other readers' reactions, I heard the news about his "inspiration" for the first book, and my rose colored glasses were shattered.

I loved THITCS, but I never thought critically about why two white men, Arthur and Linus, keep the "dangerous" kids forever orphans in the foster care system and don't make any effort to reunite the children with their individual communities or heritages.

And in this new book, it reads as a different type of twisted when the 15-year-old Sal explains the definition of generational trauma (chapter 2) and when Arthur bristles at the idea of someone accusing him of "possessing" the children (chapter 4). Cringe.

In chapter 2, Arthur says, “I wasn’t treated right when I was a child, but I was far from the only one. You have all experienced it for yourself, in one form or another. I wish I could take that from you, but I can’t. And I don’t know if I would have the right, even if I could."

It's almost as if his character is on the verge of understanding white saviorism and why it's wrong to abduct marginalized people. Almost as if TJ Klune recognizes his error and is still trying to contort and twist things to justify his books.

I'm disappointed to hear that TJ Klune exploited indigenous stories and is continuing to do so, despite the reasonable critiques that have been brought to his attention. It seems like he doesn't understand the significance of what he's done. I love that a queer book is seeing lots of love. But I also don't think this gross appropriation should be overlooked.

On TikTok, @mynameismarines explained all of this best.

The House in the Cerulean Sea was one of my favorite books of 2023 (I was late to the game, I know!), and Somewhere Beyond the Cerulean Sea is my most anticipated book of this year. I’m so grateful I got to read this excerpt! It was over so quickly but this preview was perfect. I loved that it began with a prologue to give us more insight into Arthur’s beginnings at the house, but then quickly fell into the wittiness and heartwarming story that is so familiar from where the last book left off. It flows so easily into a sequel. With only the first 70 pages, I am absolutely hooked by the plot and cannot wait to read more when this is published in the Fall. I know this will be undoubtedly be another beautiful TJ Klune book to leave me in tears in the best way.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this excerpt. I absolutely loved The House in the Cerulean Sea. It is still one of my all times favorite reads and to now have a sequel…I am over the moon. This small look into the life of Arthur, Linus and the six magical kiddos at the orphanage was too short. I need more! Everything I have read from T. J. Klune has been amazing and I’m excited for more time with these characters in particular.

The only thing I didn't love was that I gifted an exerpt and not the full book. I cannot wait to read this.

This is a very magical story that grabs you the minute you start reading. These characters are very likable and make you want to keep reading. Arthur & Linus run an orphanage and they are in the process of adopting the magical children there. Arthur was an orphan who had grown up in this house that was his orphanage, unfortunately, he did not have a good experience there. There is a magical child that wishes to join them but first he is summoned to talk about his past and this could very well destroy them.

I absolutely loved TJ Klune's other books and this one does not seem like it will disappoint. In fact, the only disappointing thing was how quick the four chapters went! I can't wait for it to come out so I can finish it!

This was such a wonderful tease!!! It had me laughing and tearing up in such few pages.

I went into it not realizing it was an excerpt and now I’m left wanting more. The emotions TJ provokes is overwhelming. I do see a political trend early on but I love the whimsical and lightheartedness of it.

Thanks so much NetGalley and Tor Publishing group for the eARC.

Rating: 5/5 stars

Please see my goodreads account for a full breakdown of the rating scale.

I extend my gratitude to NetGalley for providing an excerpt of "Somewhere Beyond the Sea."

Returning to the captivating world of Marsyas Island has been an absolute delight. The narrative, as glimpsed through Arthur Parnassus' point of view in the excerpt, promises a captivating journey.

Right from the start, I found myself immersed in laughter alongside the vibrant cast of characters. There's a sense of impending emotional depth that hints at heartbreak, adding layers of anticipation to the unfolding story.

My eagerness to dive into the complete book has only heightened after this initial taste. I look forward to exploring the full narrative and revisiting my impressions to update my rating accordingly.

Can't wait to be able to read this whole story, this is a book that I have been waiting for. The House in the Cerulean Sea was a surprising favorite of mine and this author has quickly become a favorite as well.

To be completely honest, I didn't realize this was an excerpt or I wouldn't have requested it. I really don't want to read this until I can read the full book. However, I will say that TJ Klune is an auto-buy for me and there could be a thousand books in the Cerulean universe and they would all be my favorite. :D

I loved this island Klune made from the other book! As soon as I started reading, all the characters came flooding back to me. I can’t wait to read the rest of this book!

I am completely in love with this book and I can't wait to read the entire story!

It has everything I loved about the first book, but yet, it still feels fresh and new.

Book Review!

Somewhere beyond the sea by TJ Klune

4 / 5 ⭐️


I can't begin to express how lovely it was to be reconnected with these characters. As always, TJ Klune pulled my heartstrings and made me feel goopy.

I loved that the first part of this book was a bit of a prequel that lead into a sequel. This is the first time I've come across something like this and although I was hesitant in the beginning I really enjoyed it.

These characters exude acceptance, thoughtfulness and love. And the cliffhanger! I'm so hopeful there's more to this story.

I absolutely adore everything TJ Klune. I don’t think any book I’ve ever read by this author has kept me dry eyed. Every book is filled with magic and hope. This is not exception.

I cannot wait to read the rest. I will absolutely keep recommending this author to everyone.

Loved this little taste of our favorite found family! I’m excited to learn more about Arthur. He and Linus are just so darn cute!

I was very excited to receive an arc of Somewhere Beyond the Sea (Excerpt) by TJ Klune. The story picks up years after the first and opens following Arthur and Linus. They have a home for magical children but things don't seem easy and there are hints of some of the radicalization we are seeing in our government. Being an excerpt it really was nothing more than a giant tease. If the first few chapters are anything to go by Somewhere Beyond the Sea is set up to be an amazing sequel.
I received an arc and am leaving this review of my own volition.

Didn't see the excerpt portion when requesting. But now I'm beyond excited for this release.

Thank you for the early peek into the next book in this world.

Somewhere Beyond the Sea reignites the cozy charm of the beloved characters, evoking all the feels and emotions. With a new conflict on the horizon, this teaser leaves you eagerly anticipating the rest of the book, ready to dive back into the heartwarming world you love.

Such a good excerpt! Can't wait to read the rest of this book. I love TJ Klune books and am really looking forward to the rest. Engaging and such a great story!

Thank you NetGalley and TJ Klune!

Thanks to Netgalley & Tor Publishing Group for the E-ARC excerpt! Loved so much!! I am so excited to read this book in full when it's released. An amazing sequel!!