The House in the Cerulean Sea (Cerulean Chronicles, #1) opens Goodreads in a new tab

My thoughts

4.5/5stars UPDATE: reread in September, enjoyed it as much if not more! Humanity is so weird. If we’re not laughing, we’re crying or running for our lives because monsters are trying to eat us. And they don’t even have to be real monsters. They could be the ones we make up in our heads. Don’t you think that’s weird? Another party I am very very late for (thanks to my reading slump) but god damn all those people describing this book as the warmest fucking hug one can give you- YOU WERE SO RIGHT! This book is like a warm cozy hug on a cold Sunday evening you spend sipping your fav drink and looking at the beautiful sky. Sometimes our prejudices color our thoughts when we least expect them to. If we can recognize that, and learn from it, we can become better people. From a magical world to a sensitive main character, to diversity, to joyous moments of self-understanding to GAYYYY ENERGY MAX- this book has it all! You will hate the world for them, cry tears for them and most certainly want to just protect them at all costs. Although it does have the spin of a magical world, the underlying message of accepting people for who they are was so well conveyed! The world likes to see things in black and white, in moral and immoral. But there is gray in between. And just because a person is capable of wickedness, doesn't mean they will act upon it. There were so many similar quotes that left me wondering and questioning things I have been molded into believing by default. I cannot emphasize this enough- if you have ever in your life felt outlawed/unwanted/unaccepted for merely being who you are, this book is something you NEED to read. Also, if you have been the one doing so, reading this will help you unlearn all of that! Oh,and can we talk about the angst between these two gay as fuck characters? I WAS ALL HERE FOR IT, it was a fucking delight to read- this book and this author are definitely a new fav for me!! Book Trigger Warnings- Abuse (mentioned), Anxiety (trauma-related), Bigotry, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse (backstory), Fatphobia (internalized), Homophobia, Microaggressions, Queerphobia, Violence (against children). Please look these up before going into this one!