My only complaint about this was that the excerpt was finished too quickly, and I couldn't wait to get the book to continue reading. Having read the first book, I had high expectations going into this, and I was not disappointed. Arthur was one of my favorite characters in the book and the reveal at the end of the first book left me super interested in learning more about his backstory.

A solid follow-up to the popular House on the Cerulean Sea, this story picks up where the last one left off and introduced a new character we could root for. Whereas it lacked the new feelings of discovery, as sequels often do, it certainly had significant charm and whimsy for fans. The villain was not terribly dark, and the risks felt manageable, so this time our found family wandered amiably through the story. It was a happy, gentle read.

I’ve been head-over-heels in love with The House in the Cerulean Sea since I first read the digital ARC. It’s basically the coziest fantasy book ever and one I wish everyone could experience. So, naturally, I was over the moon when I got my hands on a digital ARC of Somewhere Beyond the Sea! Then, when Libro.fm featured it in their librarian ALCs, I knew it was time to dive back into the magical world of Arthur, Linus, and their incredible family.

TJ Klune is not shy about his inspiration for the villain in this sequelbeing J.K. Rowling. The fact that this antagonist clearly channels some Dolores Umbridge vibes is a pretty stark commentary on the TERF's platform, which adds a layer of depth to the story. This book is definitely darker than the first, but even with the heavier themes, the kids and their adults bring so much light, love, and humor to the narrative. It’s fascinating to see Arthur’s character pushed to his limits and what bubbles beneath his usually avuncular demeanor.

As someone who grew up in a U.S. colony, I really connected with the themes of autonomy and external interference in this book. The Hollywood-style ending, while a bit too tidy for my taste, was still a blast to read—Klune’s climactic scenes are incredibly cinematic, and Daniel Henning’s narration brought them to life in a way that made my imagination run wild.

Despite the darker undertones and the rosy ending, my love for these characters and the world Klune has built outweighs any reservations I might have. So, I’m giving this one 4.75 stars, rounded up. It’s a magical read that continues to charm and captivate.

Wish this was the full novel and just not the excerpt! But anyway, this was a fun teaser and thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC!

I didn't think it was possible, but I loved the sequel even more than the first, "The House in the Cerulean Sea." One again TJ Klune captivates audiences with a story of found family, and two fathers who will fiercly protect each other, their children, and their community. This story of bravery and redemption is what we need right now. A bright spot of hope reminding us that people can change, and there are good, strong people out their fighting for all.

This anti-JK Rowling always has my vote.

So great. I love the characters and the interactions between them. Everything feels so genuine and real. Can't wait for the full book!

Somewhere Beyond the Sea is a heartfelt, enchanting story that sweeps you away with TJ Klune’s signature blend of humor, warmth, and depth. This book explores the timeless themes of love, grief, and the healing power of community, all wrapped in Klune’s whimsical style and profound humanity.

The narrative follows two protagonists with rich emotional depth: one is grappling with the weight of loss, and the other is learning to embrace vulnerability. Klune expertly guides readers through their journeys, balancing introspection with lighthearted moments that feel authentic and refreshing. This delicate balance keeps the story from becoming too heavy, allowing moments of joy to shine through even during the most heart-wrenching scenes.

Klune’s skill at world-building, particularly in creating small, unforgettable communities, stands out in this novel. The side characters are as memorable as the leads, each contributing to the story’s charm and reinforcing Klune's message about the strength found in connection and acceptance.

With its mix of fantasy and real-life themes, Somewhere Beyond the Sea offers a beautiful escape that also resonates deeply with real-world issues. Fans of Klune’s previous works and newcomers alike will find this book a moving, magical experience—one that stays with you long after the final page.

Ugh, loved being back in this world. I forgot how much I adored these characters and it felt so great getting to read about them again. Lucy may be one of my literary characters of all time.

It did take me a little time to remember the details on each character since it has been a while since I read the first but I did get there. There were also reviews about this book being a little preachy- it was but this didn't bother me too much.

This book is excellent. I liked the first one a little more but this one is well worth the read and I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoyed the first.

The House in the Cerulean Sea is on my top five best books I've ever read so to say I was eagerly anticipating this sequel would be an understatement. While Somewhere Beyond the Sea won't be on my top five books of all time, it was a beautiful extension of Linus and Arthur's story.

This was just an excerpt, but it did its job. I went and pre-ordered the book and can't wait to get to it. The characters are so whimsical and loveable in their unique ways. I always appreciate a good found family novel.

Solid four stars. I adored "House on Cerulean Sea" and it warmed my heart to see the characters return and their stories progress, but this felt like it had a sort of emotional disconnect compared to the first novel. I still enjoyed it, but I wish that same connection was there as it was in the prior novel. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC opportunity.

I absolutely devoured The House on The Cerulean Sea and couldn't WAIT to be back together with these amazing characters, especially Lucy. I blew through the first four chapters and then was chopping at the bit to get my hands on the rest!

The physical book is BEAUTIFUL and I adore the dedication.

I am now on chapter 5 and I love where the story is going!

I’m annoyed this was only a sneak peek and not the full book. If I knew it was only a sneak peek then I wouldn’t haven’t requested this.

This got me way too excited for the whole story that is a continuation of my favorite book of 2022!
Super pumped

Thank you to TOR books for this sneak peak!

I forgot to review this but this sneak peak made me even more excited to read the book, that I had pre-ordered the minute it was announced it was coming out!

I read the book the minute it arrive and can confirm it is absolutely a beautiful story that will make you cry and be happy and just love every minute of it. If I could read about any characters for the rest of my life it would be the amazing characters that TJ Klune brings to life in these stories.

5 million stars!

"Somewhere Beyond the Sea" by TJ Klune is a heartfelt journey that beautifully captures the essence of love, loss, and self-discovery. Klune’s signature warmth and humor shine through in the vivid, quirky characters and their poignant relationships. The storytelling is both whimsical and deeply moving, drawing readers into a world that feels both magical and relatable. Each page brims with emotion, making it hard to put down. Overall, this novel is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the connections that define us.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. T.J. Klune knows how to write in a way that completely envelopes me in the story and has my imagination going wild. I loved the first book in this series and this one just as much. What a wonderful hug to the world.

💭 ⓂⓎ ⓉⒽⓄⓊⒼⒽⓉⓈ
This is the perfect book to read around election season, reminding us of what truly matters: humanity, standing up for marginalized communities, appreciating the uniqueness and beauty of others, and being on the right side of history. This book gives us everything we deserve in life: family, love, friendship, acceptance, and a comforting hug when we’re feeling down.
If you enjoyed The House in the Cerulean Sea, you’ll want to pick this one up as well. The characters are just as charming, and though there are moments that might leave you feeling frustrated and angry, the story ultimately fills you with hope. I gave it 4⭐️ because, while I enjoyed it, I’m not sure a sequel was absolutely necessary. At times, it felt like not a whole lot happened over the course of the 400 pages.
I got an ARC of the excerpt months ago, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to stop once I started, so I waited until I had the full book to dive in!

📚 𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
🪄Fantasy
🤝Found family
🏳️‍🌈LGBTQ rep
♥️Love and acceptance
🥰Lovable characters
🙏Heartwarming and hopeful
📖Sequel

🐦‍🔥𝕄𝕐 ℝ𝔸𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾 🐦‍🔥
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

💕Q U O T E: “𝐼 𝒻𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓁𝓁𝓎 𝓊𝓃𝒹𝑒𝓇𝓈𝓉𝑜𝑜𝒹 𝓌𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓁𝒾𝒻𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝓈𝓊𝓅𝓅𝑜𝓈𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝑒 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒. 𝒞𝑜𝓁𝑜𝓇, 𝒿𝑜𝓎. 𝒯𝑜𝑔𝑒𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇𝓃𝑒𝓈𝓈. 𝒦𝓃𝑜𝓌𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓅𝑒𝑜𝓅𝓁𝑒 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝒽𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝒷𝒶𝒸𝓀 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓃 𝓌𝒽𝑒𝓃 𝓎𝑜𝓊'𝓇𝑒 𝒶𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝒹𝒶𝓇𝓀𝑒𝓈𝓉."

🙏 Thank you NetGalley, Tor Books, and Tj for an ARC excerpt in exchange for my honest thoughts.

TJ Klune does it again in this follow up to the beloved "House In The Cerulean Sea."
I loved following the stories of the existing characters, meeting some new ones, and learning more about Arthur's backstory.
This book can feel a bit heavy at times, especially when drawing on the persecution facing the magical characters and how that lines up with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. At times the alignment feels a bit forced but at the end of the day it still works. There were some overly sappy moments but I've come to expect it from this author. It reminds me that there can be moments of overly sappiness in life and that's ok!
I especially loved the acknowledgments in the book.

House in the Cerulean sea is one of my favorite books of all time, and I loved getting a glimpse into the new book! So excited to read this in its entirety!