I always want more of Linus and Arthur, and this little snippet delivered. These characters continue to grow on me, and I loved them from the beginning.

What an exciting continuation and extension of a story I love. I’m so excited to read all of it - this tasting was just not enough!

e-ARC excerpt review:

I got to read the first 4 chapters and i’m so excited for this book. already such wholesome and cute goodness and new characters unlocking that i’m excited to know more of. i love the parallels to irl issues already coming up. Even in just 4 chapters it’s setting up for some interesting drama to go down.
can’t wait for the rest!
thanks for the preview!

This book was amazing and I devoured this book in just a few sittings! I loved the character development and how the story progressed.

All I can say is that I cannot wait for fall to get my hands on the whole book!!! This excerpt had everything I loved about The House in the Cerulean Sea and then some. The writing was more polished, the combination of humour and heartfelt was just right, and I was immediately swept away.

I have dearly loved each of TJ Klune's novels and this sequel will be no different. I've had it on pre-order for myself as soon as I was able. Diving back into Linus and Arthur's feel-good lives was a welcome feeling and every bit of magic I felt in Cerulean Sea was present in this excerpt. His wonderful characters and lovely plot make reading an absolute joy. I can't wait to finish this novel. I will be hyping this up to all my friends, coworkers, and patrons for the next few months.

I loved the excerpt I received! I found the prologue enticing. The first chapter was super cute and the right mixture of whimsical kids but also reintroducing who each character is because I don’t have a great memory. The concept of the story I’m really looking forward to - Arthur’s history! Can’t wait to read the rest

I was psyched to read this excerpt provided by NetGalley. TJ Klune's engrossing tale features the return of the lovable characters from The House in the Cerulean Sea. Fall can't get here quick enough. From what I read it seems like a fantastic continuation!

Picking up this book instantly reminded me why The House in the Cerulean Sea is one of my favourite cosy fantasies!

We are transported back into the world of whimsy that is Marysus Island, and the adorable heartfelt interactions of the characters encompass you in a sense of warmth and security within the first few pages. I am so deeply attached to the found family at the heart of the novel, and all their little intricacies, as well as the relationships between the characters. This novel is written in the perspective of Arthur, which adds a new layer of intrigue, and the premise of the novel seems bound to make me laugh and cry in equal measures as with the novel's predecessor.

Whilst it’s hard to review a novel that you have only read the opening chapters of, the start of the novel has left me even more excited for the sequel's release as it is shaping up to be another go to comfort read!

This one feels more conscientious than the previous installment, a lot more careful with Arthur and Linus explaining things and even the children seeming to take a lot of care with their words. It feels true to how some of these conversations SHOULD go in real life, but it also feels ever so slightly preachy. The target audience isn’t likely going to need an explanation to the level of detail that is provided.

I’m also very intrigued by the choice to have Arthur narrate when Linus narrated the previous one. So far it doesn’t feel super different from the second half of Cerulean Sea (after Linus shed his government drone persona), but there’s potential for a lot of change as the book goes on.

TJ Klune never misses. I am just ecstatic and so excited to buy this book. Under the Umbrella bookstore would love to do something with TJ Klune someday!!

Strong character development. Wholesome moments. Witty dialogue. High stakes in a short time span. Familiarity mixed with the unknown. Awkwardly placed prologue that could be improved with a more clear starting point. Rich worldbuilding. Discloses hope alongside the fear of rejection. Recommended for those in search of a space they belong in. Overall, an average read.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC excerpt of Somewhere Beyond the Sea. This is the highly anticipated sequel to TJ Klune’s The House in the Cerulean Sea.

While this excerpt only included the first four chapters, they give off the same cozy vibe that Cerulean Sea did, and TJ’s sarcastic and hilarious writing style shines through once again! If there is one thing I know I can count on with TJ’s books, it is that I will literally laugh out loud, and Somewhere Beyond the Sea was no exception to that!

Yet despite that, there are some more serious topics that are touched upon, but they are handled with care and grace. I’ll be honest that one small section of this excerpt even made me cry because it was so lovely and heartfelt.

As of right now, I would give what I’ve read a solid 4⭐️, but I am hoping that the full story will bump it up from there! I am anxiously awaiting the release of this book come September, and I can’t wait to add to this review once I get my hands on the full copy!

Thank you to Tor Books for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Heartwarming in a way that makes you feel hopeful about the world again. First few chapters I got to read made me smile so big I must have looked like a big dork.

Story: 5 Characters: 5 Engagement level: 5

Highlights
- Such sweet endearing characters forming a loving family.
- Linus' gift and especially Sal's poem was everything.
- Great teaser for a big legal fight for good

Lowlights
- Disoriented with the opening pages and what time frame they were in until chapter 1 started
- I want to read the rest of the chapters now!

Notable quotes:
"I am going to use my voice for you and for me. Hate is loud. We are louder."

"I fear we're on the cusp of either salvation or destruction."

"Rebirth. Perseverance. Color. Life. Everything important in the smallest of packages."

"So many people want to eat my food. This must be what it feels like to be God."

"I'm not a monster.. And I'm as handsome as crap."

"I accidentally reversed gravity when I was trying to measure butter."
"That makes sense. I bet that happens to a lot of people because cooking is hard."

I was provided with an excerpt from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I was thrilled, as a newer NetGalley user, to be granted an opportunity to read a 60+ page excerpt from Somewhere Beyond the Sea, Klune’s newest novel following his wildly successful, House in the Cerulean Sea.

(Disclaimer: The first installment is a cinnamon roll of a book and I was happy to eat it UP. Absolutely loved it! I also loved The Extraordinaries series as well, which is in my top favorite book series of all time.)

I really enjoyed the excerpt I was able to read. Cozy, yet deep, with a familiarity to the first novel that I was happy to see again. The prologue got me instantly hooked getting to see Arthur’s perspective from the jump (and a really interesting timeline shift).

I instantly recalled his story from the first novel and was transported back to hearing the pieces of his story and having so much empathy for him and how he handled it all. Starting the book this way got me all in my feelings!

Can’t wait to read the entire book because from what I read I can see it definitely is on par with the first in the series!

Somewhere Beyond the Sea is the sequel to the House in the Cerulean Sea that we've all been waiting for. The story is told from the point of view of Arthur Parnassus and follows his journey as he testifies before the government that oversees magical children. He is fighting for his orphanage which is home to magical children that possess different magical abilities. He is joined by his lover, Linus, who previously worked for the government and now lives on the island with Arthur. The pair are fighting to overcome stigma and prejudice against magical children and to create a safer world for the kids they love so much. This excerpt is gripping, emotional, and funny all at once and I can't wait for the full book!

This sequel somehow creates the same warm-fuzzies that the first book provided. TJ Klune has still got it, and I cannot wait to get my hands on the full book. Everyone is going to want this one.

This is a classic example of a sequel that never needed to happen. The original was a great stand alone that I thoroughly enjoyed at the time, however now this seems to just be diluting the world. I didn't remember hardly any of the characters, and there was definitely not enough of a recap for me to catch up. Even if this was a full novel digital copy and not just an excerpt, I probably would've still dnfed.

I loved this so far. It is a sweet continuation of the story. I fell in love with the characters the first time around and I love how this is already building upon their unique personalities. I am looking forward to reading more.

I was blessed by @torbooks and @netgalley to get to read the first four chapters of one of my most anticipated books coming this fall!

The book follows the quirky bunch of characters from The House In The Cerulean Sea. Arthur and Linus are setting out from the island to go and speak out for the magical youth.

From the four chapters I read I can already tell I'm going to love this book as much as book one. l've already laughed at several scenes in this preview.
I cannot wait til this book comes out! September 10th has never felt so far away.