If you liked Cerulean Sea…
There’s a lot on Bookstagram lately about The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune. The audiobook narrated by Daniel Henning is one of my all-time favorites. If you haven’t read it, you should stop reading this and go do that now. It’s that cozy, that lovely, that full of kind characters and delicious prose.
If you have read The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune and you loved it as much as I did, might I suggest any or all of the following books?
Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe by C.B. Lee, narrated by Elyse Dinh & Emily Woo Zeller
I have the honor and pleasure of calling C.B. Lee a friend. This book is so delightful that even if you haven’t ready Cerulean Sea yet, you should drop everything and read this today. Elyse Dinh and Emily Woo Zeller are dream cast (but in real life!).
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (Wayfarers, Book 1) by Becky Chambers, narrated by Rachel Dulude
Honestly, if you liked Cerulean Sea, any Becky Chambers book will delight you. This series is 5-stars across the board and I implore you to read all three (and then read A Psalm for the Wild-Built which is short and amazing).
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna, narrated by Samara MacLaren
I couldn’t stop thinking about Cerulean Sea while I read this—it’s basically its British cousin. Isolated magical kids, grumpy caretaker, sunshine outsider.
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree, delightfully narrated by Travis Baldree
Found family opening a coffee shop but make it low-stakes fantasy? Yes, please. Travis Baldree did an amazing job reading it, too.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab, narrated by Julia Whelan
If Cerulean Sea’s “lonely people finding connection” vibe is your thing, you’ll love this book. I need to read more V. E. Schwab because this one (narrated by my favorite narrator of all time) absolutely blew me away.
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell, narrated by Euan Morton
I’m currently obsessed with this one. When Rainbow Rowell wrote Fangirl (which I also highly recommend) she created this world to make the loss of TERF-created magical school easier. At least, that’s my theory. I wish there were more stars I could give this series.
Rules for Ghosting by Shelly Jay Shore, narrated by Petey Gibson & Shelly Jay Shore
Less cozy home-for-misfit-magical-children and more individual emotional journey + romance + ghosts, but the “repair your heart while you read” vibe will win you over completely.
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, narrated by Ray Porter
This book is on a ton of lists right now because the movie is such a massive hit, and I must add my voice to the chorus: go read it! You will love Rocky even more as narrated by the brilliant Ray Porter.
Two more TJ Klune books for you, while we’re at it. These are not nearly as cozy as Cerulean Sea but I love them to the moon and back. If my life story were to be narrated, I’d want it to be by Michael Lesley so y’all would know what the absolute chaos of my brain actually sounds like—he’s the best!
The Extraordinaries by TJ Klune, narrated by Michael Lesley
The Lightning-Struck Heart by TJ Klune, narrated by Michael Lesley
This just in! My bookselling bestie recommends The Spellshop series by Sarah Beth Durst (narrated by Caitlin Davies). I immediately added it to my to-read list!
