Happy 2025! Carrie and I are ready to hit the ground running with an awesome new year of books and can’t wait to share our picks with you as we go. Every month, we will give away a copy of our next month’s pick to one of you! Details below on how to enter (super-easy–you just need to leave a comment!). To kick the year off, we are chatting up one of the most popular gems from last year, the sequel to The House in the Cerulean Sea. Let’s dig into this Somewhere Beyond the Sea book club discussion!
The world that Klune has created in this series! It’s not just the unique cast of characters and the Marsyus island. It’s the deep, abiding familial love, the unconditional acceptance, and the beautiful hearts of the children and parents. It’s how you are left with an abiding sense of warmth and the gentle nudge that you are a bit more understood and seen after you finish these books. It’s the sense of being caught. Klune did far more than tell a story, he packaged up goodness in his witty dialogue and gorgeous descriptors as a gift for his readers.
These books are wildly popular. Did you know there is even merch? One of my favorite brands, Kingdom of Threads (amazing shopping site for book lovers!) has this collection (do I want a Chauncy plush? Yes, yes I do!). There’s tons of fan art and discussion threads–just give it a Google. Klune has scads of dedicated fans, who love him not only for these two books and the others he has written, but for his genuine spirit and dedication to meaningful storytelling. Our local library is hosting a virtual chat with him next week (no need to be local to attend!). If you haven’t checked his work out yet, give that to-read pile a shove and grab a book of his now–starting of course, with The House on the Cerulean Sea. 😉
Somewhere Beyond the Sea Book Club Discussion Questions
- Who is your favorite character in the books? Do you see yourself in this character in any way?
- Discuss how the family made space, both physically and otherwise for David? What do you think most allowed him to relax in the safety of his new home?
- How did Arthur’s and Linus’s pasts inform their parenting? How are their styles different?
- Each character played a specific role in the family system. Discuss the different strengths each brought to the family.
- In what ways was Marysus symbiotic with the surrounding community? Can you identify any real-life examples of such a symbiosis between physical places?
- Zoe Chapelwhite was both an enigma and a treasured friend. What was her role in the development of both the family and the island?
- What parts of this book made you laugh? Which character was the funniest?
- Discuss the symbolism of Marysus’s transformation at the end of the story and what future you see for this magical place and its inhabitants.
Thank you for joining this Somewhere Beyond the Sea book club discussion! Please chime in with your thoughts and questions–we always love hearing from you!
We’re taking a turn into a different genre with The Dollhouse Academy for our January pick. Leave a comment below or on the Instagram post by 1/17/25 at 7am EST for a chance to win the free copy we are giving away! As long as you are 18 or older and live in the continental United States, you are eligible to win.
The Dollhouse Academy
From the NATIONAL BESTSELLING author of GMA Book Club Pick OONA OUT OF ORDER, a novel about two best friends and aspiring actresses who join the Dollhouse Academy, where stars are made and dangerous secrets are hidden
“Deliciously sensational…What could be more fun? As if the wives of Stepford went to the Valley of the Dolls.” ―Kirkus
Ivy Gordon is living on borrowed time. For the past eighteen years, she has been the most famous star at the Dollhouse Academy, the elite boarding school and talent incubator that every aspiring performer dreams of attending. But now, at age thirty-four, she is tired of pretending everything is fine. In secret diary entries, Ivy begins to reveal the truth of her life at the Dollhouse: strange medical exams, mysterious supplements, and something unspeakable that’s left Ivy terrified and feeling like a prisoner.
Ramona Halloway and her best friend, Grace Ludlow, grew up idolizing Ivy. Now both twenty-two, neither has made much headway in showbiz until a lucky break grants them entry to the Dollhouse. They’re enchanted by the picturesque campus and the chance to perform alongside their idols. When Ramona begins to receive threatening anonymous messages, it’s easy to dismiss them as a prank from a rival. Her bigger concern is Grace’s skyrocketing success, while Ramona struggles to keep up with the fierce competition. As the messages grow more unsettling, so does life at the Dollhouse. Can Ramona overcome her jealousy and resentment to figure out what’s really going on? Will Ivy finally find her voice, before another young performer follows her catastrophic path?
With dark academia twists and enormous heart, The Dollhouse Academy is a novel about the complexities of friendship, our desire to be seen and understood, and the true cost of making our dreams a reality.
Go get the new year, friends, and go get your reading on! Here’s to all the wonderful books 2025 will bring!
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