Book Club Night Kit
The House in the Cerulean Sea
TJ Klune
Cozy night
A tender, whimsical fantasy about a by-the-book caseworker sent to assess a remote orphanage for magical children, and the unexpected family he finds there. It is the literary equivalent of a warm blanket.
Tea, Blankets & The Cerulean Sea
Come slip into something soft and join us for a cozy night of warm drinks, gentle conversation, and the book that felt like a hug. Slippers strongly encouraged.
Reading level: Easy
Best for: clubs who want to leave the night feeling lighter than when they arrived
Discussion
Warm-up
- 1.What was the first scene that made you smile or sigh contentedly while reading?
- 2.If you could spend a quiet afternoon at the house on the island, what would you want to do first: nap in the sun, help in the garden, or sit with a cup of tea on the porch?
Digging in
- 1.Linus's gray, rule-bound life slowly fills with color. When in your own life have you felt that kind of soft, gradual brightening?
- 2.Which of the children at the orphanage did you most want to hug, and what about them tugged at your heart?
- 3.Arthur's home feels like a refuge from a world that misunderstands its residents. What places (real or imagined) feel like that kind of refuge to you?
- 4.The book has a lot to say about prejudice spoken in polite voices. Were there moments that stung or comforted you because they felt familiar?
Going deep
- 1.Klune writes about chosen family with such tenderness. Who in your own life has felt like family in the way the island family feels to each other?
- 2.By the end, the story gently asks what it means to be brave in small, daily ways. What act of quiet courage in the book stayed with you most?
On the table & to sip
To eat
Buttery scones with jam and clotted cream
Perfect for Linus's tea-loving, seaside English coziness
Grilled cheese cut into little triangles with tomato soup
Comfort food worthy of a chilly evening by the sea, kid-friendly like the orphanage table
Lemon drizzle cake or sea-salt chocolate chip cookies
Sunny, sweet, and just indulgent enough, like a sliver of island light
To sip
A proper pot of Earl Grey with milk and honey (no alcohol)
Linus would absolutely approve, non-alcoholic
Cerulean lemonade (blue butterfly pea tea over lemonade) (no alcohol)
A bright, ocean-colored mocktail for the island setting, non-alcoholic
Warm spiced cider with a splash of bourbon (optional)
Hug-in-a-mug for a soft, low-key night
Run of show
6:30
Soft landing
Doors open, tea on, playlist humming. Guests grab blankets, slippers, and a warm mug.
6:45
Comfort plates
Everyone fills a small plate of grilled cheese, soup, and scones. Keep it grazing-style, no pressure to sit yet.
7:00
Warm-up circle
Settle in around the couch. Start with the two warm-up questions to ease everyone in.
7:20
Heart of the story
Move through the theme questions slowly. Let silences be okay, let tangents happen.
7:55
Sweet & deep
Bring out cookies or cake and slip into the deeper questions while everyone is cozy and full.
8:30
Bookmarks & goodbyes
Pass out bookmarks, fill in scorecards, do a quick trivia round if anyone has steam left.
Host tips
- Set the room with low lamps, throw blankets, and floor cushions. The vibe IS the host.
- Have a tea station with at least three options so non-coffee/tea folks feel included.
- Keep a small basket of slippers or thick socks by the door. People stay longer when their feet are warm.
Playlist
gentle indie folk and soft acoustic warmth, like sunshine through a kitchen window
- 01 Saltwater - Beach House
- 02 Holocene - Bon Iver
- 03 First Day of My Life - Bright Eyes
- 04 Such Great Heights - Iron & Wine
- 05 Home - Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
- 06 To Be Alone With You - Sufjan Stevens
- 07 Banana Pancakes - Jack Johnson
- 08 Bloom - The Paper Kites
Trivia
- 1.Who wrote The House in the Cerulean Sea? (TJ Klune)
- 2.In what year was the novel first published? (2020)
- 3.What is the profession of the main character, Linus Baker? (Caseworker for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth)
- 4.What kind of pet does Linus keep at home? (A cat (named Calliope))
- 5.What broad genre is the book most often shelved under? (Cozy or low fantasy)
- 6.The orphanage is located on an island near what kind of body of water referenced in the title? (The sea (a cerulean one))
- 7.What major literary award did the book win in 2021 for science fiction and fantasy? (The Mythopoeic Award)
- 8.TJ Klune wrote a sequel set in the same world. What is its title? (Somewhere Beyond the Sea)
Bookmarks
Print, cut, and tuck one at every seat, a small keepsake from the night.
“Home is the people who save you a seat.”
The House in the Cerulean Sea
TJ Klune
bookclubnight.com
“Let the sea hush the noisy parts of you.”
The House in the Cerulean Sea
TJ Klune
bookclubnight.com
“Small kindnesses, quietly world-changing.”
The House in the Cerulean Sea
TJ Klune
bookclubnight.com
Rate the book
Coziness☆☆☆☆☆
Characters to Love☆☆☆☆☆
Warm Fuzzies☆☆☆☆☆
Heart Tugs☆☆☆☆☆
Reread Potential☆☆☆☆☆
One word for how this book made me feel: ______________________
The character I'd most like to share a cup of tea with: ______________________
A scene I'll think about the next time I'm wrapped in a blanket: ______________________
That's a wrap
Thank you for coming
We hope the company was good and the conversation even better. Until the next chapter.