The House in the Cerulean Sea

My notes:

- Is this Young Albus Dumbledore fan fiction?
- this is fun and cute. Predictable, but fun and cute.
- kind of like a hallmark movie (stiff business person travels to the country for work, finds love...)
- People in this book use the phrase “seeing as how” all the time...including in a formal business letter. Every character.
- This book is very cozy and cute while still having some stakes. Even though it's a little annoying I still want to keep reading.
- Ok the Young Albus Dumbledore fanfiction has intensified. This MUST be deliberate...
- People speak in idioms and “lessons” a little weirdly often in this book. I guess in the moments that they are talking with children it could make sense. But not between adults...“You are a fire, and they need to know how you burn.” ??
- Ok based on this scene towards the end of the book I can deduce that this author is a big fan of the movie Erin Brocovitch... “did you even read her report? Because I did.”
- The whole cultural appropriation criticism seems complicated and valid, and I'd like to read more about it. Seems like if the author simply had not revealed his “inspiration” he probably would have been a lot better off...
- I do wish the actual world building was more...existant. So many things just mentioned and not explored. Also this is somehow the second book I've read this year that establishes the existence of Hell/the Devil as unquestionably real, and does not explore the theological or societal ramifications of that at all. Like religion is still a maybe/maybe not thing? What do the non religious people make of the existence of the devil? Huh. Is Hell a geographic location or do you go there when you die? Unclear...
- Despite all this I would still say this is an enjoyable book. A fun quick read, very feel-good happy ending...pretty idealistic. But without being boring throughout.