Have you ever struggled to finish a book that a friend guaranteed you’d love, and wondered if you even read the same story?

Last week, I read The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune. I enjoyed it so much and was enchanted by the engaging story and characters. When I went to write a review on Goodreads (which I hardly ever do unless something is a total standout), I noticed that one of my connections had given it only two stars! I was shocked and started reading through some of the other reviews, and that’s what inspired this blog.

Taste is a funny thing. We don’t all laugh at the same jokes, cry at the same movies, or root for the same characters. What feels like brilliance to one person can feel unbearable to another.

There’s actually psychology behind that. Our likes and dislikes—whether in books, TV, music, or art—are deeply shaped by our life experiences and worldviews. We gravitate toward what feels familiar or validating, and sometimes we turn away from what challenges or unsettles us. Timing matters, too: a story about loss might feel healing one year and too heavy the next.

The Psychology Behind Taste

Psychologists often describe our preferences as mirrors. The stories we love reflect parts of ourselves—our fears, hopes, memories, and beliefs. We see ourselves in the characters we cheer for (or against), in the conflicts that feel real to us, and in the resolutions that align with what we hope for in life.

That’s also why disagreements about art get so personal. We’re not just talking about whether we “liked” something; we’re revealing what resonates with us, what we value, and what we resist. Keanu is the best and Rachel is the worst in #BB27. Want to debate it? LOL.

Changing Perspectives

When I was writing Welcome to Seagull Street, it started with the idea that every character would have a very different perspective and personality. The book centers around three main characters—along with an antagonist—each carrying their own biases, fears, and ways of seeing the world. Their experiences intersect in one small coastal town, and what they choose to believe—about each other and about themselves—drives the story.

For a while, I even considered calling the book Changing Perspectives, because that’s really what it’s about: learning to see life through someone else’s lens.

Welcome to Seagull Street

Since its release in May 2025, I’ve realized that Welcome to Seagull Street also serves as a kind of mirror for readers. Many readers have told me they saw themselves in the characters and connected deeply with the book’s themes of modern life, community, and connection. Others simply loved escaping to Ocean City, Maryland, through its pages.

A couple reviews, though, mention that the book felt too real or too reflective of today’s divisions and current issues. It’s not an escape, and maybe the phrase “beach read” implies a light and fluffy story?

Books can’t make everyone feel the same way. If anything, I’m glad that people have strong reactions, because that means the story did its job.

In today’s environment, political themes and big societal issues are more of a hot topic than ever. When I wrote the book in 2023, there was no way to predict that so many of its scenarios would still feel so relevant—and, in some ways, hard to face—in 2025. What began as a story about connection, resilience, and moving together toward a brighter future has only become more reflective of the chaotic world we’re still navigating today.

Last spring, I wrestled with making changes to the book in the final hours given the current political climate and even wondered if I should publish it at all. In the end, I removed the epilogue entirely, along with several of the more politically charged callbacks to the early 2020s.

In a time when opinions can feel louder than understanding, stories that invite empathy and perspective feel especially important.

The Takeaway

In the end, our reactions to art say as much about us as they do about the work itself. We all bring our own history, opinions, and emotions to the stories we consume.

So maybe it’s no surprise that one person’s comfort read is another’s hard pass. We don’t just experience stories, we project ourselves into them.

That’s what makes storytelling so powerful… and so wonderfully subjective.

I hope you enjoy reading Welcome to Seagull Street, and if it stirs up mixed feelings, that’s okay too. Sometimes that’s where perspective begins.