Like many people, I read and loved The House in the Cerulean Sea. It was a fantastic book and very much needed. I was excited to read this and I was also apprehensive because how could it be as lovely and magical?

But it was. And it might even be better.

It's profound and sweet and heartbreaking and very much necessary. I don't want to get into specifics because anything would possibly spoil something. This definitely needs to unfold at its own pace and in its own time but it is the best, most special journey.

Highly recommended.

Under the Whispering Door is the latest fantasy from TJ Klune, an author that I find has an unmatched talent for producing stories that feel like being wrapped in a gentle hug.

Whispering Door is about death, and I found it more of a slow burn that some of the other novels Klune has written. However, once I was hooked there was no going back. I'd recommend reading this book with a few tissues in reach (although there are so many laughs as well) since it will leave you a mess.

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

If you’re reading this book in hopes of the wholesome content that was The House in the Cerulean Sea, then boy are you in for a shock. Under the Whispering Door is a story about grief, death, and what comes after. As dark as it seems, it’s set in a small tea shop run by a ferryman, someone who sees spirits to the other side. It’s cozy while being sad and it will 100% break your heart a hundred times over, but it’s worth it.

*thank you to the publisher for sending me an advanced copy of this book

I had high expectations for this book and it did not let me down. Similar in the style of The House In The Cerulean Sea which I thoroughly enjoyed but different enough to stand on its own. Wallace Price frustrated me for the first quarter but I loved watching his character grow and learn. As per usual for T.J. Klune, the characters and their relationships were what made this book shine. Personally, if the characters aren't well written and have good interpersonal relationships, I just don't love the book in the same way. Fortunately, this is one aspect that I feel T.J. Klune excels in, and so I was quickly attached and sucked into the story (Hugo, I love you and never change). Highly recommend this and looking forward to what T.J. Klune puts out next.

4.5 stars. Under the Whispering Door was a very pleasant surprise, you’ll laugh and you’ll cry! This was my 1st book by TJ Klune and I definitely will read more!

Wallace Price is a selfish workaholic disliked by everyone who knows him. When he suddenly finds that he is a ghost at his own funeral, his Reaper takes him on a journey to a quirky little tea shop to meet the Ferryman who will help him cross over - Hugo. Wallace quickly realizes the mistakes he made in life and uses his time as a ghost to really life and make some amends.

The book is full of amazing characters and is a really beautiful journey of finding yourself even in the most unlikely time or place. Combined with some really quirky and witty writing - definitely worth a read!

Thanks to TJ Klune, #NetGalley, and Tor Books for the e-ARC of #UnderTheWhisperingDoor in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 ⭐️ — It was obvious from the summary that this was going to be an emotional read, and I knew already that TJ Klune has a way of tugging at heartstrings even when you least expect it, but this book still managed to take me by surprise in just enough ways. I wouldn’t say that it was thrilling or deeply shocking, and I think that’s exactly as it should be. There was just enough going on to keep the plot from falling flat, while still being laced with comfort, humor, and the found family angle the Klune has famously done so well.

It took me a while to get my roots into this story, and at around the 25% mark I was growing worried that my expectations had been set too high, but once I started to really learn about the characters, their dynamics, and watch the growth of our main ‘hero’, Wallace, my enjoyment increased rapidly for the remainder of the book. Klune is as adept at tear-jerking as he is at making you laugh at the most unexpected moments, and though it would be easy for such moments of humor to cheapen or ruin the sentimental scenes, they’re done so well that it never feels that way, balanced just right.

As the front of the book thoughtfully warns, this story contains a lot of difficult subject matter and I’d advise asking a friend who’s read it or reading the inside cover (upon the book’s official release) before deciding whether or not to dive in. The book never felt to me as if it was being cruel for the sake of being cruel, but take care of yourself as a reader nonetheless ♥️

[Vague spoiler ahead!] As Casey McQuiston once said in the acknowledgments of their beautiful book One Last Stop, this book is an “unbury your gays” story, as quick to make you cry as it is to build a tale of optimism and second chances. It’s a trope-builder as well as a trope-breaker, so if you like found family, seemingly doomed romance, and long-overdue hope, I’d recommend giving this one a shot.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Under the Whispering Door is a story about grief, death, and what comes after. As dark as it seems, it’s set in a small tea shop run by a ferryman, someone who help spirits cross to the other side.
Right from the very beginning, I knew that this book was going to be an amazing, heart wrenching book. You can't write a story about a ghost and a ferryman falling in love and not anticipate some tears. Wallace Price is a jerk, and it was hard to like him, but the more he grows as a person, the more likable he becomes. Hugo was perfection, and I loved him from the start. This book is full of amazing characters and it's found family.
Hugo and Wallace are so cute together, it wasn’t insta-love at all, their relationship takes a while to form and it grew into something they both never expcted.

Do you ever just discover a new author and after only reading one of their books you're automatically like .. YUP! NEW FAVOURITE AUTHOR OVER HERE! Because that is how I am feeling right now towards T.J. Klune.

I LOVED THIS BOOK. I had no expectations whatsoever going into this story, as I haven't read House in the Cerulean Sea yet (I know, I know, I've been living under a rock). I found this story so beautiful and so magical. I laughed out loud, my heart was breaking at times, my eyes got a tad watery during one particular scene... emotional rollercoaster I tell ya, phew!

THE CHARACTERS. Oh my gosh, the characters. I adored every single one of them. I felt like I was right there with them in this little tea shop. T.J. Klune's writing style is so charming and well-formed, I simply couldn't put the book down. This was another one of those books where once I finished I just had to sit there and process what I read and just wanted to give the book a big old hug. The ending definitely left me smiling and I couldn't imagine a more perfect way of tying off the story.

I definitely recommend this one if you are looking for a very creative contemporary fantasy fiction and a story unlike anything you've read before. So good! Job well done T.J. Klune!

THE BOOK OF THE YEAR!!! TJ Klune has done it again.

This was a heavy read for me, as Under the Whispering Door explores so many real life events that are not talked about enough, in an open manner. So please be aware when reading this book, as it talks about Mental Health issues, suicide and grief/loss. Despite these topics being the foundation, it is written in such an amazing way. It explores the ups and downs and has a beautiful way (if that’s possible) of talking about these subjects.

Under the Whispering Door follows the MC, Wallace, as he explores these issues himself. Wallace finds himself in a strange home with even stranger things living there. Throughout Wallace’s journey, he learns to find himself, to help others, to love but most importantly, he learns how to live.

It is impossible not to love this book. I dare you to try.

This is the story of Wallace, a lawyer who dies from a heart attack and is brought to Hugo who lives in a "tea shop" where Wallace will cross over with Hugo's help. Wallace wasn't the very best person when alive, let's just say. But now as he lives in the tea shop with Mei (his reaper) , Nelson (hugo's grandfather), Hugo, and Apollo (hugo's dog) he learns more about life and how to live than he ever did while he was alive.

As with TJ Klune's other novels, these characters wind their way into your heart and never let go. The story is deep, joyful, meaningful and deeply heartfelt. If you let yourself feel it, there's no way this story will not warm your heart and make you feel deeply grateful.

I loved every minute I spent with it.

with gratitude to netgalley and Tor Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I've only rad one book by TJ Klune and I loved it! Fantasy fiction is not my go to genre but I will read anything by TJ Klune!

Under the Whispering Door tells the story of Wallace, a lawyer who has passed away. Wallace isn't the most likable person. Suddenly, he is whisked away by a reaper and taken to a tea shop. Wallace meets Mei, Nelson, Hugo, and Apollo. They are trying to help Wallace "crossover."When all is said and done, Wallace will fall in love with one of these people. Is it too late for Wallace to change? The characters he meets don't think so!

I loved the overall message of this book. Under the Whispering Tree deals with death, acceptance, grief, love, and change. Although the story centers around death, it's also about living and how life can be beautiful when we just "let go" and allow ourselves to be vulnerable.

Wow... I assumed I was going to like this book, but I wasn't quite sure what to expect. The tone is definitely a bit darker than The House In the Cerulean Sea. And T.J. Klune has been very vocal that this book IS NOT the same as The House In The Cerulean Sea, and asks readers not to expect the same tone/plot.

I think I may have actually liked Under the Whispering Door more than Cerulean Sea. For the last 30% of the book, I was mostly crying and sometimes sobbing. The majority of the book is quiet and contemplative which really kicks you in the feels by the end of the book!!

The trigger warnings, listed below, make the book sound much darker/depressing than it truly is. The main character is a ghost...and is coming to terms with the way he lived his life (which was not great). However, the FOUND FAMILY he finds in Mei (his Reaper), Hugo (the ferryman an tea shop owner), Nelson (ghost, Hugo's grandfather), and Apollo (GHOST DOG!) give him new perspectives and reasons to want to "live" even in death.

I recommend this for fans of The Midnight Library by Matt Haig and all of Becky Chambers' works. It is very much a character driven story, with plot revolving around the main character's development and relationships with others. I'm rating this an enthusiastic 5 stars and will be trying to get everyone I know to preorder this book. It will absolutely be one of my best books of the year!

TW: Death (the vast majority of this book is about death and is quite heavy, while still being uplifting. But please be prepared for extensive discussions about death), murder, suicide (off page at first but then somewhat shown on page later in the book), unexpected death due to heart attack, ghosts, cold and cruel employer/workplace situations, poor relationship with parents, grief, death of a child due to cancer (off page), anxiety attacks (on page), depression.

Note- I received a complementary digital arc of this title from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my review.

Note to Publisher- I will also be featuring this book on my IG (@monstrouslybookish) and have already posted about it twice in my stories. One as a reading update at 82% saying how much I loved it, and the second showing me literally crying after finishing the book and telling everyone to preorder it immediately).

Like the other book I read by Klune (House in the Cerulean Sea), this was sweet, whimsical, and heartwarming. I personally did not connect with this novel as much as the previous one and I could see may of the same beats as House in the Cerulean Sea, but it was still enjoyable. It hit many truths that we try not to think about and I could see this being a very big comfort to readers who are facing death or watching a loved one die. There are some triggers of death of a loved one and suicide, but the author is aware this might be a problem and gives a warning at the beginning. This was a really good and thought provoking and solidified T.J. Klune as an author I will continue to keep my eye on.

Under The Whispering Door was an absolutely beautiful character-driven story about the afterlife and how death isn't necessarily the end of your life. I cried no less than 10 times reading this book. I love when books take you on a journey that is not only interesting and entertaining, but emotional.

This book is about death and the afterlife and it does a wonderful job of creating a world where dying doesn't mean the end of your life. We follow Wallace Price, a lawyer who focused almost solely on work and seemed to have little compassion for those not meeting his standards. After he dies he learns more about life than he did while living and gets to experience the other important parts of being human that he had pushed aside for his career. We also meet other characters, like Hugo and Mei, who are alive and help those who have died crossover as well as a number of dead characters, some of whom had traumatic deaths that they have to come to terms with in the afterlife. There is also a romance between Wallace and Hugo, and while it is very cute and an important part of the story, it is not the central theme and I really loved that. It is refreshing to see lgbtq+ stories where the central theme isn't that they are queer, but just another part of the story if that makes sense? I feel that this is one of Klune's strengths and one of the reasons he's one of my favorite authors.

Overall I adored this book, and it is definitely going to be one of my favorite reads of 2021. It reminds you that work cannot be the only thing in your life and to enjoy the little things in life, like looking up at the stars and spending time with those you care about, which is a message a lot of people need to hear in this day and age.

Book Review
Under the Whispering Door by TJKlune

Thank you to @netgalley and @torbooks @macmilan books for my ARC in return for an honest review

A wasted life, a productive death……

Mei, Nelson, Apollo, Hugo, the Manager, Cameron………Wallace
Each of these characters taught me something, each played their role flawlessy
Mei offered humour- she taught me to live my life lighter, freer
Nelson offered family- he taught me your home, your family are your choice
Apollo offered unconditional love and loyalty- he taught me everyone is deserving of love
Hugo offered wisdom, warmth, and a listening ear- he taught me that my voice matters
The Manager offered organization and reason- he taught me that “because its always been this way isnt a good one”
Cameron offered a reflection of self doubt and fear- he taught me that you are your own greatest enemy
And then there’s Wallace
Wallace offered everything. His character is so layered, so multifaceted and complex. He exemplifies humanities endless search for meaning, the answer to “why are we here” and “what lies beyond death”. His story, like fables and fairytales from the past, is a tale of caution- a warning to live life to the fullest, to embrace your truest version of yourself.

This book left me bereft, my tears rolled of my cheeks, I heaved a weighted breath, and exhaled….knowing I am more than the person I was before I opened the cover.

(4.75 stars)

The Midnight Library meets The Good Place in this beautiful, beautiful book, written with so much warmth and care.

I love this book so much. The characters are wonderful, the plot intriguing, and the character development is some of the best I’ve ever read.

There’s two reasons though why I gave it 4.75 stars and 5. The first thing was that Wallace’s character development felt a little rushed in the beginning, and the second thing is that I would have loved to see more female or genderqueer characters (almost all of them were men or masculine presenting).

Overall, I truly recommend this book, especially if you love The House in the Cerulean Sea.

Oh my God. Seriously, oh my God. Okay, in short: I am so in love with this book and my heart has not stopped aching in wonderful ways. TJ Klune just... knows how to write - a master of storytelling. Never before have I so quickly wanted to reread a book immediately after finishing it.

Under the Whispering Door is like cuddling with your dog under a weighted blanket. There's a cup of tea steeping on your bedside table. A fire is crackling. Overhead, through a skylight: the stars, unhindered by light pollution.

This emotional, character-driven story is a breath-taking exploration of grief, compassion, and healing. It is, as many of Klune's works tend to be, one of the most beautiful stories I have ever read. I've heard mixed opinions on the plot - perhaps because it is far more character-driven than, say, The House in the Cerulean Sea - but I, for one, loved it with every single part of my soul. It felt raw and real and honest in the most vulnerable and human of ways. My chest ached with emotion every time I picked it up to read. The romance, although certainly sugar-sweet and a crucial aspect of the story, is secondary to Wallace's journey of coming to terms with his own unexpected death and realizing the fact that in life he was... well, a total asshole.

The character development is something we (as both human beings and as writers) can only dream of. And it's not just for Wallace. Each of our wonderful side characters - all of whom feel so rich and unique and so very real - grow and change over the course of the novel in delightful and perhaps even unexpected ways. Not a single character, no matter how little part they play, is left unchanged. Klune seemingly accomplishes this with such ease and grace, and it only contributes to how fantastically real this cast felt. I loved each and every character with all of my heart, and the fact that I can't be best friends with them all infuriates me.

I am not a crier when I read sad books - but this one got me. The subject of death is so painfully personal, and Klune handles it perfectly as he explores how death impacts not just those left behind, but those whose own lives have been cut unfairly short. But it's not all tears, don't worry! This is simultaneously one of the funniest, most joyful books I've read in a very long time. I caught myself full-body laughing out loud on more than one occasion. The fanart this book is going to influence is going to be absolutely incredible.

At the end, you're going to have a lot of questions regarding the rules of this world. And I'm of the mind to say that to be upset over that would just be silly - it's a story about not having all the answers. About not knowing or understanding what comes next or hell, even what came before. Nobody truly knows what the future holds; nobody truly understands life after death. I would have been disappointed if Klune had tried to answer the unknowable. TL;DR for this paragraph: Klune understood the afterlife assignment.

This is, without a doubt, my favorite read of 2021 thus far. TJ Klune is a genius. You will deeply regret it if you miss this story, I promise.

Also, if nothing else here has successfully convinced you: there is a ghost dog, and he is, in fact, the best boy.

Under the whispering door by TJ Klune was a very different story from what I’m used to reading and I mean that in the most delightful way. This story has strong themes that many struggle with yet deals with them in very unique ways. Themes of death, grief, acceptance and found family are found in this book and the way they come together is not what one would expect in a normal story as this is not a normal story, it’s wonderfully strange and for that I’ve truly enjoyed myself on this journey. The characters though there aren’t a great number of them held my attention extremely well and I loved finding out more about them and getting to really know them as they all deal with death in a very real sense for their entire time in the book. I strongly recommend anyone who comes across this book to buy it when it comes out as it Really is a heartwarming, funny, strange and wonderful book! Also thank you so much to netgalley and tor for the opportunity to read this ahead of the release!

Thank you to Netgalley, TJ Klune and Tor books for the ARC.

I am so conflicted about this one. The House In The Cerulean Sea is my favourite book of 2021 so far, and I wanted to love this one so much. I was so excited when I got an ARC, but this one was just.... not great. Unlike Cerulean Sea where I absolutely loved every character, I didn't connect with any of these characters. They were all fine, but nothing special. It was a very unique premise, and I liked the concept, but I just was bored and felt like reading this was a chore a lot of the time. It did get better towards the last 30%, but I felt like the beginning was just the same thing happening over and over again.

I will still read Klune's next book since I loved Cerulean Sea so much, but this one just didn't do it for me and that really disappoints me because I was so excited to read this one.

I LOVED this book! The cover- of course is beautiful and eye catching. But the writing is just as perfect. The characters and their quirkiness,the setting, and mixed in with all the messages make this a truly wonderful read! I loved reading this on my kindle- but will absolutely be buying it for my bookshelf. A must read come the fall.