Have you ever known from the moment you met a character that the book your are reading is about to break your heart? This happened with the characters in Under the Whispering Door, but not in the way I thought they would. I did cry though. A lot! Not for sad reasons though, just an ‘all the emotions’ reason. My favourite kind of book!

This is the first TJ Klune novel I have read, and after this I will definitely be looking for other novels of his. From the first page I already had a feeling I would love this novel and it’s characters, by the end of chapter one I was hooked entirely. There is something beautifully warm about the way that Klune has written this novel, like a warm hug or a cup of tea on a cold day. I couldn’t get enough. So much so that I just wanted to read it all over again the moment I finished it.

The concept for this novel is so wonderfully unique, and beautifully executed too. It delves into concepts of death, loss and grief, as well as love, acceptance of self, and personal growth. Each of these are carefully written, and teased out in such a way that they make you really think deeply and reflect on your own life.

The characters in this novel are all delightful. Each one of the main group I would love to be able know them myself. Something else who h is really beautiful within this novel is the journey of growth and understanding the main character Wallace goes through. It is subtlety (and not so subtlety) threaded throughout the novel as he realises the person he was, and who he has the potential to be (and wants to be).

The romance in this novel was the most delicate slow burn. While I had a feeling that this was going to be the case, it still seemed to take me by surprise in the best way possible. The pair are gentle with each other and really listen to each other. This is one of those relationships which was meant to be, but the timing was wrong for one half. This difficulty of the situation was heartbreaking, but beautiful to read.

Under the Whispering Door was such a wonderful read. It handled the darker themes with care, but not so much that they didn’t hold weight throughout the story. It was heartfelt and filled with beautiful characters and a funny, quick witted humour which I loved. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a well written, character focused story with a tender slow burn queer romance. This was definitely a favourite read for this year.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for sending me this free eARC, I am leaving this review voluntarily. This title was published 21st September 2021.

“Death is only their beginning.”

Well, TJ Klune has done it again! I just adored The House in the Cerulean Sea so I had very high hopes for his newest novel and I was not disappointed. Swipe for the synopsis.

Under the Whispering door is a beautiful written, wholesome contemporary fantasy with all the humour and quirkiness I have come to expect from Klune. This book explores life and death and everything between. Full of hope, grief, happiness and sadness, this book explores what it means to live and will have you experiencing all the feelings!

Klune expertly crafts the characters in his stories, giving them each unique personalities that shine throughout the book. Although heartbreaking, this book also felt like a warm hug at the same time, showing us that even after death, it is never too late to change your life.

Although this one wasn’t quite as good as the Cerulean Sea, I still loved it and highly recommend everyone picking up this book.

Under the Whispering door is released on September 28th here in Australia.

Thank you to Pan Macmillan Australia and TOR publishing for my gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

TW: This book is based around accepting death and moving on, so please keep this in mind before picking up this book

This book is incredibly charming. I would say this is a mix of Cerulean Sea and A Christmas Carol. We have the charming, cozy, tea house where Wallace learns that he didn't live much of a life. Hugo gets to help him learn in a short amount of time. I loved the found family feel to everyone there in the tea shop. That's where the Cerulean Sea vibes came in for me.
This book made me laugh, and it made me thing. This book does deal a lot with death, grief, and many other hard topics, so please tread cautiously if those are triggers for you.
This one didn't quite live up to Cerulean Sea for me, but it is still a solid read. Would recommend.

I’m not sure TJ Klune can write a bad book, honestly. This book had everything I would expect from one of his books. Warmth, smiles, grade A humor, subtle but meaningful life lessons, queer romance, and the perfect found family.

This book is perfect for spooky season, especially for those like me who prefer “spoopy” over spooky. The ghosts and after-life elements of this book made it very fitting for the end of September, but the light hearted-ness of the story and characters kept it from being creepy. It was actually way more emotional than I was originally expecting. You will definitely finish this book with a great appreciation for life and the time you have with loved ones.

My favorite part of this book was the found family aspect. I love getting to see the characters connect and the love they had for each other by the end. And the fact that they really did look at each other like family. It was very heart warming and gave me the same feeling I had when reading House in the Cerulean Sea.

This is a must read for any fans of TJ a Klune, but especially anyone who loved House in the Cerulean Sea.

The House in the Cerulean Sea was perhaps the best book I read in 2020, and is a book that I think about quite often so the minute I saw that this book was available I knew I needed to have it.

This book took me a little bit to get into. I started and stopped a few times and the first 50% took me quite a while to get through There wasn't anything wrong with it, I just wasn't as invested as I wish I would be. But then I sat and read the entire second half of the book in one setting, getting completely swept up in the characters, setting, and story.

So while it took me a little bit to get invested by the time that I was I needed to know more and more. I fell in love with the characters swiftly and once I was truly in their world I didn't want to leave.

This book explores the important ideas of death, life, and what happens when we die. It talks about the people that we leave behind, but it also talks about what happens to us. It examines the baggage that we bring with us everywhere we go and how that affects us now.

This is a book that I am excited to pick up again and again, because I think that it has a lot more to teach me.

Oh my God. I didn't know how T. J. Klune could top The House in the Cerulean Sea. But they did.
Under the Whispering Door is so beautiful and sad. It's going to make you cry both happy and sad tears. It's going to make you think and probably have an existential crisis as well.
I loved every part about the tea shop and I wish it was a real place.

And the Love/Hate relationship with Mr. @TJKlune continues. #EvilAuthor #ThereWereSoManyTears

If you’ve been here before or are a frequent reader of my reviews from other venues, you already know that if you see this author’s name attached to anything I’m about to review it’s going to be a rambling mess. If not, prepare yourself. I just can’t seem to be concise and to the point when it comes to writing a review about any book by any author that leaves me in awe. It’s pretty much guaranteed that when I pick up one of his books, that’s going to be the case, so consider yourself warned.

Another thing that’s pretty much guaranteed when I pick up a book by this author is that I’ll experience some type of emotion. Long time readers of T.J. Klune have learned the hard way to limit their public reading of any of his works. He has a tendency to catch readers off guard with fits of uncontrollable laughter or have them reduced to a blubbering mess. Given the description I was pretty sure which way Under the Whispering Door was going to go on the emotion scale. I wasn’t wrong, but I wasn’t totally right either.

I’m kind of ashamed to admit that Under the Whispering Door started a little slow for me. I think I was impatient to get to the good stuff. And to be totally frank, there wasn’t a lot of “good” surrounding Wallace. He was, to be blunt, a total jerk. I’ll let you meet him and form your own first impression without describing what made me come to that conclusion. Honestly, I didn’t see how he could be redeemed into a character that I would eventually care about. I thought once I met Hugo, Mei, Nelson and even Apollo that they would be the characters that stole my heart and drove the story. Although that’s true, Wallace definitely took me by surprise. ❤

I also have to say that I was quite surprised that it took me until almost somewhere between chapters 17 and 18 to turn into a blubbering mess. Considering that Under the Whispering Door consists of 22 chapters plus the epilogue, that’s pretty impressive. 😉 (FYI – that doesn’t include the tears that were induced by the dedication…) Not all those tears were sad. A lot were happy tears and some were simply heartfelt. One thing that I’ve come to expect from any book from this author is that I’m guaranteed to feel something. For the record, Under the Whispering Door did not disappoint.

I was extremely lucky to score an ARC of this book, but since I knew I was going to read it regardless, I also made sure to pre-purchase the hard cover. You know, to complete my growing TJ collection. 😉

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of Under the Whispering Door. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

TJ Klune's latest novel, Under the Whispering Door (Macmillan-Tor), just came out last week.

This novel is about a man who is picked up at his own funeral by a reaper and taken to a tea shop where he meets a man who will help him "cross over." Our main character has to not only accept his death but go through all the stages of grief, twice actually.

The story starts with all the hope of the whimsy that Klune gave us in Cerulean Sea, but he just didn't keep it up. For that reason I just didn't love it, because it wasn't the style of writing I was looking for. And maybe that's unfair as it is a completely different work.

He does nicely work through acceptance and the stages of grief, and the character goes through quite the journey. The romantic relationship in the book again felt forced to me as it did in Cerulean Sea, but not quite as badly. This one ended up at least having some ground to stand on.

Should you read it? Do you want to read book that has a sad undertone the entire time? If so, then go for it. Check trigger warnings first as the book does discuss multiple paths to death.

A copy of this book was provided to me for review by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

This was my first time reading T.J. Klune but I’ll definitely be picking up their other work after this one! I found this book funny, heartwarming and even sometimes a little bit sad.
We follow Wallace Price, a workaholic attorney who has little regard for the people around him. When he unexpectedly has a heart attack in his office he finds himself trapped, wandering out of his body until a woman called Mei turns up to find him. Mei is sent to bring Wallace to a quirky little tea-shop where Hugo the ferryman is waiting to help him pass over into the afterlife. It’s time for Wallace to do some self-reflecting whilst he still has a chance.
Even though at the start he’s an unlikeable character, Wallace is such an easy character to care for and become invested in. The group of characters at the tea-shop are all likeable in their own way but are also all flawed beings. I could have stayed reading about the tea-shop and the people who passed through for even longer, it felt so cosy and safe. This was a really strong novel and I’m so excited to see what this author does next.
If you enjoyed ‘They Both Die at the End’ by Adam Silvera then this has similar themes about seizing the day but has a lighter, more humorous tone throughout.

I was grateful to be gifted a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

I devoured this book in one day, in just a couple of sittings. It was so easy to read, and Klune has a wonderful, natural writing style. The story seems to be both plot-driven and character driven at the same time. It was great.

At the beginning I was getting major A Christmas Carol/It’s a Wonderful Life/Midnight Library vibes, but as I read on it evolved into so much more. Comparing it to other stories (even though they are amazing) just doesn’t do the book justice.

TJ Klune manages to interweave humour, sadness, grief and love effortlessly. The queer representation was also effortless. It didn’t feel forced at all, but totally natural, helped by the slow burn nature of the relationship.

At points I was a bit confused about how it all worked and what exactly was happening, but that’s okay. The book shows us it’s okay to not always have the answers, haha! I did, however, predict the ending. That didn’t frustrate me or take anything away from the story though; it was still enjoyable and a very satisfying conclusion.

It’s publicised as a fantasy book. I’m not a fantasy fan at all, but really enjoyed this as it’s not *too* fantasy - so hopefully this won’t deter anyone!

Definitely a 5* for me and I’ll be recommending it to everyone.

This book was better than I thought it would be. I loved the character development of Wallace thru his afterlife experience. I loved how he figured out how to love others and give of himself in the utmost way. This book does not follow the beliefs I know to be true, but I am able to look past that and appreciate the creativity and thought that went into this novel, the characters, the possibilities of life after death. I grew to love Wallace, Hugo, Mei, Nelson, and Apollo - and also to make connections with each of them. I give this book 4.75 stars. I would give it 5 if it weren't the discrepancies between this storyline and my belief in God.

There are certain elements of the human experience we know to be universal: love and death.

If they come in that order, most of us would say that life is good. But what if death came first?

What I Liked
This is a beautiful exploration of the ideas many of hold around love and death. With it’s gorgeous, memorable character development and a setting so clear and cozy you felt like you were right there, this book drew me in from the very first page.

There are places you will laugh, get infuriated, sigh with satisfaction, and be truly touched by the genuine emotion the author inspires.

What I Wish Had Been Different

I have just one small critique. Toward the end of the book, the pacing slowed a bit for me. I was incredibly vested in the characters, however, so it wasn’t a struggle to finish this book. In fact, I couldn’t read the last few chapters fast enough.

For its imaginative plot, its courageous exploration of love after death, and for the kind of characters that are so likeable and memorable that you almost hate that the book ended, I give this book 4.5 stars.

I'm not sure what it is about TJ Klune's writing but the two books I've read by him have made me cry like no other. (In a good way, if that's possible.)

Under the Whispering Door follows Wallace, a big time, all-work-no-play lawyer who must confront the gaps in his life when he suddenly dies of a heart attack. He's taken to a quirky tea show run by a ferry man named Hugo, where he's allowed to stay as a ghost until he's ready to cross over.

Much like The House in the Cerulean Sea, this is a funny and whimsical book that packs a big punch. It discusses death and and grief and regrets and learning to let people in. I really adored the supporting characters in this one, especially Nelson. I also loved the tenderness between Hugo and Wallace and how much they were able to grow over the story. I think this will definitely appeal to fans of The House in Cerulean Sea and The Midnight Library and I highly highly recommend it!

Thanks so much to Tor Books and NetGalley for the digital review copy.

Tj Klune had me convinced of his character on page 1, that's right, he created in a single first page a full character for me that I was completely invested in... I don't understand how he does it.
Within 20 pages I was completely enthralled with the wit and humor that is at our main characters expense, but it made him more real. It was as if I the reader was making fun of how much of a terrible person he was...but then with the introduction of another character, I began to slightly pity him.
This is what Klune does, every single time he writes, he gives me perspective using different types of characters that he generously crafts. He has this ability to bend my emotions this way and that and it's a ride I never want to end...as long as it's not a ferry ride.
By chapter 7 I shed my first tear, by chapter 10, I knew I was in this for the long haul.
I might have read this masterpiece in a day, but it has done something quite ethereal, made me think of how I want to spend the rest of my life.

The book started out promising with some interesting witty humor, but I began to feel like I was reading a remake of Dicken's A CHRISTMAS CAROL, so the story lost my interest and I did not finish.

TO BE HONEST, THIS ONE STARTED BADLY. BUT AS THE STORY GREW IN ME, I caught myself CAUGHT CRYING. THE EPILOGUE BROKE ME. 😭

Overall it was a simple book that packs a punch. It's not for everybody. It is a book that targets a specific audience. That reader that this book was made for will love this for sure.

It has a very limited cast of characters and a simple writing style. This one needs patience. The boom will start slow. The slow burn might turn others off but I highly suggest that if you want to read an emotional book, bear with this one and reach the end.

I have some issues with this book that ruined my overall impression. It was a subjective preference that made me almost stop reading. I was glad I didn't for the ending (especially the epilogue) made all the time reading this book worth it.

This is an emotional, tender, funny, and remarkable story of life and love and I was immediately caught up in Wallace’s story and his journey to the afterlife. Wallace experiences all the stages of grief over his own death and does so in a way that felt incredibly real and relatable. His journey to discovering how to be a friend and to become part of a family never felt forced, it was a gentle progression that we saw every step of the way. Klune has given us beautiful characters with full lives and distinct personalities. Every character is crucial to the story and grows within the book. Klune has created an interesting take on the Reaper mythos and I really loved how The Manager, no spoilers!, was imagined. The characters were so well thought out and imagined that it made the story really compelling and I was unable to put it down.
I cannot express how much I love this book. It’s compelling, beautiful, heartfelt, and just really, really lovely.
Thank you to Netgalley and TOR Books for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own.

All our times have come
Here but now they're gone
Seasons don't fear the reaper
Nor do the wind, the sun or the rain
We can be like they are
Come on, baby (don't fear the reaper)
Baby, take my hand (don't fear the reaper)
We'll be able to fly (don't fear the reaper)
Baby, I'm your man -Blue Öyster Cult

Wallace Price was a successful lawyer, who focused on work and not much else. Right from the get-go this book game me strong A Christmas Carol vibes. Imagine Wallace's surprise when he is met by a Reaper at his funeral. Surprised, angry, appalled. This was not part of the plan. He can't be dead - there is work to be done! But he is dead and he is soon taken to meet Hugo, a tea shop owner and ferryman who will help him to cross over....

"Life is wasted on the living." - Douglas Adams

How do you let go? How do you say goodbye to your life? What happens when you realize that the life you lived was not the life you wanted to live. What happens when you die and realize that you never really lived?

When given a week to cross over, Wallace decides it is time to live a lifetime.

How can a book about dying be so full of life? As I mentioned this book gave me strong A Christmas Carol vibes and I enjoyed how Wallace transformed. In death, he opens up in ways he never did in life. He becomes vulnerable, decides to live, softens up, makes connections, and does some self-reflection.

I enjoyed the message of this book and although it reminded me of another book, this one had its own charm and appeal. This book is full of life and thought provoking. It brought a smile to my face while it entertained. I had not read The House in the Cerulean Sea but I will be getting my hands (eyes) on a copy soon!

Thought provoking, charming and moving.

Thank you to Macmillan-Tor/Forge and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

I absolutely adore this book and 100% need a hard copy to add to my book shelf. It’s such a deep, heartfelt read but it was full of humor and top notch sarcasm. I immediately pictured Nelson as Morgan Freeman and hearing his last name made me laugh out loud - I knew I could never DNF this.

I should also note, TJ had me at casually baking to German heavy metal. I, too, enjoy whipping up a baked good to @rammsteinofficial. I don’t think I’ve ever connected so deeply with a character than I did with Mei.

If you’re considering picking this book up, just make yourself aware of the trigger warnings - there’s some heavier themes revolving around death, depression, and anxiety here. However, it was so beautifully done and I found myself laughing along the way.


RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
No question.

Thank you to @torbooks and @netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I was able to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
***
Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune is a complex novel of grief, life, and afterlife.
Wallace Price was an awful, no good, very bad person in life. Driven to work, Wallace couldn’t be said to have really lived while he was actually alive. He was in fact found dead in his own office, heart attack, where he’d gone to do some work outside of business hours.
When Mei, a reaper, gathers him at his funeral, attended only by his fellow partners at the law firm he’d helped build, and his ex-wife who really had nothing complimentary to say, Wallace begins his struggle with the knowledge that he is dead. Brought to Charon’s Crossing, a tea shop, run by Hugo, a ferryman, Wallace is confronted with the man he was and the man he could have been, and is now becoming in death.
***
I wanted to love this story, but really all I can say is I enjoyed it.
The characters, mostly the supporting characters, were my favorite. The premise this story hinged upon, that Wallace changes who he is in death, really didn’t do much for me because it doesn’t really change the person he was or the lives he affected with the person he was in the past. It’s more of a, cool, you had it in you all along, and it took you dying to realize it.
Ignoring that part of the story though I really enjoyed the way death was looked at and explored in this novel. Mei’s job is to find the recently departed, assigned to them by the Manager, and Hugo’s job is to help them find peace and readiness in crossing over. Not all cases are easy, and even in death there is complications. Wallace learns that to leave the tea shop risks him becoming a husk, a colorless, lifeless remnant of who he is. Hugo is haunted by Cameron, a soul that fled his care and became a husk awhile back before Wallace’s introduction to the story. Between the colorful cast of the tea shop besides Mei and Hugo you have Nelson, Hugo’s grandfather whose stayed behind in death and Apollo, Hugo’s faithful dog who also stayed behind in death. There is also Nancy and Desdemona who add their own flavor to the story.
My one complaint to the summary of the book is it talks about the Manager giving Wallace a deadline of one week to do his living and crossover and was really confused when Wallace “lived” several months in Charon’s Crossing before that particular moment comes into play, well over halfway through the book. It definitely threw off my reading a bit.
There were some truly funny moments in this book, and some sad ones as well. I found this to be an enjoyable read and I think anyone whose read the author’s previous work, The House in the Cerulean Sea, might find this one to be as enjoyable but nowhere near as lighthearted or as fun as that book was.