5/5 stars

Hugo and Mei manage a little tea shop in a small remote town. Unbeknownst to the rest of the world, they also help souls to cross over to the other side. In this story, we also follow Wallace, a big city lawyer, who wakes up next to his body and struggles to accept the fact that he died. Thus begins a journey through grief and acceptance.

I read The House in the Cerulean Sea from the same author earlier this year and I totally fell in love with the characters and the writing style. When I saw Under the Whispering Door was getting published, I knew I had to read it. Seeing the gorgeous cover was similar to the one of The House in the Cerulean Sea, I knew we would get a similar type of experience with Under the Whispering Door. And I was not wrong.

I have to admit that I did guess the ending in the first third of the book. But it didn't bother me because I do not believe that the goal of this book is to have unexpected twists. It's more about the characters, their growth and their journey than the ending itself. It's also a book full of hope which I really appreciate considering the dark topic it discusses.

The characters in this book are amazing. TJ Klune has this particular way of writing that makes me care about the characters without me actually realizing it. Before I knew it, I was emotionally attached to them. Their growth was also a great journey to witness and follow. They are all very human and they feel very real which I appreciate a lot.

I also loved the tone of the book, which is something I also enjoyed a lot in The House in the Cerulean Sea. There's something in his writing style that allows darker topics to be discussed without the book being to heavy and hard to read. He writes those themes in a lighter way while still getting deep into it. In this case, the grief theme could've turned this book very dark, but it didn't. I feel it was done with a lot of tact and respect. He balances light passages, laughter, serious issues and emotional scenes very brilliantly. It is cheesy (in a good way), quirky, cute and wholesome. I'm a very emotional person and I am a cry baby when it comes to movies and series. But I have never cried real tears for a book until I read Under the Whispering Door, regardless of the fact that I knew how it was going to end. It says a lot about TJ Klune's writing and how his story touched me.

Trigger warning for grief, which is the main theme of the book. I honestly do not have anything negative to say about this book. I will definitely purchase this book and read it many times in the future. I highly recommend this book for everyone, but in particular to anyone who enjoyed The House in the Cerulean Sea, The Good Place (the show), feel-good books and character-driven books.

A special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge books for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Pub date: Sept 21
Genre: fantasy, queer fiction

When workaholic lawyer Wallace dies, he is ferried to Charon's Crossing Tea Shop, a stop over where he can process his life and death before ultimately moving on. But what if he's not ready for it all to be over?

I liked the unique premise of this book, and "reaper" Hugo and his grandfather Nelson were standout characters. I really enjoyed Wallace's character growth over the course of the story - I just wish it had happened sooner! I actually put this book down about 30% in and didn't feel the need to pick it up for weeks afterward. Ultimately, I did continue because I knew the ending would be lovely and emotional (and it was), but I would struggle to recommend this one given the slowness of the story. Klune's writing is poetic but sometimes a bit overwrought. This is a 3 star read for me, and I'm glad I read it, but I can't help wondering what it could have been with a bit more editing.

Thank you to Macmillan-Tor/Forge for providing an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

»When Wallace dies he isn’t ready to accept that. Not when a reaper appears to take him or even when he meets Hugo, a man who is supposed to help him cross over. Unfortunately he needs to realize that life for him is over and he needs to move on, but what will happen when the thing that helps him move on is the one thing that makes him want to stay?

»An enchanting book that made me see death with another perspective, understanding grief in a way that comforted me. The mood of this book made me listen to two songs in repeat while I ugly cried, a good sort of ugly crying: Saturn by Sleeping at Last and In This Shirt by The Irrepressibles. It was my first TJ Klune book and seeing as how much I loved his writing and complex characters, I will be reading other titles.

»I loved to hate and love Wallace lol Never have I ever disliked a person so much in the beginning and then slowly fell in love with it as the character started to have his development and growth. Absolutely stunning how words made me feel so deeply seen and understood, Wallace, Hugo, Mei and Nelson were my found family in a way and I have so much to thank them.

This book needs to come with a warning, because I ended up sobbing on multiple occasions. That said, this book is honestly lovely. I'm struggling to describe it, but it takes on the afterlife in a super sweet and thoughtful way. This book is more about the characters growing as people (alive and dead) and learning about what's important than a rollicking plot. There's progress and some really interesting sidebars about how death works in this universe, but they aren't the point. It's about becoming a family, what that means, and how to live as best as you can, even if you're dead.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by Under the Whispering Door. I'm often hesitant to read books by author with such die hard fans because I worry I'll be disappointed. That was not entirely the case with this story. Klune has crafted a sweet and emotional story that is both heartfelt and original. On the whole I enjoyed the characters and the premise of the story. The characters and their world felt well built and fully formed. I understand why so many people are drawn to Klune's writing.

The story did feel drawn out at times and some of the exploration of the meaning of life and what it is to be a good person did feel overly simplified and surface level at times. I couldn't quite tell who the book was intended for. It felt overly simple and repetitive for an adult audience but it's not listed as YA. This seems like the kind of story written for adults who still love Disney movies. There's nothing wrong with that but it's not really what I tend to look for for myself.

This is something I see my self adding to my library and recommending to students and friends. While the tone of the story is a little outside of my personal interests, the wide ranging appeal is obvious and this is a beautifully written book.

After an abrasive corporate lawyer dies of a heart attack, he finds himself at a haunted tea shop where the kind-hearted ferryman tasked with helping him transition into death inspires him to start living.

Readers that are willing to trust Klune with their hearts will have them broken, healed, and filled to bursting through this tender exploration of the meaning of life (and death). Like Klune's recent bestseller, THE HOUSE IN THE CERULEAN SEA, UNDER THE WHISPERING DOOR is full of emotional swells, humor, quirky characters, love, deep thoughts, and a touch of whimsy. The protagonist's personal growth drives the plot while a quiet, mature romance blossoms along the way. It is another stunning novel that will draw in both fantasy readers and readers who tend to prefer literary fiction (add it to your adult book club list!). This novel won't capture all of the CERULEAN SEA fans, specifically those who are craving another charming and escapist magical island. Rather than immersing the protagonist in the child-centered emotions of wonder, joy, and tolerance to catalyze his change, UNDER THE WHISPERING DOOR is about the transformative experience of grief. It is hopeful, hilarious, and uplifting, but also you will cry (at least, I did). Still, Klune earned every one of my tears through the sheer immersive beauty of his story and even days after finishing it, I am still smiling. I highly recommend this one!

UNDER THE WHISPERING DOOR by TJ Klune introduces a workaholic lawyer who has a heart attack and is conveyed to another world. Frankly, I did not like Wallace Price and decided that life is too short to keep reading about such a clueless, selfish character. I had heard very positive reactions to Klune's earlier work, The House in the Cerulean Sea, and this newest title topped the September LibraryReads list so I had high expectations when I requested this title. However, Price's interactions with a Reaper named Mei, a ferryman named Hugo, and ghosts called Nelson and Apollo were as frustrating for me as a reader as they were for him. Library Journal describes this book as "a winning story (slow-paced and heartwarming) about grief, loss, and moving on." I agree about the slow pace and, unfortunately, did not feel any of the other emotions. 2.5 stars

“I see it now. It’s not always about the things you’ve done, or the mistakes you’ve made. It’s about the people, and what we’re willing to do for one another. The sacrifices we make. They taught me that. Here, in this place.”

5 stunning stars. fun fact i’ve never cried at a book or movie but this bad boy right here almost made my eyes water 🥺. @tjklunebooks you don’t disappoint! under the whispering door will 100% be in my top 5 books of 2021.

(Please note this book does talk about depression, grief, and suicide).

shoutout to @netgalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review! find under the whispering door in your local book stores on September 21st! :)

Under the Whispering Door is T.J. Klune’s next contemporary fantasy, following Wallace. Wallace is a successful lawyer, focussed on his career and ruthlessly working toward his succes.
Next thing he knows, he is standing at his own funeral, where a reaper appears to lead him away.

Under the Whispering Door is a sweet, affecting story about life and death and found family, with themes of denial, grief and acceptance, filled with T.J. Klune’s trademark humor.

One of the strongest aspects of this book is the ensemble cast and the way the author used them to approach the cycle of grief and the impact we have on the people around us. There is Hugo, the compassionate ferryman, Wallace's sarcastic grim reaper Mei, and the spirits of Hugo's sprightly grandfather and absolutely adorable ghost dog Apollo, who were my favourite characters of the novel. Through their interactions I quickly became invested in Wallace and how things would play out for him.

I think my only gripe with this book is that it feels very drawn out. We follow Wallace as he learns to become a better person, but there isn’t a lot happening in the book and follows quite a formulaic plot, which makes certain passages feel repetitive. The message of the novel also isn’t anything new under the sun, and I would have liked a little more development on the romance front.
On the other hand this didn't detract of my enjoyment of this book at all and I still had a great time reading this, and all the emotional beats hit close to home.

A wholesome and emotional tale about second chances, learning how to live and compassion. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loved The House in the Cerulean Sea!

y’all need to pick up a copy of this book TJ Klune absolutely nails it again. Something about his style just feels like a warm hug straight to my heart & he absolutely nails the grumpy sunshine trope yet again. can’t even explain how charmed I was by this book.

pub date - sept 21 2021

MOVING AND EMOTIONAL

Sometimes a book just hits you square in the chest. This was one of those times.

💙 What I Loved 💙

Humor: Right off the bat I was laughing along with this book. There's so much quirky humor, so much banter between the characters. Some of it's silly. Some of it's profound. All of it is humorous, which is just what I liked.

Characters: This is primarily a character driven book. Which is okay, because the characters are strong enough and well enough developed to carry it perfectly. The characters are perfectly developed, each with their own specific personality. I really enjoyed how I was able to really feel these characters, identify with them and clearly see them. Especially Mei and Nelson, they were my favourites. And even though Wallace is not all that likable to begin with, I still found myself rooting for him. That's strong characterization.

Emotions: I always love a good book that can make me feel something. I got so invested in these characters, so invested in the story, that my emotions got evolved too. That is the best kind of book in my opinion.

I have mixed feelings on this one. The premise intrigued me, and I liked the small ensemble cast, particularly Nelson, the grandfather spirit. The middle dragged for me, but at about the 72% mark the stakes were raised and my interest was reignited.

The examination on grief and the afterlife was interesting, although the media it’s being compared to (A Man Called Ove meets The Good Place) handled it better. Near the end I found this book almost as saccharine as Klune’s previous work The House in the Cerulean Sea. I expected a darker tone given the subject matter (sudden death, grief, suicide, loss, etc.) and the buildup regarding someone as detached and cruel as The Manager, but it didn’t quite deliver.

I had a hard time buying the chemistry between Hugo and Wallace. I didn’t feel it building for the characters organically, rather their budding relationship was narrated or pointed out by the supporting characters, which made the final chapter and epilogue somewhat difficult for me to believe. For a book that’s about the messiness of life, this story was tied up neatly at the end.

That being said, fans of Klune’s previous works will enjoy this one. It has a tone similar to The House in the Cerulean Sea with queer main characters, humor and quirkiness, found family, and angst resolved with a happy ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

Solid 4.5⭐️

“A river only flows in one direction”

I think in some ways if you hear about this book you might think about the Midnight Library. Although it’s very different (and better imo) it still carries that story of loss and growth and learning not only about yourself but also about what it means to live.

It’s quite lovely.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an earc of this beautiful book.

Under the Whispering Door is the kind of book that will stay with you long after you're done reading it. Klune's books are always filled with longing, pain, but most of all, hope. And this beauty is no different.

In Under the Whispering Door we meet Wallace, who just passed away and is brought to a little tea shop by Mei, a Reaper, where the ferryman who will help him pass on lives. Wallec has never been a warm man, dedicating his life mostly to work, work, and more work. But when he meets the owner of Charon's Crossing, the whimsical tea shop in the woods, Hugo, and his little family consisting of Mei, Hugo's grandad Nelson and their dog Apollo - the latter two ghosts as well - things start changing for him. Wallace starts living to the fullest, despite being dead and confined to the tea shop. As he learns more and more about Hugo and Mei's work, Wallace discovers secrets both about himself and other souls that passed through the tea shop before.

Under the Whispering Door starts almost whimsically, with cute descriptions and awkward encounters that will make the reader laugh out loud, but with definite hard-hitting segments that get more and more frequent as the story progresses. You WILL need tissues while reading this book.
And while this is of course a story of grief and pain that are a given in every person's life, it's also a story of hope and living on, despite the scars life has left on us. You will feel for Wallace and his dawning realizations about his life, you'll cry while reading gut wrenching stories of other souls that have passed and those of the Charon's Crossing residents, but you will also smile at the little things that we sometimes take for granted but that carry a bigger weight- and you will definitely fall in love with the love story in the center of this book, regardless of how hopeless it may seem. Because while we never have quite enough time, we can do a lot with what we're given if we learn to cherish it.

Prepare to be blown away by another TJ Klune masterpiece.

Oh this book! TJ Klune’s characters grabbed me by the heart in The House in the Cerulean Sea and the same can be said with his latest.

This book deals with heavy topics, but Klune expertly writes characters with humor and whimsy. There’s meaning to this story which shines through with each chapter and should be read by anyone looking for a bit of fantasy-mixed with reality.

Thank you Tor Books and Netgalley for my copy.

I mean. It's TJ Klune. What can I say other than this book made me believe in love and also laugh and also cry. At this point, TJ Klune has me hook, line, and sinker. It doesn't matter what he puts out, I'm going to buy it. I loved this book and it made me feel so many things. It also made me sob. Five stars all around, as always. Thank you to the king of wholesome gays.

TJ Klune’s The house in the cerulean sea was one of the best books I’ve read and naturally I had high expectations for this one. I was beyond excited when I got approved to read this ARC. I went into it fully expecting to love it but sadly this was lacking in a lot many things.
Firstly my issue was with what most of the people who read the ARC have already mentioned - the repetitiveness of a lot of scenarios and flashbacks. It felt like there was nothing new to offer.
Secondly - Wallace and Hugo’s relationship wasn’t developed well enough to believe that they were in love all of a sudden.
Mei and Nelson are the only saving grace and the last 30% of the book is where stuff actually happens that makes you shed a tear or two.
But still a clearer picture of the magic system could have been there instead of the reader imagining it all.

TJ Klune did it again. He wrapped a story around my heart so tightly that at times it almost hurt. I laughed at this book, and I certainly cried about a half dozen times too. There’s so much beauty to be had in a story about death and our desire for more time. I wouldn’t change a single word written, it was perfection and exactly what my soul needed.

First, I want to thank Macmillan-Tor/Forge Publishing and NetGallery for an ARC of this book!

What can I say about this book? It’s a “classic” Klune book, but it’s also so much more than that. This story has a power to it. It’s not just cathartic it’s…. more. In every way. It’s poetry in the barest form. It’s a stanza with a hiccup. A cool breeze on a hot summers day. A warm beverage on a cold holiday. It’s Home. In what ever way you need it to be.

It centers around Wallace Price, a bastard of a man, who has recently found out he has died. One thing leads to another and he finds himself standing with a Reaper at a weird little Tea Shop talking to a Ferryman who is meant to help him crossover…. Which, what?! In Wallace’s opinion, he is having none of that. It’s a story about grief and taking responsibility while surrounding yourself with things that you make life worth living.

Klune has always been good with details and writing about things that are hard to put into words— but this book went above that. It spoke on hard to hear truths but he did it with grace and humility (and a touch of that Klune comedic gold). This was profound in every way that defines that word and more. You weren’t just reading about a characters journey, you were experiencing it with them. Changing and growing and maturing with each word. This book turns into its readers own character development and you don’t even realize until it’s over.

Under the Whispering Door 5 stars.

This book was phenomenal. Klune has such a raw and unique talent for writing, and I will forever read anything he publishes.

In Under the Whispering Door we meet Wallace, who comes to a shocking realisation he has died. Instead of going to heaven or hell, he is collected by a Reaper and taken to a small village, and into a little, odd Tea Shop, and learns that there is more to life than simply living.

If you're wanting to know more about the book before going into it head over to GoodReads, but I believe this is as much as you need to know, and simply have to trust that Klune is going to take you on a wonderful and powerful adventure.

It's obvious in the beginning that Wallace is meant to be unlikeable. At times it was hard to accept this was to be our main character, however as things quickly change so does Wallace, and I instantly invested. I adored all these characters and their relationships with one another . As with Cerulean, Klunes writing was stunning and had me feeling all the feels.

This book is heavy with death, grief, loss and being lost, but it is also filled with hope, happiness, joy, love and so much more. Klune takes you on a journey that makes you wonder things like 'what's next?' 'have I left an imprint in the world, or on the people in it?', and remember things such as the fact that it IS OKAY to not be okay, and that the little things in life do matter, as well as the people and how we treat them. There is a lot of depth to this book, and so much to be explored and discussed. I appreciated this book wholeheartedly.

It was so easy for me to pick this book up, and I didn't want it to end. I would love to be in this world with these characters forever. No doubt I will read this again, probably sooner rather than later!

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan-Tor/Forge for an early copy of this beautiful book.