Another wonderful book by TJ Klune! With another beautiful cover to match the story. I loved all of the main characters and their unique personalities. This book made me feel a range of emotions and found me both laughing and crying. Ultimately it’s another heartwarming and hopeful story. Thankful to NetGalley and Tor Books for giving me an ARC of this beautiful book.

It is hard to write a review of a book that has made you feel so much that you don't even know where to start. So I'll give it a try.

Life, adulthood, mistakes, forgiveness, and grief. Is it fair? Is it someone's plan? Do you believe it? How are you dealing with life? Are you pretending? Are you doing something to reach your happiness? Can you forgive others? Can you forgive yourself? Why not? What are your worries? Is your family important to you? Do you care about your close ones? Do you love others? Do you love yourself? Are you stuck? Do you have someone to lean on? Why not? Did you lose someone? Are you grieving? Are you feeling lost? Are you reaching out? Would you be there for someone? Have you ever think about all that?

That's the story in this book that I picked because of its beautiful cover and got me right where I needed the most. I've enjoyed every single page of it. Of course, I wept like a child but also lmao like the strong woman I am.

Congratulations to the writer, for this magnificent piece of work!

OMG 😭 What a story! Holy moly. This book was amazing. Seriously, ALL THE FEELS. It was hilariously charming and heartbreaking in the most beautiful way. We follow Wallace into the afterlife as he begins to process and accept his death as well as reflect on his life. He meets up with Mei (a reaper), Apollo (the bestest pooch sidekick), Nelson (the bombest grandad), and Hugo (a ferryman) who all help him through this trying next chapter of his existence, eventually becoming his friends and family 🤍

I LOLed an incredibly good amount while reading this! The fast-paced witty prose is intoxicating and profound. Really. It's that unexpected dry wit and deadpan humor that sneaks up on you so much so that you grin like a dork and then snort-laugh, giggle uncontrollably, or just full-on deep belly cackle 😂 I also cried a whole bunch 🥺

The character interactions are lively and snarky and thoughtful and kind. Their banter and group dynamic is always on point! I loved the processing and working through of feelings as well as the empathy and warmth given to said feelings without judgment.

I love Mei to pieces. Nelson is the bombest grandad. Apollo is THE best. And Wallace and Hugo 😭😭😭 Together, they make the most amazing found family. And I am just absurdly fond of everything in this story. I would LOVE to see it as a TV show 🥺

• Read This For •
— LGBTQIA+ rep
— feelings and empathy
— anxiety and grief awareness/processing
— positive self-growth
— found family
— the bestest pooch sidekick
— grumpy x sunshine trope
— snark and banter

Potential Triggers: death, the afterlife, grief, murder & suicide, panic attacks, anxiety, heart attack, divorce

Thank you to the publisher and author for my advanced copy!

After enjoying The House in the Cerulean Sea, plus this book being described as "Man Called Ove meets The Good Place", plus the abundance of 5-star reviews so far, I had REALLY high expectations for Under the Whispering Door. And that might have been a problem. I didn't *dislike* this book, I just thought it would be very different.

Run don’t walk to grab a copy of Under the Whispering Door! From the moment you set foot into Charon’s crossing Tea and Treats your life will never be the same. The exquisite writing brings the characters to life as you follow Wallace on his journey through death. Surrounded by the ghost of grandad and the dog Apollo, the tea shop owner Hugo and his right hand Mei Wallace must figure out what his life meant and what comes after death. A profound story of love, family and redemption.

Under the Whispering Door was exactly what I hoped it would be. Aesthetically I'd say it's a bit Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli, while plot-wise it's A Christmas Carol mixed with the Korean drama Goblin: The Lonely and Great God. It really just hit all of my sweet spots.

Under the Whispering Door is about Wallace Price's afterlife. Wallace is not really a nice man. He is, in fact, a complete stick-in-the-mud with the emotional range of a toothpick. He's exacting, seemingly incapable of empathy, and extremely entitled. This story is, essentially, Wallace's potential redemption arc, if he chooses to use his time wisely.

While I found it a bit slow at the start, and quite repetitive with all the acceptance of grief stuff, it eventually picked up. This is a quiet sort of book, so while there is some action, especially later on, it's really all about the characters and their relationships. That's not to say it was boring. There were moments of pathos, but also moments of riotous laughter. I ran the entire gamut of emotions in this one. I laughed uncontrollably, and I sobbed uncontrollably. Seriously, have your tissue box handy if you're a crier.

The characters are really what made this book. While the focus is obviously on Wallace, this was an example of a truly great ensemble cast. You've got Hugo, the attractive and empathetic owner of the tea house who is also a ferryman of souls. There's Mei, the kickass young reaper with strong emotions. Apollo is Hugo's ghost dog, who livens up the place with his cute antics. And then there's Nelson (my favourite), Hugo's dead grandfather who occupies the dual role of comedic relief and wise elder.

I really enjoyed Wallace's arc throughout the book. He starts out as a supremely unlikable character, and becomes someone you can't help but like. His transformation is slow, and it is a delight to experience. The romance between Wallace and Hugo was something I didn't see coming (it seemed to come out of nowhere), but by the end I was invested.

Under the Whispering Door is primarily about grief. All of the characters are in different stages of grief, for different reasons. Wallace's is obviously related to the fact that he died, Mei's has to do with her family, Hugo's is to do with a past failure, and Nelson's is for his grandson. Apollo is a dog. He's too in the moment to feel grief.

This story is also about found family and being the best possible version of yourself. Mostly this applies to Wallace, who had no family or friends in life. Only an ex-wife, and his partners at the firm. None of whom liked him. Spending time at the tea shop with Hugo, Nelson, Mei, and Apollo, makes Wallace realise what was missing in his life: love, empathy, and connection with other people (and pets.) These relationships inspire him to become a kinder person.

Under the Whispering Door</em> was a beautiful story, and an absolute delight to read. I cannot recommend it enough.

I loved this book so much! TJ Klune’s writing is fantastic and the characters were so great! I loved reading the interactions with all the characters and the relationships they form throughout the book. This book has a lot of humor, love, and emotion. You clearly feel everything the characters feel throughout the book. Klune’s book The House in the Cerulean Sea is a favorite of mine. I wasn’t sure how any book could compare to THITCS, but Under the Whispering Door definitely is up there as an immediate favorite for me. I will definitely be preordering a hard copy of this book (and probably rereading it)! I 100% recommend this book!!

Rating: Five stars
I absolutely loved this book; I am pretty sure that it is being added to my favorite books of all times. Throughout this novel, we get to see the character of Wallace Price develop from never truly having anyone in his life to finding family, from being selfish to doing anything he can to help others. This book had the perfect amount of love, found family, and character development. Throughout the book, I went from laughing to feeling emotional, and the ending had me crying a combination of happy and sad tears. I am so glad to have gotten to read this book and cannot wait for it to be officially released!

T.J. Klune has done it again. His whimsical quirky writing pulls me in and keeps me enraptured throughout his stories.

Under the Whispering Door takes you on a magical paranormal journey that will have you laughing and loving and inspired to truly live each day, each moment to its absolute fullest.

Appreciate and embrace the time you are given, the people placed in your path, and the experiences you are fortunate enough to have. Good or bad they all play a role in this thing called life and who says they have to stop once our bodies have given out...

Thanks to @netgalley
and @torbooks for a digital advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to read this ARC and as always TJ Klune did not disappoint. Under the Whispering Door is a complete masterpiece. It is important to note that this book is not Cerulean, nor is it trying to be, so don't go in expecting a light and heartwarming story. This story deals with heavy topics such as death, grief, loss, depression, violent ends, and even suicide. Additionally, it ponders existential questions and even goes as far as reimagining the great beyond.

With that said, this story is still absolutely beautiful and will cause you to instantly fall in love with the cast of characters and their stories. To me, this story was more bittersweet and took me longer to emotionally process than Cerulean, but in the end it was such a beautiful and rewarding journey. The representation in this story was beautiful and the love with which every character was crafted, simply jumps off the page and demands that you suspend reality for a little while and join this beautiful world. I would emphatically and wholeheartedly recommend this book.

*A word to the wise - do not read this in public or while wearing make-up - I began crying at the 70% mark and pretty much spent the final 30% of the book oscillating between balling and laughing.

I continue to enjoy TJ Klune's whimsical authorial voice in these standalone fantasy romances - there is a lightness of touch that is hard to pull off that I think he achieves in a way that really entertains me. I also continue to love his characters, and the romance in this one was particularly nice to me. However, I found the plot pretty off in its pacing and the metaphor, while lovely, was a bit too pat. All in all, not my favorite, but I will continue on with his future work

Under the Whispering Door
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ & many more

When a reaper comes to collect Wallace Price from his own funeral, Wallace suspects he really might be dead. Instead of leading him directly to the afterlife, the reaper takes him to a small village. On the outskirts, off the path through the woods, tucked between mountains, is a particular tea shop, run by a man named Hugo. Hugo is the tea shop's owner to locals and the ferryman to souls who need to cross over. But Wallace isn't ready to abandon the life he barely lived. With Hugo's help he finally starts to learn about all the things he missed in life. When the Manager, a curious and powerful being, arrives at the tea shop and gives Wallace one week to cross over, Wallace sets about living a lifetime in seven days. This is a book about grief, death, and what comes after.

“We don’t interfere with death. We can’t. Because it’s always there. No matter what you do, no matter what kind of life you live, good or bad or somewhere in between, it’s always going to be waiting for you. From the moment you’re born, you’re dying.”

Thank you @torbooks & @netgalley for the #gifted copy.

I loved this book more than I can put into words. I figured nothing could live up to Cerulean Sea, but I was totally wrong. This entire book felt like a hug. I laughed, I cried, I was mad, and I was sad. I don’t exactly know how Klune managed to make me feel the emotions of every character, sometimes all at once. Or make me laugh and cry at the same time. My heart hurt and felt warm and I loved every second.

I loved watching the characters grow, especially Wallace. In the beginning I did not think Hugo could grow further, but boy was I completely wrong. He continues to grow as a person and became even more likeable at the end.

I took away so many valuable life lessons while reading and I finished the book filled with hope and happiness. I hope this brings as much comfort to other readers as it did to me.

This story is slow-moving and character driven, but so incredibly well written. There’s a lot of darkness, and some humor. I was an emotional wreck by the end of this. Run, don’t walk, to get your copy of this on Sept. 21, and if you read it, take care of yourself.

Wallace Price is a bit of an asshole. When he dies not too many tears are shed. At his funeral Wallace meets Mei, a reaper, who brings him to a tea shop. At the tea shop he meets Hugo, a ferryman. Also at the tea shop lives Hugo grandfather, Nelson, and dog, Apollo...both of who are dead. Confused yet?

What happens next is a tale of love, understanding, kindness, grief, and learning to how truly live life.

This book was amazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzing. TJ Klune really knows how to pull at your heartstrings and I may or may not have cried for the latter half of this book. I was immediately invested in Wallace's journey to become a better person. Add to that the cast of colorful characters and there's no putting this book down. This story deals with very dark topics, but in a way that is relatable and not heavy handed. Do not hesitate to pick up this book when it's released.

I was given this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan-Tor/Forge for this ARC.

I loved this even more than The House in the Cerulean Sea. Klune has created a book which is the first one I’ve seen that directly tackles the true heart of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. No, there aren’t ghosts forcing an old miser to change his ways while there’s still time, but what most people seems to miss about ACC is that Scrooge is persuaded to see how utterly futile his life has been because all he has focused on is acquiring money. He has disconnected himself from humanity and instead of winning at life, he’s been losing all along. I think that’s the theme Klune engages with so well here with his MC Wallace Price. The plot is simple: Wallace Price is met by a reaper at his funeral but instead of being sent to the afterlife, he is deposited with a ferryman who runs a tea shop on the side. Wallace finally begins to understand what was really worthwhile in life and he had a lifetime to fit into seven days. This was funny and heartwarming and bittersweet. Highly recommend.

""You're serious about this?"
"As a heart attack""

Wallace our main character dies from heart attack and then as a ghost goes to Hugo's tea shop where he figures out what to do next. This book was nice. And sad. The idea was amazing, but to me it was really slow paced at the beginning, because kinda nothing happens. Overall it was good read. 4,5/5⭐

Thank you NetGalley for providing digital advanced copy in exchange for honest review.

This book is total awesomeness! It made me laugh out loud in parts and brought tears to my eyes in other parts. After workaholic Wallace dies, a fact that he has a difficult time coming to terms with, a reaper named Mei takes him to a tea shop owned by a man named Hugo, whose job as a ferryman is to escort the dead on to whatever lies beyond. Wallace doesn't want to go, and as he spends time with Hugo, Mei, and some other dead folks, he learns a great deal. Klune is one of my favorite authors. I have loved all of his books and this one is absolutely fantastic!

Wallace is a lawyer too caught up in his career to deal with silly things like making human connections or showing sympathy. Then he finds himself at his own underwhelming funeral, and a reaper is taking him on one last pitstop before whatever happens after you die.

Wallace is taken to a curious tea house to meet Hugo, a ferryman, who is to help him accept his death and cross over. Wallace is less than thrilled.

This one deals with heavier subject matter than The House in the Cerulean Sea, while overflowing with the humor and heart you can count on from Klune.

I loved Wallace's journey to acceptance and discovery of what's really important in life… even after you're dead. The world of the tea shop was brilliant, and inspired all sorts of 'ultimate' philosophical questions. I appreciated the plotline about the Husks and how gently and lovingly it was handled.

The characters will live rent free in my heart forever; I can only hope to be assigned to Hugo and the crew when the time comes.

So I will continue hoarding Klune's books and love him more every time I'm destroyed and put back together. Kthanks.
All the stars.


Huge thank you to @torbooks @netgalley and @pocketsizedpageturner @thebookblondie for the giveaway win and the opportunity to devour this as soon as humanly possible.

The modern master of MLM romance does it again. T.J. Klune has the particular ability to reach into my ribcage, remove my heart, shred it into a million pieces, and then reassemble it better than it ever was before. When I say this book made me laugh, cry, and want to throw things, I'm not joking! This was as emotional and personal of a journey as The House in the Cerulean Sea, with just as unique and lovable of a cast of characters and another universal message that speared me in my little LGBTQ heart. I just can't get enough of his books, and Under the Whispering Door was no exception. It was beautifully poetic while also being approachable and just a little sassy. I don't have any more knowledge than anyone else about what comes after this life, but I sincerely hope that Hugo will be waiting with a hot cup of tea made just for me when my time comes.

Ok, folks! WOW, WOW, WOW.

I read Klune's Under the Cerulean Sea last year and it was the best book I read all year, so I literally squealed with delight when I was offered an electronic advanced copy of Under the Whispering Door.

I have to say - this book did not disappoint. It's the first book I've read in a very long while (like years!) that actually had me tearing up. Sorry to be all sappy, but it really touched my heart. It was charming, inspirational and a page turner.

It's the quintessential story about learning and growing. In life and death. I really loved the cast of characters Hugo, Nelson, Mei, goofy Apollo and Wallace (well except in the beginning of the book, but he makes up for it as the story progresses).

I love the overall lessons and themes in the book -- love, family, relationships. It's a story that reminds us to pay attention to what is important in life and not to take anything for granted.

After finishing this one, I can say with certainty that I will read anything that T.J. Klune writes. His work is really something special. I highly recommend that you check it out.

Thank you to Net Galley and Tor Publishing for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have to say this is my favorite book of 2021. I received an advanced reader copy of this book and fell in love with it. I've already preordered two signed copies to give as gifts. This book was truly fantastic. I fell in love with the characters & this was a roller coaster ride.