In the Goodreads groups I frequent, everyone loves The House in the Cerulean Sea, so when I saw T.J. Klune’s books were coming to the UK I was pretty excited. I’ve held off writing this review till I read his previous book, not because they’re connected, but I knew a lot of people would be coming to Under the Whispering Door with certain expectations.

In some ways, it’s similar to Cerulean Sea, in tone and in the general set up of bureaucratic man goes to live in a quirky house with a bunch of unusual inhabitants. Now I’ve read both books, I can say I just find his writing a bit twee and not to my taste. So please bear that in mind if you’ve enjoyed his books in the past, you’ll probably like Under the Whispering Door more than I did.

Wallace Price is not a nice person, the opening pages are intended to make you hate him. The problem is, everyone in the afterlife seems to warm to him, and I didn’t, and I couldn’t really get past how he’d magically transformed into a good guy. I think he was going for a Scrooge type figure, but I’m not sure he ever really faced up to how awful he was in life.

I’ll warn you that some of the book’s descriptions on Goodreads basically tell you 75% of the plot, so I was also waiting for the thing to happen that I thought would get the story going, but that was not the gist of the book.

As with Cerulean Sea, I liked the minor characters more than the main character. There’s several dead people hanging out at Charon’s Crossing, as well as Mei the reaper there’s old Nelson and Apollo the dog, all characters I liked. There were some really moving passages about the some of the people who have passed through the tea shop too.

It's full of what I'd guess people would call inspirational quotes. I can see why people like his writing, but it was all a bit obvious. I feel a bit like he's writing children's stories for adults, and I'd rather just read a kids book.

If you like fast paced plot driven books then this is not for you however if you love slow burn character focused books then I highly recommend picking this one up.

This book follows Wallace who doesn’t care about anything other than his work and is honestly pretty cruel. One moment he is working extra hours at his law firm and the next he is attending his one funeral. There he meets Mei who introduces herself as his Grim Reaper and she takes him to a way station between life and death where he meets his Ferryman Hugo who is tasked with helping Wallace come to terms with his life and death and to help him move on however Wallace is having none of it. Wallace also isn’t the only ghost in residence.

Wallace isn’t a very likable character he is selfish and cruel however his character development is so well done and worth the read. The way he manages to form a family with these strangers he meets was truly an honor to read about and favorite take on the found family troupe. Next we have Mei who has such a big and strong personality and has been through so much that she then uses to help others in need. We also have Hugo who has such a quite strength and is so sweet and empathetic and you just want to protect him at all costs. Then we have Nelson who is Hugo’s grandfather and the best character in my opinion. He is hilarious, likes to mess with people but isn’t cruel and all he really wants is to protect Hugo. And of course we can’t forget mans best friend Apollo who proves that the loyalty dogs have for those they love is never ending.

There is also a romance subplot that you can’t help but fall in love with and will break your heart.

This is one of the most profound books I have read. The exploration on death is done so beautifully and really puts live into perspective and reminds you to live and feel every moment both the good and the bad as this is all we get and we aren’t guaranteed any of it. I also read this at a time in my life where I am going through a lot of changes and having this reminder was exactly what I needed. There are also so many beautiful quotes that I think we should all remember and try to live by.

This story also shows that it’s never too late to make changes in our life, that it’s okay to reach out and ask for help when we need it and the importance of supporting others when they reach out to us. It also has really well done mental health representation and grief depiction.

This is not only a diverse read in it’s mental health representation but Wallace is also bisexual, Hugo and his grandfather are black, Hugo is gay and Mei is Chinese American.

Overall, this was an amazing read and I gave it 5 out of 5 stars though it deserves a whole sky full of stars.

Trigger warnings for Death, death of a loved one, grief depiction, anxiety and depression.

Wallace Price, a hot shot lawyer nobody really liked, suddenly dies of a heart attack. He’s faced with the complex journey of the navigating the afterlife, namely, making peace with his death. To do this, he unwillingly goes along with his appointed Reaper and Ferryman, and finds his life in death might be more meaningful than his life alive.

This book shook me to my very core of being. I laughed, I cried, I mourned, I celebrated. I loved this book with every fibre of my being. I was worried I was taking a risk reading this book when I did (I’d just lost my furry best friend of nearly 14 years) but T.J. Klune helped me cope with my grief, even in the face of a little pain. Despite the pace being a little tricky at first, the story is full of wit, humour and true joy, with a climax that had my gut in knots and heartstrings aching for happily ever after.

The characters are purer than pure and feel like family the more the book goes on. I kept imagining Alan Cumming as Wallace and Five from the Umbrella Academy as the Manager! Wallace faces the hard truths of what he did with his life; perhaps realising he lived quite a selfish and meaningless life. Wallace is helped by his Ferryman, Hugo Freeman, who is patient and full of warmth. Their interactions were comforting and, as the story progresses, simmering with chemistry.

Alongside Wallace and Hugo, there’s Mei the Reaper and Grandpa Nelson; both bring the sass and comedy to make many laugh out loud moments. Nelson and his dog Apollo have taken a wee piece of residence in my heart, they were my fave! And in the background but at the helm of it all, is the ever powerful and ominous Manager, who seemingly controls life and death.

The outlooks, philosophy and heart within this story is phenomenal. Under the Whispering Door brings a lightness to the sadness of death like nothing I’ve ever read. The closest has been The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, and while I think fans of that book will love this, it remains singularly unique.

On that note, the story broaches the topic of death on multiple levels. There’s sudden and unexpected death, from accidents to deteriorating health, to getting older, suicide or dealing with terminal illness. It also deals with the grieving process in all its ugliness and naturalness. It was a little tough to read at points, but worth the sadness for all the goodness the story delivered.

This book will have you holding on tight to those nearest and dearest; checking in on loved ones who are placed far and wide. To describe my reactions as smiling ear to ear and floods of tears is most definitely an understatement. It’s one of my favourite reads of 2021! I didn’t want it to end and I’ll happily reread it in future. Under the Whispering Door was such a cathartic experience and T.J. Klune has my eternal gratitude for writing such a wonderful story. If you love the likes of It’s A Wonderful Life, A Christmas Carol or The Midnight Library, you’ll not want to miss this.

Thank you kindly to Tor UK for an e-ARC in exchange for this honest review.

𝙐𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘿𝙤𝙤𝙧
𝑻𝑱 𝑲𝒍𝒖𝒏𝒆

“𝑯𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒑𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝑾𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆. 𝑾𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒖𝒔, 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒊𝒕. 𝑰𝒕’𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒍 𝒘𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈.”

We daily struggle and work as hard as possible to get better grades, an amazing career, promising assets to live in an uncertain future even though none of these will exactly answer, what we need to make us content and happy!!

Under the whispering door is the story of Wallace, who dies in his 40's, even with a successful practice and wealth, does not have anyone to mourn his death. When he meets his reaper and ferryman, who he learns are there to guide him to the next part of the journey, he is thrown he finally understands death. However being a ghost in the teashop of ferryman Hugo, he gets that he never lived rather existed through the 40years if his life. The love story is subtle with nothing explicit. A slow burn relationship that blooms with personal growth of Wallace.

This is a heartwarming story to learn acceptance of our current position and to work on being better. Even though it might not add any new complex wisdom for discussion, The simple and worth message of what it means to be alive makes the book everything

Written with humour and love, this book will make you think, laugh and give you hope ❤️❤️ Definitely recommended

#qotd Given a chance what would you change about something you have done in the past? Or what do you what to change about yourself?

Thank you @netgalley and @macmillanusa publishers for my copy

☕️If you die like right now and look back your life, what would you think of your life?  Did you have a good life?  Do you have any regret? 

📚
Wholesome.  Heart-warming.  Charming.  𝑈𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑊ℎ𝑖𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐷𝑜𝑜𝑟𝑠 is everything you would expect from TJ Klume.  I loved, loved, loved the author’s previous book, 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐻𝑜𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝐼𝑛 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐶𝑒𝑟𝑢𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑛 𝑆𝑒𝑎, so I was really looking forward to this new release and it didn’t disappoint me. 

📚
Life.  So easy to take it for granted.  This book teaches us to not take it for granted.  Wallace was not a good man when he was alive.  He was not liked and one misses him when he died.  He looks back on his life and learns to be a better person with help from his new friends in the after-life world.  He slowly realises he doesn’t have to be defined by the past.  And it’s never too late to make a change and start living a meaningful life.  But he is running out of his time before he has to leave the world for good… 
📚
I really loved watching Wallace change his perspectives over time and growing as a person even though he is already dead.  And I loved the way grief and loss are explored sensitively.  TJ Klume says in Acknowledgement that he wrote this story to explore his own grief over losing someone he loved, so this is a very personal story to the author himself, too, and I could feel that reading it. 
📚
Plot-wise, not much happens. The House On The Cerulean Sea had a little more plot in it (still a very character-driven book though), so I have a feeling more people would prefer THOTCS over this new release, but this book is just as life-affirming and wholesome, so if you liked THOTCS, I’d like to encourage you to read this and share your thoughts with me please🥰

I loved this. The chapters were a little too long for me personally, but I loved the story and the characters. Seeing as the book deals with death, loss and depression I can see how this book will hit a lot of people in the feels, but also gives you comfort.
The characters all felt so real and I loved them so much. And the ones I hated, I hated because they were written so well and made my blood boil.

TJ Klune has this way of writing stories that feel both real and magical and his stories always find a way of wrapping themselves around my heart.
Highly recommend.

TJ Klune was a runaway sensation with The House on the Cerulean Sea, and I'm sure that Under the Whispering Door is going to meet the same success with his audience. It is a beautifully written story that is full of heart and mystery - perfect for cosying up with on a cold evening. For me, I found that the pacing was a little slow, which made it hard for me to feel the urge to pick the book up day after day, and I found myself leaving it to one side in favour of other books. I'm glad I finished it, but feel someone who enjoys character-driven slow burners may enjoy this more than I did.

3.5/5

A good read, but I think I hyped it too much and that's reflected in my rating.

The premise was super cute and the whole book is a wholesome cozy vibe. A sort of perfect fall read, really. I just think I didn't get to know the characters as well as I'd have liked; we spent too much time dwelling on their day to day habits and the flow of the book was stilted with such a slow moving plot.

The synopsis on the book leads you to believe that things happen sooner and are more of the whole plot rather than happening over halfway through.

Still, a cozy read with some really sweet and tender moments. It just dragged too much for me. I would recommend to anyone who likes 'cottage core' vibes and doesn't mind a bit of slice of life with their ghosts. ;)

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Under the Whispering Door is whimsical, funny, and heartfelt with Scrooge-like main character who finds his humanity after death. If you're expecting something like House in the Cerulean Sea, you should know this book is very different in terms of world, themes, plot etc. What's similar is the humor, the whimsy, the found family. I enjoyed this a lot and my proper rating is 3.5 Stars. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Tor and Netgalley for the ARC.

I’m not entirely sure where to start in reviewing Under the Whispering Door. I’ll be honest and admit that when I started reading it I wasn’t too sure about it and found it took me a little bit longer to get going with it than I’d have expected. By the end, however, I was absolutely sobbing and not for the first time whilst reading it. Just as Wallace goes on a journey throughout the book, so too do we as a reader. I think perhaps that’s why I struggled to get going with this book, Wallace was just so hateful to start with, but goodness what a different man he is by the end.

Before going any further I would say to anyone who intends to read this book, you should read TJ Klune’s Author’s Note before you do. This book deals with death, including by suicide and the death of a child and therefore could be triggering to some. I really respected that Klune included this at the start.

In writing this book Klune has written a beautiful exploration of what it is to live and to die, and how grief manifests and affects people in different ways. This is most definitely a character driven novel and it is fair to say that it is a slow burn story. Klune’s version of what happens after you die is really rather beautiful, though I wouldn’t want to say anything more about it as I think the magic of it is in discovering it for yourself as you read.

Whilst I’ll admit to very much disliking Wallace at the start (though I feel that’s very much the point) I came to both like and respect him as a character through reading his story. The other main characters were all wonderfully and beautifully developed in their own ways. My favourite of all had to be Nelson, he was just so special. The relationship that he developed with Wallace was such a wonderful part of the story, from how he helped him understand his new reality to his sassy quips and humour.

Whilst this book does deal in grief, like life itself it is a novel with shades of dark and light, and I found myself laughing amongst the tears. Without spoiling anything, I’ll say that the seance scene (you’ll know the one when you read it) had me howling.

This is a very special book. Klune has created an amazing world in the tea shop, a beautiful idea of life in death and some rather unforgettable characters. This is a book that I know I’ll think about for some time and will look forward to talking to others about it.

I thought this sounded like a fabulous book. I like quirky books that are a bit different. But while I admired the imagination that created this world I found it too slow, and twee and just didn't connect with it .I did like some of the humour but just struggled with reading this. Sorry just not my cup pf tea ,pun intended.

Headlines:
Bruised but full heart
Whimsical beauty within
For tea-lovers

I'm sitting staring at my screen trying to find the words, after reading all the beautiful words in Under the Whispering Door. This story of Wallace's journey from life and to the beyond captured my mind and my heart completely; I did not want to let go.

This story is about loneliness, finding a famiy and purpose while also finding out about the secrets beyond life, at least a fantastical representation of that. I thought what Klune has created here was poignant, whimsical, emotional and incredibly funny at times. Considering the themes of death and grief, the wit balanced out all the things, as did the characters.

This world was a surprise around every corner, from Mei to the tea plants and the manager to the door. The story of the husks was especially gut wrenching. The connection between Wallace and Hugo was something special, hearts pounded, love abounded and that was just me...

I cried, I laughed and I treasured. Just do yourself a favour and pick this book up.

Thank you to Tor and Black Crow PR for the precious review copy.

Sadly, this book was not for me. I enjoyed the set-up of the characters but I was extremely bored with the slow-moving plot.

As someone who has never read a TJ Klune book I was pretty excited for "Under the Whispering Door". The idea that we were looking at a post-death narrative, really intrigued me, especially since Wallace is my favourite kind of hero.

There is something really welcoming about Klune's ability to write warmly. I couldn't help but think how warm and relaxing the narrative of the story was, especially in a work that looks to unpack trauma. The glimmer of optimism on every page is what made me come back to the story again and again.

I think that even with the optimism, I found "Under the Whispering Door" unsettling, in ways I wasn't sure how to articulate at first. Charon's Crossing (where the majority of the story is set) acts as a halfway point between dying and moving on. But it really felt that the story itself doesn't deal with moving on, more than it does reinvention. I don't think the story dealt with grief, dying or death as well as I think it wanted to.

This isn't to say this is a poorly written story, but rather a warm ode to found-family first and love first, over a journey into death, dying and legacy.

Under the Whispering Door is a contemporary fantasy with TJ Klune's signature “quirk and charm” about a ghost who refuses to cross over and the ferryman he falls in love with. By turns heart warming and heartbreaking, this absorbing tale of grief and hope is told with TJ Klune's signature warmth, humour, and extraordinary empathy.

I absolutely adored this book. From Klune's writing style to the range of unique characters, it's hard not to fall in love with this book. ⁣
⁣
Whilst this book deals heavily with death and coping with loss, it also looks at love and living life to its fullest. Make sure you have tissues at the ready because this one brought me to tears numerous times!⁣
⁣
Honestly Under The Whispering Door is such a beautiful book that takes you on such an incredible and emotional journey. I was so sad when it ended because I just wanted to remain in this world with this amazing characters. ⁣
⁣
I 100% recommend you pick up this book! I'm going to be reading House in the Cerulean Sea very soon and I'm so excited!⁣

Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. What an interesting mix of characters and a very enjoyable story line. When Walter dies, he is taken to a cafe in the woods where is has to spend time until he is ready to pass to the otherside. Walter is definitely not ready. He is angry, he is in denial, he is begging to change the circumstances he finds himself in. Throughout his process of grief, he is helped by the calm presence of Hugo who talks with him about his life and what to make of it. Walter is changed during this time he spends with Hugo and seeing how Hugo has to live his own life.

It's a very moving story. The ending is a little unexpected and that part of the story doesn't quite fit very well with the main part. I found it a little bit jarring. Overall though I would thoroughly recommend

There is something about how TJ Klune writes that draws you in and makes you feel and adore characters and found families which seem to be more so apparent in the last two books written.
I absolutely adore TJ Klune’s writing, more so in this book and The House on the Cerulean Sea, these books are written from the absolute depths of his heart and this comes across on the pages.
TJ Klune has written this so so well even though it is other end spectrum to that amazing house, to which I am certain that at points this book did make reference to it briefly.

I fell in love with TJ Klune’s writing and I hope to get my hands on much of his back list of books as a result of reading the latest two.
I would highly recommend this authors work and I myself pay no attention to the cancel culture that seems to keep rolling around, each to their own choices. I can’t recommend what I have read from this author enough.

Huge huge thanks and I can’t wait to see what sort of book comes next creeping over the horizon.

'Under the Whispering Door’ is a comedic fantasy novel about death, grief, found family, and the importance of living life to the fullest. With a mixture of laugh out loud and heartwarming moments, its an enjoyable read – but also a superficial one that struggles to reach the depths it strives for. This is a good, gentle read after a long day, but not one likely to linger.

Wallace Price has dedicated his entire life to his company – and even then, he’s not the sort of boss you’d buy a Christmas card for. He’s outraged to find only four attendees at his own funeral – one of them his ex-wife who spends most of the ceremony talking about what an asshole he was, and one of them the Reaper ready to escort him to the afterlife. However, rather than taking him straight to the Beyond, the Reaper instead takes Wallace to a very peculiar tea shop. There, a ferryman named Hugo serves tea and cake to all who need it – including lonely souls coming to terms with things they missed in life. With Hugo’s help, Wallace starts to adjust to his death – and makes some startling realisations about his life. However, the tea shop is only a stop on the journey, not a final destination – and as deadline day nears, Wallace starts to realise he isn’t ready to move on.

At the start of the book, Wallace is a horrible person. He only cares about his company’s profit margin – not its employees. He has no real friends, an ex-wife he certainly isn’t on speaking terms with, and so little to do that he spends his entire life at work. However, the longer he spends with Hugo and his ragtag band at the tea shop – Mei, the newly qualified Reaper, Nelson, the ghost who refuses to cross over and leave his grandson, and Apollo, the adorable ghost dog – the more regrets Wallace starts to have. His distaste at their inability to bring him back to life turns to grudging respect, and finally to true friendship – and it turns out Wallace Price has a heart after all. The change is sweet, but it also happens surprisingly quickly, not feeling entirely authentic. Its hard to match the caricaturic villain Wallace is at the start of the book with the reasonably nice guy he’s become by the middle.The message that everyone can change for the better is lovely, but there isn’t quite enough nuance to carry it off.

Mei, Hugo, and Nelson, on the other hand, are all great characters. Mei is a spitfire, full of energy and determination and unwilling to take insolence from anyone – especially not the dead. Hugo is a calm, soothing presence with a lot if wisdom – but he’s also a bit blind to what’s in front of him, and as the story unfolds it’s clear that he’s almost as lonely as Wallace is. Nelson has a wicked sense of humour, but also an uncanny knowledge of human nature and a deep love for his family. Their little family is incredible, and together with Apollo its easy to see why Wallace wouldn’t want to leave.

The romance is choreographed from relatively early on and more subtly written than a lot of the rest of the book. I would argue that this isn’t really the sort of book that needs a romantic subplot, but its a sweet relationship and its always lovely reading about gay couples getting a happy ending.

Stories with an underlying message are difficult to write without coming across as preachy, and while ‘Under the Whispering Door’ just about manages to avoid this, the sacrifice is a book that feels a bit twee. Its a little too syrupy sweet and optimistic. There are darker passages – this is a story about death, and there are several subplots about grief including the death of a child and suicide – but some of their impact is lost because of the overarching sunshine-and-rainbows feel. Its a difficult balance, and some will probably love the optimism, but personally I was looking for a bit more depth and acknowledgement of just what a black pit grief can be.

One area TJ Klune is particularly strong at is humour – I regularly found myself laughing out loud while reading this. Admittedly, some of the jokes are a bit crass, but its hard not to laugh anyway. If you’re a fan of sitcoms, this would definitely be a book for you.

Overall, ‘Under the Whispering Door’ is a solid and fun read, but it doesn't quite have the depth to take it to the next level. Fans of sitcoms, happy stories, found family, and books with messages will likely enjoy it. Recommended as a light read after a difficult week.

4.5*

Thank you to Netgalley, Pan Macmillan and TJ Klune for my eARC copy of this beautiful book in exchange for an honest review....

Just to be clear.... this book isn't like House in the Cerulean Sea.... I see people comparing it and I think because the covers are a similar style people think it is... it is not. It has the writing style we know and love but please read on ....

I will try to do my best to review without spoilers.

This book is about Death and Grief as the foremost topics, with friendships and some slight humour thrown in along the way. Please check trigger warnings before reading.

I initially really hated the main character to the point I wanted to throw my tablet .....but as the story progresses we learn a lot from him and his growth! Throughout this book I laughed, I cried and at times I had to put it down before being able to continue as this book hit a few raw nerves for me.

It is a very thought provoking story and the journey of Grief and acceptance was done really well. Some say there are several stages to grief, some people go through them .... others get stuck. Grief is just as much a journey as life is.

I fell in love with the characters along the way and I also at times felt like I was back in the Green Creek Series with the certain repetitions which I loved ...(if you know, you know) :)

All in all this is another brilliant book by TJ Klune that I fell in love with.
Thank you :)