Under The Whispering Door
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Let me start by saying I have not yet read House in the Cerulean Sea which I think helped in not comparing the two. Second, I’ve heard about the authors comments about his inspiration for House in the Cerulean Sea. I went into this with no bias whatsoever.

Wallace is/was a lawyer who passes away suddenly from a heart attack and finds himself in the in between, Charon’s Crossing Tea Shop, a whimsical and funny looking house in the middle of nowhere. I don’t know what I expected this book to do to me. But it definitely wasn’t to love the characters so much. The character growth I saw not only from the main character but the other characters as well, was beautifully written. What would you do with life if you knew your time was limited? Would you go after what you want? Would you give up and just stew? Would you be totally different person than what you were while alive?

The book deals with death. A lot of it as it is the premise. It lightly touches on death by suicide, death of a young child, someone being brutally murdered & mental health issues such as panic and anxiety attacks. They are subjects that are there but not too heavily. If any of these should trigger you, it would be a wise idea to steer clear.
Things I loved:
-Character growth not only from main character but all characters.
-the love between Hugo and Wallace
-the witty and fun banter between Wallace and Nelson & Apollo
-the tears and emotion that tore from within me at 1am
-the amazing writing style
-the characters overall. I LOVED them so much
-the diverse characters
-LGTBQIA Representation

You can expect fun, humor, but overall love. Love for what we are meant to do while we still can…whether you are alive…or dead.

Thank you Netgalley & Macmillan-Tor/Forge for the amazing chance to read this book in turn for an honest opinion!

4.5
This book is a warm cup of tea on a cold day. I'm having a hard time processing the emotional wringer I went through reading this.

I was worried that this book would ignite my anxiety that I have around existentialism, but it really didn't. It was so surprisingly... relieving. Death and grieving are really hard topics to tackle and to tackle well, and I think this book does such a good job of making the reader go through the emotional journey Wallace goes on.

My one complaint would be that I wished Hugo and Wallace had worked together to help the two people they needed to help instead of the focus being solely on Wallace. That part of the book felt a bit rushed and I wished it had slowed down a bit. I also wasn't the biggest fan of the ending, weirdly enough (though I did like the epilogue).

Thank you to netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

The first book I read by TJ Klune was "The house in the cerulean sea" and I LOVED it. I loved it so much that I forced my book club to pick it. I was very excited to get the ARC for this. While I didn't love it as much as The house in the cerulean sea, it was very adorable and uplifting. These are just easy, feel good reads that still have substance, and reading one is like settling in with a warm blanket and a mug of tea.

Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune is the book about loss and grieving that you didn’t know you needed.

Wallace is a highly successful, thoroughly dislikeable man. Even after death, he’s a cranky jerk. To Mei, the reaper who collects him from his funeral. To the other ghosts. And even to Hugo, the ferry man charged with helping Wallace accept his death and move on to his next chapter.

But things don’t go quite as planned. Wallace finds reasons to stay. The biggest one being Hugo.

Following The House in the Cerulean Sea, this is the second book in what TJ Klune has called his kindness trilogy. Where the first book tackled prejudice and the uncaringness of bureaucracy, this one looks at living, dying, grieving, and loss. Weightier subjects but he’s again handled them with amazing deftness and a great dollop of humor.

The banter in Under the Whispering Door is so good! Wallace embodies the outrage of a drenched cat. Nelson, the ghost of Hugo’s grandfather, is a crafty old man at his finest. And Hugo is love and kindness in a cup of tea.

The relationship that develops between Wallace and Hugo is so incredibly heartwarming without ever sliding into being maudlin. And the found family of all of the characters, so willing to give everything to and for each other was profoundly moving.

Under the Whispering Door will wreck you in the most amazing, banter-filled, heart-wrenching yet kind way possible. It has it all:
• Found family
• Queer love
• Tea talk
• Ghost dog!

HIGHLIGHTS
~tea for all, and all for tea
~it’s okay not to be okay
~All The Feels
~fear the Manager
~what happens if you’re a better person as a ghost than you ever were alive?

If you’re reading this, you belong to one of three groups; either you’ve been following Klune’s work for a while, or you’ve read The House in the Cerulean Sea, or you’ve never read any of his books at all. How you should approach Under the Whispering Door varies depending on which group you’re in.

If you’ve read two or more of Klune’s books, you don’t really need to be here; you don’t need me to tell you that Under the Whispering Door is excellent, because by now it should be obvious that everything Klune writes is excellent; and you don’t need me to warn you to brace yourself for some serious Feels because again, you already know that everything Klune writes is packing hardcore Feels. Stock up on soft things to squeeze very hard during intense moments, handkerchiefs, and your preferred brand of chocolate, and you’re good to go.

If you’ve only read The House in the Cerulean Sea, then here is what you must know: yes, Under the Whispering Door has the same soft whimsy that so thoroughly captured your heart in House. It is present in the cheerful strangeness of the teahouse’s architecture. It is present in The Bunny Costume. It is present in the baffling, and yet somehow perfectly correct, placement of the eponymous Door.

But the gentleness of Under the Whispering Door is of a different kind to the gentleness in House. House is a snuggly, hopeful book, just a tiny bit silly, a lot of fun, and intrinsically optimistic. It is a feel-good book. It has lots of important things to say, but when you turn the final pages, you close the book not feeling overwhelmed, but glowing and comforted and a bit steadier on your feet.

The gentleness of Under the Whispering Door is a merciless gentleness. This is a book that wraps you up in a blanket, not to make you feel cosy, but because that is what we do when things hurt. This is a book that holds your hand, not to be friendly, but because we all need a hand to hold when we’re facing death and grief. This is a book that does not tell you it’s going to be okay, because nothing about death is okay. There is sweetness, and there is peacefulness, and there is a lot of laughter, but it is fundamentally a different kind of book than House.

You need to know that, because if you go in expecting a book just like House wearing a different dress, you’re going to be disappointed. And you’ll miss how beautiful Under the Whispering Door is, just because it doesn’t look like what you wanted.

And if you’re in the camp that has never read a Klune book before…this might just be the perfect place to start.

Wallace is not an especially nice person when we first meet him, but rather than being frozen as he was, he lives and grows far more in death than he ever did while he was alive. Gone from a big-shot lawyer to a ghost confined to a very strange tea-shop, it’s pretty understandable that he freaks out a little. But he doesn’t have to go through the Door upstairs until he’s ready.

He’s not ready yet. That’s okay.

He’s also surrounded by an incredible cast of characters; Hugo, who owns the tea-shop and is a ferryman, responsible for helping ghosts be ready to move on; Mei, who is a reaper, someone who collects the deceased and brings them to a ferryman; Nelson, Hugo’s deceased grandfather; and Apollo, who is the sweetest ghost-dog to ever haunt anyone. Klune always rocks when it comes to characters, and Under the Whispering Door is no exception; this is not a fast-paced story, but it’s a quietly powerful character-driven one, and it works. It doesn’t happen instantly, but the way the characters come together, how they form a family, is just beautiful. The way they play off each other seems so natural that it becomes difficult to remember that Wallace is a new addition to the family, rather than having been there from day one.

What we see of the workings of the afterlife is a mixture of eerie and whimsical; Klune strikes just the right balance while neatly sidestepping issues of religion, giving us enough pieces to make it clear that there is a system behind everything…without trying to explain what that is. Which I think is the right approach; Klune isn’t trying to explain death away, never tries to challenge the fear and mystery that is intrinsic to it. This is a book about coming to terms with what death is, and death is scary and mysterious. There’s no getting around or away from that, and Under the Whispering Door doesn’t try.

That’s why there is no way for this book not to hurt. It hurts, because Klune is just too damn good at tapping into emotion, at making us feel. And this time, we have to feel things about something none of us really know how to deal with, something we’re all scared of, something that hurts.

And that’s okay.

There are rom-com elements, but this is not a romantic comedy. There is plenty of heart-break, but this is not a tragedy. There are one or two things which are horrifying, but this book is definitely not horror. It’s about regrets and loss and yearning, love and family and tea. It’s about how it’s okay to not be okay. It’s about opening your heart up even when it hurts. It’s about grief.

It’s a beautiful story. It is going to hurt your heart, more than once.

But it’s very, very worth it.

Content warnings for death, suicide, depression, and anxiety.

Wallace Price dies and is collected by Reaper Mei and brought to Charon's Crossing, a tea shop owned by Ferryman Hugo. Throughout the journey of the book, Wallace begins to live and find himself in ways that he wasn't able to when he was among the living.

Wallace in the first half of the book is quite simply an asshole. He has spent his life looking out for only himself and his career, to the detriment of everyone else around him, including himself. He dies alone in his office on a Sunday and the main story arc starts when he is collected by Mei, a Reaper, at his funeral. She brings him to Charon's Crossing where he meets Nelson, Apollo (an adorable dog), and Hugo, the Ferryman who is supposed to help him on his journey to what's next for Wallace.

This book is wonderful and insightful. The characters are diverse, fully realized, and complex. As the synopsis says, it is both heartwarming and heartbreaking, sometimes in the same paragraph. I laughed, I teared up, and I couldn't put it down towards the end.

Reading the House in the Cerulean Sea last year was an absolute joy, so I was excited to check out TJ Klune's next book (out September 21st). Under the Whispering Door didn't have the same level of whimsy and quirky humor, but it really delivered on touching, wholesome moments. The book focused on what happens after death and all the emotions that come with it, and we're introduced to several memorable characters that you can't help but root for. Even though there wasn't a ton of action on every page, I enjoyed the journey and was all smiles by the end.

Never have I read a book that made me go through so many emotions. I just saw a review that said this book felt like a hug and I couldn't have summed it up better. The promise was so simple and yet so beautifully executed. Tj Klune masters at creating characters so well written and with so much depth. The house in the cerulean sea was good, but this one is better. I can't wait to get my hands on it.

TJ Klune is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. Under the Whispering Door is only the second of his books that I’ve read, but he knocked it out of the park both times with charming plots and lovable characters. I can’t wait for the release of this book so I can start buying it for people.

This book was the warm hug I didn't realize I needed. Death is such a complicated subject. Under the Whispering Door is complex, thought-provoking, and emotional. TJ Klune tugged at my heartstrings with this book and I honestly can't put into words how much I appreciated it. My heart is still aching.

The writing was stunning and the story is incredibly unique. I would do anything in the world to have a cup of tea with Hugo Freeman and Wallace Price it a character I never thought I would fall in love with. If you enjoyed 'House in the Cerulean Sea' you'll love this book.

A really fun and heartwarming story! There were times when I laughed out loud and times when I shed a few tears. This is a story about a self centered lawyer, Wallace, who cares only about his job at the expense of everyone who underperforms or makes a mistake. When Wallace dies unexpectedly. he is taken to a way station by Mei, a Reaper, before moving along in his journey. There he meets Hugo, a ferryman, who is there to help Wallace accept his death, and move on with his journey. The story is well written and I really liked the characters, especially Apollo and Nelson. I would highly recommend this book!

I think this is a book that a lot of people are going to love. It gives me similar vibes to The Midnight Library - a book about death and grief and acceptance - also a book I liked but didn’t love.

The first half of the book was very repetitive and dragged. But the second half moved along nicely and I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next.

When Wallace Price - a jerk lawyer - dies he struggles with crossing over. Guided by a house fell of ghosts and humans who help ghosts, this book is a world of magic and loveable characters. There were plenty of times that I laughed out loud as well.

I've literally finished this book and a bit speechless at how a book is able to generate so many emotions. It made me laugh, cry and feel fuzzy inside. I loved it and haven't really wiped the smile off my face when I think of it.
I wasn't sure if I liked the direction this book was going when I first met Wallace, the arrogant and unlikable main character. Was this going to be cheesy and predictable where he becomes "good" in the end?
As I read on, I was soon to find that the answer was no; at least I didn't think so.
Instead, I walked alongside Wallace through his journey after his death, where he meets Hugo (his ferryman to the afterlife), Mei (the Reaper), Nelson (a ghost) and Apollo (a ghost dog). Together, through a range of experiences, they learn, they bond and they grow.
This story has a handful of key characters from different walks of life who come together and belong together. By the end of the book, I was reflecting on many aspects of life and how I am living.
"What will you do with the time you have left?"

*4.5 stars

Under the Whispering Door is a charming and heartwarming novel that will most likely give you an existential crisis.

This book provided the same sweet and delightful feelings that The House in the Cerulean Sea invokes but with a deeper and darker premise. It’s the type of book where you will cry just as hard as you’ll laugh.

Klune writes such magical and charming characters that you can’t help but fall in love with. I was emotionally invested the moment I was introduced to Hugo and the found-family-ish dynamic he has with Mei, Nelson, and Apollo. and like the setting in The House in the Cerulean Sea, I found myself wishing that I could step right into this world.

This book tackles large philosophical ideas without feeling too cheesy or cliche, and it tells a strong and important message that isn’t shoved down your throat.

My one small issue lies with Wallace’s character. First, I felt like he was a little inconsistent with the image established in the first chapter of the book. His character development was overall enjoyable to read, but I wish it was more extreme. I wanted him to be more harsh and cold at the start of the novel because his personal growth feels lacking in some areas.

Overall, I was not disappointed by this novel and would absolutely recommend it. If you enjoyed The House in the Cerulean Sea, I can guarantee that you’ll love this story.

T.J Klune’s books know how to hit you in the feels. The House in the Cerulean Sea was my favorite book of 2020 and I was afraid to tackle his next book in case it couldn’t live up to my love for Cerulean but this comes awfully close. So much love, humor, found family, in-depth discussions about life and death and what it all means. My heart might burst. So so good!
Wallace Price was kind of a jerk when he was alive. A workaholic who takes everyone and everything around him for granted. One day he has a heart attack and drops dead on the spot. A Reaper comes to collect Wallace from his funeral and take him to the other side, or so Wallace thinks, but the Realer actually takes him to a small village in the mountains where a little tea shop exists and is run by Hugo, a ferryman who helps souls cross over. Wallace isn’t ready to give up the life he was barely living until Hugo shows him all the things he was missing. The Manager gives Wallace one week before he has to cross over, and Wallace sets out to live the life he didn’t before his time is up.
It was heartbreaking and heartwarming and everything in between. With lots of humor and depth and so much empathy and warmth that Klune is known for.
“it’s not about any one person. It’s about all of us , and what we do for one another. The door doesn’t discriminate. It’s there for everyone who is brave enduro look up at it. Some people lose their way, but that’s not their fault. They’re scared. My God, of course they are! How could they not be? Everyone loses their way at some point, and it’s not just because of their mistakes or decisions they make. It’s because they’re horribly, wonderfully human. And the one thing I’ve learned about being human is we can’t do this alone.”
Thanks to Tor books and Netgalley for this Arc in exchange for my review.

This is the story of Wallace and his journey after his life ends. Wallace was not a good person while he was alive, so the main focus of his story is becoming a better person in the afterlife. The humorous nature of the writing draws you into his story immediately as we get his inner dialogue while he is trying, somewhat unsuccessfully, to fire one of his employees in his law firm, which is one of his last acts before he dies. The rest of the story focuses on Wallace's journey after death and is filled with humor, humility, and opportunity for Wallace to become a better version of himself ultimately.

I enjoyed this character-driven story of the relationships Wallace builds in the afterlife, as well as the humor along the way. However, I was expecting more of a romantic storyline. Instead, it feels like the romance happens all of a sudden with no build up to it. I think I would have liked to have watched that relationship develop a bit more, and I would have liked to have watched Wallace have more opportunities to show how he might grow into a better person through the relationships he has with the people he encounters after death. I did really enjoy the ending though, and while I was hoping it would end how it did, I wasn't expecting it to.

I don't normally read fantasy books, but I'm glad I read this enjoyable story. I definitely would like to go back and read TJ Klune's earlier novel, The House in the Cerulean Sea. Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Books for the advanced copy of this novel!

Synopsis: Wallace is a lawyer, and he is a very serious lawyer. Think of a caricature of a lawyer, throw in an extra dash of bluntness, workaholism, and lack of empathy and you have a good picture of Wallace. He has no value for friends, he cares about expense over value, and he views life as a machine to produce wealth that should run as efficiently as possible. But very quickly his 53 year old heart wears out and he finds himself to be dead and on a journey to fully cross over to the other side.

The afterlife passageway is not at all to his liking, and he just doesn't understand it. He can’t do what he wants, he can’t go where he wants, he can’t wear what he wants, but somehow he also can’t bring himself to complete his journey. A cast of characters help him grow in an understanding of life and all its nuances - and he’s faced with the final inevitability of moving on.

This was a fun read, and while it dealt with the concept of death, grief, life, and love in a solid and fairly compelling story, something about it just didn’t quite hit me the way that I expected. The House in the Cerulean Sea was my first Klune read and there was such a narrative of acceptance, whereas this story felt more like a case for empathy. Personally, I’m not a big fan of stories where the main purpose is to convince the MC they should have empathy - granted that’s a very bare bones version of this story, but that’s how it hit me.

That being said, there was a whimsy and beauty in the way that Klune portrays a vision of the afterlife. While I have yet to lose someone close to me, I imagine I could find comfort in this version of events, and I imagine this hits so much different if you've lost someone close to you!

Ultimately a solid read that I have no regrets about reading, and I would say walk don't run to get your copy of this one!

Have you ever read a book you didn’t know you needed? Under the Whispering Door was that book for me. I lost my father 10 years ago and reading this book helped me to better understand my grief. The story of Wallace and his life after death was more than I had hoped and expected. The book is beautifully written with poignancy interspersed with humor. A must read for everyone!

“What will you do with the time you have left?”

Beautiful. Poignant. TJ Klune is quickly becoming an auto buy author for me. His writing is warm, funny, moving. The characters he brings to life are ones you can’t help but fall in love with. The way he writes about death, grief, and moving on is eloquent and will make you question how you are living your own life. Definitely be on a lookout for this one when it comes out in September. It’s not one to miss!

I just finished this book and my heart is about to explode! Tears! So many tears! I had a huge lump in my throat for the entire last half of this book! This book is about grief, and finding a family when you have no one. About learning to live and learning to let go. About understanding to accept things you don't want to. I loved it SO much! As good as The House in the Cerulean Sea! I may have discovered my new favorite author! Love TJ Klune!