Under the Whispering Door is a book with an intriguing premise. An initially unlikeable protagonist who has not lived the life he should've, but doesn't realise this until it's too late when he meets the reaper and ferryman guiding him to the afterlife. It has a lot of fantasy and paranormal elements, but at its core is a very human story of regret, grief and love.

Recommended to fans of character-driven contemporary fiction. It is both heart warming and melancholy, full of powerful emotion.

Literally a hauntingly good story, Klune’s latest novel is unconventional in it’s characters, quirky in it’s writing style, and unequivocally heart wrenching from beginning to end. Full to the brim with the unexpected, this book reminded me of Alice in Wonderland meets Narnia in it’s slightly unhinged humor tangled with the realities of the human condition that we all grapple with. I fell in love with these heartfelt characters, the inexplicable magic system, and the reminder to be grateful for our one wild and precious life.

I don’t even have words, I feel so lucky to have gotten to read this early. The book follows Wallace who spent his life working and not doing…. much else. He’s bitter, and selfish. And then he dies, and there is more.

The amount of character growth is so incredible, and I was rooting for Wallace while still feeling sympathetic to him as he grieved aspects of life that he didn’t realize he didn’t experience. I fell in love with all the characters, and the writing was so gorgeous, I felt like I was in every scene, feeling every emotion. I ended the book hysterically crying out of grief and happiness, and I could not have predicted the ending in any way.

Although it was a bit slow in the beginning, the focus was on character growth and a gorgeous gorgeous slowburn and developing of relationships. When the true conflict resolution part arrived, the relationships were still heavily touched upon.

I think this is going to be one of my favorite books forever, it truly changed the way I think about life and about being selfless. I highly highly recommend this book and wish it was out already so I could have a physical copy to mark up.

When I think of a comfort book I always think of The House in the Cerulean Sea. Now I can add this book to that list as well! TJ Klune has done it again! When Wallace dies and a reaper comes to fetch him he is forced to come to terms with the fact that he is indeed no longer alive! Along with the help of Hugo the ferryman and Mei his reaper Wallace sets out to live a lifetime in just a matter of 7 days! This story is heartwarming and full of compassion! You instantly fall in love with each of the characters! If I could rate it higher than five stars I would!

When I first started reading Under the Whispering Door, I couldn't stand Wallace. By the end, I was crying with his bravery and selflessness.

This book is an incredible exploration of grief and healing and family. Wallace's growth throughout the book was incredible. The jump from selfish asshole to just kind of a dick happened maybe a little quickly at the start, but doesn't come across too bad considering the shock of his death. The growth from that point on though, including his friendships with the people at the tea shop and his selfless acts for Nancy and Cameron, was truly wonderful.

I was impressed with the careful balance of heartache and humour, something that Klune usually tends to do well but was on another level in this book. The growing relationship between Wallace and Hugo was beautiful to see, and was probably one of the most delicate that I've seen from Klune.

I'll definitely be purchasing this book when it comes out, and will be a regular reread.

“We don’t know most things and we never will” - TJ Klune

📖: Under the Whispering Door
✍️: TJ Klune

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ // 5

“We don’t know most things and we never will” - TJ Klune

Oh how I adore a “finding family” theme! Unlike a lot of readers reviewing this book, I’ve never read TJ Klune’s work before, but I will definitely be reading more. He finds a way to make the most out of his characters and creates pure charm doing so. This book about not only finding love but discovering the power of it was truly captivating. Very quirky characters and an interesting portrayal of the afterlife. Klune writes a novel that was so witty I couldn’t put it down. Although the beginning was a bit slow to start and the main character a definite pain, Wallace is softened by his peers that he finds in the most unexpected of ways. He discovers how not getting stuck in your own ways and comprising with others helps him become the best version of himself; something we could all benefit from learning. A story about redemption and never taking like for granted, this book is sure to bring a tear while leave you laughing for days!

Thank you to NetGalley, T.J. Klune, and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for this digital ARC.

Pub date: September 21, 2021

QUICK TAKE: this cover is real deceiving. Cerulean Sea 2 this is NOT. Instead, expect a gorgeously written meditation on life and death. This is a slower story, much more character-driven (with most of it taking place in a tea shop), but TJ Klune does such a beautiful job writing incredible, soulful characters, and while it took me to pivot from my expectations for this one, I ultimately found myself emotionally devastated by the end.

What a beautiful story of death, second chances, and grief. Despite the heavy themes, there is quite a lot of humor and whimsy I've come to love and expect from Klune. My only complaint about this otherwise wonderful book was the seemingly overnight love story.

4.5 (but I'm rounding up)

First off, I genuinely can't believe I got an advance copy for this. This was one of my most anticipated releases of this year 😭

Okay, so moving on to the actual review: If you've read T.J. Klune's work before, then you already know that this is going to be good. Only he can make a book about death and grief <em>feel</em> hopeful.

I've read some reviews that talked about how this story seemed to drag and was slow, but honestly, I personally loved that about this book. This IS slow. But since the themes and topics in this book are so heavy, this slow pacing allows for everything to marinate better. I savoured this pacing and the slow character development. It all felt natural. I loved all these characters and I actually panicked when I realized I was close to the 80% mark, because I didn't want this to end.

My only criticism is that we don't get much worldbuilding. We don't get to learn about how these supernatural and fantastical elements work outside of this context; the small tea shop in the middle of nowhere. I found myself thinking about Mei's past <spoiler>how she saw ghosts as a kid. Does that mean that they were newly dead people who gravitated towards to her, or was it because there were other Reapers and Ferrymen close by? I have a lot of questions!</spoiler>, other Ferrymen and Reapers. The overall "scale" of this world seemed to be lacking here, but honestly, it was something that I could live without.

And lastly, I loved seeing some of that <em>Green Creek</em> writing style shine through in a few sections :')

<em>I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</em>

Wallace Price is a lawyer that likes structure. He wears fancy suits, lives in a huge glass apartment, and has no time for anyone. He doesn't love, doesn't get involved, and is terribly lonely. Then, he dies.

A quirky reaper named Mei picks him up and brings him to Charon's Crossing. A Tea Shop in the middle of the forest maned by Hugo Freeman, also known as the ferryman. Wallace is tethered to this way house and is supposed to come to terms with who he was before crossing to what comes after.

The triumph of Under Whispering Door is in its characters. T.J. Klune does a wonderful job of filling a book that could sound morbid with wondrous light. The found family element is superb. Hugo is such a pure soul, you want to sit down and have tea with him. Mei is fierce and loyal. Nelson (Hugo's ghost grandad) and Apollo (Hugo's ghost dog) bring comic relief.

However, I wished there was more to the ultimate message of the book. Don't get me wrong. This book is funny and emotional, by the end of it I was so glad I was able to read this story. But, it's also a bit cliche. It's almost a collage of greek mythology, Neil Gaiman, The Good Place, and many many other references. There's a lot going on, but it's also skin deep.

I loved seeing Wallace grow, but we get little insight into his life before coming to the tea shop, aside from the uptight lawyer caricature. There's another secondary character that is revealed to have had such a profound life filled with details, and I wondered why the same wasn't done for Wallace. I know that the important thing really was about what happened after his death, but sometimes more context can bring even more emotion to a plot, and I think it would have been the case here.

Under the Whispering Door is a magically wonderful book, that will make you laugh, ponder, cry, and appreciate the tiny moments of joy in life. It's not perfect, it's not original, but it's a good time nonetheless.

At his own funeral, Wallace realizes that he's dead. He gets escorted to a tea shop by a reaper, Mei. There he meets Hugo, the tea shop owner who gives him room and time to be ready to move on to the afterlife. But as Wallace never really lived, it's going to take him some time.

Most people are going to start reading this and comparing it to the Cerulean Sea. This is a mistake. The author might be the same, but this book deals with accepting death. As Cerulean Sea deals with children and, therefore, a hopeful future, this deals with accepting that your hopeful future is over. If it sounds painful, that's because it is, but it's a good pain.

Klune is excellent when writing characters and settings. The people are lovely. They have an infinite amount of patience when dealing with people with grief. The location is cozy and warm.

Review based on an advanced reader copy provided through Netgalley for an honest review.

This book is slightly different from what I’m used to reading. But it was a really well written book. I loved the overall point and theme of the story. It’s very interesting to see the main character go from a snobby jerk to someone who has to accept death or even what it means to be alive, This novel brought a new perspective to me. To appreciate what I have now when I’m alive. The love story without the novel seemed a little weird to me. I couldn’t really understand what had happened but nonetheless it was a decent book. I do believe it was drawn out a lot and could of been cut down a few pages. A lot of it seemed repetitive in a way but that was only at certain parts overall it kept me in tuned and interested in the book and that’s all that matters.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for honest review

Under the Whispering Door manages to deliver a thought-provoking story about the complexity of grief and death in a way that made me laugh as much as I cried. Once again TJ Klune created a story that had me hooked from the very first page. The characters felt so real and I loved reading both their banter and their deep conversations. I would love to be able to sit down and have a cup of tea with Hugo. Wallace’s character growth throughout the story was incredible to watch and I was rooting for him every step of the way. Everything from the setting to the characters radiated warmth and made me reflect on life.

This story was such a joy to read and I never wanted to put it down. The vibe is similar to The House in the Cerulean Sea yet it leans more towards thought-provoking than heartwarming. Though, of course, both books include elements that are thought-provoking and heartwarming. I was incredibly impressed by some of the discussions that the characters had and their ability to make me think about the topics of death, grief, and what comes next.

I don't know how much I can say about this book other than the fact that I loved it. If you are at all interested in this book I would suggest you jump in knowing as little about the story as possible. Allow every moment of this book to come as a pleasant surprise. I would say, as a note to the publisher, I felt like the plot description gave away a bit too much of the story. As someone who has stopped reading most book descriptions for fear of being spoiled, I was frustrated that this description mentioned events that happen quite late in the story.

I loved this book and I would recommend it to everyone. You will not be disappointed!

Thank you Netgalley and the publishing house for a chance to read an ARC of this book!
This is a wondrously queer, exquisitely written book! The gorgeously illustrated cover says it all! T. J. Klune is a master of words and wit even when addressing heavier topics. The prose matched with the characterization and the setting which draws the reader in from the very first page. This was an emotional and fantastical read that I couldn’t put down!

This was breathtaking.

I’ve seen Klune’s work all over the internet, with nothing but rave reviews for his previous novel. I haven’t gotten around to reading it yet, but after seeing advanced copies available for his latest one, I had to go for it. Thank you so much to NetGalley for the EARC in exchange for an honest review!

The story follows Wallace, a man who dies. He is taken by his Reaper, Mei, to a tea shop in which he is given time to come to terms with his death and find his way onto the next phase - through the whispering door. (I got major ‘The Good Place’ vibes when reading this, which from my view is high praise indeed.) There are a mixture of interesting, complex and memorable characters featured, such as Nelson, Apollo and Hugo - but also the minor characters such as Nancy, Desdemona and the Manager made a significant impact despite only fleeting appearances.

I loved that this book somehow managed to be funny, cute, quaint, and comforting, but also heartbreaking. I got warm fuzzy feelings whilst reading, but also got my heart shattered. It’s the first time in a long time I’ve had to put a book down and have a cry. And I’m not talking about a single tear down my cheek; it was a full-on ugly cry. This is also the first book I’ve ever read with a trigger warning disclaimer at the start, which was really touching and very much appreciated.

Honestly, I can see why TJ Klune has received so much acclaim now, and I am now well and truly on that hype train. This is easily one of the best novels I’ve read all year. I can’t wait to buy a physical copy.

This is another unique, beautiful, sad and heartwarming story by T.J. Klune! I absolutely loved The House in the Cerulean Sea and am so grateful for the opportunity to read the wonderful Under the Whispering Door already as an ARC. (Thank you so much Macmillan-Tor/Forge and NetGalley! All opinions are completely my own though and I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.)

The main character in this contemporary story full of magic and fascinating beings is the mean, selfish and obnoxious workaholic lawyer Wallace Price, who has ruined all relationships he’s ever had and is living solely for his work. Until he suddenly dies of a heart attack and finds himself at his own funeral. From there a wonderful, magical and empowering tale evolves, with Wallace meeting the mysterious Mei, who brings him with her to the tea shop Charon’s Crossing and its owner the ferryman Hugo, and his dead granddad Nelson and dog Apollo. Together they try to help Wallace come to terms with his faith and help him cross over to the afterlife, all the while Wallace also slowly starts to reevaluate his whole life and realize the bad choices he’d made while living.

I have to admit that I struggled a bit with this story compared to The House in the Cerulean Sea, which stole my heart from the very first sentence. Mostly due to the fact that the main character was so dislikeable, bitter and mean for a long time. He does undergo a remarkable character development, and in the end, I absolutely loved him, but it took a bit too long for that to happen. The story also dragged quite a lot in the middle.

But after that, it was all back to the best kind of T.J. Klune magic again! The last part of the book was absolutely amazing! It was just pure perfection and so full of emotions, and I loved the romance so, so much. It must be one of the best endings ever! It both broke my heart and put it back together. Even though it was so sad and gripping it was also so full of love and hope, healings and new beginnings.

“Because life is senseless, and on the off chance we find something that does make sense, we hold onto it as tightly as we can. I found myself because of you.”

I also loved the whole concept of the story, and all the humor and the characters’ banter that is typical for a T.J. Klune book.

All in all, this was a beautiful, poignant and unique story about finding yourself and your purpose, and a homage to living your life to the fullest and the power of love and found families, no matter if they are alive or dead or somewhere in between.

This is a really pleasant, feel-good story about a dead man and what happens to him once he dies. Doesn't sound like something that should be so mellow, but somehow Klune manages it. The writing is vivid and calming even with the difficult topics of death, divorce, suicide, etc. There are a few fun turns in the story but overall, I think people will find the end satisfying. If you enjoyed [book:The House in the Cerulean Sea|45047384], you'll definitely like this one too.

Thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

Under the Whispering Door follows Wallace as he experiences what happens after he dies unexpectedly at work. At his funeral, he meets a reaper who takes him to Hugo, the ferryman. Wallace finds himself living for the first time in a while, but struggles with the fact he's dead.

This was one of those books where I am constantly tearing up throughout. The experiences each of the characters went through really make them stand out and you can't help but to feel for them. Obviously, this book deals with very tough subjects including death, murder, and suicide. It also made me think a lot about how life should be lived. Wallace was such a human character. He was a pretty crappy person in life but in death he really came into his own. I will never get over sweet gentle Hugo, I just want more of him. For me, this was a 4.5/5. It was so close to a 5 but I did find the beginning a little hard to get into.

If you like the idea of living to your fullest once your dead, tea in countless flavors, or want to fall in love with at least four new characters, then this is the one for you.

I received a digital copy of this book free from NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge in exchange for an honest review.

Ohhhh my heart. This book. This book.

Ok so let me say, I requested this one after reading The House in the Cerulean Sea and loving it so much, and so at the start of this one I was a bit sceptical and compared the two a lot. It felt a little similar in formula and some of the characters and I thought it was going to be very predictable. Which, let's be honest, it was. However - it sucked me in good after about a third. And then I was totally 100% in.

This is the story of Wallace. A Lawyer, and his death, and what comes next.

There are parts that crushed me. Like literally broke my heart into a million pieces and made me question why we are here on earth and how short a time it is that we get, and it made me start a small existential crisis - so keep that in mind if you are not in a good place (or if you are turning 46 while reading it). And particularly if you are grieving the loss of a loved one. If you are raw, don't go there yet.

BUT, then it also made me sooooo happy and my heart felt so full in other parts. Happy and sad tears were rife whilst reading this one. I adored all of the characters and just the way it is written - my goodness, he sure can write an amazing story. And there are parts that I think would be incredibly healing for people who are grieving (if read at the right time).

All that being said. I also feel awful even just reading or reviewing this one after the Authors comments about his inspiration for Cerulean Sea. I struggled with this fact the whole time. Can we separate Authors from their books? Or Artists from their work? I don't know. That's a whole separate conversation. All I can say is, even though I tried not to, I really did love this book. I am not a fan of the Author.

Under The Whispering Door was a heartwarming, thought-provoking read, and I really enjoyed it! As with TJ Klune's other works that I've read, the character development and "connection" messages are really welcome and very empathetic. This work involving feelings of grief and handling life after death seems like a really thoughtful work, really processing through feelings on those subjects, and I found it relatable. I loved the humor and poignancy of House in the Cerulean Sea, and this is in that vein of life-affirming feel-good but also crying moments. After the year that was 2020, and the ongoing chaos that is 2021, this was a very welcome read and I enjoyed it thoroughly. I thought the diverse representation where it was present in this work was handled with sensitivity from this author. Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for this ARC!