This is a delightful, funny and poignant look at death, what may happen afterwards, the memories and regrets we hold and how it is never too late to change or find love, even as a ghost.

Wallace Price is a callous, driven business man with no time for the trivial things in life. He dies suddenly from a heart-attack and finds himself witnessing his own funeral where he meets a young woman who says she is a newly trained Reaper and her first lone assignment is to help him cross to the other side (or through the Whispering Door) and on to the next step. She takes him to a tea shop where he meets Hugo and a range of very quirky and cleverly written characters both human and ghost. Parts of this are laugh out loud funny and some you almost need tissues for and you leave the last page with a powerful urge to appreciate everything in your life while you have it and take nothing for granted.

Like The House in Cerulean Sea this is easily a YA crossover.
A totally exceptional and perfect read in every way. Just loved it.

I absolutely adored The House in the Cerulean Sea last year and it was easily one of my top favorite reads of 2020. I was so excited when I read the synopsis of Under the Whispering Door - and, oh my goodness, the cover is wonderful.

T.J. Klune crafts his characters with such care, emotion, and vulnerability. I grew to love Wallace (though, admittedly, not as much as Linus in Cerulean Sea) and his growth as a character is a sweet thing to watch. The tea shop and the tea garden are an amazing little place -- how I'd love to visit one afternoon! Once again, Klune is a master at creating a setting worthy of dreaming about.

And, Klune's humor is once again right on point. However, this book deals with some heavier grief and regret and emotion than those who loved Cerulean Sea might be prepared for. I still think it's worth a read, but do be warned.

We meet Wallace as a curmudgeonly lawyer. Very quickly, we are transported to Wallace's sparsely attended funeral. And he is incensed. Luckily, his very own Reaper is there to collect him and take him on a journey. Wallace and his Reaper flash back to a couple times in his life (which I think could have been expanded a bit). This immediately reminded me of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol and I think it was a clever twist on a classic story idea. Eventually, the Reaper and Wallace arrive at Charon's Crossing and we enter a tea shop like none other and meet some very wonderful characters. For a bit, I didn't think all the loose ends were going to tie up, but Klune brings everything together in the end.

I'm not typically of a fan of the Fantasy genre, but I consider this book to be a "fantasy-light" (I also considered Cerulean Sea this) and I quite enjoyed the believable fantasy world Klune creates.

Under the Whispering Door does not beat The House in the Cerulean Sea, for me, but if you enjoyed Cerulean Sea and Klune's writing, you'll likely enjoy Whispering Door.

My sincere appreciation to NetGalley, Macmillan-Tor Forge, and T.J. Klune for an advanced reader copy. Such a fun experience and this book will definitely be going on my library shelves in September.

This book was a heartwarming story about life, love, death, second chances and forgiveness. Wallace, a grouchy perfectionist lawyers dies and awakes finding himself at his funeral. There are only a handful of people present, one of those being Mei his assigned reaper. She is to take him to
Hugo the ferryman. Wallace then has to decide what to do with his after life and time at the tea house. He finds himself questioning many things about his previous life, mostly how he was. He learns to make friends, find love and offer himself forgiveness all while helping others as he decides how to proceed to the whispering door. There were so many laugh out loud moments, moments of tears and huge smiles while reading this lovely book.
Thank you Netgalley and publishing house for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of this book.

Wallace has always been a great lawyer. Friend, husband, person? Not so much. Suddenly he is no longer in his office though, but attending a funeral. His own funeral? When a reaper shows up to help him move on, Wallace is nowhere near ready. He hasn’t lived enough of his life. Will Hugo and his cast of characters be able to cure this curmudgeons soul?

My goodness, T.J. Klune, you have my whole entire heart. I really thought that no book would ever be able to come close to The House In The Cerulean Sea, but I have been proven wrong. This book was once again, so different from anything I have read before. Much like Cerulean Sea it is also a big ol’ warm hug that will break you and then put you right back together. I loved every character, and felt like I was sitting right there in the Tea house with them all. This book will make you laugh, cry, and then fill your cup with warmth and happiness. I’m sorry to tell you this Klune, but I’m going to need you to stop sleeping, eating, bathing, and just write because I need more Warm Hug books in my life! RUN, don’t walk to preorder this one folks!

Having heard of TJ Klune's previous work, but not having read it, I thought I would check out the latest upcoming release since I know many people really enjoyed Under the Cerulean Sea. However, what I was not ready for was the absolute enchanting nature of this author's writing.
I have never enjoyed a book so thoroughly with no previous knowledge of it before.
This book made me cry. And when I say cry, I mean sob. The beautiful character development that Klune creates is unlike anything I have experienced before. It's unconventional because this book takes a look at death like we have not seen since Christopher Moore's "A Dirty Job". The writing is reminiscent of Moore in that it takes a view of supernatural phenomena like death and the afterlife through a new lens and makes death more approachable and understandable.
The story follows Wallace, who dies, and who we very quickly realise did not live a very fulfilling or kind life. His path through the book takes him to meet Mei, Hugo, Nelson, and Apollo at a waystation between death and the afterlife.
I'm not normally one for allegorical books, but this was a special book. I felt myself drawn to reading it and honestly plowed through it much faster than normal, despite reading other books at the same time.
I wholeheartedly recommend this wonderful read to anyone - whether you believe in something after this life or not - as a way to look at how to live your life to it's best.

This ebook was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Having read more than one book by TJ. Klune I buckled myself up for what I was about to read when I settled in to read this book. And like the others this book did not leave me disappointed at all. It was a beautiful emotional gutpunch dealing with love, death and moving on in a fantastically romantic way I was not expecting. Highly recommend.

TJ Klune must be blessed by a fairy godmother for be being able to make my day with everything he writes. Before this work, I fell in love with its work Horatio and The Extraordinary. He has owned the skill of combining comedy, charming characters, and plot to make readers feel overwhelmingly content when the book ends. And as much as I give him praise for his writing skills and the ability to make me chuckle out loud. This book was not my favorite of his but it still holds Klune's typical charm.

Wallace is a character that is constantly overworking, bitter, and overall a jerk. I loved the character development in him. But, what I really adore what seeing his interaction with all our other characters. Which many of them are extremely humorous to me.

Plot-wise this isn't the strongest. The god-like power and dimension that manages death and the afterlife can be confusing at times. I will also admit that the big climax came a little out of nowhere for me and the ending was a little disappointing. The main morals of this story are that you only live one life and embracing death since it's a step of life. And for me, the ending didn't follow up with the morals presented.

As I said, this book isn't my favorite of Klune but I would be lying if I said that I did not cry, laugh or smile during my reading. The plot might have disappointed me but nothing can be Klune charm. And since he clearly has not lost it yet, this book will get a high rating and I will still be picking up the next thing he writes. Read this book if you have been bewitched by his prior novels and want the same vibe. But it won't be your favorite.

P.S Charon is my dream hangout spot so if anyone can point me to a similar location I will forever be in your debt. Also, I'm sorry if this review seems contradicting.

Thank you, NetGalley, Macmillan-Tor/Forge, and TJ Klune for giving me this arc.

There is so much to love about TJ Klune’s Under the Whispering Door that I almost don’t know where to begin. I feel like I’ll never be able to put into words how much this book touched me. The story is exceptional, as are the characters, themes, and messages. It’s a story that leaves a lasting impression and made me a fan of the author for life. It’s profound and touching, emotional and moving. At times, it’s laugh-out-loud funny, and other times it’s unbelievably sad – in short, it is an outstanding read that made me feel all the feels.

Filled with loss and love, grief and happiness, and so much more, this book left me in a puddle of tears but also completely content and happy. I love books that evoke such strong and varied emotions. Months ago, one of my book blogging friends talked about the power of Klune’s writing, and I must wholeheartedly agree with her.

Wallace is not a very good person. He is selfish and so focused on his career that he thinks of nothing else. Upon his death, Wallace’s spirit is taken to a remote tea shop which serves as a resting place before a person moves on. His character is so unlikeable at the start of the story, and the way he acts and treats people is unappealing. At the tea shop, Wallace meets Hugo, the ferryman who will guide him, and an eclectic cast of characters who help Wallace find his way. However, Wallace isn’t ready to move on, and as he stays at the teahouse must face his past, his reality, and what lies ahead.

Wallace grows and changes so much throughout the story. In death, he learns what is most important in life, and it is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Other characters in the story are equally interesting, and I found myself as invested in their stories as I was in Wallace’s. Every single character, good, bad, and in-between, is compelling and stole my heart. And I love how all of their stories and experiences contribute to Wallace’s growth and understanding of the important things in life.

The found family is one of my favorite parts of this story. I love each character in Wallace’s new life and how each contributes to their family unit. They have distinct personalities and skills, and each helps Wallace in their own way learn what is most important in life and beyond. Hugo is so kind, supportive, hopeful, and understanding, and I love his quiet strength. His dog Apollo is so sweet and funny, and Hugo’s grandfather is hysterical. I love all of his silly antics and his loving way of taking people under his wing. Mei, Wallace’s reaper, is quirky, affectionate, and so funny. Even Wallace found his way into my heart, especially once he found his. Individually, these characters are well-layered, interesting, and unique. Together, they are an exceptional unit with a strong and unwavering connection.

The story examines how people cope with death, how people grieve and heal, and how people prepare for the unknown. Death is unavoidable, but everyone deals with it differently, which this book highlights perfectly. The story also explores so many deep and universal questions that I think all readers can relate to. What is our purpose? Why are we here? What comes after death? What does it mean to be a good person? Simple yet profound concepts that many people face at one point or another in their lives become thought-provoking plot points throughout the book. I love how Klune weaves these tough topics into the story with skill and honesty, creating a well-rounded, deftly layered, and unique narrative.

I adored Under the Whispering Door! It’s is everything I never knew I always needed, beautifully written, poignant, and more than I ever expected. A powerful contemporary fantasy, intricate and nuanced, it made me laugh and cry, sometimes at the same time, and it has so many wonderful layers. It’s a novel about love, loss, finding oneself, and faith. Thank you so much to NetGalley, Tor Books, and TJ Klune for an advanced copy of this brilliant book in exchange for my honest review.

It is not often a book leaves such an impact on me as this book has done. I'm not sure any words I can put together will do it justice, but I will try. This story felt, to me, like a great big hug or an excellent cup of tea. It brought me sad tears and happy tears and overall captures the whimsey and magic that I love most from T. J. Klune. This heartwarming story of found family, redemption, and joy means so much and if you enjoyed The House in the Cerulean Sea you will most definitely enjoy this book. Klune has a way with character that makes me want to leap into the pages and never leave. I cannot recommend this book enough, I give it a perfect five stars.

I never thought I'd say this, but Under the Whispering Door somehow beat The House in the Cerulean Sea as my favorite Klune book! I think particularly the reason for my heightened enjoyment/ closeness to this story is because at the time of reading this, I had a family member go into hospice. I know hospice and death are two different things, but they are closely tied to the end of one's life in different ways. Wallace's journey helped me to come to terms with this impending familial death, and I'll be in debt to it for giving me that clarity. It gave me comfort honestly in a dark period/ headspace, so I have this deeper, more fulfilling connection. Klune is truly marvelous at weaving together tough stories of the human condition/ experiences. He finds a way to reveal the truth in an otherwise extremely complicated situation. I cannot wait for more books from him.

*Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an early copy of this book*

This book was amazing in every way possible. Such a funny and heartwarming story. If you liked House by the Cerulean Sea, you'll probably love this too!
I love the character development of Wallace as he interacts with rest of the characters. He starts out as an asshole and grows into a better version of himself.
The concept of death is a main element of this book, I can't say that it was my favorite take on the concept but it was relatively well done.
The romance is really cute and I very much enjoyed it.

I loved "The House in the Cerulean Sea" and was so hoping that I would love "Under the Whispering Door" just as much. TJ Klune did not disappoint. And the best part is that they are completely different stories, and not just a re-written rerun.

Warren starts out so tremendously unlikeable that it's hard to find any sympathy for his situation. His transformation after being at Charon's Crossing through his interactions with Hugo, Mei, Nelson and Apollo wasn't rushed and felt very natural to me.

I loved the romantic aspect of the story; how Warren and Hugo grew to love each other slowly beginning with admiration of each other's character and actions.

TJ Klune has written a beautiful book with characters you will fall in love with, and a story that makes you wish you were in it.

This book had me intrigued as soon as I knew it was about ghosts. It's a very similar structure to House in The Cerulean Sea: man has a (kind of terrible/boring) life, which get's interrupted and he ends up at a unique house with even more unique inhabitants. The main character is able to grow and become a better version of themselves and finds a home.

I do want to throw in a slight trigger warning as this book deals with death and grief, and it may be too much for some.

...Spoilers below...
T.J. Klune is excellent at writing descriptions of locations that make them come alive in the reader's mind. I love the tea shop and that Hugo finds everyone their perfect tea, that part was the most comforting to me. It makes me wonder what my tea would be. Probably something similar to Wallace's peppermint candy cane or something citrus. I appreciate that Klune makes all of the characters memorable, and I immediately fell in love with Nelson, Mei, and Apollo. I even looked forward to Desdemona showing up by the end.

I would have loved to see more of Wallace's development, which I felt was a bit rushed or fast-forwarded over. Wallace helping Mei in the kitchen, playing with Apollo, and learning from Nelson were some of my favorite parts and I would have enjoyed more of it.

The husks and Cameron's suicide story I think was well handled, but I would still caution people as it may be too much to read for some (or just not in the right time of their life to read this particular book).

Never thought I would be crying over ghosts, but here we are. I'm going to miss Apollo the most.

I loved the Manager and the fantasy element of him being a super powerful being that's normal form is a stag, but he appears to them as a young boy. I was hoping he would let Wallace stay and I'm glad it was so they could help the husks as a team. Very satisfying ending.

This was one of my most anticipated book after loving The House in the Cerulean Sea!
For this one, it was more of a slow burn and it took me longer to like it.
It tackles darker issues too. Death and grief are the main themes here but the novel, just like The House in the Cerulean Sea is very hopeful and quirkily charming too.
I loved the tea shop, the atmosphere and the care Hugo takes to grow and make tea, I loved their little found family. At first, however, I wasn’t really invested in Wallace’s story and the pacing didn't help because during the first half I really didn’t know where it was going and felt like nothing was happening. After a hundred pages, everything is back on track and halfway through I was completely charmed.
I would have liked some things to be more subtle at times, the lesson we learn don't always need to be explicitly put into words.
Some scenes were truly extraordinary and touching ans heart-warming and some others were a bit more conventional and less ground breaking.

Overall, I really enjoyed it and got misty eyes at one moment that really touched me personally. I loved the characters so much even though the plot was sometimes a bit weak. I definitely recommend it.

I’ve not read any of Klune’s previous work, but if Under The Whispering Door is anything to go by, I’d read his shopping list, his writing is that spectacular.

It is such an unusual plot idea, that somehow seems like it should be a really obvious plot idea, but this is definitely the first of its kind I’ve read. It is so emotional and moving but not over the top. It’s a fantasy that is so installed in real life and proves to us that it’s never too late to make the life you wanted.

This was being marketed as a LGBTQ+ book, and I’ll be honest, I didn’t even notice. If I read a book with a male/female relationship, I don’t consciously notice it, it just is. This just happens to be a male/male relationship and I can understand just how important it is for a reader to see this portrayed as normal in a mainstream book.

Considering most of this book is set in just the one location with the same half a dozen characters, it could have become quite dull, but it never ventures anywhere near dull-town.

The characters are - ironically - so full of life. For a work of fiction - in other words a literal figment of Klune’s imagination - it is hugely touching and really gets you thinking about your own life and how you would want to be remembered once your time is up.

There are lots of books I could see being made into films but this one I saw clearer than any I’ve read. I could see the characters, the house, even the emotions had clear characteristics of their own.

I didn’t want to read this book quickly, I wanted to stay with it forever, and I would gladly read a sequel if it could warrant it. I don’t want to leave Hugo and Wallace quite yet.

This was one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. It is entertaining, original, emotional, loving, difficult, thought-provoking, and simply beautiful.

I will finish with my favourite line from it:

“It’s never enough, is it? Time. We always think we have so much of it, but when it really counts, we don’t have enough at all.”

Thank you so much @TorBooks & @NetGalley for giving me this eARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 21 September 2021)

SYNOPSIS | Wallace Price in short is not a nice man. He finds himself as a ghost attending his own funeral, but he hasn't quite come to terms with the fact that he is dead. A reaper collects him and guides him to a teashop on the outskirts of a faraway town which is run by a ferryman called Hugo. Their jobs are to help the dead come to terms with their situation & cross over.

WHAT I LIKED:
- I SOBBED. Multiple times. I had to sit up because I thought there was a chance I would drown in my own tears.
- this does not have the same kind of warm & fuzzy feeling of The House in the Cerulean Sea, but oh boy this was such a beautiful story & it will stay with me for a long time.
- the characters were precious cinnamon rolls (even Wallace) & so well flushed out
- the found family trope was perfectly done
- it reminded me a lot actually of The Midnight Library

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- the 25% to 50% mark is quite slow paced but persevere because it's worth it

First, thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited when I got an ARC of Under the Whispering Door because I absolutely adored The House in the Cerulean Sea. And I was not disappointed at all!
I loved each and every one of the characters so much. Nelson is precious and hilarious, Apollo is the best dog ever, Mei is amazing (and I love that she's the designated hugger), Hugo is everything, and Wallace grows so much over the course of the book, how can you not fall in love with him?!
This is a book around and about death, so it's very very heavy at times. I needed a full box of tissues for this one (and for me, the tears started pretty early on). But everything was handled so beautifully. Why are we here, what's next, what do our lives even mean, how do we touch people, what is family, what kind of differences do we make, what do we want and need out of our lives and relationships? Exploring all of it, not only through Wallace, but also through Nancy and Cameron had me bawling.
It wasn't all tears though! I was howling with laughter at points, and TJK's signature banter and witty dialogue were 100% on point.
I 100% recommend this book, I loved it to pieces even while I was crying copious tears.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5

I was nervous to read this book since I utterly adore The House in the Cerulean Sea, so I had very high expectations going into this one. It’s about the story of Wallace, an uptight lawyer who passes away unexpectedly and finds himself a ghost trapped between realms, and Hugo, the ferryman who helps people cross over to the next step in their journey after they’ve died. It’s a story that is both happy and sad at the same time, and overall I really enjoyed.

Honestly, it was a little slow to start, but in an unhurried way rather than boring (although I could see some readers finding it too slow). TJ Klune has a way of writing his characters with so many quirks and eccentricities that they are all the more loveable. The way he builds and develops his characters is just flawless and is one of my favorite things about his writing 💙

Overall, I just want to sit and think and process this book for a while. It is very different from The House in the Cerulean Sea, but with the same witty writing style that I love so much. No spoilers, but Apollo really got me!! Gah I love that dog so much. 🐶

Thank you to Tor Books and TJ Klune for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

21/07/2021

Thank you to Macmillan-Tor/Forge and Netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

please read the Trigger Warnings at the end of the review

Book 42/52

If we worry about the little things all the time, we run the risk of missing the bigger things

genre: contemporary fantasy

age: adult

Review: This tore out my heart multiple times, and I loved every second of it. Don't be fooled seeing this cute little cover: the book is HEAVY. It deals with loss, grief, coming to terms with what you have and haven't done and accepting that that is how it is. I will say that the synopsis of this book spoils a lot: the manager arriving and giving him 7 days happens at around 70% of the book. It has some adorable, funny and heartwarming moments, but don't expect this to be as cute as The House in the Cerulean Sea, because your heart will shatter.

I adored this story however. Seeing Wallace change from this angry Scrooge-type of man to what he is at the end of the story, was a beautiful change. I highly recommend this, but please read the trigger warnings first, because there is a storyline in here that is VERY heavy.

Trigger warnings: death of a young child, death of a child because of cancer, mention of suicide, grief, loss, death of a parent, death by heartattack, depression

I received an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Let me start this off by saying if you’re looking for a story with characters you cannot help but to adore? This is for you. Klune has a way with creating wholesome, dynamic characters. There was not one main character in this story that I disliked and that is difficult to do. The growth of Wallace, the kind heart of Hugo, the wisdom and snark of Nelson, and the humor and good nature of Mei. Apollo was a fun addition to the story as well! The dynamic between each character was lovely as well, as they each had individual relationships with each other that were endearing.

This book addresses grief and it is such a universal emotion that anyone can read this book and find something that touches their heart. It is brutally honest about death and how one may process it. I could feel Klune’s heart in those moments where it took the forefront.

I finished this book so quickly, feeling driven to keep going and see how it all turns out.

That is where my feelings about this book shift, making it a 4 star read instead of 5.

I like the ending, it is a good ending because everything turned out as one would hope. A “happily ever after” type of ending. However, we got there felt unsatisfactory.

Little was done to make it happen so Wallace could stay and it was solved in a few pages. It felt unrealistic and a little too picturesque. It also felt off for the Manager to do based on how callous we saw him being through the story. To suddenly change his mind and give someone another chance like THAT felt odd to me. It doesn’t mesh well. I’d have liked to see it be a little harder or maybe not end well immediately, but could allude to the fact that Wallace and Hugo end up together with time.

However, I still think people will read this and love the ending. It is an ending that will be subjective, with people loving it or disliking it.

Overall, this book did not disappoint. I loved it and I loved the characters. I’m so happy to have read it and thank NetGalley for the opportunity.