I adored TJ Klune’s The House on the Cerulean Sea so I was more than excited to hear that he’d be writing another book written in a similar style (this is not a sequel, as I learned embarrassingly late). To be totally honest, from the premise alone, this isn’t the type of book I’d usually gravitate to. But Cerulean Sea wasn’t either, and it was only at the prompting of *checks notes* my entire blogging circle that I picked it up, and hey, I loved it. So it only seemed fitting to give this one a chance. Yeah, I loved it.

Under the Whispering Door is a book about grief, loss, and acceptance, held comfortably with a warm mug of your favorite tea. We follow Wallace Price, an objectively terrible, who dies of a heart attack and is forced to confront the fact that he was, in fact, a terrible human being. Dragging Accompanying him on this journey are Reaper Meiying, or Mei for short, definitely-just-a-man-who-owns-a-tea-shop Hugo, plucky grandfather who’s annoyingly always correct Nelson, and dog, Apollo. It’s really a testament to Klune’s writing and characterization skills that for someone who starts as objectively unlikeable as possible, Wallace is a pretty cool character by the end.

The storytelling of this book is very slice-of-life like, which generally isn’t a genre that works for me. I read the first 40% in chapters snuck in during moments of free time so it wasn’t particularly apparent yet, but between the 40%-60% marks, I did find myself getting constantly distracted. Certainly not the book's fault, but it was still early in Wallace’s journey and I wasn’t fully clicking with the characters or story. Reading about tea shops and warm mugs of tea are comforting but something wasn’t connecting for me. The characters were sweet, their day-to-day actions were cute, but it just wasn’t gripping me.

And then I started crying. I think about the 72% mark? It was during a pretty mundane event I think, some line about Mei baking scones while Wallace puttered around the customers, no deep discussions about Wallace’s grief or understandings with death. But all of a sudden my eyes were wet and I couldn’t control the tears. Something, at some point, one of Wallace and Hugo’s many talks about Wallace’s emotions of how various characters were dealing with the death of a loved one, finally got to me and I couldn’t stop crying, couldn’t stop memories flooding back of times I’d gone through the stages of grief myself, the actions I took during that process.

Overall, I rate this book a 4.5/5. The messaging about grief, about loss and acceptance in this book is delightfully poignant. It meanders and it takes its time, sometimes doubling back and winding in strange ways, but that’s how the stages of grief works. Klune manages to capture those emotions, those feelings of loss and joy, sometimes hitting you at the strangest moments, just perfectly. An absolutely delightful story.

Wallace Price is an Asshole (according to his partners in the law firm) and now he's dead. Sitting in a pew at the back of the church at his own funeral, he meets Mei, a reaper, whose job it is to guide him to Hugo the ferryman as part of his journey through death. As Wallace stays with Hugo and Mei waiting to pass through the final door, he falls in love and eventually finds his humanity.
This is a beautifully written and very poignant book. A fantasy with a gentle humour, the story is told in the 3rd person from Wallace's point of view.
Essentially it's a story about death, grieving, suffering, acceptance but most of all about living. Heart-warming and inspiring, it was a delight to read.

Last year’s The House in the Cerulean Sea was a warm, wonderful, gentle embrace with the softest romance and I positively adored it. My anticipation for Under the Whispering Door couldn’t have been higher, I’m writing this review in May if that tells you anything. And I have to say I enjoyed it just as much, for different reasons, but still had that feeling of comfort when I read the final word.

Under the Whispering Door introduces Wallace Price, a cold, abrupt attorney who is intensely focused on his practice and doesn’t seem to have much use for anything else in his life. The first chapter gives readers a glimpse of his callousness in his living life, the second shows him sitting at his funeral wondering what is going on and why only four other people are in attendance. Then Mei, his reaper, shows up to explain some things, lead him to the next stop in his afterlife, and introduce him to his ferryman, Hugo.

Hugo is understanding and empathetic and has this tender, kind way about him that is the very reason he was chosen as a ferryman. He helps the newly dead work through their emotions, accept that their living life is over and that their next step is just a doorway away. The owner of a tea shop, Hugo is kept company by Mei, the reaper he works with, and the ghosts of his grandfather and the faithful dog that refuses to leave his side.

Wallace is at first, difficult and angry and goes through all the steps of grief. He wants out and to get back to this old life. But then, little by little, he and Hugo form a bond. Yes, there is attraction, but Wallace is dead and Hugo is living and they can’t touch, but they become friends and then so much more and before Wallace realizes it, he is part of this weird, wonderful family and has no desire to move on.

I’m not going to dive too deep into plot specifics, because the beauty of this story is the journey. No spoilers here.

Under the Whispering Door is about grief, and how different people experience it. It’s about working through memories and regrets. It’s also about different kinds of love, from platonic to familial, to romantic and the love of a pet. It’s about past loves and future relationships. Some very dark and heavy themes are represented, but this book still has all of TJ Klune’s trademark charm and whimsy. You will fall in love with this cast of characters, you simply won’t be able to help yourself.

Under the Whispering Door is at times poignant and sad, but you will come out of it with a sense of peace and a fullness of heart. I promise. Highly recommend.

CW: death, grief, mentions of suicide, mentions of cancer

Final grade- A

Hmmm... I’m getting serious Fredrick Backman vibes from this book! There are lovable characters: old squishy man, bite size but power house Asian girl, one queer depressed young man and annoying quintessential white lawyer dude (pick odd one out). What happened to get these guys together is one sad story, but what happened after they come together is everything you need in your life to have warm and fuzzy feelings.

Aforementioned lawyer had a heart attack after messing one life after another (including his). When he woke up again, he was at his own funeral and there was someone who he didn’t know. While he was all delusional thinking that people love him, he realized that he was one that guy everyone hated. As that sank in, the woman he didn’t know introduced herself to be his reaper. And she was ready to take him to next part of his journey.

Next part of his journey turn into a great redemption arc! This guy who knew nothing but work while demolishing everything on his way finally realized that he was the reason why everything went wrong in his life. His ferryman Hugo gave him a chance to sit back and rewind his life. What he did with what he saw made this story worth reading!

It feels odd to describe a book that deals intrinsically with grief, death, and emotional upheaval as "heart-warming", but that is the essence of T.J. Klune's signature style. He is incredibly talented at blending the meaningful and the comforting, creating a story that feels just as warm and soothing as a cup of Hugo's tea.

Despite the grim premise--a high powered lawyer dies suddenly and is taken by a Reaper to begin the process of moving on--this is ultimately a story about the beauty of healing and the peace and growth to be found in acceptance. I liked how the story does not beat around the bush or make excuses for Wallace's actions in life: he was not a good person, and the other characters do not shy away from telling him so. Still, central to the story is the faith of those around in him in his ability to become better, through actions both large and small. Under the Whispering Door reminds us that the process of growing up is never really done, and each day is an opportunity to be a better person than you were the last.

Furthermore, as Klune gently points out in his Author's Note, this book contains descriptions of death in many different forms, some harder to read about than others. TW for suicide, homicide, child death, sudden death, and animal death in particular. Despite this, Klune approaches each and every situation with immense care and enormous empathy, guiding the reader (much like our beloved Ferryman) through the rocky shoals of heavy, somber content with grace.

I will say that this book follows a VERY similar formula to the House in the Cerulean Sea (uptight man discovers found family and romance by uprooting his life and traveling to new and unusual place) but seeing as the concept is so very clearly Klune's bread and butter I'm willing to let it slide. My main issue was the humor, which came across as somewhat trite, occasionally undercutting more serious scenes with an absurdity that distracted (me at least) from the gravity of the topic and made the characters feel less real. I also found Wallace's situation at the end of the book, though somewhat expected, to be out of sync with the rest of the novel's message.

Gorgeous. Soothing. Haunting (literally). Based on the description and the beauty of the House in the Cerulean Sea, I had a good guess for what I was getting into with this book. I was not wrong, and I was NOT disappointed. I have never read a book that dealt with death more beautifully, honestly, and human-ly. Did I cry? Ab-so-lutely. But the good kind of crying, where it's bittersweet and you feel a little better afterwards. And then you immediately run to hug everyone you know and tell them how thankful you are to have them in your life. The premise is simple, and basically if you read the description, you'll grasp the whole book. There are a few little surprises and details thrown in, but overall, it's just a straightforward story filled with love and humanity. Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this early! It was exactly what I needed.

I really want to give this 5 stars. Comparing it to "The House on the Cerulean Sea", how can you not. It was one of my favorite books from last year. Both have a curmudgeon character who encounters new people and then begin a life changing journey. In both books you have loveable, strange, and misfit group of characters. Not going to spoil anything so I can't tell you if both have happy ending and feel like warm hugs. Were there profound truths? Life altering revelations? Not really, but there is just enough to make you take a pause. To reevaluate your presence in life, contemplate what you leave behind. It's a beautiful afterlife story that did a great job being respectful to religion. Is it a love story? Hmm, no, I don't do romance. It's definitely not a main focus until a certain part of the book. Then it's in no way overpowering the story. All I know is I really want a warm cup of tea right now. I wish it would incase smells of childhood memories. For someone hopelessly always searching for closure, this helps. I will read it over and over and recommend it always.

Thank you NetGalley for early access to this book. It’a hard to put into words how much I loved this book. TJ Klune writes such real characters and they’re all so loveable in their own way. This was a really heavy read, but it was heartbreakingly beautiful. It captures everything I love about literature; it’s smart and witty, is diverse, addresses important topics, and makes me feel connected to the characters. This and House in the Cerulean Sea have easily become some of my favorite books of all time.

I laughed, I cried, a drank alot of tea.

"He seems to have an unhealthy fascination with tea,"
"He gets that from me,"

This story follows Wallace, who learns to become a better person.
At the start of this he is a complete dick. I mean who finds someone crying, then ask them to come to your office. Hears their heartbreaking story then fires them with no remorse?? This Asshole that's who.

Did I find his funeral funny? Yes, yes I did. Because he needed a reality check. He made everyone hate him.

But death changes a person and he grows to really care for his new friends that are helping him along his journey.

This story isn't all light and fluffy (with lots of tea.) It had some down right heartbreaking scenes. Brought some tears to my eyes.
It really shows you the five stages of grief and who different deaths would affect people. The different choices people makes and how important life is.

Under the Whispering Door was my first foray into TJ Klune and I couldn't have been any more enchanted. I laughed out loud, I sobbed, (the tears are still drying on my cheeks as I write this) and I felt all the things. This was one of the most beautiful and poignant books I've had the pleasure of reading.

3.5

I’ve settled on this rating ONLY because I went into this book with the wrong expectations. For some reason, I assumed that this tied into House in the Cerulean Sea and that we’d get to see some of those characters again. My fault for not doing proper research!! Unfortunately though, it did hinder some of my enjoyment.

This heavily reminded me of A Christmas Carol and Scrooge but without the holiday season. The concept was interesting and occasionally heart-wrenching, but you’re rewarded with satisfying endings for each character.

I found myself disconnected from the story and I had a hard time actually wanting to read this. I know that I would have felt more connected if I hadn’t taken so long to get through it, but the beginning was a slog to push through.

The characters (after the beginning) were charming and quirky. I absolutely loved that there was a dog!!!

Overall, this was a feel-good read and I did enjoy it, even if it wasn’t what I was hoping for. I know that I’ll get more of a lasting impact whenever I re-read it.

I don't know if "making an extremely unlikable character likable" is a genre but if it is then T.J. Klune has it down to a science. After the first introduction of Wallace, our MC, I honestly didn't think I would be able to enjoy where the book was taking me. I was wrong! Wallace lived life without really living life and it took his death to really find himself – it was beautiful and I'm so thankful, truly, that I got to read this book.

This was a delightful read, albeit a bit longer than necessary. It was reminiscent of his other book (The House in the Cerulean Sea), with its quirky/loveable characters, magical realism, etc. However, there were chunks that were long and repetitive/redundant. Given that this is a ARC, perhaps it will be edited. Despite this, I found the book to be utterly charming and inspirational, with themes around living for today, living a full life, grief, life/death, etc. There were many paragraphs and quotes that made me think and again, I just loved the characters.

The ending felt a bit *eye roll* but I feel like I saw it coming and I was ultimately happy with it. Definitely pick this one up if you're needing a delightful read with some hard topics/themes.

TJ Klune is just so good. Under the Whispering Door got me out of a major reading slump that had been ongoing for months.
The book is about a 40 year old man named Wallace who is very work driven and not very kind. He has lost all his personal relationships and spends all his time working as a lawyer. And then he dies. A reaper, Mei, comes to bring him to a strange house in a little village where he meets Hugo, a ferryman to souls who need to cross over, but need some time first to process what happened. Wallace spends weeks in the house getting to know Mei, Hugo, and Hugo's grandfather as he tries to prepare himself to go through the whispering door.
This book is about found family, living with regret, making mistakes, finding joy. There is a beautiful and moving love story, there is (TW) talk of suicide and other traumatic deaths. It made me cry and cry from heartbreak and joy. I really loved it and am pretty certain it will remain on the very top of my list of favorite reads of 2021, just like House in the Cerulean Sea was my favorite read of 2020.

I’ll admit that I loved every work of TJ Klune’s “The House of the Cerulean Sea” and could not wait to start this book. The opening chapter appropriately set up a character we might not like but then it took a little before I connected with the plot. Once you learn a little more about the world and fall for the characters, you don’t want it to end. There were moments I held my breath, sentences that made me pause, and character choices that made me gasp. Klune created quietly tense moments of relationship development and reading about Wallace and Hugo was a beautiful experience. The cast including Mei (the sidekick), Hugo (the wise one), and Apollo (people and ghosts best friend) are the perfect found family you want to be around and hug.

The story also deals with important questions and feelings about death, life, and grief. The tea shop is a space between but also a space where life and death co-exist. The characters who have died and those who are living help the reader think about the importance of time and how we make connections with each other. The dialogue and the moments of silence between characters carry equal weight. This is definitely a must-read. It brought a few tears, so prepare yourself.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Sometimes a book takes your heart on a ride and then shoves it back in your chest and you’re left a little sore after.

My personal victory is that I didn't cry reading this one but I was emotionally prepared to sob the entire time.

A really beautiful story and cast of characters, TJ Klune really loves making me get attached to my found family idiots, eh?
I loved it and it was wonderful. I laughed out loud at some parts and got absolutely punched in the chest at others.

I was a bit surprised by the ending and I found the book all at once slow going and too fast at different parts. It seems to need a bit of something else happening in the middle.

This was beautiful and stunning and somehow a warm hug and also heartache all in one. Absolutely enchanting.

I'm going to start this review by saying that I am a HUGE fan of TJ Klune's writing. There have not been many authors whose writing can affect me the way his writing has. And each one of his works is so very different, yet full of FEELS..... lots and lots of FEELS. So, this review is giving me a little pause. Did I like this book? Yes, I really did. So, then what's the problem? Well, there really isn't a problem, per se....

When I was approved for this ARC, I was elated (see the above comment about how much I adore this author) So, I started reading, and it was hard. No, not because it was difficult emotional reading (and it is), but because the pacing was difficult for the first half of the book. I cannot count the amount of times that I put the book down to do something else. That almost NEVER happens. For some reason, it was really hard for me to really get into the book. If I hadn't been such a Klune fan, I might not have pushed through. But, I am so I did. Something happens around the middle of the book that kicks it into gear. The pacing changes, events start happening, and I became invested.

Then, by around the 75% mark - it really began to grab me and I found myself not wanting to put the book down. This book has an emotional punch that builds and builds until it overwhelms you. I found myself laying in bed in the middle of the night with tears going down my face, trying not to wake my husband up.

So, is this book worth it? Absolutely. Is it like The Cerulean Sea? No, not really. I mean, it's quirky and has that Klune feeling to it. But this book is about death, and grieving and understanding that maybe you are not the type of person that you should have been. That is a bit heavy. But there is a feeling of satisfaction at the end and it is worth the journey that you take.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the privilege of reading this ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone.

Disclaimer: I received an advanced reader copy (ARC) of this book from NetGalley and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Under the Whispering Door is a beautifully written book that is perfectly heartbreaking and will have you laughing out loud one moment and then crying the next! TJ Klune is an amazing writer that can weave heart felt stories with humor in a seamless way. He shows us the importance of life, love, friendships, and families and how important all of those things are even in the afterlife.

Wallace Price was a selfish lawyer who did not give much thought to anything other than his job and being successful at it. That is until he dies of a heart attack and ends up in his own funeral. A sad pathetic event that is only attended by his firm partners, his ex-wife, and a stranger he does not recognize. Turns out Mei is a Reaper and she is at his funeral to collect him and take him to a way station to meet the ferryman, Hugo.

Charon’s Crossing is a tea shop, a secret way station owned by Hugo; the ferryman. Here Wallace meets a ghost named Nelson, a ghost dog named Apollo, and Hugo who will change his afterlife and make him contemplate all his life choices. Wallace is meant to cross over to his life after death with the help of Hugo, but so much will change for them all.

I don’t say this lightly when I say that this book is an amazingly powerful book that will break and heal your heart in ways you might not have imagined. It is full of heavy topics, but is also a beautiful healing story that will tug at your heart and make you contemplate your life. I have never laughed and cried so much while reading a book. It was the perfect story for me to read at this time and I would highly recommend it to anyone who has suffered loss and has felt lost.

This book is scheduled for publication on September 21st, 2021 and I would highly encourage you to preorder a copy or at least consider picking it up once it’s published. As of now, May 13th 2021, Barnes & Noble is also scheduled to release an exclusive edition that “includes a bonus feature, ‘A Reaper’s Guide’. This pamphlet serves as an introduction to reaping and lays out the basics on how new reapers are expected to guide humans from the end of life to the beginning of eternity.” (Description taken from the Barnes & Noble website).

TW: death: death of a child, death of a parent, death by suicide, and unexpected suicide, terminal illnesses

Klune's books are like Disney movies for adults - in fact, for people of all ages. I am happy to say that I loved it as much as The House in the Cerulean Sea. It is charming, imaginative, heartwarming, and funny.

** Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review **

I have a confession to make. When I got approved for this ARC, I literally started crying while outside walking my dog. TJ Klune is one of my favorite authors of all time, and I’m so happy to say that this book was another home run for me. I had to force myself to ration out the chapters because I really didn’t want it to end.

Right off the bat, I think it’s important to acknowledge and reiterate that TJ Klune’s books are all uniquely different and special in both their themes and messages. No matter what book you pick up, you will always get Klune’s whimsical charm, outstanding dialogue, diverse characters, and his beautifully lyrical writing. HOWEVER, for those picking this up wanting a carbon copy of The House in the Cerulean Sea, then you are setting yourself up for failure and may end up feeling a little disappointed. Personally this such a plus for me because I love knowing that each book is going to be a completely different journey, but think it's important to put out there.

******

“A ghost who refuses to cross over and the ferryman he falls in love with”. - I’ll post a more detailed summary of the plot closer to publication…but like, what else do I need to say?

This is a beautifully woven story about life, death, grief, love, queer identity, self-discovery, and found family. This was thought provoking, tragically poignant, and laugh out loud funny. TJ Klune has a gift for making such authentic and unique characters that really stick with me long after I finish reading. Even the supporting characters felt very well rounded and brought someone essential to the plot. Also…there’s a ghost dog. A ghost dog that’s just the BEST boy. I loved the depiction of the stages of grief and the overall mental health representation (particularly anxiety and panic attacks). I also thought I was going to make it through this without crying, but then I hit the last 10% and cried like a baby until the end. Wolfsong will always hold the title as my favorite TJ Klune book (I’m sorry I can’t help it), but this was absolute perfection and I can’t wait to pick up a finished copy in September!