Wallace knows what’s important... him. And his career. That is until he dies and finds himself in a lopsided house, sharing tea with a ferryman to help him pass to the other side.

Yay... a new TJ Klune! This one has all the heart and whimsy as Cerulean Sea! Of course my favorite part of Cerulean Sea was the kids, and given this is a new story with new characters, they aren’t in it. But that’s okay... because we have more lovable and unique characters that will stay with us for a long time. Klune has a superb talent of writing a romance, but keeping it on the back burner to build while an entertaining and entirely standalone plot is also going on. I am not a romance fan, but with Klune’s story I don’t even notice I’m getting drawn into a romance until I’m already sucked in. Love it! This was such a unique approach to death, which remained sensitive while still adding magic and humor. You will have a smile on your face after this one, and crave a nice cup of tea.

“Bravery meant the possibility of death. And wasn’t that funny? Because it took being dead for Wallace to finally be brave.”

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

Under The Whispering Door comes out 9/21

Under the Whispering Door is a wonderful contemporary fantasy. While death is the focus, Klune takes a hopeful look at grief and what death means to different people. While it’s a heavy topic, I found it sweet without having the romance plot overwhelm it.

This is the second title that I have devoured by TJ Klune. Once again, the characters are beautifully crafted, memorable, and authentic. The inclusion of historically under representated characters is always a “look for” when selecting book. The themes of death, acceptance, love, family, and caring for others are so gorgeously intertwined that I am especially grateful for this novel. The pacing was spot on—the fluidity of plot was well crafted and allowed readers to easily digest heavier material. I absolutely adore this novel, and will undoubtedly read it many times over.

Under the Whispering Door is sweet sweet sweet, and if you liked House in the Cerulean Sea you will likely be pleased by the similarities. Man with unhealthy relationship to work enters a magical new environment and learns the true meaning of life? Check. Inviting and coherent magical world with the comfort factor of a pair of laundry-warm socks? Check. Mostly queer cast of characters who are both charmingly grumpy and deeply loving? Many checks.

There's a lot to like here, and even if Klune is returning to familiar territory, the formula of found family + fantastical reimagining of our world still equals something pretty special. The story begins with the death of Wallace Price, who is alive just long enough to establish himself as a total jerk before he unceremoniously leaves this mortal coil. He is taken to a tea shop run by a ferryman named Hugo, whose job is to help the newly dead come to terms with their fate before facilitating their journey to whatever comes next. Wallace falls for Hugo and his ragtag family (including a ghost dog! there should be more ghost dogs in books!), and romance, hijinks, and lots of soul-searching (both figurative and literal) ensue.

My major issue with Under the Whispering Door is related to its pacing: there is a LOT of talking and angsting that happens before the major conflict is even hinted at. Much of the book feels quite meandering, and though we're wandering through generally pleasant territory, I would have appreciated a little more clarity early on about where the plot was heading.

That said, Under the Whispering Door is undeniably enjoyable. Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Books for the ARC!

Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune is another beautiful masterpiece. While a completely separate book from Klune’s previous The House in the Cerulean Sea, Under the Whispering Door contains that same gentle sweetness found in the previous book. This book was a tender look at life and death and how people can change and help each other. There was attach of A Christmas Carol with a selfish man learning to embrace his kindness and empathy. Each character was memorable, and I came to love our main characters dearly and was sorry when the book ended, and I had to say goodbye to them (until I re-read the book, that is).
Klune masterfully handled death and all of the emotions that accompany it, and it was touching, bittersweet, and comforting all at once. Throughout the book, I laughed, cried, and cheered on our characters. Bravo, and thank you to Klune for sharing this story. I would honestly recommend this book to pretty much anyone.

Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune will be published on September 21, 2021

Thank you to Tor Books and NetGalley for this eARC.

I'd first like to thank the publisher, tor books, for this book to read and review! I literally squealed when i got approved for this book!
THIS BOOK IS A LITERAL MASTERPIECE + WRECKED ME
Ok so honestly where to start with the review. Just to clarify, this book is totally separate from the House and the Cerulean Sea that TJ published last year. This book was just beautiful,, it was such a gentle and soft story yet heartbreaking all at once 😭 His tale of grief was paired perfectly with his usual warmth and humor found in all of his novels. To touch on that, TJ explored all the ways of grief and how it affects people in different ways, while including such a touching emotional connection between characters. I’m always such an emotional reck after reading TJ’s books and this book was no exception! I instantly fell in love with all the characters + the development among them was just *chef’s kiss* Besides my love for the characters (I just want to give them all a hug + live in the tea shop with them 😌) TJ’s unique storyline was just phenomenal! The idea of a ferrymen helping souls cross while working at a cute little tea shop was a story I instantly wanted to pick up! I can’t express how amazing this book is, and highly encourage you guys to pick up this beauty when it releases in September! This book is easily one of my favorites of 2021

I am so excited to get a chance to review an ARC of "Under The Whispering Door." I LOVED " The House in the Cerulean Sea" when I read it earlier this year. It was a truly magical book and came at a time when I needed to read something feel-good, magical whimsical and wholesome. Under The Whispering Door was a little bit darker than The House in the Cerulean Sea, but it still keeps TJ Klune's gentle way of making difficult subject matter accessible. I really enjoyed this book and it gave me many of the same warm-fuzzy and wholesome vibes that I was hoping for. I am not so patiently waiting for TJ Klune's next masterpiece.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved how this book had similar vibes to Cerulean. It made me laugh, cry, and everything in between. I cannot wait for September so I can feature it in one of my book discussions at my library.

I honestly don’t know where to even start with Under the Whispering Door. I wasn’t sure what to expect, having read the House in the Cerulean Sea. That one was wholesome and like opening a window and letting bright sunshine spill into a room. Whispering Door is something else entirely, though it’s also somehow a perfect match.

This book is a literal masterpiece. Simple in its execution, but stunning in the complexities of its theory. Under the Whispering Door is like a hug. It is someone telling you that you’ll be alright. It’s somehow a sense of relief and safety.

I cried through it so much that it became somewhat cathartic. I’m not sure if this is an effect of the book or if it just happens to be where I’m at right now, all age-related, anticipatory grief being considered and all pandemics being taken into account. Likely both. I cried and cried. Happy crying, sad crying... Klune, what are you trying to do to me?

I adored the character of Hugo, complicated and sad, yet strong and comforting. Nelson, a pure joy, the embodiment (heh) of grandfatherly safety. Spunky Mei, with strong words for her enemies and a fierce love for her friends. And Wallace, the perfect human representation of “there’s hope for you yet”.

I don’t know how a book about grief and death and getting lost and finding yourself brought me such a sense of calm, but here we are. This gorgeous, sentimental, warm embrace of a book is going to stay in my heart for a long time. Kinda like a hook in my chest.
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I really enjoyed the author's last book, The House in the Cerulean Sea, but I did not like this one unfortunately. It was a bit boring and I didn't care much for the main character. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

This was exactly what I needed at exactly the right time. Somehow TJ Klune always knows what to write. This was beautifully written and absolutely devastating at times. It made me laugh, cry, swoon, but most importantly, it made me hopeful. What an incredible story, thank you TJ, for sharing it with us.

After reading The House in the Cerulean Sea at the beginning of the year, I immediately went to search for what other books TJ Klune had written. I came across the "Under the Whispering Door" announcement and was very excited by the premise. A ghost falls in love with the ferryman? Yes please! This sounded like some fun supernatural, whimsical goodness that I needed to read. I was shocked and very excited that I was able to receive an ARC of this book and immediately started reading it.

I feel like this book is quintessential TJ Klune. It's full of whimsy, and humor, and completely relatable characters that you can't help but fall in love with. This book met all of my expectations and took me on a journey of emotions. I smiled, I laughed out loud (many times), I was sad, and I even cried (yes, there were actual tears). It has the familiar topics of love and family and belonging, but it also deals with grief and loss and healing (and, while very sad, how these feelings can also be carthartic). You can be laughing one minute and crying the next. Altogether, this is another fantastic book that I will be highly recommending to people.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Books for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

horrible man dies and ends up at a tea shop to meet the man who will ferry him to the after. But what is death but a new beginning? I cried many many times. Funny and heartwarming/breaking. I have not read Klune’s other work. This was a pleasant and bittersweet introduction to Klune. I’ll be reading the others.

An absolutely beautiful book. It is simultaneously hilarious, heartwarming, and devastating. By the end of the book I had to stop every few paragraphs because I was weeping with such joy. The characters are delightful and the world building is creative and thought provoking. It gave me the same feelings as the finale of The Good Place, which is high praise from me. I didn't think I could love this book as much as I loved The House in the Cerulean Sea and I somehow managed to love it more.

This book was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and it did NOT disappoint. Then again, when does Klune ever disappoint? Never.
The characters are so well written that you'll fall in love with them right away. The development Wallace goes through throughout the whole book is so amazing, and it was a pleasure to watch him, and the rest of the team grow.
This book is a very calm, yet painful and funny read, and I will for sure be reading it again when it's released.

Get ready because Under The Whispering Door will break your heart, and glue it back together again... then break your heart just a little bit more. It will make you smile and laugh, it will bring tears to your eyes and joy to your heart. It's a rollorcoaster of emotions, but you're going to enjoy every second of the ride.
(plus... there is a ghost dog! Who doesn't love that??)

It's a 5 star read for me, and I need more.

T. J. Klune is actually factually a wizard & you shan't convince me otherwise! But in all seriousness, reading this book now, when the world has been so dark was a gift. Though the main topic is difficult there's just something so very comforting about the world and it's people. I read it in a day & cried quite a lot (not at work though, haHa!) but it absolutely deserved those tears and I don't begrudge a single one. It's hard not to compare this to The House in the Cerulean Sea (it's the covers I think, in my mind they are sequels or siblings or something but I thiiiink that's just my brain playing tricks) and while Under the Whispering Door doesn't quite reach it's predecessors heights on my personal fondness meter (that is to say, top shelf fondness), the two fit together so well in quality and spirit. Just as Cerulean Sea , this book is comforting on the first read in a way I generally only find rereading my favorites to be, like a hug just when you need it.

A million thanks to NetGalley for access to the eArc!

Like all T.J. Klune books, the characters are perfection, over the top yet completely relatable in another wonderful found family. We also have our heart break over and over because of how much we love every character no matter how seemingly minor, another trademark of T.J.'s books. There are other things that feel familiar (there's still some utter silliness and humor), but there is so much about this book that is new and heartbreakingly wonderful. This is a book about death. The main character is dead and there are numerous other characters who die or are dealing with death. There are many scenes that are hard to read but each character and each situation is handled with such care and tenderness. It's important to know that going in, this isn't an easy, light-hearted read (it has it moments) but it is all heart, so much so that mine is full and overflowing after finishing the book.

In many ways, this book is a love letter to those who make a career of helping those dealing with death. The medical professionals, social workers, funeral directors, veterinarians, hospice workers, and others who surround those dying and mourning to help. Of course, in this book, those workers are a reaper and a ferryman. I feel compelled to tell everyone I know in these fields how much I love them and appreciate them after this book.

Every character and detail is perfect, this story feels crafted out of pure love and warmth. I cannot do it justice or recommend it highly enough.

I received an ARC but that did not affect my review.

You have to prepare your brain for this book. Darkness, suicide, humor, sadness, they are all found here. Overall if you can do those emotions you will enjoy this book.

I adore TJ Klune. His characters always feel real even when not in the most realistic settings. Highly recommended.

This is my second TJ Klune novel and it's clear that he's an auto-buy author for me now. Every time I read one of his books, I automatically get that VERY special feeling--the one where you know you are going to WISH for the first time reading experience all over again, so you savor the whole book. That's what Cerulean Sea was like, and that's what this book was like. I loved these characters and although it took me a bit to get a feel for them, by the end of the book, I was wishing it would never end. This book took my heart and cracked it right open. Since this book is essentially ABOUT death, and the many ways in which it can happen, and what happens afterward, it's NOT a book I would recommend to everyone because I feel as though it could lay bare our innermost fears about grief and death-- so you absolutely must be in the right headspace for it. But if you are--this is a book to savor and treasure. This book handles grief in such a profound way, as well. It's the perfect read for when you need something to give you hope but are also searching for a good cry. I have a feeling this one won't be leaving me for awhile.