4 stars. Initially I rated it 3 stars because there was a large chunk in the middle where it felt like I was just slugging through it. Some of the events felt a little random and I had a hard time seeing how they were connecting. However, it all came together and was so good at the end. Kirt Graves as the narrator was a really good choice for this book too. Overall really good.

This was a beautiful story about what happens when you die. T J Klune’s last book, The house on the cerulean sea was one of my favourites of last year and this did not disappoint.

Under the Whispering Door follows Wallace during part of his journey in the after life. Wallace was a selfish grump of a man when he was alive, he worked too much and didn't really appreciate anyone in his life. At his funeral Mei, a reaper, shows up and takes Wallace to the tea room, a weigh station of sorts, where Hugo the ferryman will help him cross over into the beyond. At the tea shop Wallace reflects on how he lived his life, wishes he could have a redo, and grows as a person (soul?).

This book had a somber tone, but I was okay with that aspect. It is definitely a creative character driven story. There wasn't much action and parts of it felt like they dragged on. I didn't really start to get invested in the story until about midway through. I didn't like Wallace but I can appreciate his journey and was happy with the ending. The secondary characters were my favorite part of the story with Mei being the best. TJ Klune's quirky style is still alive and well in this book and I look forward to seeing what he writes next.
True rating: 3.5 stars

Thank you so much Net Galley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for a copy of this book in return for my honest review.

When I read the synopsis I was hooked, a funeral, a reaper, teashop one week to cross over. This book seemed to be hitting all the right spots. But it had so much more.

The characters were brilliant. T.J. Klune has such deeply developed characters in this novel that I felt like I personally knew each and everyone of them. I felt their pain and their laughter. It didn't take long to fall in love with each and everyone of the inhabitants of the tea house.

One thing I was surprised by was the amount I laughed in this book. There was many moments that I was laughing hard. Though there was many hard and intense subjects handled T.J. Klune managed to put in humour in a way that it brought a lightness to the book that was very much needed and appreciated.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy, particularly those who enjoy magical realism. Be sure you can handle the tougher side of discussions of death and the way people can die as some of it can be triggering.

This was my second book by T.J.. Klune, and it did not fail to make me sob like a child. The writing of this novel was so perfectly done, and the storyline was so unique. Grief and redemption are the main focuses of this book, and T.J. Klune did such a wonderful job. This book will for sure tug on your heart strings.

This one was just okay for me. At times, especially toward the end, I was very drawn into the story and the emotions Klune was trying to pull from us. But it took me a very long time to get into the story, and if I hadn't already read and loved one of his works, I may not have soldiered on and finished this one.

Wallace Price spends his life working, serious, and just being a crappy, unhappy human. Then he dies. A reaper greets him and takes him to a tea shop to begin the grieving process of accepting his fate and we go along on his journey as he realizes what life is really supposed to be about. We meet others who come into the tea shop and delve into the heavy topics of loss, regret, depression, anxiety, everything from life to death. What's miraculous about this book is how gentle these topics are handled. It hurts, but there's more depth and beauty there because the goal is acceptance. This book is not depressing; its whimsical and caring and hopeful and intriguing and humorous and thoughtful. It ended and I'm sitting here in disbelief of how much was packed into one book. It is everything and what an amazing way to kick off a new year.

Having read several of Klune's books in the past, the anticipation of this book, Under the Whispering Door, was big for me personally.

However, the bar was too high for me. While I did like the main characters Wallace and Hugo, I felt more of a connection to the secondary characters throughout the book.

The relationship between Wallace and Hugo felt forced at some points, and to me it felt like the middle of the book was just filler. There was so much added that didn't need to be there that the middle section of the book, I really had to push myself to keep reading it.

Although I do love the way that Klune describes the After Life and what it is like, I just felt like there could have been more to this book. It felt a little flat to me.

The twists near the end were what saved the book for me overall, and if Klune does do another book in this world, I would read it in a heartbeat.

This one just left me wanting more of "something". I can’t really put my finger on it.

Stars: 4
I received this book from Netgalley. I was not compensated for the book other than the entertainment it provided. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I can't remember the last time a book made me cry this much OR laugh out loud this much. I seriously felt every single emotion while I was reading it. I want to tell everyone I know to read this book. I want to erase my memory so I can read it again for the first time. I loved it so, so much.

Such an interesting look at grief and how people react differently to it. I loved all the characters and the quirks that make up their personalities. Overall a heartwarming story that sucks you in from the very beginning.

Difficult to enjoy the best of this book after slogging through the worst to get to it. The main character was frustrating, and while I will acknowledge that some of that is to try and justify his arc, it never allowed me to connect with him and enjoy the book.

I enjoyed this book! There were discussions of many important topics like grief and death while maintaining comedic moments and great characters. The development of these characters was wonderful and I enjoyed them immensely

his is such a lovely, heartwarming book. Though it deals with a serious subject, death, it does so in a sensitive, compassionate, and sometimes humorous manner. The characters are endearing, the setting is quaint and quirky, the plot is engaging, and the overall aesthetic is perfect. My only very mild complaint is that the ending dragged on a bit. However, that does not detract from the enjoyment of this book.

Wallace Price finds himself in unexpected predicament at the start of the story. He is dead, but he is still present on earth. He meets his Reaper, Mei, who leads him to a tea shop where his Ferryman, Hugo, awaits to help him accept his death and assist in his crossing over. Wallace struggles to accept his situation, but the inhabitants of the tea shop are there to guide him.

The best things about this book is its characters. The occupants of the tea shop are charming, compassionate, funny, and supportive. They bring out the best in Wallace. I especially love Nelson, the ferryman's dead grandfather who teaches Wallace how to be a ghost. Nelson adds much humor to the story. Hugo is also a wonderful character who is kind and empathetic. It is impossible not to love all of these strange and fascinating characters with their unique abilities.

The plot of the book centers mostly around acceptance of death and growth as a person. The fact that it takes dying for the main character to learn how life should be lived is the books great irony. The climax of the plot is satisfying and adds a sense of hope to the storyline. The action after the climax is slightly drawn out more than necessary, which is why I gave the book 4.5 stars instead of 5 stars.

This truly is a wonderful read that will leave you feeling inspired and hopeful. It will also make you a little bit sad, but that is part of the book's beauty. I highly recommend this book to any reader.

An emotional story that looks at life and death and the space between.

Wallace has a heart attack but when he isn't ready to cross over just yet, he really gets us thinking about what it means to live.

Brilliant characters and an interesting premise. I really like this and highly recommend it!

It has been months since I finished this book and I still do not know how to properly review it or put words together to describe how this book made me feel but I'm going to try.

This book is a hug personified, if a book could hug you and tell you that everything is going to be all right, this one would. This book will rip your heart out, you will feel all the emotions reading this book. I laughed, I cried, parts of this book made me angry, parts of it made me sad, and I loved every minute of reading it. I actually read it twice. I read it physically, then listened to it again on audio and both experiences were amazing. This was my favourite book of 2021. I read a lot of 5 stars this year and this book swept it's arm across the board and cleared it. The sole victor of my reading year.

I have never read anything by this author and now I must read their entire backlist immediately because I will be chasing the emotional high that reading this book gave me. This is now one of favourite books of all time and I cannot begin to recommend it enough.

If you’re looking for a book that will take you on an emotional roller later, this is the one for you. Klune’s way with words will have you lost in the book almost instantly. The emotions I felt were as if it were all happening to me. Thank you for this amazing ride.

This book was sweet and fun. I love the "cartoony" way that Klune is writing this "series". I think that it would usually put me off, but his writing is so good that I'm loving it.

Deeply beautiful and stunning story that takes you through the afterlife. Made me think so much about death, those I hold near to my heart, and how we can make the most of the time we have.

This book was sweet and wonderful, but with depth behind it. I would recommend it more for fans of The Good Place TV series than for fans of House in the Cerulean Sea.

A poignant tale of grief, comfort, loss, and hope. This book will tug you in all directions. You will laugh and you will cry, and I know that's a cheesy turn of phrase, but I've never met a book that better encapsulates that.