This book made me cry and laugh and grieve and swoon. My heart feels both heavier and lighter after reading it, in the best way possible.

There is something beautiful about TJ Klune's adult novels. I'm not sure how to word it eloquently, so I'll say it like this: They have the best vibes. They make me feel, as the characters in this book say, everything. It's all you could ever want.

Under the Whispering Door deals with grief and the horrible, wonderful things that come with it. Grief is such a difficult topic for me. It's a feeling that sticks with you forever; yet, for something so permanent, I've never learned how to express my feelings toward it. This book has helped me with that. It mourns, but it repairs, as well.

A m/m romance, grief study, comedy, and urban fantasy all wrapped up in one lovey novel. I cannot recommend it enough, especially if you enjoy Klune's other adult novel The House in the Cerulean Sea.

Super good really enjoyable and good characters. The world building was good and I will definitely need to reread.

A complimentary ebook was provided in exchange for an honest review. I borrowed the audio from my local library.

I really love TJ's writing and have been a fan for years. I didn't know what to expect from this story but I knew it would be good. This is a story about what the afterlife could be, what happens after we die and where we go. I have to admit I've thought a lot about that myself; what really happens to us after we die? I think most people have thought about it at least once in their life. My first exposure to death was when my grandmother passed when I was in college. This was the first time someone I knew had died and it really hit me hard. Then my cousin died who was only about 15 days younger than me; that was completely unexpected. My grandfather passed a few years ago and my other cousin also passed unexpected. Other people I know have also passed which is the cycle of life. As the Manager (more about him later) would say, there is an order to things.

This isn't a comedy story or anything lighthearted, though there are some lol moments. This is about what happens after you die, and some people accept it at move on, while others have a hard time and deny and push back. Wallace doesn't accept it at first and tries to lawyer his way back to the land of the living, but that's just not possible. Over time we see Wallace accept his fate and with the help of Hugo, Mai and Nelson, Wallace understands that there is a time for everyone, and you shouldn't squander the time you do have. Without going into all the details, Wallace is given a timeline to cross over and he makes the most of it. He, along with Hugo and Mai, help a grieving mother start to overcome the loss of her young daughter, they also help a man grieving the death of his partner. Cameron and Zack's story is hard; Zack died after an illness and Cameron lived without him as a long as he could. When it was Cameron's time to cross over he rejected it and in his grief left the safety Hugo's place, turning him into something other. Wallace, even after he is told by Hugo and the Manager, that Cameron could not be helped, didn't believe them. He KNEW that a part of Cameron was still there and he was determined to save him.

I don't know what happens after we die, and I think we all imagine different things. Under the Whispering Door is just one possibility. I never imagined it this way, but it was certainly enjoyable to read.

Hugo is a ferryman, who helps those who die (by whatever means) cross over to the other side. He acts as a middleman, and sort of limbo. Mai collects those who have passed, and brings them to Hugo. One is never to be forced to go through the door to the other side; it is always up to the person when they are ready. Although, a timeline is forced upon Wallace by the Manager. The Manager is a being that makes sure the order of things stays in place; that people die when they are supposed to and cross over. He doesn't interfere (much) and everyone has free will. When Wallace wants to help Cameron, The Manager says he can't be helped, that he made his own choice and he knew what would happen. But Wallace rejects that and at the end of the book we learn that yes, the Manager could have helped Cameron; could have interceded multiple times over the many years and centuries, but did not because it wasn't his place. There is a natural order to life.

This book will certainly make you think and I couldn't help by draw comparisons to Murmuration. Not that the stories are the same, they really aren't. At the same time though, there are some similarities. I don't want to spoil either story by giving away details so I will leave it high level. Both Whispering and Murmuration are serious stories, not comedies like The Lightning-Struck Heart or Tell Me It's Real. They both deal with grief, and understanding the life you are living isn't really...real. There is more out there.

Kirt Graves did an excellent job wit the narration and I give it 5 stars all the way. The story I give 4 stars only because it takes a while to get to the "good stuff." The beginning is entertaining, then it sort of, I don't know, it's just that the story doesn't really get going until later. It was great to get to know all the characters, and the slow build up wasn't bad; I just didn't know where the story was takin me.

Overall this is a very good story and it could help someone trying to work through their grief, or even just understand that death is just the beginning - there is more if you believe. There are probably all kinds of symbolism in this story I didn't get, and other life lessons that went over my head, but oh well. I look forward to what TJ writes next, always!

From the publisher:
Welcome to Charon's Crossing.
The tea is hot, the scones are fresh, and the dead are just passing through.

When a reaper comes to collect Wallace from his own funeral, Wallace begins to suspect he might be dead.

And when Hugo, the owner of a peculiar tea shop, promises to help him cross over, Wallace decides he’s definitely dead.

But even in death he’s not ready to abandon the life he barely lived, so when Wallace is given one week to cross over, he sets about living a lifetime in seven days.

Hilarious, haunting, and kind, Under the Whispering Door is an uplifting story about a life spent at the office and a death spent building a home.

Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune was published September 21st, 2021 by Tor Books.

My Thoughts:

Wallace is a very busy man. Work is his life. Imagine his surprise and consternation when a reaper comes for him as he's watching his own funeral. She brings him to a tea shop where the ferryman is. Wallace is quite upset. At one point he even stomps his foot and demands to be returned to the living. Hugo, the ferryman, informs him this is impossible. Wallace sulks. This is how he begins his transformative journey with the help of Hugo, Hugo's grandfather, the reaper, and a ghost dog.

The characters are all interesting. Wallace undergoes the biggest and most obvious change. But the others experience growth as well. I enjoyed the characters and rooted for them. I especially liked the bits between Wallace and Hugo's grandfather. And I enjoyed reading about Wallace and Hugo as they grow closer.

The novel has a quiet sort of tone to it. Almost all of the action takes place in the tea shop. The calmness is the perfect background for the story.

There are a few scenes that are full of action. And there is a certain amount of sarcasm in the story as well. There's also some humor. I wasn't crazy about the ending, but it does follow the experiences logically.

I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars. It's well written. The characters are endearing for the most part. I really wanted to know what was going to happen to them. If you enjoy fantasy titles , you might enjoy this one. I really looked forward to this book and it did not disappoint..

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was pretty slow for me. I think this is a book that needs full time and attention that I found myself not being able to give it. Will definitely pick it up again in the future just wasnt connecting with it

Unfortunately this one did not live up to my expectations especially since I loved the author's previous book - Cerulean sea. The first thing was it felt like a very slow start. The scenario is very bizarre and felt interesting but the pace did not work out for it. I liked the basic concept that the author tried to convey about being a better person and also accepting the fate. Those were really good and the relationship was so heartwarming as well. It's worth reading even with slow pacing just for the whole world that is created within it.

A charming, cozy, heartfelt story about death, grief, the afterlife, redemption, and found family.

I absolutely loved Klune's book The House in the Cerulean Sea and couldn't wait to read this one. Under the Whispering Door is quite different in tone - it is heavier, darker - but it still gave me that warm cozy feeling that I got from Cerulean.

There were moments when I was gasping for breath, squeezed by the emotion and pain of a scene, or chuckling over the shenanigans of the characters. There were also moments where I rolled my eyes a little at the predictability of the narrative. But overall, I still loved it and recommend it to everyone.

The House in the Cerulean Sea was one of my top books from last year so I was insanely excited for this book. But unfortunately, it did not hold the same charm for me as the other. And I'm so sad and disappointed about it. I still liked it okay but I didn't love it.

I'm not entirely sure what's wrong with me, but this one felt a little shallow, drawn-out, and simple to me. It never really gets too deep, which seems almost impossible considering the book is about a man who died and has to come to terms with who he was while he was alive and then decide when he's ready to cross over to the next place. Add in the charm and whimsey from Klune's writing and I thought it would be really interesting. But Wallace had his turnaround fairly easily and was from then on a completely different person who understood all of it, fell in love with everything, and wanted to fix everything. It just felt so simple and easy.

I also struggled with just getting through the book at all. It slows down a lot in the middle and becomes fairly repetitive with the talk about death and moving on and using the time we have. I know death and loss are deeply personal and we all deal with it differently, but it didn't feel like there was really anything new in how it was dealt with here. Just a lot of pretty common sayings and a lot of 'I don't knows'. And I feel terrible about this but I just didn't connect with most of it or feel it as deeply about it as I know I should have. It was just too surface for me.

I also didn't feel a connection between Hugo and Wallace like I did in the Cerulean Sea. I don't entirely know why, probably because I wasn't completely on board with Wallace's character and turnaround. But I also felt like the other characters were all a little flat. And Hugo was almost too good. Always patient. Always content. Always helping. But he does have panic attacks, so.

I don't know. I'm having a hard time really figuring out why I didn't love this like I did the other but I think it was just too sweet and simple for me. I don't think I was in the mood for a cute and whimsical death book and so it didn't really fully work for me. But a lot of people have loved this one just like the other, so don't take my word for it. Try it out yourself and maybe you'll fall in love with Hugo and Wallace and Mei and Nelson and Apollo. They really are great characters and it has a very interesting premise. There's a lot here going for this book so it's easy to see why so many people love it.

*Actual rating - 4.5*

This book exceeded my expectations in so many ways. After seeing some mixed reviews of Under the Whispering Door, I was hesitant to pick it up as The House in the Cerulean Sea is one of my all time favorite books. But, I'm glad I did because this is an excellent story with fully fleshed-out characters and an interesting exploration of socially relevant themes. Though darker in tone and themes than House, Under the Whispering Door is heartwarming and comforting.

My one main critique is based on a personal preference for the ending. If one story element was slightly changed, it probably would have been a five star read.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an e-arc of Under the Whispering Door to review.

I didn't enjoy this quite as much as The Cerulean Sea but it still very much had that wonderful charm and a cast of loveable characters that made that book so special. I also loved the tea house premise and its positive outlook on death. This is a perfect feel good, cozy read to curl up with.

Under the whispering door
I wanted to love this as much as I loved Cerulean Sea but it fell a little short for me.

Things I loved:
The tea shop itself
Quirky cast of characters including Mei, the reaper, and Hugo the ferryman, and Nelson, Hugo's deceased grandfather. 

Things that didn't work for me
Would have liked to see more into Wallace's life before his death to see more of his arc.
The world building fell flat and I never really connected with the story.
The story almost entirely takes place in the tea house itself.

One thing that did stay with me was the message around tea itself:
The first time you share tea, you are a stranger The second time you share tea, you are an honored guest The third time you share tea, you become family.

The best thing I can say about this book is that I cried for pages and pages; I cried out of joy, out of sadness, out of understanding, and out of grief. Death is a hard subject for me but I believe this book helped me to understand my own feelings towards it. The characters were also well-loved.

3.5 stars

This was my second TJ Klune novel and, much like The House In the Cerulean Sea, I felt as if Klune's greatest strength was in his characterization and world-building. I really got a great sense of what Charon's Crossing was like, and I could visualize the entire setup. I also loved the characters as individuals as well as a "family" unit. Klune gave so much life to all his characters, even those who were dead and/or non-human. I loved Apollo and, of course, Nelson was my favorite.

My biggest complaint with the novel lies with the last quarter of the story. For a book that spent so much time developing relationships between characters and establishing personalities, I felt as if everything from the time of The Manager's ultimatum to the end of the book was incredibly rushed. I also didn't care for the ending. Though it would have been incredibly heart-wrenching for it to end in the expected way, the ending Klune chose felt a little too "Hollywood" for me. It seemed to just counteract everything Klune had spent the previous several hundred pages establishing.

That said, I still enjoyed it, if for no other reason than to have been introduced to a fun cast of memorable characters.

Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune is a fantasy, paranormal, romantic LGBTQIA+ novel. For someone who struggles with death anxiety, this kind of book about death really gives me hope that there is some form of afterlife. The book is full of quirky characters, a kind of misfit group.

Wallace, a lawyer, wasn’t exactly a compassionate person when he was alive. So when a reaper comes to collect him at his own funeral, he’s not the most welcoming person and not exactly ready to accept his fate. She takes him to a tea shop run by Hugo and Hugo also happens to be the ferryman who helps souls cross over.

Through time and help from Hugo, Wallace starts to accept his fate and learns that he should have led a different kind of life.

I loved The House by the Cerulean Sea by Klune but I think this one is definitely my favorite of the two.

DO not read this book on a plane! It was so hard not to cry when reading the end of this book and I tried so hard to keep it together in public while reading this.
If you liked House in the Cerulean Sea, you will love this as well. It was a sweet hug of a book and I love seeing the grumpy terrible person find his humanity and learn how to care about other people!

I’ve heard great things about this author but this book was really hard to connect to. The main character is extremely unlikable and I ended up not finishing the book…

This was just not for me!

T.J. Klune has a way of writing such cozy stories and characters that tug at your heart strings and make you feel whole. I would honestly read an entire series with these characters running their little tea shop while calmly and empathetically assisting the dead to the whispering door.

TJ Klune hasn't disappointed yet, and it's been years since I first started reading Klune's works. This was a slower read for me—maybe it was the subject and one I'm not particularly fond of reading and exploring in fiction. I am a big wimp when it comes to hard and serious topics. Things like death and the grim reaper paint a very dismal picture and these days I tend to want different in my fiction. When I read it, I kept hoping for something else...but regardless, it's Klune and he works his magic. This is a book that has a lot going for it and it gives you so much hope. Definitely a good read!

This one is going to be hard both to describe and to rate! At the beginning of the book, main character Wallace, who is a real jerk, unexpectedly dies, and then is escorted by a “reaper” named Mei to a quirky tea shop which, while a real place frequented by people who are alive, is also a way station for the recently dead where the proprietor Hugo helps them prepare for their crossing through the door of the title. Essentially, by being cared for and learning to care for others, Wallace has a post-death journey of self-discovery.

Though the story was original and the writing was good throughout, the first half or so of this book was honestly a bit tedious - not just slow but Wallace is such a jerk at the start that it feels more cartoonish than real. But somewhere around the seance scene just before the halfway point that had me literally laughing out loud, I finally got into the book. And by the end, I was totally charmed and won over, stayed up too late reading it, and finished it crying! So I guess that somehow all averages out to 4 stars. I still liked The House in the Cerulean Sea better though.

A story that explores death, grief, and loss while remaining charming and whimsical. This book was sweet, sad, serious, funny and sarcastic and just takes the reader on an emotional rollercoaster from beginning to end. Bonus: The cover was yet another beautiful piece of artwork with an oil pastel look to it.