Dear TJ Klune,

Thank you for allowing me to realize that the eyeliner I had been experimenting with was not as waterproof as it claimed it was. It’s possible it wasn’t up to the tsunami of tears that I would cry over this book. And cry I would, because this possibly might be one of the best books I’ve ever read concerning the matter of death.

It’s worried me for quite some time, along with many others. Death that is. But there was something about this book and the way it was approached that felt so delicate and special. It turned death from a horrifying end to a beautiful beginning and I can’t help but want to thank you for that.

As always, your writing is a comfort. It’s somehow reminiscent of all the books I’ve loved in my life and yet none of them all at the same time.

The characters within this book feel like old friends, comforting and honest when you need them to be. They’re respectful in their disagreements, but never afraid to talk about the hard stuff.

And this book is full of the hard stuff. It doesn’t shy away from it either, but it remains respectful of grief and what remains after it.

In a word, this book is, magnificent.

Your faithful reader,

Ashley

The warmth this book gave off is immense. The chosen family aspect and the lovable characters completely swept me off my feet.

Under the Whispering Door is a sweet story about found family and that sometimes life can have unexpected turns even after its over.

I loved The House in the Cerulean Sea, and I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to give some love to @tjklunebooks and Under the Whispering Door.
🫖🚪👻

We are big tea drinkers in my house, so I loved that a tea shop and various flavors of tea played a key role in this book.
🫖🚪👻

This book broke me out of a slump, and it had me in my feels in the best way possible.

I didn’t know what to think about a book centering death and the afterlife. But, Klune brings together a group of characters who wiggle their way into the hearts of readers as big bold story of love, life, and chosen family is explored.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

Amazing,absolutely beautiful! Thank you so much for this arc. Tj klune books continue to be a masterpiece - such a beautiful and creative look at life, death and love

DNF at 42%. I'm so bummed that I could not bring myself to finish this book. I'm hopeful that I will pick it up in the future because I adored TJ Klune's writing in Cerulean Sea and I have other books written by him on my bookshelf that I will read soon.

The story was just so slow for me. I felt like it wasn't going anywhere. I was told by many people to keep going because it would eventually pick up but if I'm bored I can't force myself to read something. I tried starting from the beginning to see if that would help, but I found that it just made matters worse. So I didn't finish this one. Here's to hoping the next book by TJ Klune grabs my attention from the start.

I gave this book five very full, very well deserved stars.

When I picked up The House in the Cerulean Sea last year I didn’t believe the people who told me it was the best thing they had read or that I would love it and in all honesty, while I didn’t love it, I enjoyed it - the messages it brought me, the warm hug I felt at the end was very welcome but it was just the taster for me, enough to bring me in from the cold.

Under the Whispering Door was less a hug and more a cuddle, it kept me in warmth all the way through as if I was ensconced in a fluffy blanket and thick bed socks, supporting me all the way through because this book brings a lot of feeling and raw emotion and I needed that support. I loved it and as soon as I finished it I wanted to start again from the beginning. This book has hit my re-read shelf and I’ll be recommending and gifting it to as many people as I can.

I won’t spend too much time talking about the narrative of Under the Whispering Door but I will say it is fantastical without seeming like a fantasy and it carries delicate and heavy subject matter without breaking a sweat - although I would advise some more sensitive readers to seek out trigger warnings, as you can read in the synopsis, this book centres around death and holds some dark content.

But on the other hand, this book holds a lot of love and compassion too, through Klune’s writing style and the characters he has created and their ‘found family’ I felt a deep connection to Hugo, Wallace and Mei along with basically everyone else. Grief is a hard subject to write about - it hits everyone differently and you can never know what to expect. I have listened to Klune in several author chats now and can say that he writes what he knows and he does it very well. I’d like to think that this book will help people when they need it, I know it has helped me and I have since lent my copy to my mum who loved it too.

I’ll be keeping my eyes out for Klune’s next book in this little contingent, even though it’ll be a heartbreaker probably, I know my heart is safe.

After reading Under the Whispering Door, I can understand why author TJ Klune has become absolutely buzz-worthy. Under the Whispering Door is unlike any book I've read to date -- a postmortem slow-burn love story with redemption, personal growth, forgiveness, and such a deep exploration of life, death, and what it means to be human. Klune offers a beautiful plot with vibrant characters, witty dialogue, flawed humanity, and an existentialist view into life and what happens when it's over. Blurring the lines between the dead and the living, Wallace, Hugo, Mai, Nelson, and Apollo form their own little family under the strangest of circumstances, with newly-deceased Wallace learning what it means to really live, even when you're dead. Such a beautiful book that I can't wait telling everyone about!

The House in the Cerulean Sea was amazing and so was this! Under the Whispering Door will fill the void that the last book left and leave another void.

It's a whimsical story that is similar to his other work. I really loved The House by the Cerulean Sea, and while this was similar, it also was found a little lacking. In this story, a corporate stooge discovers the meaning of life. A cruel character transforms and finds his humanity through the process of death.

I didn't think T.J. Klune could top The House in the Cerulean Sea, but Under the Whispering Door left me just as breathless. His characters are warm and real (despite some of them being dead), and his approaches to heavy topics such as the afterlife, grief, and dealing with regret were delicate and thought-provoking. T.J.'s books are like cozy hugs, and I can't wait for the next one.

This book was very emotional and enthralling, but it failed to gasp the depth I have found in The house in the Cerulean Sea. While very meditative, it failed to deliver...

This book made me cry in the middle of a parking lot at 1am-if that doesn’t say something I don’t know what does
5 stars all the way

I immediately fell in love with T.J. Klune's writing after reading The House in the Cerulean Sea and was super excited to receive an early copy of Under the Whispering Door. I think I was expecting this book to be like his last, but that is not the case. There is a much darker feel to this novel and while there are still humorous parts, it is a much more serious read. It talks a lot about death and religion and the religious aspect wasn't something I was expecting. This is definitely an emotional read as well which I knew would be coming, and it is very character-driven as opposed to plot-driven. The characters are fantastic and very well written, so they do a perfect job of supporting the book and carrying it along. I loved almost every single one of the characters and even Wallace grew on me very quickly. It was wonderful seeing the change in him after he died thanks to Hugo, and his growth by the end of the book was very heartwarming.

The audiobook is narrated by Kirt Graves who I thought was an excellent choice for the viewpoint of Wallace. He was spot on for both tone and emotion and I was especially happy I listened to this thanks to the slower pace. I did think Under the Whispering Door drug in parts and I would find myself tuning out which didn't happen with The House in the Cerulean Sea. This is really the only thing I had an issue with and the main reason I didn't end up giving the book a 5/5 (I gave it a 4/5). I seem to be in the minority here as not many reviews mention this, so I definitely think you need to pick it up and read it for yourself. Besides the slow parts, I really loved this book, and I am such a fan of Klune's writing style which never disappoints. The end was of course complete perfection, and I also love that Klune involves queer characters. You really can't go wrong with Under the Whispering Door and I will be recommending it to whoever will listen.

Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Wallace Price is not a good man. In fact, some would call him self centered, success driven and willing to step on anyone or anything to get what he wants. Wallace Price is dead. In the afterlife, Wallace is introduced to a cast of characters: Mei, the reaper. Hugo, the ferryman. Cameron, the husk. And, of course you can't forget about Nelson, the spunk ghost. It is only in their company that Wallace Price understands what it means to truly start living.

Ya'll. Ya'll. YA'LL. How does TJ Klune do it? He continues to address heavy hitting issues like suicide, afterlife, anxiety and depression with wit and humor without taking away from the importance of the topic. I cried. I laughed. I was anxious and angry right along with all of the characters.

Klune stays true to his style in this novel incorporating fantasy, wit, and a little love. He is one of the most talented authors when it comes to the theme of creating community and portraying the power of a found family. I have said it before and I'll say it again, he's an incredible writer and I will forever buy his books.

It helped that I had a friend and fellow social worker to chat with about this one as it packs a punch and requires a lot of unpacking. It's a great book to start the discussion around grief and loss and so many other things. If you haven't read it, I definitely recommend. It's worth it.

This book took me months to read. By which I mean that within the first thirty pages I knew I was going to love it and purposely decided to savour it. Wallace was the biggest grump and seeing him pitted against Mei was so well done. And then we meet Hugo, and Nelson and Apollo and my heart could not have been more full. A brief heads up, I cried for the last 50 pages or more because I was going through the 7 stages of grief over finishing this book. Maybe if we're lucky we'll get a second book? Not that it needs a sequel but I'd love more of these characters.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me an arc for an honest review!
And thank you to TJ Klune for never missing!

Is not a secret that I absolutely loved The House in the Cerulean Sea. It made me a fan of T.J. Klune. So of course I was going to read his next book.

Under the Whispering Door had me at Apollo. Who doesn't like a ghost dog that is always happy to see you and lick you to death? (no pun intended)

Ok, maybe it had me at more. Quirky characters, a tea shop, a love story, and learning the lesson to be a better person and to enjoy life while you can. These are all things I took away from the story.

Wallace Price is a ruthless lawyer. When the book begins he is firing an employee who is already in an economic bind. For Wallace, the only thing that matters is his job. He spends enough hours to know this is what gives him satisfaction. His marriage failed because his priority was his job. So when Wallace suffers a heart attack and dies, no one is more shocked than him. Shocked and angry that is.

Wallace meets his reaper first, Mei at his own funeral. She is there to take him to the Ferryman who would help Wallace understand what is happening to him and then guided him to the next step. When they arrived at Charon's Crossing Tea and Treats, Wallace meets Hugo, the Ferryman, the ghost of Hugo's grandfather, Nelson, and Hugo's ghost dog, Apollo.

As the days progress, Wallace goes through similar stages of grief and he begins to understand and assimilate that he is dead. Then, the Manager shows up and gives him 7 more days before crossing and Wallace sets himself to right some wrongs before it's too late.

I listened to the audio which was fantastic. The narrator Kirt Graves does an amazing job at separating all the characters and making them fun to listen to. It made it so smooth and clear. Never doubting which "voice" was talking.

As I said earlier, Under the Whispering Door was charming and quirky in the most endearing way!


Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Tor Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I read this book over the summer and it was one of the best things to happen to me. I hold it close to my heart, but I couldn't bring myself to write a review on it because it's hard to put into words how much this book meant to me. Recently, a close family friend passed away. It was very sudden and it took everyone near me by surprise. In my times of grief, I thought back to this book, and I imagined them in the place of the characters in the book. I imagined them going to the afterlife and finding peace in death. I am so grateful for this book for guiding me through that grief and taking care of me. I think this is a book everyone should read at some point. Not only for grieving but to celebrate life in general. It taught me that death isn't the end and that every part of life is beautiful. Thank you TJ Klune; you never disappoint.

“The first time you share tea you’re a stranger,
The second time you are an honored guest,
The third time you become family.”
-Baltic proverb

TJ Klune is such a great writer. His stories are unique, original, magical and heartwarming. The first book I read in 2021 was ‘House in the Cerulean Sea’ and I will aways recommend it. That being said, I kept comparing ‘Under the Whispering Door’ to that book which holds my heart… and while I liked Whispering Door, my heart still belongs to the Cerulean Sea. So here it goes…

‘Under the Whispering Door’ is a book about grief. It’s no spoiler to say that grumpy lawyer Wallace is dead by chapter 2. The Reaper, Mei, finds his soul at his funeral and leads him to a unique tea shop run by Hugo. Hugo is the ferryman who will help him crossover- when he’s ready of course! Even though Wallace is dead, he’s not ready to move on. He becomes friends with other ghosts, and of course, Hugo. 🖤

This is a story of Wallace and his journey navigating the afterlife. The topic discussed in this book is a heavy one, as no one knows what happens after we die. Klune portrayed it well and it reminded me a bit of the Good Place, which would be a great/hilarious afterlife!

I think I would have liked this one more if I hadn’t read Cerulean Sea. Because I just LOVED that one. The main character Wallace reminded me a lot of Linus, so like I said earlier it was hard not to compare the two.

I attended an amazing bookish group read chat, with some great friends AND the author. After talking to TJ Klune and hearing his reasoning for certain events and inspirations for characters I liked the book a lot more. He was such a nice guy, and so funny. I had the best time!

Too saccharine for me. Was hard to overlook the amount of cheese. I could see how this wouldn’t maybe appeal to some as a ‘feel good’ read, but unfortunately it was much too hard to swallow for me..