Wallace is a self centered, egotistical, cruel, selfish, lawyer, ex husband, jerk and nobody misses him when he’s dead. He even drives the reaper and ferryman to the end of their rope.
Wallace find himself at his funeral. Confused, in denial, he listens as his partners drib him as a horrible person, his ex wife spews hatred, there are no good words. This must be a dream right ? Nope. The Reaper comes for him, and escorts him to a tea house where he’s offered tea by the Ferryman Hugo.
This is a wonderful heartbreaking, heart wrenching journey. Wallace has issues on his issues. Hugos job is to help him move on to the next thing. Time, questions, soul searching and trust slowly change things. An impossible romance blooms.
These characters are amazing. Wallace (jerk), Hugo (yum), Mei (spunky), Nelson (patience), and Apollo (adorable 4 legged friend) Watch them do their job, make connections and bond had me laughing crying and cursing.
I enjoyed this read, it was very emotional. This was an unexpected joy, so unique.

TJ Klune's writing style is the real star of the book, but are any of us shocked?

I enjoyed the message of the book, and I understood the importance, but I had two big issues that I just could not help but kind of deter my enjoyment.

First: the pacing. I have no idea what the point of the book was. A chapter would open, and the narrator would say "Wallace did XYZ today, and then he did this, and now we're at here" and all I could think was... Okay ....?? Like why am I supposed to care? I just felt like there was no goal in this book. I understand that the overall goal was for Wallace to essentially accept his death, but I think that's more of a character goal rather than a plot one. I just felt so bored. Like things would happen, and then other things would happen, and I just didn't feel like they connected very well.

My other big problem was Wallace. I felt like he had two conflicting personalities that didn't go together. Apparently he was a mean guy when he was alive, and we're meant to believe that, but not even a few days after dying he's suddenly so sweet and thoughtful and always apologizing for being mean. And even when he was alive, there was conflicting messages being sent. Like in the firing scene, if he's this mean boss, why is his employee constantly cutting him off and talking about her private life? If he was this guy that no one liked I just feel like that scene would've gone very differently. I don't mean to be nit-picky, but I'm just using that to illustrate how I felt while reading the book. I think there's definitely people out there who present themselves as mean but are secretly very sensitive, and I think that's what the author was going for, I just didn't find it executed very well.

And the ending. Sorry, but I hated it. It felt like a cop out. I hate when stories deal with things like death and don't commit to it. I just really didn't like it.

I just couldn't get into this one, sorry. I tried to push through but it didn't keep my attention and the story felt forced. Decent writing for the several chapters I read.

I'm finally writing about Under The Whispering Door.

Thanks to Tor Books and TJ Klune for this arc.

Under the Whispering Door's main character is Wallace Price, a recently death lawyer (and a big jerk) who has the lucky of being asisted by the most caring team of reaper and ferryman on his way to the other side.
In Charon’s Crossing Tea and Treats, a cotagge-tea-shop, he's going to learn a lot about empathy, care for others, love and death. It's a beautiful journey to read.

Under the Whispering Door It is one of the most beautiful and sensitive books I have ever read. And it came when I needed it most. In february, my dear grandfather died of COVID-19. I don't believe in a life after death, but this book helps me a lot to think about love, death, grief and patience.

Thank you TJ. We needed this book.


Meses retrasé esta reseña. Aquí va.

Under the Whispering Door es el próximo libro de TJ Klune (The House in the Cerulean Sea, Wolfsong). Su protagonista es Wallace Price, un abogado y administrador de una empresa que no tiene un pelo de buena persona. Un día, cae muerto en su propia oficina y momentos después esta viendo cómo lo velan en un templo y con contadas las personas que van a despedirlo. Ninguna con buenas opiniones sobre él.

Mientras ve cómo su alrededor siempre aparentó respeto hacia él y que quizás no sería extrañado, su reaper, Mei, va a buscarlo para acercarlo a Hugo, su ferryman que con suerte, lo acompañará a un final mejor.
A lo largo de las páginas del libro, conocemos a estos personajes, leemos sabores de té que se nos antojarán, lloraremos con lo triste de algunas partes y quizás nos asustaremos un par de veces
____
Mei, Hugo, su abuelo Nelson y su perrito Apolo (estos dos ya muertos desde hace mucho) son de los personajes más hermosos que he encontrado en las obras de TJ.
Es lo gracioso, cálido y melancólico que esperas encontrar en un libro de este autor, y más. El romance es lento y casi no te das cuenta hasta que no ves la hora de que tu ship se haga realidad.
____
Yo leí este libro poco después del fallecimiento de mi querido abuelo y me ayudó a pensar sobre su pérdida, por lo que me parece interesante para acompañar el duelo por la muerte de un ser querido.
No tengo más que flores para tirarle a esta obra. Muchas gracias TJ, Tor Books y Netgalley por este e-arc.

First of all, thank you so much for allowing me to have an ARC to rate/review. Ever since reading The House in the Cerulean Sea I knew TJ Klune would be a forever favorite author of mine. When I heard that a new book, Under The Whispering Door, would be hitting shelves I immediately pre-ordered it.

Wallace Price is an awful lawyer who has no compassion or care in the world about people other than himself. And then he dies. He is met in death by a reaper, Mei. She leads him to a tea shop where he meets Hugo, his guide to crossing through the whispering door. The story is about Wallace’s journey in life, death, and love, the impact we can have on others, and living life (even the afterlife) to the fullest.

The end of the book had me crying true heartfelt tears for the characters’ journeys. Overall I rate the book 5/5 because I just love the take of this books stance on life after death and the continuum of consciousness. I appreciate the deeper meaning of the characters and always enjoy Klune’s touches of humor throughout. Some of the conversations Hugo and Wallace had in the middle of the book felt repetitive and it was a slow burn, but in true life grappling with death is similar and it was worth the slow build in the end.

ARC copy provided in exchange for an honest review. This in no way changes my rating or review.

5 GORGEOUS STARS

Just reach into my chest and tear out my heart, why don’t you, TJ? It would feel the same as reading this book and then coming to terms with the fact that these delightful and absolutely beautiful characters aren’t real, and I will never be able to walk into Hugo’s tea shop.

“Everyone loses their way at some point, and it’s not just because of their mistakes or the decisions they make. It’s because they’re horribly, wonderfully human.”
(This quote may not be in the published version of this novel, it was copied from the advanced reader’s copy.)

This book was ripe with TJ’s signature quirk, gay-ness and humour, and I loved it. So much. The writing was phenomenal as always, the romance was adorable and the humour was subtle but brilliant – but most of all, the character development from our main character, and the themes woven into the novel – those were what really made Under the Whispering Door stand out to me.

Live-Wallace was a dickhead, and this was clear from the start. He made me laugh, but it was more laughing-through-the-pain as I imagined having to deal with him on a daily basis than truly laughing, because damn, this man did not give a crap about people in his daily life. But dead-Wallace… well, I’m not going to lie to you and say that dead-Wallace immediately realised all his mistakes in life and vowed to be a nice person forevermore – certainly not – but dead-Wallace went through some of the most realistic and heartrending character development that I’ve seen portrayed in a book for a long time. Or possibly ever. Wallace was a masterfully written character, and he has a way of sneaking into your heart when you let your guard down – because of course you could never grow to like this man, what an asshole – and then shooting out spikes to latch himself in there so that you can never remove him. And Hugo… well, Hugo was just an absolute cutie, and I loved the way his mental-health problems were portrayed, because more mental-health awareness is always a pro. I hope I find a relationship like the one between Wallace and Hugo one-day, because I’ll only accept two things in life for me to be happy with the world – a relationship like the one these two have, or being turned into Mei, because she was an absolute icon. And the latter is less likely, unfortunately.

I also really loved the themes that TJ threaded through this novel; the messages about death and life and grief and love and everything in between. Death was a vital aspect of this story, and TJ wrote about it brilliantly, managing to not make anything too harsh nor too delicate, instead simply portraying death as something inevitable but not necessarily final.

“Death has a beauty to it. We don’t see it because we don’t want to.”
(This quote may not be in the published version of this novel, it was copied from the advanced reader’s copy.)

Overall, this novel was absolutely amazing, and everything – from the queer rep to the subtle racism aspects to the humour to the cute doggo – was so captivating and fascinating to read about, I couldn’t put this down. Protect Mei… and Hugo and Nelson and Apollo and Wallace and all of them, because they’re all such cuties, and definitely characters who I’ll read about over and over as I reread this book more times than I can count! I’m in love, and if TJ appeared outside my house right now and asked for help hiding a body, I would say yes if only he’d give me ARCs to the rest of his books forever.

Read this book! Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC copy provided in exchange for an honest review❤.

Never thought I'd fall in love with a book in which the primary focus is death. It’s not something a lot of people want to read about, especially 400 pages of it. But TJ Klune has created a wonderful book that changed my feelings on the subject, might yours too. At its heart, this book is as much a book about death as it is about having gratitude toward life and learning to live. Klune is insightful and deep, without being overly heavy. I laughed. I cried. And I don't cry easily with books. I smiled again and again. I fell in love with these characters and hated every page I turned because that meant I was approaching the end. I didn’t want to leave.

Personally, this book was very timely since I recently lost my grandfather. This is not a spoiler but once you read the book you'll understand the weight of that similarity. What struck me the most are the themes of a subjective afterlife and the importance of the grieving processes, especially on the part of the dead--which is not always the case, obviously. Wallace Price was a flawed character and the only problem I saw about him (and sometimes of the others especially Mei) was the absurdity of their responses, some childish or incredulous. Then again, this was an incredulous book, wonderfully so. It felt like a Rick Riordan PJO for adults and young adults. 4/5 to 8.9/10 all the way.

3.5 stars
Though the story is different, the essence of this story is very similar to The House in the Cerulean Sea (Klune's previous novel). Harsh, grumpy, disconnected man goes to quaint, isolated house where he meets wholesome sunshine man and a cast of other loveable quirky characters. He begins to thaw out, eventually becoming a champion or advocate for his found family against the bureaucracy that threatens them. This isn't a criticism, it's a formula that works to creatively touching and heartwarming stories with loveable characters. Rather than feeling like a repeat of his previous work, this just feels very 'on brand'.

This book looks at death and grief, free will and choice. I'm not really 100% on what it was trying to say, but I think the message is that someone still exists, even after they pass on - death isn't the be all and end all. This wasn't quite as enjoyable as Cerulean Sea for me, as the humour felt a bit overdone - where Cerulean was a bit more fantastical and could use those elements to its advantage, in this one some of the comedy relief characters just felt a bit ridiculous and unrealistic.

All in all though, I liked this, I cried, it was good!

Ok, TJ Klune writes incredibly descriptive and thoughtful books and Under the Whispering Door is more of that same amazing writing style and characters that you love. This book was so fantastic!

What a premise, after Wallace Price dies, a reaper comes to take him from his own funeral to a waystation of sorts. A simple tea house and an incredibly introspective owner, Hugo, awaits Wallace’s arrival. Hugo’s job is to help Wallace pass over into his final resting place, but he becomes so much more than that for Wallace.

What a beautiful story of learning, growing, loving, and living.
5 stars! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Under the Whispering Door
TJ Klune

This is the first book I’ve read by TJ Klune and now I understand why his last novel was hyped so hard. Under the Whispering Door was beautiful, touching, and at times utterly heartbreaking.

The story was well written, deftly executed, and made it easy to connect with the characters. Before the first chapter is even reached a content warning is provided. Looking back, this told me everything I needed to know about the novel…a difficult topic will be discussed, but it will be done with care. If you are in a place to take in the contents, I’d highly recommend this novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced e-arc in exchange for an honest review. I’ve already pre-ordered a final copy that I’m excited to add to my personal library.

It takes a tender hand to make humor of grief, love, and faith. TJ Klune is proving himself to become one of my favorites. The story is poignant and bittersweet, especially knowing that Klune wrote it to process his own grief. I only hope the next step on life’s journey is actually as beautiful as the world created in Under the Whispering Door.

This book is beautiful but HEAVY. It’ll break you down piece by piece and then put you back together again. Have your tissues ready at all times.
Under the Whispering Door follows Wallace Price, an unlikeable lawyer without a single redeeming quality. He’s impossible to please and entirely lacks empathy. And then he dies suddenly. He’s approached by a reaper at his own funeral who brings him to a mysterious tea shop. Here he meets the ferryman, Hugo, who is tasked with guiding Wallace in his journey to accept his death and eventually cross over in a peaceful manner.
I cannot even do this book justice through my review. It had the greatest mix of humor and raw emotion. Klune takes a deep look at living life and making the most of it. I was so captivated by all the discussions about time and the different ways to interpret it, as well as the connections between time and life.
I loved Wallace’s character arc so much. He went from being selfish and arrogant to caring and vulnerable over the course of the book. This was definitely a character-driven story and Wallace is someone I found myself rooting for despite having such a strong negative opinion of him at the beginning. The rest of the characters are each amazing in their own way and I loved the little family that was formed. There was also a super cute ghost dog named Apollo who was prominent in the story so bonus points for that!
It was a bit emotionally draining to get through, you definitely need to be in the right headspace for it but it was such a rewarding read. I don’t cry very often when it comes to books but I cried a total of FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES while reading this one. There were so many potent and bittersweet moments that collected into such a resonant story.
I think literally everyone can connect with this book in one way or another. Anyone who has lost a love one may find some comfort in this. Even though it’s a work of fiction, it brings with it a sense of hope and peace into reality.
Thank you so much to Tor Books, the author and NetGalley for the eARC!

Under the Whispering Door is outrageously good. It is excellent and rich and wonderful. In a year that seems to be headed down the drain, TJ Klune's book is a much needed dose of love. Holy crap this book is good.

Wallace is a bastard. He is a lawyer who only sees the bottom line of his partnership and not the people around him. He is divorced because he chose to work over his wife. He blames others for any mistakes because it cannot possibly be his fault. And then Wallace is dead.

Death is not quite what Wallace thought it would be. Honestly he probably never thought about it. He finds himself in the care of Mei, a Reaper. She takes him to meet Hugo, the ferryman who lives under the whispering door. So begins a journey that explores grief, life, and why we live. I cannot do this book justice because I do not possess the vocabulary necessary. All the characters in this book are well written.

I have added it to my best books of 2021 list.

I received this title from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

After reading the House Cerulean Sea last year - and it becoming my favorite book ever! - Klune’s next novel, Under the Whispering Door, had a lot to live up to.


Klune again stuns me with the use of found family, the fact “our people” can be found in the most unlikely place and time. The cast of characters in this book are funny, heartwarming, quirky, and kind. Just like Cerulean Sea, it took me a while to get into, but once I was in, I was hooked. I also got the same warm feeling while reading UTWD, when our MC finds themselves unloveable until they finally find their place.

Now this book will not be for everyone. It is highly focused on dying, death, and grieving. It’s not a light read. There were lots of tears shed while reading this one - both happy and sad.


Thanks to NetGalley, Tor Books, and Macmilliam Audio for both the ARC and ALC of this book. Under the Whispering Door is 9/21.

Thank you Tor Books and Netgalley for the ARC of Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune I’m exchange for my honest opinion.

I enjoyed this book so much. It was a spectacular read. I laughed. I cried. I got goose bumps.

One of the biggest questions is “is there life after death?” What happens? This book puts a spin on the after life. Wallace is a lawyer who is just not a good person. He has no heart and nobody likes him. When a heart attack takes him, he is picked up by a Reaper. The Reaper takes him to a Ferryman who will then help him into the afterlife. Wallace realizes that there is so much more to life that he missed out on.

This was my first TJ Klune book. Definitely will not be my last.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! Admittedly, it took me awhile to get through this one, but that was on me, not this book (I have been struggling with fantasy in general lately, which has made it harder for me to pick up, but when I actually read, I really enjoyed it!).

This was one of my most anticipated books of the year, especially after reading The House in the Cerulean Sea last year, and I really love Klune's writing. He does such a good job of really allowing the reader to picture the scenes while reading, and he creates such amazing characters. I loved every character in this book, and I loved how complex they all were, and how real they felt.

This book is really heavy at times - it really talks a lot about death and wondering what comes after, and I definitely think anyone who wants to read this should keep that in mind and make sure you are in a good place before starting, just to be safe - but there are also so many moments of levity, where I found myself literally laughing out loud.

I do think the ending is a little anti-climatic, but I also understand why it was done the way it was done. And I also think the plot was a little slower than I usually prefer, but overall I really did enjoy this book and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys contemporary fantasy.

TJ Klune's latest book is simply stunning. Weaving together Greek mythology (Charon, the ferryman who transports the dead across the River Styx), Celtic legend (the stag that represents the other world and spiritual enlightenment) as well as the Chinese red string of fate, he creates a world of death, growth, forgiveness and incredible perception.

Wallace Price is a piece of work - a hard-ass lawyer who drops dead of a heart attack in his office - on a Sunday - and is unwillingly transported by Mei, a human Reaper, to a little tea house in the forest, where he will eventually ascend through a door into the afterlife. The tea house is a place to come to terms with death, to understand that "grief is a catalyst, a transformation."

"The first time you share tea, you are a stranger. The second time you take tea, you are an honored guest. The third time you share a cup of tea, you become family."

Let's just say that Wallace does not go gentle into that good night. He rails against Hugo, the ferryman and teahouse proprietor, as well as Nelson, Hugo's dead grandfather who is hanging around the teahouse as a ghost, along with Apollo, Hugo's ghost dog. It's a merry mix of the living and the dead, with wry humor and witty asides, all geared to help Wallace resolve his feelings and eventually accept the afterlife.

At close to 400 pages, at times the story moves a bit slowly, but we need that pace in order to steep ourselves in the universe Klune crafts. The unlikely attraction between Hugo and Wallace comes out of nowhere and while it's all kinds of lovely it felt a bit incomplete and unfleshed out. But overall, I found this story deeply moving, and especially in the world in which we are now all living, deeply comforting.

"Death has a beauty to it. We don't see it because we don't want do. And that makes sense. Why would we want to focus on something that takes us away from everything we know? How do we even begin to understand that there's more than what we see?"

5+ stars for Under the Whispering Door and a Recommended Read.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of UNDER THE WHISPERING DOOR by TJ Klune. I really enjoyed THE HOUSE ON THE CERULEAN SEA, so I was excited to read this one, but unfortunately this one didn't pull me in in quite the same way. The characters were sweet and cute the way TJ Klune's characters are, I honestly just didn't feel like the plot really started until about three-fourths of the way through the book. Thus, it took me a really long time to get to that point. I just couldn't tell what this book was supposed to be about except for a dead guy hanging around staring heart eyes at a living guy. I'm sure a lot of other people will love it, but for me there wasn't a lot to pull me through until the very end when some tension finally came into the story. I think THOTCS had more of that tension throughout than this book did. There were some really beautifully written sections and some lovely themes, just not enough story for me.

Right from the very beginning, I knew that this book was going to break my heart. You can't write a story about a ghost and a ferryman falling in love and not anticipate some tears. Wallace Price is a jerk, and it was hard to like him at all. But the more he grows as a person, the more likable he becomes. Hugo was perfection, and I loved him from the start. This book is full of amazing characters, but I will let you discover the rest on your own.

I don't know how Klune does it, but he always manages to make me fall more in love with his stories. These stories are always about a difficult subject, but with Klunes writing and humor, you can see a glimpse of light in the dark. I took away valuable lessons, and this one might be the most important of them all. This book left me with so much hope, and I hope it makes you feel the same.