The premise of this book is great - I just didn't connect with it. I found it really slow and repetitive. And I didn't really bond with any of the characters.

I was given this book as an e-arc from
Netgalley for an honest review.

Let’s start of by saying, I haven’t read this authors most popular work ‘The House in the Cerulean Sea’ , so had no idea what I was getting myself into with this book. I went in completely blind.

The first bit of the book was slower to get into and I was unsure whether I would enjoy it. But when I did… wow! This was a book I was not expecting to love but did. The characters are so lovable and grow on you, the story line and the characters develop. It was so so much more than I expected.

This book features a man who has passed away and has to find peace in who he was to move on to travel through the door to whatever it is there is, after life. The main character didn’t live the best life, wasn’t the most likeable kind of person and lonely. However, when he arrives at Charring Cross he meets Mei (a reaper), Hugo (a ferryman), Nelson (a dead grandad) and Apollo (a dead dog). Throughout this story you see how these unlikely characters help each other to become their better selves and with some other elements thrown in such as fake clairvoyances, poltergeist behaviour, and lots of cups of tea.

This book focuses on personal growth, relationships and friendships all mixed in with the added dimension of life/dead and what happens next.

A really beautiful book that turns unlikable flawed characters into loveable flawed characters you want to root for. It can get quite emotional at time and TW for: death, suicide, murder and just generally those dark matters.

I had high expectations based on previous works that the book didn´t fulfil.. I found the story quite cliché. The main character stars from being a scrooge to redempt himself after death.

A book that makes you slow down, pause, and appreciate the life you have. Once again, the character development was complete. You become invested in the lives and deaths of the characters through their wonderful conversations and actions. A book about death but hope and humor still shine through.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. TJ Klune has done it again. I now have two favorite books written by him, this one and "The House in the Cerulean Sea."

The story is about Wallace Price, who is a ghost refusing to cross over after he has died. He also refuses to believe he is dead. From there he is given a certain amount of time to cross over and he meets some amazing characters. He meets Mei, Hugo and some other people. This book is so sweet and even times a little heartbreaking. I loved every minute of reading this, and this solidifies that I will pick up more books from T.J. Klune.

I will definitely be rereading this when I get my final Barnes and Noble preorder!!

Things I liked:
I've only read one other TJ Klune book, The House in the Cerulean Sea, and I can say that between these two, Mr. Klune has some fun, quirky humor. The best is when he makes fun of corporate drones (though as someone in education, I think anyone with a 9-5 job can relate). The quirky humor fits well into the setting and tone of his story, which is a light fantasy that is part slice-of-life (even if this one deals with death) and part character reflection. It's a fantasy that sits just on the edge of the mortal world, feeling like there's a chance this really does exist. I also liked the ideas that this book was trying to portray-- a character who dies who goes on to learn more about what it means to be alive and how to accept their death. It's sad but can be really impactful.

That brings me to what I don't like:
The story only seems to just scratch the surface of the themes it was set out to portray. I never really felt the impact or saw how the main character, Wallace, grew from it. The book was also very long and drawn out. Roughly at the 50% mark it just started to feel repetitive and not really advancing the story at all. It's not meant to be a plot-driven book, but even so it should've felt like there were new ways for the author to develop the characters. Lastly, there is a romance involved, but I personally was not sold on it. The characters didn't like each other that much from the start, and then it seemed all of a sudden they did like each other. I think this was in part to the drawn-out repetitive bits-- we could've taken some of that out to better focus on the relationship between the characters,

I'm still happy I read it and if you like TJ Klune, you won't be too disappointed. It still very much has his vibes and humor. But I've just read better from him and wanted a little bit more.

Thank you to the publisher for providing a free eARC via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley, T.J. Klune, and Macmillan-Tor/Forge books for the ARC. I was excited to receive this book since I have heard such good things about Klune’s other books. I also want to say my review of this book is separate from my opinions on the recent scandal. I struggle with the idea of death and the unknown a lot and although this book is a fantasy, it was nice to read about a subject where the outcome is pretty much always positive. I loved so many of the characters in this book and was thrilled that there was a ghost dog. I do have a hard time believing that a person who was so nasty in life would change that fast, even in death. I also got 90% done with the book and was like “okay this feels right,” and then it threw me for a loop. Once I was completely done, I understood the choice though. I didn’t love everything about this book, but I loved it enough that I will probably give Klune more of my time.

Well delivered unique story about Wallace who dies and discovers how he should have lived. Very enjoyable with lovely warming characters, this book is definitely worth a read for all fans and new fans of TJ Klune!

I enjoyed the beginning of this book a lot. It started off with a bang and really gave us some insight as to the type of person our main character Wallace was. Wallace was this mean, cold and calculating man who was only focused on himself and work. He didn't care about how he treated others or how others perceived him. He unfortunately dies and the story follows him in the afterlife as he is able to reflect back on his life and we watch as he deals with his grief and comes to terms with the type of person he was when he was alive.. The middle of the story kind of slowed down for me. There were parts that were funny, there parts that pulled at my heartstrings, but there were also parts that just seemed to really drag on. I really enjoyed the characters and how they all brought something different.. This book also dealt with topic of grief very well and at times made you sympathize with Wallace and other characters mentioned in the book. I wished this book could have been a little shorter and the ending wrapped up a little nicer because it felt a bit rushed, but I can see lots of people falling in love with another one of TJ Klune's stories.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for allowing me early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

OK, this book wrecked me in the best way. TJ Klune's books just make me happy and warm and fuzzy while also passing along an important message. This book centers around grief and dying, which you wouldn't think would be a comforting read, but I promise you it is! Klune shares with us many hopeful messages about life after death (despite none of us knowing what truly waits for us) and the stages of grief.

As expected, the characters were my favorite part of this book. How can you not be in love with Nelson and Hugo and Mei and Apollo? And, of course, Wallace too. There was a scene about halfway through where Wallace's character literally had me in tears I was laughing so hard. Yes, in a book about death, I laughed so hard I cried. I think that says a lot about Klune's storytelling ability.

If I get a bit nitpicky, I would say the romance in this novel was not very well-developed. I did feel that we as readers missed how the characters somehow went from "we annoy each other" to "we're madly in love and can't imagine being without each other." I will say, though, that I still enjoyed the romance aspect. As the romance was not the point, in my opinion, this didn't really change my feelings about the book.

Overall, I definitely recommend this one. I can't wait to read more of Klune's backlist and excitedly await any new books he's working on.

A profoundly unique and genuinely warm hearted work of utter wonder. Gently crafted characters that are developed beautifully and a story that will bring you to tears. Absolutely magic

After reading The House in the Cerulean Sea, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this author’s newest release. Ecstatic doesn’t begin to describe how I felt when I received an ARC from NetGalley.

Once again, this author has left me awestruck. It’s hard to convey how much I loved this book and the feelings it evoked in me, but I’ll give it a shot.

Wallace is not a nice person. At all. He’s a workaholic who cares very little for the employees at his law office. After he dies of a sudden heart attack in his 40s, all he leaves behind is a failed marriage and his firm – no family or friends, not even a pet. At his sparsely-attended funeral not one person has a kind word to say about him. There, he meets a feisty reaper who escorts him to a peculiar tea shop to meet the ferryman. The tea shop is a kind of layover for the recently deceased until they’re ready to move on. Here, Wallace experiences the five stages of grief – anger is a big one for him – and eventually has some earth-shattering moments of self-realization. He may have been alive, but he never really lived.

Besides the ferryman and reaper, there are a couple of other characters at the tea house, and I fell in love with all of them. They felt like family by the end of the story. As with The House in the Cerulean Sea, humor is still prevalent along with plenty of heartfelt moments. I’m not a person who cries easily over books or movies, but I’m batting a thousand with Klune.

This novel is about love, grief, friendship, family, a wide variety of teas, and truly living. It’s also about death and what might come after, but it’s dealt with in a light-hearted, thought-provoking, moving, and beautiful way. As with The House in the Cerulean Sea, it’s a book I’ll recommend to everyone I know, reader or not.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Another masterpiece by TJ Klune!

This follows Wallace, a stone cold lawyer who doesn't care about anyone but himself and his success. That is, until he suddenly dies!

Wallace attends his own funeral and makes some harsh realizations about his life. A reaper shows up to take him on his journey and from there it is a wonderful story of friendships, heartbreak, coming to terms with death, and discovering what makes us human.

It was beautiful and sad and eye-opening all at the same time. The characters were so well written they felt like long lost friends.

It was the kind of book that you don't want to put down but you NEED to put down to just digest what's happening and give your heart a breather lol

I was hoping for it to end in a different way and felt low key disappointed UNTIL literally the last like 3 pages when everything tied up PERFECTLY and then decided there was no other way for this story to end! Just fabulous!

Highly recommend this book. Actually no, I am TELLING you to go read this book no questions asked, go... right now. What are you waiting for?

I read The House in the Cerulean Sea and absolutely loved it, so this became one of my most anticipated reads of the year. It did not disappoint. I adored it.

The story follows Wallace Price, who finds himself at his own funeral when he suddenly dies. A reaper, Mei, collects him and takes him to a small village where Hugo, a ferryman, and Nelson reside. He discovers what it means to be alive, although he is dead.

I didn't like Wallace at first. He was a prick, and he knows it. He's a lawyer, angry, selfish, has no friends, and only cared about his work. As he began to accept his death, he reflects on his life and regrets. He begins to become a better person and grows into someone I was rooting for to the end. I loved Hugo. He is so compassionate, caring, and kind. I quickly fell in love with Nelson, Mei, and of course, Apollo, the dog.

The found family and romance were so sweet and heartwarming. I loved the setting of the tea shop. I want to be there with them.

It deals with heavier topics of death but still has charm and wit as The House in the Cerulean Sea. It is a raw exploration of death, grief, loss, and what it means to live. It had all the feels.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book is incredible. I loved everything it said and everything it did with its time, and I'm saying that first because I had a really weird entry into it.

I loved the premise, so I was going in planning to love it. And then in the first chapter -- I hated the protagonist. He was such an asshole that I couldn't imagine wanting to spend an entire book with him, even though I was sure it would be very Scrooge learning to be a better person. I resolved to try to get to 25% and if I didn't like it by then I'd put it down.

Well -- this is a five star read. It won me over, and beyond. It was genuinely powerful, and I cried through reading it. A lot. It says a lot about death and grief but also about hope and human connection and the things we do for each other. And I thought it was just fantastic.

Wow- this book emotionally wrecked me!

I picked this one up, not exactly expecting a story like Cerulean Sea but figured this would be full of magical characters and make me smile…and while it does have lovely characters- it isn’t necessarily a happy/feel good story.

This book explores life and death and the journey we take when our time on earth is through. It definitely makes the reader think about making the most of their life and reminds us to nurture the relationships we have. I struggled with the slow start to this story but the ending was truly special and once again, I wanted to hug this book- a response I’ve only felt after reading something from T.J. Klune.

Thank you Netgalley and Tor Books for this advance reading copy.

I think this is a 3.5 rounded to a 4 for me. It took me a while to get into the story, but by the second half the plot moves a lot faster. While the dialogue at some points is humorous and very relatable, I wished for more character development. Having said that, Klune's depiction of grief and the unknowns about what happens after death is beautifully written. This book gives the reader a lot to reflect upon and would be a great discussion starter. If you enjoyed House in the Cerulean Sea you will enjoy the writing alone despite the subject matter being much heavier. While the characters in UTWD are human, there's still a lot of fantasy aspects as Klune explores how the living and dead might interact with one another. Overall, this was a good book but in hindsight, I wish I would have read it in one or two sittings rather than a chapter here and there so that I could've stayed connected to the characters and their story more thoroughly.

I was a huge fan of Klune’s previous book, The House in The Cerulean Sea. It was heartwarming and delightful. This book is a lot darker. It’s about grief, death and the transition to the next life. It’s focused around a man who dies of a heart attack and meets his reaper. It’s a very whimsically written story for something with such a dark focus. Only T.J. Klune could write a book about death in such a heartwarming way. I thoroughly enjoyed this story.

I was lucky enough to get an advanced reader copy (ARC) of TJ Klune’s book Under the Whispering Door from NetGalley, so thank you to them! I finished this book in early July, but in typical me fashion, I haven’t gotten around to reviewing it until now. This book will be released on September 21st, so be sure to preorder it.

The first TJ Klune book I ever read was The House in the Cerulean Sea. And wow, that book got me right in the feels! In Under the Whispering Door, Klune once again trots out some of my favorite tropes ever, including found family, “reluctantly stuck together”, older gays in love, cozy cottage-core, and a curmudgeonly character whose heart grows three sizes.

The story follows Wallace Price, a capitalist, work-obsessed malcontent who wouldn’t recognize empathy if he read the dictionary definition. When Wallace dies in his early forties of a sudden heart attack, he doesn’t leave much of a legacy behind. In fact, most who knew him – namely his ex-wife and the co-partners at his firm – seem to be relieved that he’s gone.

But there’s life after life for Wallace, whose spirit is summarily snatched up at his own funeral by a sarcastic Reaper named Mei. Mei takes Wallace to Charon’s Crossing Tea and Treats, where he meets the kind-hearted ferryman, Hugo, his spry grandfather Nelson, and his ghost dog, Apollo. At first, like any other entitled rich, white man, all Wallace wants to do is return to the grind. The world needs attorneys, after all.

But as Wallace hangs around Charon’s Crossing and its delightful coterie of characters, he begins to see that his life was not much of a life. He has to come to terms with the years he wasted and the people he hurt. And even…open his heart for the first time ever. We love a good character growth arc and redemption in this house! Wallace grows to care about people other than himself and even falls in love with the kind and gentle Hugo. He also finds a role guiding other spirits deemed “too far gone” to cross over into the afterlife.

What I love most about TJ Klune’s books is the enduring message that it’s never too late. A lot of romance books focus on young, sexy characters, that you start to see yourself in less and less as you grow older. In Klune’s world, you’re never too old to find yourself, to grow, and to find love. Even closed-off people, whose hearts are guarded by cynicism, fear, or prior trauma, can reopen themselves to what the world has to offer. And I think that’s such a beautiful and important message to so many.

All in all, this is a five-star read for me. Even though Klune’s books are often marketed towards the Young Adult market, I think there’s so much for adults to find in them.

Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune will be out in bookstores and online on September 21, 2021.

This is my second book read from the author, and I guess their writing style is not in line with what I like reading in a book. The premise and the concept of this book are really intriguing and interesting to me, however, everything in this book moved so slow with too many descriptions that I found myself bored immediately. I wished this was a bit more fast-paced and written more concisely because it's definitely got boring more and more as I continue to read.