Wallace Price was a lawyer and a very disliked human. He is solely focused on his law practice. When he suddenly dies and finds himself watching his funeral (attended by only 4 people), he meets Mei, a reaper who brings him to a “way station” between life and death, a tea shop. There he meets Hugo, the ferryman who will guide him to the afterlife when he is ready. The book follows Wallace as he processes his life in the tea shop and gets to know Wallace and the others who live there, including an adorable ghost dog.

The side characters were great, specifically Mei and Hugo’s grandpa. Both were spunky and added a lot of humor. I also enjoyed the plethora of deep quotes and funny one liners all on one page. The book also discussed grief from a variety of angles, some funny and others soul-wrenching, which I appreciated.

It was definitely a slower-paced book than I expected, and took me about 50-60% of the book to get fully invested. Not much plot was going on until over halfway through the book, other than the exploring of Wallace’s character and explanation of the tea shop. I also wish we could’ve seen more from the romance because seemed rushed at times. I saw what Wallace saw in Hugo but not so much the other way around.

While this book wasn’t what I expected, I’ll still be looking forward to TJ Klune’s next book and reading more in his backlog!

if you want to be an emotional wreck, read this book. i couldn’t put it down. it was magical and the way grief was explored was just so interesting. i loved all the characters (especially Mei and Nelson) and how they found family within each other. it was so good.

With themes of death and romance, this sounded like exactly the type of book I tend to avoid. I have a low pain threshold when it comes to being emotionally destroyed by books and I’ve spent weeks mourning novels in the past, and this sounded exactly like it was designed to tear your heart in two. But it’s T J Klune. So, I read it.

Wallace Price cares for work and very little else in life, until he kicks the bucket unexpectedly. Only after meeting Hugo, a ferryman whose job it is to see him across to the other side, does Wallace discover what it means to be alive.

This book attacked my emotions on so many levels. It deals with grief, loss, and the tragedy of being too late. The painful ‘what ifs’ that we can’t help but inflict on ourselves in retrospect. Luckily it also deals with joy, humour and the beauty of life in equal measure.

I cried because it was sad. I cried because it was happy. I cried because it so perfectly captures what it is to feel. On multiple occasions I found a tear trickle down my cheek but not in the heart-wrenching, ugly-cry that would usually result in a needing to have a time-out and come back to the book when I could face it again. This was more that you become so absorbed that you barely even notice and then your face is wet because you’re crying again.

The setting is a cute, quirky tea shop and there is the whole found family thing that is just as heart warming in this as in The House of the Cerulean Sea. They are similar in feel, but very different stories. But if you enjoyed that, you won’t be disappointed by Under The Whispering Door.

It has all of the feels, my only gripe was it was a bit repetitive at times and there was, in my opinion, too much dialogue. Not everything needs to be said, some things can be shown or left to the imagination, but everything was a ‘why?’ and ‘how?’

The characters grow on you, Wallace is designed to be unlikable at first but goes through some extensive self-discovery, and as he gets to know the other characters the warm fuzzy feelings start to come out.

This is a story about death and dying. But it's also a strory of life, and love, and purpose and belonging. It's a slower, character driven novel. It's a surprise love story that I didn't see coming. They ending was so much better than I thought it was going to be. It made me contemplate both the here and the hereafter.

What a charming story...and treatise on life and death and grief. Enjoyed the characters even more than in The House in the Cerulean Sea. Highly recommend!

TJ Klune has a writing style you don't find every day. This book takes some of the heaviest topics and turns it into such a lovable and fun experience.

Wallace was not the main character I expected. When you first encounter him, he's a Grade A Asshole with a capital A. He is your typical working man who has lost his entire personality to the job. He was once loving, caring, a real person. Then he dies.

Well, thats one way to grip my attention. After finishing chapter one, I needed to read chapter two. Thats a huge sign of great writing.

The book had its ups and downs. At times, the tears were pouring down my face. Other times, I had to slap a hand over my mouth in laughter. Discovering who Wallace was, and who he wanted to be, was a treat. I thought I knew exactly how the plot would go, and I was very wrong. The story had great twists which had me feeling all the emotions. Hugo was a treat from start to finish. The way he felt everything so deeply carried its way into my heart. I wish we saw more of Nelson and Mei. They were deep characters who were not explored nearly as much.

This book was not what I was expecting and more than I could have hoped for. I would recommend this book to all who are looking for a book thats like a breeze of fresh air. I have a hard time dealing with death but this book was a way to make death seem like it was not as big as we make it seem. It looked at death with such a relaxed face that I wish Klune actually had truth behind this world. I appreciate the care in which he approached these subjects. I will be looking out for more of his books in the future.

This is a specific kind of book. A crying book.

Are you in need of a good, long cry? Have I got the book for you! Under the Whispering Door is a mixed bag, but may give you exactly what you're looking for.

The characters are the same as many Hallmark Channel Christmas movies: a man learns the important things in life aren't money and status, but small-town living and family. Yeah, yeah, we know. I love these movies and watch them every December (and all other months of the year), so it's not a bad thing. There are no surprises.

The pacing of the story isn't consistent. Conflict doesn't start until halfway through the book which makes the first half feel monotonous. It could have been trimmed down. The second half is all new characters, drama, and emotional speeches about how they're all there for each other to help them through this difficult time. The barrage of emotional scenes at the end is exhausting. It's like, dude, you're throwing every sad thing into the stew and now it's just too much to swallow.

The writing is the weakest part of this book. There is humor and it's done well in the first half, but the second half is bogged down by too many emotional scenes. All the characters' dialog is similar when waxing poetically about life and death, and they all make too many speeches. I started skimming large chunks of dialogue at the end because I had just read something similar in the previous chapter. Everyone says the "correct" thing. It's all a little too sanitary for a subject that's so messy. But maybe, as a reader, this is what you want to read (hear?) and it's just the right amount of forgiveness needed.

Ultimately, this book is cathartic to read. Just like horror or romance delivers exactly what the reader wants, this book gives the reader a path to letting go and crying.

Wallace is a jerk. He dies. He's taken to a "stop" in his afer-life journey, a tea shop. There he meets Hugo (his afterlife therapist or "ferryman") and Hugo's friends (living and dead) who take him in and help him process his grief. Unexpectedly, Wallace finds the place where he truly belongs and can be the best version of himself. At last he finds a life worth living after his death. When Wallace is finally given a date he must move on, he resolves to help as many people as he can with the time he has left.

This book was a lot. Emotionally. I had to take frequent breaks to process the depth of Klune's writing and cry. A lot of crying. It's a deeply touching read, just like "House in the Cerulean Sea." It is chalk-full of life and death philosophy, wisdom, thought provoking dialogue, and oh so much heart. Just like death does for Wallace, Klune's books actually leave you a better person than you were before you read them. Klune would make a great ferryman himself.

A sweet, star-crossed, gay romance ties all the pieces together. If you like the theme that's it's the family you create in life, rather than the one you are born into, that brings true meaning to your life, this book will strike all the right notes with you too.

Trigger warnings: It's been a hard couple of years so I feel it fair to warn that if death of any kind, but especially by suicide, of a child or of a dog are tough to process right now, just save this one in your TBR for later,

If you loved T.J. Klune's The House in the Cerulean Sea, Under the Whispering Door offers a similar focus on found families and the potential to live a different, more meaningful life. Where this book differs is in its more melancholy tone, obvious in its subject matter, dealing with death, grief, and loss. It's a beautiful book, one I finished in two sittings because I just HAD to find out what happened to the main group of characters.

Wallace begins the book as a terrible person, a misery lawyer whose Grinch-like tiny heart gives out on him unexpectedly. He's ushered into the afterlife by the fantastic Mei, who brings him to Hugo, a Ferryman who runs a tea shop (Charon's Crossing Tea and Treats) and guides the dead through the door to their final stop. Here Wallace meets the ghosts Nelson, Hugo's grandfather and Apollo, Nelson's dog.

This book was a real tear-jerker for me. Books rarely make me cry (or at least that was true before the pandemic...). For some folks the content might be a lot. Please read the content warnings and consider them carefully before reading--as beautiful as the book is, I'm not sure that it's as suitable for all readers in the same way that House is, so be careful if you come into this book expecting the same kind of warm, cozy feelings. On a similar track, folks who have set religious beliefs might find some of the descriptions of the afterlife included here challenging.

What I truly enjoyed the most about this book were the frequent opportunities it gave me to pause and reflect on my own life, on what I wish I could do more of (and less of) on a daily basis, the little things I love, and the people (and animals) who mean the most to me. Klune is such a gifted writer--I want to read (and reread) everything he's written. This book is no exception.

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan-Tor/Forge for the opportunity to get an early read of this book! It was on my to-read list, and I've been eagerly anticipating its release.

"Life is messy and terrible and wonderful, all at the same time."

This book was very melancholic and gave me major existential dread (why it took me forever to actually finish reading it) especially in the earlier parts. It has the usual TJ Klune brand of humour which made it a relatively easier read especially considering how the story explores death and grief. It's not all dark and gloom though, because there's love, and found family at the end of the day.

The main problem I had with this book is the fact that I wasn't very emotionally connected with the characters and it strongly affected my reading experience. I genuinely liked the characters but I wished that we've gotten more of them. The plot was mainly predictable, and there was really nothing new or surprising about it, to be honest. At certain parts it felt like there was nothing going on, and it took me a while to properly focus on the story (probably two thirds into the book) but that's probably just a Me problem.

Overall a decent read, and it really makes you Think.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“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.”
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Wallace Price is a man without a conscience or a shred of feeling for anyone else. He works as a lawyer and outside of his work, his life is as empty as the apartment he once shared with his now ex-wife. A sudden heart-attack later and Wallace finds himself watching his funeral. It doesn’t make for pleasant viewing


Wallace’s personal Reaper, Mei, takes him from the graveyard to meet Hugo, a ferryman who runs a teashop with a difference called Charon’s Crossing. Denial turns to anger and as the wheel of grief turns, Wallace eventually finds himself accepting that he’s dead and wishing to make amends for a life barely lived


A modern-day Scrooge, Wallace’s story has shades of A Christmas Carol, except he finds a whole new lease on life only once he’s died. Friendship and love, things he never valued whilst alive, become of central importance to him and he finds that he is capable and deserving of both


I was so excited when I was approved for Under the Whispering Door having loved The House on the Cerulean Sea. This book dealt with some difficult topics; murder, suicide, death and grief, but strangely was full of heart and hope. Whilst Theodore the Wyvern still has my heart, I’m willing to share a little of it with Wallace, Hugo and Mei

Thanks to Tor Books for this ARC of Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune!

After finished The House in the Cerulean Sea, I could not wait to read Klune’s newest novel, and it did not disappoint. While the former is so often described as being wrapped in a warm hug, Under the Whispering Door is less warm and fuzzy and more philosophical and heartbreaking. I do NOT cry easily when I read a book, but this one got me. Even when a part is ripped your heart out, these amazing characters will spit out a line that will make you laugh (between sobs).

This book is not necessarily happy, but there are amazing moments and connections within it. It makes you feel a rollercoaster of emotions, as it should based on its plot line. Although this story is vastly different from The House in the Cerulean Sea, it is equally worthy of praise. I was worried it wouldn’t be able to live up to its predecessor, but I think it did for very different reasons.

A heartwarming and humorous story of a man who learns how to live life right but only after he dies. TJ Klune's 'Under the Whispering Door' is a much welcomed follow up to his earlier book 'The House in the Cerulean Sea'. Exploring themes of death, love, and the supernatural, the book begins with the demise of Wallace Price, who can largely be described as a Scrooge-like character. It follows his journey of personal growth as he realises that life can be so much more than the mundane routine of work life if only you let yourself love those around you. With help from Mei, Nelson, Apollo and Hugo, Wallace finds himself and helps those around him find peace and happiness.

This book will make you cry from laughter and weep (but in a good way, hopefully). It is emotional, charming, and witty - everything I have come to expect from this author. If you have not already, please read 'The House in the Cerulean Sea' - you will cry but your heart will be full.

The main character dies. Just FYI. It’s not a spoiler. It happens right at the beginning of the book. Wallace Price is a jerk and then he dies. And no one cares. Seriously, no one. Thus, the book begins at the end. As Wallace learns how to be dead, he learns a lot about how he should have lived. In that regard, this book isn’t necessarily unique, as there are other novels out there that encourage us to avoid following in the main character’s footsteps by examining our lives now and making the necessary changes. However, there’s where the similarities end.

This book was absolutely phenomenal. It’s not your typical “love everyone in case you die tomorrow” book. Wallace wishes he would have been kinder to his loved ones, more generous to his employees, more respectful to those he may have mistreated. But at no time does Klune force his characters to show any apology for their boundaries. Wallace didn’t have the best relationship with his parents. Klune never once suggests that Wallace should have overlooked their emotional mistreatment in the name of mending fences. In fact, as he begins to form new friendships after death, Wallace continues to learn about how boundaries are necessary in healthy relationships.

Klune also has an impressive way of honoring diversity without tokenism. His characters come from different backgrounds, races, sexual orientations and cultures. He beautifully honors the uniqueness of his characters without relying on old stereotypes.

To say I liked the book is a definite understatement. This book broke my heart, opened my mind, made me laugh, and gave me hope. Characters this beautiful can only come from an equally beautiful soul. This book is absolutely gorgeous.

This one should be on shelves September 21, 2021. Do yourself a huge favor and grab a copy.

Thanks to TJ Klune, Tor Books and Netgalley for this ARC in return for my honest review.

How many stars can I give? T.J Klune has done it again with the wonderful book. House on the Cerulean Sea was my favorite book last year and I was not sure that anything will top it. I read this book in a day and loved every minute.

Wallace has died of a heart attack. With only his partners and ex-wife at the funeral, Wallace cannot understand why there are not more people in attendance and why they are not sadder. Hugo is shocked when the only person he does not recognize turns out to be the reaper who is waiting to collect him. She brings him to a strange tea shop where Hugo is waiting with the promise of helping him cross over when he is ready. Wallace's journey in this book will tear at your heart and slowly put it back together as Wallace finds himself.

Although this book deals with death, this fantasy will make you smile until the last page. I loved the Characters, the story and the journey. I am so grateful to Netgalley and Tor books for my advanced copy of this book. It was wonderful and did not disappoint.

Under the Whispering Door was an enjoyable read with vivid and complex characters and inspires an incredible amount of existential dread within me (in the best way possible, of course).
We follow Wallace as he navigates his life after death and what it means to truly live, which is pretty much as if ‘A Christmas Carol’ and ‘Beetlejuice’ had a baby. One of my favourite parts of this novel was Wallace's character development. The novel centers around his emotional journey, newly deceased, unable to simply be ‘Wallace the lawyer’ anymore. We can see just how his character evolves, with the help of the other characters, Hugo, Mei, Nelson and my favourite character, Apollo.
While Wallace’s journey is the central conflict, each character in this story follows their own journey which is why I believe these characters to be so vivid. Klune’s writing of these characters is phenomenal.
The plot is where this book lacks. Wallace’s journey through death is the central storyline, but I felt that I was saying “I get it, now let's move on,” only for Wallace to continue saying the same stuff for the next 2 chapters. At times, the book felt directionless and certain chapters just felt like fillers. While the world and characters are intriguing, I would have loved it if the book had more plot because, aside from pure intrigue, there wasn’t a lot going on.
Overall, I find that Under the Whispering Door is an interesting study of what it means to be alive, even after you’re dead. While the plot lacked, the characters emotional journey made up for it, as well as the carefully crafted world Klune writes. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a more ‘obscure’ read, all while maintaining a deeper message below the surface

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Books for this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was like someone hugging me after a loss and saying “I know how you feel”, but they really truly did know how I felt in that time of such profound grief.

This book is such a beautiful processing of grief that is raw and loving and so, so sweet.

I ugly cried through so much of it, but it was so cathartic. Klune manages to ask the questions we all have, while providing the most lovely, warm, and hopeful answers.

Tw: death, death of a parent, suicide, murder, death of a child, cancer

This is one I could not finish. After getting 1/3 of the way through, I as bored and didn't care about the characters. I tried to keep going but there was no hook, no excitement, no suspense to keep reading.

Just as fantastic and perfectly written as Cerulean Sea! If you loved TJ Klune's other books, you will not be disappointed here! 5 stars!

Under the Whispering Door is about a grumpy lawyer who dies suddenly and his time at a tea shop that serves as the way station between death and whatever comes next.

I loved The House in the Cerulean Sea, so I was very excited to read this one. While Under the Whispering Door has Klune’s quirky humor, it is a much darker story than The House in the Cerulean Sea. The writing feels similar and the characters are loveable, but this is ultimately a story about death and grief. It also demonstrates the beauty of life and how death makes life meaningful. It tugged at my heartstrings in many ways. The story lagged in some spots where there were many pages of dialogue but otherwise it kept me interested. Definitely check the content warnings before reading this.

*Thank you to Tor/Forge and NetGalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!