Under the Whispering Door was exactly what I hoped it would be. Aesthetically I'd say it's a bit Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli, while plot-wise it's A Christmas Carol mixed with the Korean drama Goblin: The Lonely and Great God. It really just hit all of my sweet spots.

Under the Whispering Door is about Wallace Price's afterlife. Wallace is not really a nice man. He is, in fact, a complete stick-in-the-mud with the emotional range of a toothpick. He's exacting, seemingly incapable of empathy, and extremely entitled. This story is, essentially, Wallace's potential redemption arc, if he chooses to use his time wisely.

While I found it a bit slow at the start, and quite repetitive with all the acceptance of grief stuff, it eventually picked up. This is a quiet sort of book, so while there is some action, especially later on, it's really all about the characters and their relationships. That's not to say it was boring. There were moments of pathos, but also moments of riotous laughter. I ran the entire gamut of emotions in this one. I laughed uncontrollably, and I sobbed uncontrollably. Seriously, have your tissue box handy if you're a crier.

The characters are really what made this book. While the focus is obviously on Wallace, this was an example of a truly great ensemble cast. You've got Hugo, the attractive and empathetic owner of the tea house who is also a ferryman of souls. There's Mei, the kickass young reaper with strong emotions. Apollo is Hugo's ghost dog, who livens up the place with his cute antics. And then there's Nelson (my favourite), Hugo's dead grandfather who occupies the dual role of comedic relief and wise elder.

I really enjoyed Wallace's arc throughout the book. He starts out as a supremely unlikable character, and becomes someone you can't help but like. His transformation is slow, and it is a delight to experience. The romance between Wallace and Hugo was something I didn't see coming (it seemed to come out of nowhere), but by the end I was invested.

Under the Whispering Door is primarily about grief. All of the characters are in different stages of grief, for different reasons. Wallace's is obviously related to the fact that he died, Mei's has to do with her family, Hugo's is to do with a past failure, and Nelson's is for his grandson. Apollo is a dog. He's too in the moment to feel grief.

This story is also about found family and being the best possible version of yourself. Mostly this applies to Wallace, who had no family or friends in life. Only an ex-wife, and his partners at the firm. None of whom liked him. Spending time at the tea shop with Hugo, Nelson, Mei, and Apollo, makes Wallace realise what was missing in his life: love, empathy, and connection with other people (and pets.) These relationships inspire him to become a kinder person.

Under the Whispering Door</em> was a beautiful story, and an absolute delight to read. I cannot recommend it enough.

I loved this book so much! TJ Klune’s writing is fantastic and the characters were so great! I loved reading the interactions with all the characters and the relationships they form throughout the book. This book has a lot of humor, love, and emotion. You clearly feel everything the characters feel throughout the book. Klune’s book The House in the Cerulean Sea is a favorite of mine. I wasn’t sure how any book could compare to THITCS, but Under the Whispering Door definitely is up there as an immediate favorite for me. I will definitely be preordering a hard copy of this book (and probably rereading it)! I 100% recommend this book!!

Rating: Five stars
I absolutely loved this book; I am pretty sure that it is being added to my favorite books of all times. Throughout this novel, we get to see the character of Wallace Price develop from never truly having anyone in his life to finding family, from being selfish to doing anything he can to help others. This book had the perfect amount of love, found family, and character development. Throughout the book, I went from laughing to feeling emotional, and the ending had me crying a combination of happy and sad tears. I am so glad to have gotten to read this book and cannot wait for it to be officially released!

T.J. Klune has done it again. His whimsical quirky writing pulls me in and keeps me enraptured throughout his stories.

Under the Whispering Door takes you on a magical paranormal journey that will have you laughing and loving and inspired to truly live each day, each moment to its absolute fullest.

Appreciate and embrace the time you are given, the people placed in your path, and the experiences you are fortunate enough to have. Good or bad they all play a role in this thing called life and who says they have to stop once our bodies have given out...

Thanks to @netgalley
and @torbooks for a digital advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to read this ARC and as always TJ Klune did not disappoint. Under the Whispering Door is a complete masterpiece. It is important to note that this book is not Cerulean, nor is it trying to be, so don't go in expecting a light and heartwarming story. This story deals with heavy topics such as death, grief, loss, depression, violent ends, and even suicide. Additionally, it ponders existential questions and even goes as far as reimagining the great beyond.

With that said, this story is still absolutely beautiful and will cause you to instantly fall in love with the cast of characters and their stories. To me, this story was more bittersweet and took me longer to emotionally process than Cerulean, but in the end it was such a beautiful and rewarding journey. The representation in this story was beautiful and the love with which every character was crafted, simply jumps off the page and demands that you suspend reality for a little while and join this beautiful world. I would emphatically and wholeheartedly recommend this book.

*A word to the wise - do not read this in public or while wearing make-up - I began crying at the 70% mark and pretty much spent the final 30% of the book oscillating between balling and laughing.

I continue to enjoy TJ Klune's whimsical authorial voice in these standalone fantasy romances - there is a lightness of touch that is hard to pull off that I think he achieves in a way that really entertains me. I also continue to love his characters, and the romance in this one was particularly nice to me. However, I found the plot pretty off in its pacing and the metaphor, while lovely, was a bit too pat. All in all, not my favorite, but I will continue on with his future work

Under the Whispering Door
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ & many more

When a reaper comes to collect Wallace Price from his own funeral, Wallace suspects he really might be dead. Instead of leading him directly to the afterlife, the reaper takes him to a small village. On the outskirts, off the path through the woods, tucked between mountains, is a particular tea shop, run by a man named Hugo. Hugo is the tea shop's owner to locals and the ferryman to souls who need to cross over. But Wallace isn't ready to abandon the life he barely lived. With Hugo's help he finally starts to learn about all the things he missed in life. When the Manager, a curious and powerful being, arrives at the tea shop and gives Wallace one week to cross over, Wallace sets about living a lifetime in seven days. This is a book about grief, death, and what comes after.

“We don’t interfere with death. We can’t. Because it’s always there. No matter what you do, no matter what kind of life you live, good or bad or somewhere in between, it’s always going to be waiting for you. From the moment you’re born, you’re dying.”

Thank you @torbooks & @netgalley for the #gifted copy.

I loved this book more than I can put into words. I figured nothing could live up to Cerulean Sea, but I was totally wrong. This entire book felt like a hug. I laughed, I cried, I was mad, and I was sad. I don’t exactly know how Klune managed to make me feel the emotions of every character, sometimes all at once. Or make me laugh and cry at the same time. My heart hurt and felt warm and I loved every second.

I loved watching the characters grow, especially Wallace. In the beginning I did not think Hugo could grow further, but boy was I completely wrong. He continues to grow as a person and became even more likeable at the end.

I took away so many valuable life lessons while reading and I finished the book filled with hope and happiness. I hope this brings as much comfort to other readers as it did to me.

This story is slow-moving and character driven, but so incredibly well written. There’s a lot of darkness, and some humor. I was an emotional wreck by the end of this. Run, don’t walk, to get your copy of this on Sept. 21, and if you read it, take care of yourself.

Wallace Price is a bit of an asshole. When he dies not too many tears are shed. At his funeral Wallace meets Mei, a reaper, who brings him to a tea shop. At the tea shop he meets Hugo, a ferryman. Also at the tea shop lives Hugo grandfather, Nelson, and dog, Apollo...both of who are dead. Confused yet?

What happens next is a tale of love, understanding, kindness, grief, and learning to how truly live life.

This book was amazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzing. TJ Klune really knows how to pull at your heartstrings and I may or may not have cried for the latter half of this book. I was immediately invested in Wallace's journey to become a better person. Add to that the cast of colorful characters and there's no putting this book down. This story deals with very dark topics, but in a way that is relatable and not heavy handed. Do not hesitate to pick up this book when it's released.

I was given this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan-Tor/Forge for this ARC.

I loved this even more than The House in the Cerulean Sea. Klune has created a book which is the first one I’ve seen that directly tackles the true heart of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. No, there aren’t ghosts forcing an old miser to change his ways while there’s still time, but what most people seems to miss about ACC is that Scrooge is persuaded to see how utterly futile his life has been because all he has focused on is acquiring money. He has disconnected himself from humanity and instead of winning at life, he’s been losing all along. I think that’s the theme Klune engages with so well here with his MC Wallace Price. The plot is simple: Wallace Price is met by a reaper at his funeral but instead of being sent to the afterlife, he is deposited with a ferryman who runs a tea shop on the side. Wallace finally begins to understand what was really worthwhile in life and he had a lifetime to fit into seven days. This was funny and heartwarming and bittersweet. Highly recommend.

""You're serious about this?"
"As a heart attack""

Wallace our main character dies from heart attack and then as a ghost goes to Hugo's tea shop where he figures out what to do next. This book was nice. And sad. The idea was amazing, but to me it was really slow paced at the beginning, because kinda nothing happens. Overall it was good read. 4,5/5⭐

Thank you NetGalley for providing digital advanced copy in exchange for honest review.

This book is total awesomeness! It made me laugh out loud in parts and brought tears to my eyes in other parts. After workaholic Wallace dies, a fact that he has a difficult time coming to terms with, a reaper named Mei takes him to a tea shop owned by a man named Hugo, whose job as a ferryman is to escort the dead on to whatever lies beyond. Wallace doesn't want to go, and as he spends time with Hugo, Mei, and some other dead folks, he learns a great deal. Klune is one of my favorite authors. I have loved all of his books and this one is absolutely fantastic!

“Wasn’t that the great answer to the mystery of life? To make the most of what you have while you have it, the good and the bad, the beautiful and the ugly.”

Another beautiful story written by TJ Klune that makes you appreciate life and family. Under the Whispering Door has a slower pace than The House in the Cerulean Sea, but it is very character driven to the point where you will feel like the characters are your friends.

It follows the life of Wallace, a bitter lawyer, who soon dies and finds himself being taken to a distant tea shop by a reaper. There he meets a ferryman named Hugo who will help him cross into the afterlife. Everything changes for Wallace at the tea shop.

Under the Whispering Door will make you emotional, but it will also make you think about the hard topic of death in a gentle and comforting way. TJ Klune’s books are must reads. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wallace is a lawyer too caught up in his career to deal with silly things like making human connections or showing sympathy. Then he finds himself at his own underwhelming funeral, and a reaper is taking him on one last pitstop before whatever happens after you die.

Wallace is taken to a curious tea house to meet Hugo, a ferryman, who is to help him accept his death and cross over. Wallace is less than thrilled.

This one deals with heavier subject matter than The House in the Cerulean Sea, while overflowing with the humor and heart you can count on from Klune.

I loved Wallace's journey to acceptance and discovery of what's really important in life… even after you're dead. The world of the tea shop was brilliant, and inspired all sorts of 'ultimate' philosophical questions. I appreciated the plotline about the Husks and how gently and lovingly it was handled.

The characters will live rent free in my heart forever; I can only hope to be assigned to Hugo and the crew when the time comes.

So I will continue hoarding Klune's books and love him more every time I'm destroyed and put back together. Kthanks.
All the stars.


Huge thank you to @torbooks @netgalley and @pocketsizedpageturner @thebookblondie for the giveaway win and the opportunity to devour this as soon as humanly possible.

The modern master of MLM romance does it again. T.J. Klune has the particular ability to reach into my ribcage, remove my heart, shred it into a million pieces, and then reassemble it better than it ever was before. When I say this book made me laugh, cry, and want to throw things, I'm not joking! This was as emotional and personal of a journey as The House in the Cerulean Sea, with just as unique and lovable of a cast of characters and another universal message that speared me in my little LGBTQ heart. I just can't get enough of his books, and Under the Whispering Door was no exception. It was beautifully poetic while also being approachable and just a little sassy. I don't have any more knowledge than anyone else about what comes after this life, but I sincerely hope that Hugo will be waiting with a hot cup of tea made just for me when my time comes.

Ok, folks! WOW, WOW, WOW.

I read Klune's Under the Cerulean Sea last year and it was the best book I read all year, so I literally squealed with delight when I was offered an electronic advanced copy of Under the Whispering Door.

I have to say - this book did not disappoint. It's the first book I've read in a very long while (like years!) that actually had me tearing up. Sorry to be all sappy, but it really touched my heart. It was charming, inspirational and a page turner.

It's the quintessential story about learning and growing. In life and death. I really loved the cast of characters Hugo, Nelson, Mei, goofy Apollo and Wallace (well except in the beginning of the book, but he makes up for it as the story progresses).

I love the overall lessons and themes in the book -- love, family, relationships. It's a story that reminds us to pay attention to what is important in life and not to take anything for granted.

After finishing this one, I can say with certainty that I will read anything that T.J. Klune writes. His work is really something special. I highly recommend that you check it out.

Thank you to Net Galley and Tor Publishing for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have to say this is my favorite book of 2021. I received an advanced reader copy of this book and fell in love with it. I've already preordered two signed copies to give as gifts. This book was truly fantastic. I fell in love with the characters & this was a roller coaster ride.

This book was amazing! The way Klune deftly handled the discussion of grief made me sob by the end of the story. This is easily my favorite book I have read this month, and I will surely be recommending it to anyone who asks! What and incredible story.

‘Under the Whispering Door’ is about the death of Wallace Price. He is not a good man, Wallace Price, cold and uncaring until he meets his end (and a little bit after that). But he sees the light, finds the right path, and turns into a beacon of selflessness and goodness.

I did not enjoy this book. Or rather, I enjoyed the last 30% of this book, but the first 70% was just meandering. If you read the back-cover blurb, you’ll see that Wallace Price gets a second chance to make amends after he meets with a certain someone. This event happens at the 70% of the book. This blurb is actually a spoiler. Why write something that happens toward the end of the book at the back cover? It makes zero sense. What’s more, up until this event, the book is just boring. We get introduced new characters that don’t go anywhere, we get events that happen that are specifically there to be tearjerkers, Wallace is Linus and Hugo is Arthur from the House on the Cerulean Sea (except the Cerulean Sea characters were better executed). Even though the book drags, DRAGS, in the middle Wallace’s character development and love story still comes out of the blue. I don’t know, I feel like TJ Klune wanted to write the last 30% of the book but his publishers said that it’d be too short that way so he added in the boring middle parts.

Will you like this book? Yeah, if you’re just in it to cry or if you don’t care about the pacing, or the similarities to other Klune books. If pacing and actual things HAPPENING in the book are important to you, go ahead and skip this one and pick up The House on the Cerulean Sea.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.

Confession: I have had "The House In the Cerulean Sea" on my bookshelf for a while now-- its cover is beautiful and everywhere I turn, people are talking about how wonderful it is. I'm afraid to read it because I will either A) LOVE it and have book withdrawals... or B) Not love it and be upset for hyping it up to myself so much.

When I received an e-copy of "Under the Whispering Door," I had a really excited "WHO HOO!" moment. I can put off Cerulean Sea for a bit to read this new book by the same author. Beautiful cover art and a love story between the ferryman that helps souls travel to their next destination and a recently deceased jerk of a lawyer.

For me, a five star review means that the book is pretty much a perfect read... which this wasn't. I still have a lot of questions (the afterlife has a big scope to work with) and there were a few pieces of the story that forcefully fit together just to make the readers have the feels.

But in another way, this WAS pretty much a perfect read for me. It was a sometimes happy, sometimes sad kind of teary-eyed story. It had silliness, it made me think, and the story FELT finished at the end. I finished this book over a week ago, and even though I've read 3 books since, this is the book that I still think about.

One weird thing... the word "cerulean" was used a few times in the book- every time I saw the word in this book, I felt the need/hint to pick up TJ Klune's Cerulean Sea and start it. Maybe I'll get to his other books soon... after all, this one was a beautiful and lyrical story.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan-Tor for an advanced e-copy of this book. I can see what the hype is for TJ Klune is and I am excited to follow his writing journey. Publication for "Under the Whispering Door" is currently set for September 21, 2021.

I will admit, I had high expectations for this book after The House in the Cerulean Sea, and while I wouldn't say I liked it as much, it was still fantastic. (To be fair, Cerulean Sea was about as good as it gets for me.)

Wallace Price is a successful lawyer, but he's a jerk—like he probably kicks puppies out of his way when he walks down the street kind of a jerk. When he dies, a Reaper takes him to a small village where he meets a ferryman named Hugo with a quirky little tea shop. There, he learns about all that he missed out on in life: friendship, love, empathy, and selflessness.

Wallace isn't the most likable character in the beginning and for me, it took a while to get to where I even cared about him. Hugo was my favorite, although I loved everyone, minus the ridiculous "medium" and The Manager. I cried my little eyes out at the end, but I'm not sure if it's something I'll read again. There were just a few things that kind of bugged me, but it's more of a bias in terms of my own personal faith and didn't affect my rating.

This book is inspiring and a beautiful reminder of how we should spend our time "living".

Thank you to T.J. Klune, NetGalley, and the publishers for an ARC of this book.