This was my first TJ Klune book and I wasn’t disappointed.

Under the Whispering Door focuses on Wallace who has found himself at his own funeral. Shocked and disappointed by how few people show up at his funeral, Wallace begins his crossing over, learning what his life was all about.

Some good laugh out loud moments mixed with others that make you reflect on your life. At times it felt a little slow and repetitive but overall was good.

If I could give a book more than 5 stars, I would definitely give them to Under the Whispering Door. The book itself is fantastic and is even better brought to life as an audiobook. Don't miss this one, no matter what format you choose!

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the early listen. I loved this book and the narrator, Kirt Graves is amazing.! Loved the way he portrayed all the characters. He brought them all to life.
This book had it all. It will make you laugh and cry. A story of finding love and finding who you really are.
The author and narrator had me from the very beginning to the end.
Would be awesome if there was a follow up story.

This story is amazing. It is quirky, funny and heartwarming but also sometimes sad and heartbreaking.

Wallace is unwilling to go quietly into death. In the space between death and life, he learns everything he didn’t know about himself, living and loving.

I listened to this book on audio. The narration was wonderful. It entertained and only added to my enjoyment of the story. #NetGalley #NetGalleyAudiobooks

-5 Stars-

Another amazing feel good book by TJ Klune that made me smile, laugh out loud, cry, and think. Once again he introduces us to new friends we will want to hold on tight forever. I'm not even sure how to describe this book, because much more important than what this book is about, is how this book makes you feel: like a warm, protective blanket that will keep you safe and warm on the chilliest night. Yes, that sounds very cliche, but it also feels very true...to me anyway!

This was an emotional, sweet, funny look at death, grieving and what it means to live. It is not a fast paced book, but that gives the reader time to appreciate the characters, as well as the author's perspective on some of the traditional death-characters portrayed throughout history. I enjoyed the author's take on death without making it about Heaven or Hell - or religion in general. There is humour throughout the book, along with some tears. This book made me think back to loved ones who have died and I hope that Klune turns out to have some magical secret insight that proves true. Wonder what type of tea I would be served.......

Kurt Graves is the narrator and he does a good job of differentiating the voices of the characters. The audio format was entertaining and easy to follow the author's transitions.

'Death is only their beginning.'

'I'm ready to be alive again, I learned my lesson. I promise to be nicer to people and blah, blah, blah.'

Nelson smiled sadly and said, "It's never enough, is it? Time. We always think we have so much of it, but when it really counts we don't have enough at all.'

'Wallace had done more in death than he ever had in life, but he hadn't done it alone, and maybe that was the point.'

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to preview an copy in exchange for an honest review.

I did a hybrid reading the book and listening to the audiobook. Both formats were lovely. The narrator was really good and Klune knocked this one out of the park again (thinking of Cerulean Sea). The characters were so HUMAN and to watch them change and grow throughout the story was lovely. Also enjoyed Nelson immensely as he provided a lightness and comic aspect to a theme that could be VERY heavy.

4.5 stars

T.J. Klune never fails. That's it. He just never lets me down. I don't even know how to properly describe it but, I just went through something deep with this book. Death and grief and loss and angry and mournful loss and the absolutely shining gentle souls that help in any way they can... Under the Whispering Door was not what I had expected but it was beautiful.

Wallace is a supreme type-A. He's a lawyer that is all about his work in doing everything he can for his clients in the most cost-effective, efficient way possible. All else is, generally, superfluous.
"Idea for memo:
Plants are terrible and no one should have them."

Wallace finds himself one day at his own funeral. It contains his law firm partners, his ex-wife, and a well-dressed mixed-Asian woman. As he hears his partners talk of other things after mentioning what an arse he was and his ex practically roasts him, he is near sure everything is just a bad dream. It isn't until the well-dressed stranger tells him she's a reaper and is going to take him to meet someone that can help. But instead of taking him onward into... the light... the... something, she takes him to a most unique tea shop.

As I said, Under the Whispering Door was not what I was expecting. Honestly, I had no preconceived notions, I just read it. The beginning is a bit slow, as we, the audience, have no clue who anyone really is or what is going on. Wallace slowly goes from being fairly self-obsessed to understanding his circumstances by finding his want to help others.
“It took you dying to find your humanity. It’s hysterical if you think about it.”
There were a few tear-y moments, at least for me but they were beautiful in their heartbreak.

I loved Hugo and his whole tea obsessive self. He was the linchpin with all the heart that held everything together. He was just such a beautiful character, I can't really find anything to say that does him justice.

The secondary characters especially ghostly Grandad, Nelson, and ghost-dog supreme, Apollo, provide some much-needed levity. I especially loved the scenes where Wallace is attempting to alter his ghost clothes so he's no longer wearing the Sunday throw-the-first-thing-on-you-find he was permanently donning. I laughed so hard at the bikini and then later compliments to manscaping. I could hardly handle it.

There is a slight romantic aspect with Wallace and Hugo, but no actual on-page hanky panky or anything other than mentions of kissing (which was kind of a bummer, but that's just me.)

There are some potential triggers for on-page remembered violence and suicide as well as longer passages of grief and death and loss. So if you need a bit of a warning...

Kirt Graves does a wonderful job, as always, as narrator. His characters and intonations really created a wonderful audio experience. His deeper cadence gave the story a bit extra of something that I don't think I would have gotten out of just reading the book.

Under the Whispering Door is a true experience that breaks your heart, lives with you through grief, and you come out whole and happy, wrapped in a warm blanket with a hot cup of tea at the end. Highly recommend.

*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Under the Whispering Door // written by TJ Klune // narrated by Kirt Graves

After finally listening to The House in the Cerulean Sea, which I resisted for a long time thinking there was no way it was my kind of book (spoiler alert: it turned out to be my favorite book of 2020!), I very impatiently awaited the release of Under the Whispering Door. It was so difficult to see other reviewers get to read it early but to still refrain from requesting it on NetGalley because after absolutely adoring the audiobook for Cerulean Sea, I had high hopes for getting just as incredible of a narrator for this one. I may or may not have literally squealed when the audio ARC finally became available AND I was approved for it so quickly!

Once again, while feeling a tiny bit skeptical (though being more trusting this second time around) about the narrator right at the start, it once again turns out that the perfect person was chosen for this audiobook. I love it when I can hear the attitude but also the emotion, when you can literally hear the change of a person's heart in the narration. I absolutely adored this audiobook and just know that I will be listening to it again some day in the future - probably right after a repeat of Cerulean Sea.

Klune knows how to take a character with a singular purpose that knows exactly how their life plays out and will play out in the future... and turn everything upside down. There are so many different themes that were tackled in this book that I doubt I'll be able to recall them all at once right now but there is death, mourning, anxiety, one's purpose for life, redemption, rebirth (of a kind), and more! There is somewhat of a religious aspect to it as well but it is well incorporated into the story in my opinion and as a non-religious person myself I had no issue with it at all. As a tea lover, I'm also a huge fan of the setting. It made the book feel even more cozy and homey to me. I'll quit my rambling for now but if you are in search of a heart-warming audiobook that feels like a comforting hug, then look no further!

Thank you to the author, narrator, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I can't tell you how excited I was that I was chosen to review the audiobook for this novel. I absolutely loved Cerulean Sea but just could not enjoy the audio due to the narrator.

This book translates beautifully to audiobook. The story is easy to follow, the narrator uses voices that beautifully mesh and are distinct enough that you know without any kind of indicator exactly who is talking. The story is paced well and is written in such a way you're not confused about what exactly is happening.

As for the story itself, it is the type of beautiful story you would expect from TJ Klune. His storytelling is masterful, his characters so perfectly flawed. As much as you want to hate Wallace, you can see pieces of yourself and the people you hold dear in him. You don't even notice it as you slip from wondering why Klune would create such a detestable character into actually rooting for him. He uncovers and pokes at all of the raw places of our hearts that are love, loss, and family.

If you are interested in a story that would be the lovechild of Ghost and Good Will Hunting... try this out.

I could not get into the narrator. I didn't like his voice for the female characters and it made it hard to immerse myself n the story. The narrative felt like it took too long to pick up. Perhaps because the narration wasn't working for me.

I received this as an audio galley to listen to for free in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for giving me access.

I've been seeing this EVERYWHERE and I wanted to give it a shot as the premise sounded intriguing. Unfortunately for me, this did not live up to my expectations and I was kind of bored with it. The story was slow going and predictable towards the end, because why would the impossible happen with the lead up that was given?

That being said, if you are a T.J. Klune fan, you might still love this. It just wasn't for me.

Really a 4.5 but I couldn't quite bring myself to rate it up rather than down. Very funny and enjoyable read with a deep and at times difficult story. I feel like it stumbled a bit with the introduction of The Manager in the second half. Those scenes didn't quite work with the rest of the story for me. Also the ending, while satisfying, was a bit too twee and precious. Overall a great read and the audio was excellent.

This book was described as a queer Christmas Carol - spot on. This is not my typical genre but TJ Klune's previous book had such wonderful reviews that I figured I would give it a chance. I am glad that I did. It is a wonderful story of death, grief, reconciliation, and personal growth. The characters are well developed and the story is beautifully told. You will become absorbed by the story and the relationships/dynamics of the characters - both primary and secondary. I just wish we spent more time with the Manager; what a fascinating character. This may be the only book that I have read in a long time where I would have been happy if it was 100 more pages!

The narrator was a perfect selection for Wallace's voice.

Another heart warming story from TJ Klune that will make you feel like home. If you loved "The House in the Cerulean Sea" you will enjoy this one as well.

Wallace (a despicable human being who cares for no one else) dies and is brought to the ferry man, Hugo, who will help him cross over. At the Tea shop that serves as a weigh station for spirits crossing over Wallace learns what truly makes a great life. It is not what you live for but who you live for.

I loved all the characters and know they will be ones I will think about for a long time. Also fair warning while reading this book you will want to drink some tea.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for an advanced audiobook for review.

Did I love this much as The House in the Cerulean Sea? No. Did I still love Under the Whispering Door? Yes!

It is a different kind of story. The topics around death are obviously more serious and a lot deeper. My aunt passed away not that long ago, and I was a bit scared I'd be even sader about it reading this book.
T.J. Klune still manages to talk about different deaths and mourning in a way that is, at least to me, comforting instead of depressing.
I really enjoyed the characters and the way the story went. The ending was predictable but I'm not complaining because it was the ending I wanted.

I really enjoyed the narrator. His voice and pace were very enjoyable

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. This is the first title I read by author TJ Klune, but it won't be my last. I originally picked this book because I loved the cover. I am so glad that I did because what a great book. I loved the characters, loved the story, loved how it pulls you in and keeps you listening long after you have arrived home. I spent all of my lunches in my car, so I could continue to listen to this one.

Once again, TJ Klune released a sci-fi book I loved. I don’t know how he gets me to not only read a genre I’m not a fan of but LOVE it! He’s seriously an incredible writer. Once again he made a book I adore most of the characters. And this was a heavy character driven story. I was emotionally destroyed by the end. Once again, a FANTASTIC read that I recommend to anyone with a soul.

I think I loved this book more then I loved House in the Cerulean Sea. It was a great story and very thought provoking.

This story deals with a lot of difficult topics surrounding death so make sure to check the Trigger Warnings if you are at all concerned.

The story:
Regardless of the difficulty of this story, it is still sweet and enjoyable to read. This story is definitely one focused on character development and does have a plot but it's found more toward the last third of the book. However, all the characters are so enjoyable, different, and alive that I found it to be such an enjoyable read.

Audiobook:
I thought the narrator was just delightful. The deepness of Hugo's voice, the lightness of May's--the variety and character he brought to every single voice in this story was fantastic.

One small issue I had:
There was ONE problematic aspect that I identified in this book and it's (TW for the spoiler) <spoiler>the fact that Cameron killed himself to be with Wallace, his suicide ultimately seems like it was rewarded. This might be something I would not want someone going through this kind of grief to read. I mean, he technically did not kill himself to be with the love of his life, but it still seemed like cause and effect.</spoiler>

Recommendation:
Overall, if you are not concerned regarding the TW, I would suggest you read this book if you enjoy Klune's other wr