One of the best books I have listen to … ever!

The story is heartwarming, tragic, magical and will change your heart.

Wallace is an obnoxious man that absolutely nobody likes. He is the managing partner of a large law firm and even his partners find him barely tolerable. His ex-wife’s opinion is worse. Suddenly Wallace finds himself on the floor of his office dead. At his funeral, he meets Mae who escorts him to Charon’s crossing. There he learns what it means to truly live and to care for others. It is not an easy road and mistakes abound.

This is a fantasy story that you want to be true. I hope I get the blessing of going to Charon’s crossing before going through the door to the rest of my journey. The story is humorous. I will never look at bikinis and high heeled boots the same again! I will always remember:

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

This is an absolute must read! The narrator is fantastic! His voice is perfect for this story. You just melt into it.


I received an ARC from Macmillan Audio. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review and am under no obligation to do so.

This heartwarming tale about life, death and everything in between was a charming and comfortable read despite the focus on heavier topics. The book begins with a scene of Wallace Price as he fires one of his long-time employees going through a tough time for reasons that seem arbitrary. After such a display of cold heartedness, it is no surprise when we cut to a scene of Wallace attending his own funeral with only his spiteful x-wife and 3 unsympathetic partners in attendance. These first chapters made me a little worried about where the story was going. Wallace comes across as your typical ‘Scrooge’ character and it seemed to be veering pretty close to the same tale of afterlife redemption that we’ve seen/read many times. However, it was worth getting through the first couple of chapters as the story transforms into the charming tale I was hoping for.

The majority of the tale takes place in a remote tea shop run by a man named Hugo. In addition to being a purveyor of tea and baked goods, Hugo is a ferryman for lost souls. The aptly named Charon’s Crossing serves as a refuge for the newly departed while Hugo counsels them through accepting their deaths and preparing to move on. Both Hugo and his reaper, Mei, are living beings that have been placed in their roles to help the dead instead of leaving the task to some form of higher, all-knowing being. This creates some interesting play with the boundaries between life and death as well as some gaps in understanding each character has to work through. Every character is very much on their own journey as they seek to help each other.

In the beginning, Hugo serves as more of a psychiatrist for Wallace. In this sense, the book takes a very direct approach to Wallace processing his death. However, this was thankfully not the regretful trip through memory lane I feared it would be. Aside from a few memories that pop up, this story is very much about being in the present and having the confidence to face an unknown future. Wallace is lost in a way that makes him both compelling and flat in equal measure. A lot of the negative feelings I have towards this character I think are purposeful and part of what makes him deeply tragic. However, there are also moments I feel the use of this character prevents us from going deeper into areas I really wanted to explore more.

Though there are some tense moments, the story as a whole is a slow roller. It is predominantly about exploring different philosophies around life, fear, pain, and death through the characters. I did not find it too heavy handed, but the slower pace might not be for everyone. I experienced this book as an audiobook and definitely think that the narration helped the pacing and humor. Despite the heavy themes, this book is not explicit and would be appropriate for both teen and adult readers (though it focuses on adult characters). Trigger warnings include mental health, murder, suicide, and death.

This book! This freaking book! It’s...just...all the feels. I’m not usually a fan of the this book is like this other book or that show comparisons but the description of Under the Whispering Door as a combination of A Man Called Ove and The Good Place is pretty spot on. The novel is a beautiful, if heartbreaking and heartwarming, take on what happens when we die and the possibility of becoming a better person even when you think you’ve run out of time.
Klune’s writing is...well he makes you feel like he’s writing each word on your heart rather than on the page. Readers should expect a rollercoaster of emotion but if you make it to the end it finishes with a warm hug and a cup of tea. 5 stars and a box of tissues.

There were a lot of things in this book I really liked., but I kept waiting for something to happen. Perhaps this was because I listened to the audiobook, but it took about 12 hours to get to something relatively interesting and not the mundane everyday life. This might have been the point in that most things are mundane and treating others with kindness is the whole point of existence. The narrator was amazing. The characters were likable with clever banter. The idea that once you die you don’t cease to exist is comforting. This was a feel good book that had a desirable ending. Thanks netgalley for the ARC.

I enjoyed the narrator on this one.

I didn’t like the book. I read 53% of the Audio, I couldn’t get into it, I was dreading even picking it up. I tried several times.

I wanted to love it, I had high expectations but maybe I need to try again at another time

Under the Whispering Door
By T. J. Klune

A Heartwarming and Captivating Story With Characters That are Diverse and Intriguing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

SUMMARY
Wallace Price, an arrogant workaholic attorney, drops dead of a heart attack. A reaper, named May comes to collect him at his funeral, which is poorly attended, and escorts him to an unusual house in a small nearby village. In the house is a tea shop, run by a ferryman named Hugo who helps lost souls cross over. But Wallace isn't quite ready to go yet.

Hugo helps Wallace realize how much he had and how much he missed in his life. When Hugo’s manager visits the tea shop, he gives Wallace a deadline. He must cross over in seven days. Wallace, who is falling in love with Hugo, spends the next seven days living a lifetime.


REVIEW
UNDER THE WHISPERING DOOR is a delightful and quirky contemporary fantasy novel about a ghost and the ferryman he fell in love with. T. J. Klune’s writing is clear, clever, and easy to read. Despite the topics of death, loss, and grief, he creates a story that is heartwarming and captivating, with characters that are diverse and intriguing. Hugo’s grandfather, Nelson, and his dog Apollo are particularly colorful.

T. J. Kline, an American author whose books feature gay and LGBTQ characters, is also the author of THE HOUSE IN THE CERULEAN SEA (2020). Both books are full of warmth, humor, and hopefulness and with characters that will inspire you to think just a bit more about living your best life now.

The narrator for UNDER THE WHISPERING DOOR, Kirt Graves, brings the story to life with a distinct voice for each character. His tone brings out the lightness and levity of the story.

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillian Audio for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Publisher Macmillian Audio
Published September 21, 2021
Narrated Kirt Graves
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

As the expression goes, “It’s not you, it’s me.” I guess I’m just not the right audience for this book. I was really looking forward to reading it, as I adored the author’s earlier book, The House in the Cerulean Sea. Sadly, this one did not even come close to living up to my expectations. The story had a strong start but it quickly went downhill. To be honest, I almost stopped reading midway because I was bored. The whole “waystation after we die” situation didn’t work for me. (I didn’t like The Midnight Library either, so that may also tell you something.) I didn’t buy how quickly the main character, Wallace, went from being a really nasty, uncaring guy to being such a sweetie. I did like the character of Nelson but Hugo was a big zero for me. His personality never came through.

I listened to the audiobook version and the narrator, Kirt Graves, did a fine job differentiating among the various characters so I always knew who was talking.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

T.J. Klune has done it again. Taking a serious subject and making it accessible and understanding to everyone. The intensity of the characters keeps you glued to the story. And then comes the most hilarious scene you can imagine. By the end you have fallen in love with all of the characters and want to join them in a cup of tea, even Wallace.

In case you’ve never read a Klune book before, let me set the scene: extremely diverse, queer, and lovable cast of misfits become a found family while you get slapped in the face with emotions you thought you were prepared for but you really weren’t. And scene.

You would think after years of reading Klune’s stories I would have learned my lesson but nope. Tears and book hangover every damn time. This time especially.

This is a story about a Scrooge-type character who dies. Boom. The end. No just kidding. But like, not really. Wallace is an unlikeable dude who kicks the bucket and is sent to this tea house that acts as a temporary holding place for those who need a little help processing before moving on to the afterlife. While there we meet the most wholesome band of characters and inevitably fall in love with each of them as the plot slowly moves along. This is definitely a story about processing death in all fashions so that needs to be clear in the trigger warnings. This is also a story about humanity and life and it’s just goddamn beautiful.

Klune’s characters always hit different than any other book. They are very real and vulnerable and authentic. They never feel like stereotypical book characters who fall into normal beauty standards or expectations, they feel like real every day people. It brings such a relatable factor to his stories. I’m going to be thinking about Wallace, Hugo, Nelson, Apollo, and Mei for weeks now and wishing that I could hang out with them a little bit longer. But thus is life…and death.

Going in I knew enjoyed this author before and laughed aloud from his books. What I wasn't expecting was a beautiful story about family, grief, life and death, and love.

The main character, Wallace is not a good person. He is selfish and only thinks about work and nothing about the people around him. When he suddenly dies he arrives at a strange tea shop that is more than what it seems. There he learns that there is more to death and life than he could even imagine.

Of course, this charming book has the whit and humor that T.J. Klune is known for, but it touches a lot more than that. There were a couple of times that I felt annoyed at characters belittling and making fun of Wallace for his understandable confusion and stress when he first arrives, but by the end, it was all good. Reading this book made you attached to all characters and grow with them.

I definitely recommend this book!

This book definitely had a similar feel to another book by TJ Klune, House on the Cerulean Sea. In a good way. Although, the main two characters, Wallace and Hugo, felt like slightly changed versions of Linus and Arthur.

It is a sad book and if contains some difficult topics. I found myself needing a break from the book from time to time, I could not have read it in on sitting.

Ultimately, I grew to love all the characters in the book and began to root for Wallace. It made me reflect on my own life a little and remind me of what’s important.

Thank you to netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook ARC. The narration was really well done.

T.J. Klune’s “Under the Whispering Door” tackles heavy topics, but in this book especially, I feel like he’s crafted a great balance between weighty topics and humor.

Grief. Regrets. Anxiety attacks. Mortality. Not enough time. Suicide. These are all topics tackled in “Under the Whispering Door” and I am always grateful for books I add to my Goodreads shelf I named “Banish the Stigma.”

Too often shame tags along in places it shouldn’t. I think books like this one help people feel less alone and help them feel less ashamed of the things that feel like flaws, but are really just human things.

I really enjoyed the characters, especially Nelson. I can just see him now!

This is a pretty deep book and it’s honestly going to take me some time to sit with my feelings on it. Overall, I really enjoyed it and want to re-read it.

The elephant in the room could be the astounding success of “House in the Cerulean Sea” and does this match that level of success? A lot of people equated Cerulean to “a warm hug.” That’s awesome. I liked the book and really liked the characters. However, the warm hug praise, for me, goes to “Under the Whispering Door.”

There were some things I didn’t love… the word “husks” used to define people is so sad, and I hope they change the name to something less discouraging.

There is something that confuses me about husks. I won't delve into it further because of spoilers, but I'm curious to see what others' perspectives are on the concept.

I wish I didn't know about the romance before reading. It's in the summary of the book and I would have preferred not knowing it was a given. It would have been nice to see how it unfolded in the same way the characters did, like going on the journey with them.

Overall, a lovely and important book. I can see it becoming a series or movie and if done well, would be so poignant.

Thank you Netgalley, this book is a real treat and I am so grateful I got the chance to experience the audiobook. Great narration too - easy to differentiate between characters and the narrator had lots of different voices and inflections.

It is hard to top Klune's warm, funny, and surprising "The House in the Cerulean Sea", but "Under the Whispering Door" is also wonderful.

A bit darker than "Cerulean Sea", "Whispering Door", covers heavy topics like the death of loved ones, coping with loss, and panic attacks. However, the difficult topics are handled sensitively and it still manages to have a light and gentle tone throughout the book. At its heart, this is a story about forgiveness--forgiving others as well as yourself.

There is also a very sweet love story that develops between the two main characters, and I particularly enjoy how Klune handles Lgbt relationships in such a matter-of-fact way: these are just ordinary people, and the challenges that they face are not because of their sexuality; it is just one aspect of their identities as complex characters.

The narration was done very well, and added to the experience and enjoyment of the story.

I will be thrilled to order this book, and audiobook, for our library and recommend it to our patrons.

What an incredible and beautiful book. I absolutely loved this. You get the same vibe as House in the Cerulean Sea. Lovable characters, redemption, found family, and people just trying to be the best humans they can be. This book can make you feel good about life and death. It touched my heart and I even teared up at times. What a wonderful story with a very satisfying resolution. It’s definitely a buy not borrow for me.

The narrator did an amazing job with each voice giving them all distinctive characteristics and mannerisms that allowed you to follow along easily.

TJ Klune is an author that I have seen all over bookstagram, but haven’t read until now. This book was heavy at times and I would have to take a break o collect myself. I could relate to Wallace as I used to be the type of person that took pride with my nonstop work ethic. I’m talking 16 hour days and I even nicknamed myself the “doubles queen” at my last job. Then when my health declined all of that went out the window and that was a tough time for me transition wise.

This story tackled heavy themes such as death and grief. It also talks about the what ifs and the choices we made to become the people we are now. What would we do differently. I love books like these even if I feel like I’m being called out.

Wallace was unlikeable at first, but I knew he had it in him to change for the better. Reading about his growth and the bond he made with his found family warmed my heart. I enjoyed reading about all the side characters and their journey. Nelson is a character that will stay with me for a very long time. The story did take some time to build, but the last part of the book had me all in my feels. I definitely recommend this book as long as you’re in the right head space for this story.

The narrator did a wonderful job with this cast of characters.

✍️ One Sentence Synopsis: Sometimes when you don’t fulfill life’s purpose, you’re granted a second chance.

💭 Overall Thoughts:
T.J. Klune does it again for me. He has a way of writing fiction to truly pull you in and make you reflect. This book makes you consider your life choices. Have you done your best with the time you’ve had? What consequences have your choices had? Have you made your mark on the world? Have you been a good person? Will you get a second chance?

It makes you consider the relationships in your life. Have you appreciated them and made the most of them? Supported people who supported you? In my mind it was also showing us how the relationships we have with those closest to us are so much more important than other things we do in life.

The novel considers an alternative to the afterlife many have pictured with beautiful imagery and likeable characters you meet along the way. There is character growth from those that start off as unlikeable.

This thought provoking novel has moments of romance, pure happiness as well as witty banter and humorous encounters. It also though has a serious undertone and covers difficult topics and may not be for everyone for that reason. For those that are comfortable to give it a chance, I think you’re in for a treat.



What I Liked:
👍 Thought provoking
👍 Likeable characters and character growth
👍 Diverse characters

What I Didn’t Like:
👎 Definitely made me cry in the car. Ok, this isn’t really a bad thing but I had mascara on!

🎧The audio book narrator was engaging and well paced. I listened between 1.5 and 2 in different parts of the book dependent on my mood.

⚠️ Content Warnings: suicide, death, bereavement

Thank you to Net Galley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen with request for review.

I had the pleasure of reading Under the Whispering Door as an advanced copy several months ago. It’s such a beautiful and heartbreaking story that’s stuck with me all these months later.

I jumped at the chance to listen to the audio and I am so so glad I did. The narrator is brilliant and brings this story to life. From laugh out loud moments to tearful imagery,

TJ Klune knocked it out of the park, once again.

What a emotional roller coaster ride!! I was curious, interested, mad, sad, full of love, and heartbroken. All the things tugging on my heartstrings throughout the entire book.

When Wallace was alive he was a hardheaded workaholic with very little thought of others. After dying of a heart attack Wallace finds himself experiencing an afterlife he never knew was possible. Wallace meets Hugo, Mae, and Nelson who show him there can be more to life and afterlife. This book was so full of character growth from all the characters and what a journey it was.

I absolutely love the way TJ Klune writes and I have to say this is one of my favorite books of the year!

Under The Whispering Door by TJ Klune
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for a copy of the audio Arc in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this advance listener copy in exchange for my honest review. I was quite excited to get picked for an ALC!

TJ Klune has done it again! What a fantastic follow up to the House in the Cerulean Sea, which has become one of my all-time favorite books. I loved it so much that I purchased the hardcover as well! This will definitely get a reread, maybe more than one.

"What will you do with the time you have left?..."


Wallace Price is not well liked in life. He's a partner at a large law firm and he has no one in his life. One day, Wallace does alone and a reaper (not a grim one, however 😉), named Mae comes to collect him to bring him to a transitional place where some people go before "crossing over", where he meets a ferryman named Hugo. Hugo runs a tea shop, which essentially, doubles as a "stairway to heaven". Among the living patrons, Mae the reaper and Hugo the ferryman, we also meet Hugo's grandfather, Nelson and his emotional support dog, Apollo, who are dead and haven't crossed over yet.

Wallace befriends this crazy cast of characters, and for the first time in his life, he felt like he belonged. But, just as he's really beginning to enjoy this new "life" of his, a supreme being, known as "the Manager", appears and gives Wallace seven days before he must cross over. As Wallace tries to enjoy these final days, he realizes that he doesn't want to leave his new family.

This is a very emotional book. It put me through every possible emotion. I laughed, I cried, I was at the edge of my seat. There are several triggering topics discussed such as grief, death, suicide and mental illness, but it's a beautifully told story. Although I did enjoy Cerulean Sea better, this was an amazing book. It has more adult themes than Cerulean Sea did, and deals with darker and grander subject matter, so it may not be quite as family friendly, but definitely a great book for older kids and adults.

The audio was not the greatest. I enjoyed the narrator for Cerulean Sea better. The voices for Hugo, Mae and Nelson were great. However, I didn't like the voice of Wallace, the Manager or some of the minor supporting characters.

Overall I give this a full 5 stars! Loved it!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I absolutely loved this book. It is my first book by TJ Klune, but i am sure it is not the last. A book full of the most warm and wonderful characters. This time dealing with grief, death and making the most of the life we have.