Gorgeous. Soothing. Haunting (literally). Based on the description and the beauty of the House in the Cerulean Sea, I had a good guess for what I was getting into with this book. I was not wrong, and I was NOT disappointed. I have never read a book that dealt with death more beautifully, honestly, and human-ly. Did I cry? Ab-so-lutely. But the good kind of crying, where it's bittersweet and you feel a little better afterwards. And then you immediately run to hug everyone you know and tell them how thankful you are to have them in your life. The premise is simple, and basically if you read the description, you'll grasp the whole book. There are a few little surprises and details thrown in, but overall, it's just a straightforward story filled with love and humanity. Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this early! It was exactly what I needed.

I really want to give this 5 stars. Comparing it to "The House on the Cerulean Sea", how can you not. It was one of my favorite books from last year. Both have a curmudgeon character who encounters new people and then begin a life changing journey. In both books you have loveable, strange, and misfit group of characters. Not going to spoil anything so I can't tell you if both have happy ending and feel like warm hugs. Were there profound truths? Life altering revelations? Not really, but there is just enough to make you take a pause. To reevaluate your presence in life, contemplate what you leave behind. It's a beautiful afterlife story that did a great job being respectful to religion. Is it a love story? Hmm, no, I don't do romance. It's definitely not a main focus until a certain part of the book. Then it's in no way overpowering the story. All I know is I really want a warm cup of tea right now. I wish it would incase smells of childhood memories. For someone hopelessly always searching for closure, this helps. I will read it over and over and recommend it always.

Thank you NetGalley for early access to this book. It’a hard to put into words how much I loved this book. TJ Klune writes such real characters and they’re all so loveable in their own way. This was a really heavy read, but it was heartbreakingly beautiful. It captures everything I love about literature; it’s smart and witty, is diverse, addresses important topics, and makes me feel connected to the characters. This and House in the Cerulean Sea have easily become some of my favorite books of all time.

I laughed, I cried, a drank alot of tea.

"He seems to have an unhealthy fascination with tea,"
"He gets that from me,"

This story follows Wallace, who learns to become a better person.
At the start of this he is a complete dick. I mean who finds someone crying, then ask them to come to your office. Hears their heartbreaking story then fires them with no remorse?? This Asshole that's who.

Did I find his funeral funny? Yes, yes I did. Because he needed a reality check. He made everyone hate him.

But death changes a person and he grows to really care for his new friends that are helping him along his journey.

This story isn't all light and fluffy (with lots of tea.) It had some down right heartbreaking scenes. Brought some tears to my eyes.
It really shows you the five stages of grief and who different deaths would affect people. The different choices people makes and how important life is.

Under the Whispering Door was my first foray into TJ Klune and I couldn't have been any more enchanted. I laughed out loud, I sobbed, (the tears are still drying on my cheeks as I write this) and I felt all the things. This was one of the most beautiful and poignant books I've had the pleasure of reading.

3.5

I’ve settled on this rating ONLY because I went into this book with the wrong expectations. For some reason, I assumed that this tied into House in the Cerulean Sea and that we’d get to see some of those characters again. My fault for not doing proper research!! Unfortunately though, it did hinder some of my enjoyment.

This heavily reminded me of A Christmas Carol and Scrooge but without the holiday season. The concept was interesting and occasionally heart-wrenching, but you’re rewarded with satisfying endings for each character.

I found myself disconnected from the story and I had a hard time actually wanting to read this. I know that I would have felt more connected if I hadn’t taken so long to get through it, but the beginning was a slog to push through.

The characters (after the beginning) were charming and quirky. I absolutely loved that there was a dog!!!

Overall, this was a feel-good read and I did enjoy it, even if it wasn’t what I was hoping for. I know that I’ll get more of a lasting impact whenever I re-read it.

I don't know if "making an extremely unlikable character likable" is a genre but if it is then T.J. Klune has it down to a science. After the first introduction of Wallace, our MC, I honestly didn't think I would be able to enjoy where the book was taking me. I was wrong! Wallace lived life without really living life and it took his death to really find himself – it was beautiful and I'm so thankful, truly, that I got to read this book.

This was a delightful read, albeit a bit longer than necessary. It was reminiscent of his other book (The House in the Cerulean Sea), with its quirky/loveable characters, magical realism, etc. However, there were chunks that were long and repetitive/redundant. Given that this is a ARC, perhaps it will be edited. Despite this, I found the book to be utterly charming and inspirational, with themes around living for today, living a full life, grief, life/death, etc. There were many paragraphs and quotes that made me think and again, I just loved the characters.

The ending felt a bit *eye roll* but I feel like I saw it coming and I was ultimately happy with it. Definitely pick this one up if you're needing a delightful read with some hard topics/themes.

TJ Klune is just so good. Under the Whispering Door got me out of a major reading slump that had been ongoing for months.
The book is about a 40 year old man named Wallace who is very work driven and not very kind. He has lost all his personal relationships and spends all his time working as a lawyer. And then he dies. A reaper, Mei, comes to bring him to a strange house in a little village where he meets Hugo, a ferryman to souls who need to cross over, but need some time first to process what happened. Wallace spends weeks in the house getting to know Mei, Hugo, and Hugo's grandfather as he tries to prepare himself to go through the whispering door.
This book is about found family, living with regret, making mistakes, finding joy. There is a beautiful and moving love story, there is (TW) talk of suicide and other traumatic deaths. It made me cry and cry from heartbreak and joy. I really loved it and am pretty certain it will remain on the very top of my list of favorite reads of 2021, just like House in the Cerulean Sea was my favorite read of 2020.

I’ll admit that I loved every work of TJ Klune’s “The House of the Cerulean Sea” and could not wait to start this book. The opening chapter appropriately set up a character we might not like but then it took a little before I connected with the plot. Once you learn a little more about the world and fall for the characters, you don’t want it to end. There were moments I held my breath, sentences that made me pause, and character choices that made me gasp. Klune created quietly tense moments of relationship development and reading about Wallace and Hugo was a beautiful experience. The cast including Mei (the sidekick), Hugo (the wise one), and Apollo (people and ghosts best friend) are the perfect found family you want to be around and hug.

The story also deals with important questions and feelings about death, life, and grief. The tea shop is a space between but also a space where life and death co-exist. The characters who have died and those who are living help the reader think about the importance of time and how we make connections with each other. The dialogue and the moments of silence between characters carry equal weight. This is definitely a must-read. It brought a few tears, so prepare yourself.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Sometimes a book takes your heart on a ride and then shoves it back in your chest and you’re left a little sore after.

My personal victory is that I didn't cry reading this one but I was emotionally prepared to sob the entire time.

A really beautiful story and cast of characters, TJ Klune really loves making me get attached to my found family idiots, eh?
I loved it and it was wonderful. I laughed out loud at some parts and got absolutely punched in the chest at others.

I was a bit surprised by the ending and I found the book all at once slow going and too fast at different parts. It seems to need a bit of something else happening in the middle.

This was beautiful and stunning and somehow a warm hug and also heartache all in one. Absolutely enchanting.

I'm going to start this review by saying that I am a HUGE fan of TJ Klune's writing. There have not been many authors whose writing can affect me the way his writing has. And each one of his works is so very different, yet full of FEELS..... lots and lots of FEELS. So, this review is giving me a little pause. Did I like this book? Yes, I really did. So, then what's the problem? Well, there really isn't a problem, per se....

When I was approved for this ARC, I was elated (see the above comment about how much I adore this author) So, I started reading, and it was hard. No, not because it was difficult emotional reading (and it is), but because the pacing was difficult for the first half of the book. I cannot count the amount of times that I put the book down to do something else. That almost NEVER happens. For some reason, it was really hard for me to really get into the book. If I hadn't been such a Klune fan, I might not have pushed through. But, I am so I did. Something happens around the middle of the book that kicks it into gear. The pacing changes, events start happening, and I became invested.

Then, by around the 75% mark - it really began to grab me and I found myself not wanting to put the book down. This book has an emotional punch that builds and builds until it overwhelms you. I found myself laying in bed in the middle of the night with tears going down my face, trying not to wake my husband up.

So, is this book worth it? Absolutely. Is it like The Cerulean Sea? No, not really. I mean, it's quirky and has that Klune feeling to it. But this book is about death, and grieving and understanding that maybe you are not the type of person that you should have been. That is a bit heavy. But there is a feeling of satisfaction at the end and it is worth the journey that you take.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the privilege of reading this ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone.

Disclaimer: I received an advanced reader copy (ARC) of this book from NetGalley and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Under the Whispering Door is a beautifully written book that is perfectly heartbreaking and will have you laughing out loud one moment and then crying the next! TJ Klune is an amazing writer that can weave heart felt stories with humor in a seamless way. He shows us the importance of life, love, friendships, and families and how important all of those things are even in the afterlife.

Wallace Price was a selfish lawyer who did not give much thought to anything other than his job and being successful at it. That is until he dies of a heart attack and ends up in his own funeral. A sad pathetic event that is only attended by his firm partners, his ex-wife, and a stranger he does not recognize. Turns out Mei is a Reaper and she is at his funeral to collect him and take him to a way station to meet the ferryman, Hugo.

Charon’s Crossing is a tea shop, a secret way station owned by Hugo; the ferryman. Here Wallace meets a ghost named Nelson, a ghost dog named Apollo, and Hugo who will change his afterlife and make him contemplate all his life choices. Wallace is meant to cross over to his life after death with the help of Hugo, but so much will change for them all.

I don’t say this lightly when I say that this book is an amazingly powerful book that will break and heal your heart in ways you might not have imagined. It is full of heavy topics, but is also a beautiful healing story that will tug at your heart and make you contemplate your life. I have never laughed and cried so much while reading a book. It was the perfect story for me to read at this time and I would highly recommend it to anyone who has suffered loss and has felt lost.

This book is scheduled for publication on September 21st, 2021 and I would highly encourage you to preorder a copy or at least consider picking it up once it’s published. As of now, May 13th 2021, Barnes & Noble is also scheduled to release an exclusive edition that “includes a bonus feature, ‘A Reaper’s Guide’. This pamphlet serves as an introduction to reaping and lays out the basics on how new reapers are expected to guide humans from the end of life to the beginning of eternity.” (Description taken from the Barnes & Noble website).

TW: death: death of a child, death of a parent, death by suicide, and unexpected suicide, terminal illnesses

Klune's books are like Disney movies for adults - in fact, for people of all ages. I am happy to say that I loved it as much as The House in the Cerulean Sea. It is charming, imaginative, heartwarming, and funny.

** Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review **

I have a confession to make. When I got approved for this ARC, I literally started crying while outside walking my dog. TJ Klune is one of my favorite authors of all time, and I’m so happy to say that this book was another home run for me. I had to force myself to ration out the chapters because I really didn’t want it to end.

Right off the bat, I think it’s important to acknowledge and reiterate that TJ Klune’s books are all uniquely different and special in both their themes and messages. No matter what book you pick up, you will always get Klune’s whimsical charm, outstanding dialogue, diverse characters, and his beautifully lyrical writing. HOWEVER, for those picking this up wanting a carbon copy of The House in the Cerulean Sea, then you are setting yourself up for failure and may end up feeling a little disappointed. Personally this such a plus for me because I love knowing that each book is going to be a completely different journey, but think it's important to put out there.

******

“A ghost who refuses to cross over and the ferryman he falls in love with”. - I’ll post a more detailed summary of the plot closer to publication…but like, what else do I need to say?

This is a beautifully woven story about life, death, grief, love, queer identity, self-discovery, and found family. This was thought provoking, tragically poignant, and laugh out loud funny. TJ Klune has a gift for making such authentic and unique characters that really stick with me long after I finish reading. Even the supporting characters felt very well rounded and brought someone essential to the plot. Also…there’s a ghost dog. A ghost dog that’s just the BEST boy. I loved the depiction of the stages of grief and the overall mental health representation (particularly anxiety and panic attacks). I also thought I was going to make it through this without crying, but then I hit the last 10% and cried like a baby until the end. Wolfsong will always hold the title as my favorite TJ Klune book (I’m sorry I can’t help it), but this was absolute perfection and I can’t wait to pick up a finished copy in September!

I read this in a day because I couldn't stop, which is weird because there isn't much going on in this. There's conversations between ghosts and people. About choosing a way forward or staying where you are.
The chapter 21 and 22 made me cry and even though I liked the whole book I wish there wasn't such a happy ending because the book didn't need it. Heartfelt and such a slow and sweet story.

Is it possible to fall in love with a book? Yes. Yes, it is.

Every giggle, every tear, every angry scream, every embarrassing and adorable moment, I love it all. This book is life and a conversation. It's the realization that when you're peering down at print, you're looking into someone else's soul and that soul is a looking glass reflecting yourself right back at you.

All I can say is thank you. Thank you TJ Klune and thank you to everyone who has sped your path along.

Like others, I stopped by the world that is Under the Whispering Door after thoroughly enjoying The House in the Cerulean Sea. Yes, it's just as heartwarming and wholesome, and painful. Death is a heavy topic-- there's no avoiding that-- but you'll learn that that...is okay.

Thank you Netgalley and Tor for this arc. All opinions in this review are my own

Poignant, sad, magical are the words that first come to mind. The best book I have read this year.! When Wallace dies Mei, the reaper takes him to the ferryman, Hugo. There he learns the lessons he ignored in life,; the value of others and empathy for what they must go through. As I read I felt surrounded by magic. I laughed out loud and had tears running down my cheeks. The characters will haunt me for a long time. An excellent read. You won't be able to put it down.
#UndertheWhisperingDoor#NwrGalley

I don't know how he does it but every book is a full-body experience. He makes me laugh, he makes me cry, he breaks my heart and heals my soul.
This book was a beautiful journey and an experience that I will cherish forever.

So, it turns out that Alive Wallace was a pretty shitty person, but I loved watching him redeem himself and grow as he became a better person (better ghost?) throughout the story. This author has a talent for writing characters who will permanently etch themselves onto your heart, so of course I found myself falling for everyone - the dry-witted reaper, Mei; the softboi, tea-loving ferryman, Hugo; Hugo’s mischievous grandpa, Nelson; Apollo the ghost dog; and yeah, even Wallace, eventually. I also found myself completely in love with this love story…but I mean, who wouldn’t fall for a ‘reluctant dead guy meets charming and patient ferryman’ trope?

This book manages to be cozy and heavy at the same time. It is, after all, ultimately a book about grief, death, and what comes after. It’s the kind of book that’ll break your heart and put it back together again about a thousand times. It’s beautiful and sad - it’ll warm your heart and make you laugh out loud, but it’ll make you cry snot and tears into your mask on public transit, too. Among all of those big feelings (as my therapist would call them) is an undercurrent of hope and comfort that’ll make you want to stay in this world long after you’ve finished the book.