TJ Klune's "House in the Cerulean Sea" was the voice we needed in 2020. It gave us the insight of a life only halfway lived; of the ability to right-your-wrongs and create your own happiness. Luckily for readers the world over, Klune's pen is back our for 2021 with "Under the Whispering Door".
Wallace Price is an asshole. He knows it and so does everyone one else. So, why should he be surprised that only five people show up to his funeral after his unexpected death? He is shocked momentarily, but quickly distracted when his Reaper shows up in the form of a sweet, small, Asian, 20ish adult. Much to his chagrin she then takes Wallace to the site (tea shop) in which he will officially cross to the afterlife. It is, however, over the next few weeks at the tea shop that Wallace finds the meaning he realizes he had been lacking his entire life. That realization comes in them form of a heartwarming cast of characters and Wallace's ability to change.

With his hallmark feel-good story lines and characters you want to invite to a dinner party, Klune has once again given us what we didn't know we needed in the most delightful way.

The beauty of Klune’s storytelling cannot be matched. This is a heart-wrenching, beautiful story of the importance of recognizing all that life has to offer and what matters most. This is a book that will stick with readers for a lifetime.

Having read The House in the Cerulean Sea (which I loved) and now Under the Whispering Door, I’ve noticed a certain Pixar-esque sensibility to T.J. Klune’s writing – there’s a dynamic premise, a gentle touch, a colorful cast of characters, and a thoughtful message. The tone borders right on the edge of being too syrupy sweet, but Klune injects enough turmoil and heft into the proceedings to never cross over into cloyingness.

I did have some difficulty getting behind Wallace’s redemption arc here, as his introduction paints him in such a vile light that it made it hard to believe his personality could undergo such a 180 in such a short time. As such, I did not find this book to be as effective or affecting as The House in the Cerulean Sea, but it is still well worth your time. I really enjoy Klune’s writing and I look forward to reading whatever he pens next.

★★★½

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I am once again thankful that I work at a library and no one looks at me funny for crying over a book in the break room.

I need so much more quiet fantasy like this with a sweet romance at the center. TJ Klune is a master. This is like chicken soup and a warm sweater in book form, even with the heavier topics. I really appreciated the author's note at the beginning to take care while reading this book and the content warnings.

These characters stole my heart. Wallace's growth was beautiful to behold. Nelson is the king of Dad (grandad?) jokes and terrible puns. Mei is exactly who I'd want as a Reaper. And Hugo--sweet, selfless, wonderful, empathetic Hugo and his stinkin' adorable and perfect tea shop in the woods. All the side characters--Desdemona, Nancy, The Health Inspector, the Manager, Allan, Cameron--are beautiful in their own ways and so well down. This book is a masterclass in creating memorable secondary characters who further the story. The pacing was perfect, and I loved the characters so much I would've been find with nothing happening.

The ending was bittersweet, but perfect. I cried. I'm still not okay. I may never be okay even tough it's almost exactly what I thought would happen in such a gently book about death and the afterlife.

A heart breaking and heart warming and affirming book about life, who we love, who loves us, and what comes after.

This book is about death, grief, acceptance, and love. If you liked The House in the Cerulean Sea you will probably like this book as well. I enjoyed this book very much but like other reviewers I thought that it lagged a bit in the beginning. It was well worth the read in the end. I would recommend this for readers who like to feel good about the characters they read about. If you are a more cynical reader, this book probably isn't for you.

TJ Klune really has a way of writing his way into one’s heart. Much like 2020’s The House in the Cerulean Sea, Under the Whispering Door is full of charmingly quirky characters that you can’t help but fall for. This book was whimsical and hilarious, but was also somber and knew how to tug at the heart strings.

** spoiler alert ** Here's the deal. This book, much like House in the Cerulean Sea, doesn't take itself seriously and certainly doesn't abide by trad literary rules of subtlety. If you can't handle the didactic, can't stomach almost-saccharine characters and plots, than this book isn't for you. It seems Klune found a formula in Cerulean Sea, and used it again for Whispering Door - they very much feel like the same world, and there's even a hint that they are. A reader who enjoys whimsy and playfulness without overthinking the details will love this book. There were many parts that made me laugh, and a couple that made me cry, but in between seemed a bit slow for my taste. There are some things I question, like Wallace's quick transformation from jerk manager to gentle & caring friend. And the Manager's kindnesses at the end, which I didn't quite believe after all the build-up & mystery to his character. Ultimately, good book, the ride was a fun one, and I'm happy I took it. Thanks, Netgalley for the ARC. <3

I’ll often end a review by mentioning if it made me cry—the good books always do that to me. And I read this one slowly, because I think I knew from the beginning that it would make me cry too.

This is a book about dying, and grief, and how little we know about what comes after. Be gentle with yourself if you read it. But know that you are in good hands, and that these tender subjects are treated with care.

But also, this book is beautiful and messy and hopeful, and a little bit ridiculous. Like life itself.

(I cried.)

Wait, wait, there's something in my eye.

Klune does it again with this charming and heartwarming story of life after death, and a chance of redemption. I can't adequately express how charming this book is. All of the characters are so real, well described and filled with idiosyncrasies.. This story really shines as an ensemble cast. Everyone, and I mean even The Manager who isn't in the story that much, is so well crafted it's as if I could see them roaming the tea shop, milling around the living.

I love everything. The slow growing romance and mutual respect between Wallace and Hugo. The friendships Wallace didn't know he needed. The mounting regrets finally realized and how he can make amends.
I am not gonna lie.
I cried at the end. The epilogue almost killed me.

It's such a perfect package. We follow Wallace as he reassesses his life, and his mostly selfish choices, and with the help of new friends, realizes that he doesn't have to be alone. That he can be good and helpful and heal. The message is powerful, that with love and acceptance and understanding, even those who are the most lost can find peace and grow. Cameron, who I won't talk about too much, was a really deep and personal journey for me to read about after knowing friends who have also struggled with the same challenges.

Klune writes with compassion and love and most of all, hope.
That even for some who are lost, there is no reason to give up.

While I didn't love this novel as much as I loved The House on the Cerulean Sea, it's only because that was a perfect novel start to finish, and this one had parts in the first half of the novel that lagged.

Although, I will say that I did love the cameo of the House itself being set in a picture that the main character walked past early on.

Wallace Price is dead. Oh, we get a first chapter of him alive, but by the next time we see him it's his funeral and there is one person there who both sees him and isn't someone that Wallace recognises. He's rather rude to her to start with, but that's just kind of how he is with everyone.

After a dynamic first chapter, the process of his finding himself to be dead and dealing with the new reality around him does have a bit of a drag before the plot picks up again. He is brought to a tea house run by Hugo, who is the person who will sit and talk with Wallace, slowly getting him to move on.

Except, that's not really how it happens. Largely because there is still stuff from Hugo's past assignments that needs to be resolved, and in the process Wallace needs to become a much better person before we can like him well enough to let go of him.

This novel is written in the same signature irreverent style that we've seen from him before. The mythology and surroundings of the book were superb and all side characters were very enjoyable and distinct.

Under the Whispering Door definitely has some of the TJ Klune magic we’ve all fallen in love with. A strong found family trope, quirky loveable and flawed characters, LGBTQIA+ rep and some deep, philosophical quotes sprinkled throughout that really catch your eye.

However, the pacing of this one was just not for me. The entire first half of the book feels like exposition. For at least 150 or so pages I felt like we were seeing the same conversation happen over and over just with minor differences, granted they be important ones like boundaries and respect, but it felt very repetitive. It wasn’t until a certain event just past the halfway point that the book finally had some momentum, which it kept up with for the second half. I just wish the whole book had moved at this pace because it would have deemed a higher rating from me.

I will also say that Under the Whispering Door specifically sets out to make you feel something. Sadly, that forced nature just wasn’t for me but it could be for you!

“Under the Whispering Door” is a beautiful story of life and the afterlife, grief and growth.

It took me a few chapters to fully get into the story, but once I did, I was enraptured. Klune’s world building and presentation of the afterlife and the in between was beautiful. The characters are complicated, but I grew to love them all by the end. This is the first of Klune’s works I have read and I absolutely plan on reading more.

If The House in the Cerulean Sea is like Good Omens, Under the Whispering Door is like the show Pushing Daisies in both the feel of this book, in the similar themes, and just the vibes. And I loved every second of it.

Under the Whispering Door follows Wallace, a lawyer who isn’t exactly anyone’s favorite person, or even someone anyone likes. The first chapter is literally him firing one of his employees while she’s telling him the hell she’s been going through lately. And then, Wallace has a heart attack and dies. He finds himself at his own funeral and watches as very few people show up and those who do don’t have a single good thing to say about him and he doesn’t understand why. Thankfully, Mei, the reaper who has come to take him to what's next for him gets him out of there. And that’s when Wallace finds himself at Charron’s Crossing, a tea shop owned by Hugo the ferryman who will be helping Wallace prepare to cross. But what Wallace and the other’s didn’t expect to happen was for them was not only did Wallace change, but they all fell in love with each other. Wallace and Hugo have this amazing chemistry that made Wallace actually stop and think about his actions and do better and in turn be a better person. Mei is amazing and by far my favorite character in this book, in part because I understand a lot of how she feels and the fact she has abandonment issues with her family for being the person she is. Then there’s Nelson, Hugo’s grandfather who’s honestly great. Apollo is Hugo’s dog who has passed and is just a joy. There’s so much pure goodness in this book and the jokes were great. It’s so weird how it’s very much like The House in the Cerulean Sea and yet not at all. I think it’s that warm feeling that this book gives you, a sense of comfort and belonging that really leaves you loving it. I honestly hope to read more by this author as soon as possible because I’m learning his books are very much my comfort books. They simply fill me with joy and happiness which is honestly big for this time.

I honestly think my only complaint is the synopsis of this book. It’s completely wrong. It says it’s about Hugo helping Wallace live his life in seven days. This book so much more than this and it’s very misleading. I kept reading and being like “Okay so that’s not happening?” and was utterly confused until the last 20% of this book, where that sort of happens but in a completely different way than how you expect. I think it should focus on the fact Wallace is learning to be a better person and when the Manager feels he’s overstayed his welcome, he gives Wallace seven last days before he must pass over. Wallace must work through the grief of his life and righting wrongs he either directly caused or wishes to see fixed before he leaves and with Hugo, Mei, Nelson, and Apollo, they set to work doing just that. But what happens when Wallace stumbles upon a way to help those known as husks before he leaves and fights to be allowed to give them a second chance just as he’s supposed to cross himself?

I highly recommend this book. It’s fun, it talks about grief in a comforting and realistic way. Hopefully this becomes as much as a cult classic as The House in the Cerulean Sea because it completely deserves it.

Absolutely exquisite. There was so much love and life in this book about death. Klune's writing is beautiful and the story was so well done. Each character, including the ghost dog, was so well written. I sobbed like a baby.

After the widely celebrated success of "The House in the Cerulean Sea," "Under the Whispering Door" had a lot to live up to. Good news: if you loved HITCS, you will probably also swoon for this one.

Wallace is a bit of a Mr. Scrooge: controlled by power and money, and devoid of any meaningful relationships. One day, he falls to his demise and dies of a heart attack at his law office. A spunky and amiable Reaper named Mei shows up to guide him to a waystation, where he is to travel to the afterlife guided by a man named Hugo. The waystation (depicted in the cover art) is a quirky tea shop that borders the natural and supernatural. While Hugo aids spirits in crossing into eternity, he also serves tea and baked goods to the local villagers. Wallace is quite upset about dying, but finds comfort in the daily rhythms of the shop and is surprised to discover that Mei, Hugo, and Hugo's late grandfather Nelson become the first friends he has ever had. Unfortunately, the waystation was never meant to be a permanent home and Wallace is given one more week to say his goodbyes before moving into the afterlife.

This book is sooooo cozy; TJ Klune is master of world building and has created an absolutely charming cast of characters to inhabit it. The undeniable themes of the book are death and loss, and are handled with a certain amount of saccharine humor. Some might describe it as cheesy, or too one dimensional. It's true that everything is resolved with a beautiful bow on top which might be frustrating to some readers. However, it might help going into the book knowing it is intended to bring comfort not answers. This is meant to be enjoyable, escapist, and whimsical. I cried my eyes out at the end because I came to care so much about Wallace, Hugo, Mei, and Nelson. Some scenes were equally hilarious (if you know, you know). This book isn't perfect and I could write more about some of my sticking points (the oddly fast romance between Hugo and Wallace, the inconsistencies in the Manager's character development) but I am willing to overlook them because of all the feels this book gave me.

I can't wait for others to read this one - I'll be thinking about it for a long time and even though some lines were saccharine ("A river only ever moves in one direction") I can't stop thinking about them.

Content notes: suicide, death, death of parents, grief

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

T J Klune is fast becoming one of my favourite authors of all time - I have yet to read a book of his that I don't like. The House in the Cerulean Sea is one of my favourite books that I have read this year, and I'll be honest, I wasn't sure how this one could live up to it.

But boy oh boy did it.

Under the Whispering Door broke my heart in every way possible and stitched it back together piece by piece. I was a weeping mess by the end of it, and as soon as I finished I wanted to start it all over again. Every character was written sensitively and complexly, and they all felt utterly unique. Nancy, Nelson and Apollo were all faves, but Mei was in another league. She was funny, kind, compassionate and I absolutely adored her - I could have read an entire book just about her. There are a few other side characters that particular stood out, and one in particular is responsible for me using up all of my tissues drying my tears.

Of course, we have to talk about Wallace and Hugo. Wallace starts the book as an absolute jerk; when he dies of a heart attack, its hard to feel any pity for him. His funeral is attended by five people, and Mei, who turns out to be his reaper. She takes him to the next stage in his journey: a small tea shop on the edge of a town, run by Hugo, the ferryman who is supposed to help guide him to the other side. Here, Wallace starts to discover that he might have been living his life all wrong, and that maybe his afterlife can be different.

These. Two. God, my heart swells just thinking about them. I don't want to spoil anything for anyone but these two had some of the finest characterisation and development that I have read in a while. Wallace in particular shone, and I felt so attached to him, but Hugo too was an absolute pleasure to read about.

This is a book about grief, a book about love, and a book about moving on. There are several passages that I want engraved onto my heart because I love them so much - Klune's has a way of writing that just takes my breath away. He seems to reach into your soul and pull out the exact beautiful words to describe how something feels, and it is truly breathtaking. I am in utter awe of his talent, and this book is a beautiful perfect example of just how well he can write. I have nothing but praise for him, and I cannot wait to see what he delivers next. This book truly won its way into my heart, and it is one that is going to stay with me for a long, long time.

This book tackles death with humor, love, grief, and an incredible amount of sass. Created with a vibrant cast of characters, Under the Whispering Door tells the story of Wallace Price, a demanding and cruel man who finds many unexpected things within Charon's Crossing Tea and Treats, including that he is actually dead. This book draws you in with whimsy and humor and then continuously surprises on the journey. I loved this story so so much, it was a delight to read.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

Boy was I excited for this book. I loved House in the Cerulean Sea and was very happy to hear that Under the Whispering Door was not far away.

The book is about Wallace Pierce, who is a successful man, but hard and mean. Everything should be on point, on time and correct. Then he dies, and he finds that the afterlife is not what he expected.

The story about acceptance, grief and love, in the most TJ Klune-kind of way. It's sweet and plays your heartstrings like a fast song on a ukulele.
The characters are wonderful, and my favorite is by far good ol' Nelson with his whimsical ways.

I'm really looking forward to the official release of this book, I NEED IT.

Wallace Price is kind of a jerk. He’s selfish, egotistical, and sometimes just plain mean. When he drops dead of a heart attack, the lawyer is convinced that it’s all a big misunderstanding. Until the Reaper shows up.

Mei brings Wallace to Charon’s Crossing, a teashop on the outskirts of a small town set deep in the woods. There, Wallace meets his ferryman, Hugo, who is responsible for helping Wallace cross over. But Wallace isn’t ready to abandon the life he barely got a chance to live.

When the Manager shows up and gives Wallace one week to cross, Wallace sets out to live a lifetime in seven days.

Under the Whispering Door almost entirely revolves around the idea of death. Many of the characters are dead, and the ones that are not are inextricably tied to death. Wallace, of course, has died. Hugo and Mei are alive, but work for the Manager, who seems to, well, manage the business of death.

Refreshingly, this book never strays from the idea that what comes next is something to look forward to, not be afraid of. While there are dark moments to this book, it always ends up pointing towards the light (figuratively, if not literally). At the end of the day, Hugo explains to Wallace, the life he knew is just a brief point on a very long and beautiful journey, and there’s something about that idea that’s very comforting.

A beautiful and moving story of found family, love, and loss, I would highly recommend this book.

This was exactly the book that I needed so thank you Netgalley and Tor for providing me with a copy. Last year, I was obsessed with the smash hit, The House in the Cerulean Sea because it is such a heartwarming and uplifting story that was perfect for the beginning of the COVID era. Under the Whispering Door is exactly what we need during this period of COVID; a tale about death that is at the same time warm, funny, sad, and hopeful. I fell in love with all the characters very easily (Mai, what's up?). They were all beautifully crafted, full of beauty and faults. The relationship between Wallace and Hugo was just lovely and organic. We need more LGBT+ love stories like this instead of tragedies, which I get that Wallace is dead but we are subverting that trope here and it is perfect. I loved this universe's version of the afterlife, drawing from all over in order to create something wonderful, making me want to believe that there is something amazing waiting for all of us. This book made me laugh and cry and I did not want it to end. I made myself take forever to read it so I could savor it.