I'm a big fan of TJ Klune and I wanted to love this book but in the end it was just okay for me. However, I seem to be the exception as most my GR friends did love this book. It seems to have everything that I enjoy going for it: quirky characters, humor, and an intriguing plot. I'm not sure what I was expecting from the concept but it wasn't what I got. It just never seemed to hit me with a profound take on death or give me the feels I wanted.

The MC Wallace is very hard to like through the beginning of this book and so his transformation to a good person should have been wonderful. For me it just wasn't and I found myself a bit bored. Not a lot happens as Wallace learns to except his death and change his ways. There are of course some great humorous moments but they come a bit few and far between all the boring bits. Finally the love story comes out of nowhere. The two MC's learn to get along and have a few quiet moments of connection but the love just seems to pop up with no real foundation.

It wasn't bad it just wasn't what I expect from one of my favorite authors. But again, I'm in the minority so I'm sure most fans will love this one too.

I'm truly sad to say I wasn't a fan of this one after loving The House in the Cerulean Sea.

The story follows Wallace after he passes away and is in the process of passing over to some after life/whatever comes after death. During this time he is picked up by a reaper Mei and is brought to Hugo who is a ferryman. He stays with them while he is supposed to be processing his death and is meant to pass through a door to whatever comes next.

This story is very slow moving and is 100% about the development of Wallace. I typically like plot driven books so I knew I would have a harder time with this one but I just couldn't connect. I took a LONG time to read this book and took plenty of breaks. I continued reading to find out what will be behind the door or what would come next for Wallace and we NEVER FIND OUT.

I cannot express the level of excitement I experienced when I was given the opportunity to read this book in advance! Anyone who has asked me for a book recommendation in the last year has surely heard my undying love for the warm hug that is #TheHouseintheCeruleanSea, so my impatience to read this follow up was palatable.

Klune has such a special voice, with the incomparable ability to create quirky, loveable, larger than life characters. Combined with love and positivity and a unique vision of how sparkly and magical our world can be, Klune’s writing always gives me the warm and fuzzies… even when dealing with darker subject matter (like death). Sadly, I just wanted MORE and LESS from this book (if that's somehow possible)... More depth, more joy, more gut-punching. Less drastic and sudden shifts in characters and story arcs-- Wallace's shift from completely abhorrent to glowy-kind-spirit happened with lightning speed. Where did the growth happen?! And the love story seemed to have been tossed in to the mix without giving the reader a chance to believe it.

Is it the perfect book follow up I was dreaming of? No — but it’s sweet and lovely all on its own. (And timed perfectly to coincide with #BiWeek 💗💜💙)

Reader beware: this is NOT another House in the Cerulean Sea. Not at all. Avoid disappointment by comparison!

Thanks to Netgalley and @torbooks for providing me with an ARC in exchange for review.

Having read The House in the Cerulean Sea earlier this year, and loved it, I was so excited to dive into this one. Let me tell you, it did not disappoint. T.J. Klune’s writing feels like a big, warm, hug. That’s the best way I can think of to describe it. To know his characters is to feel peace, tranquility and love. How easily he writes inclusivity and normalizes the human experience is not only enjoyable, but also refreshing. His characters are unapologetically themselves, and it’s beautiful.

This book is about grief and death, and it will have you thinking about grief and death. You’ll think about your own afterlife thoughts, you’ll think of those you’ve lost, and you’ll worry about what will happen when you’re gone – and what would happen if that happened sooner than later. That’s a heavy thing, but rest assured Klune will have you feeling at peace with these topics.

Read this book. Hug this book.

I have to say I dont know how I haven't picked up anything by TJ Klune before reading this. But that is going to change cause I love this book so much and want to get a physical copy of it right away. If you haven' read anything by TJ Klune before you need to their books are amazing. I highly recommend this to everyone.

I had never tried a novel by the author and after hearing so much about him, I was curious to discover his pen. And I must say that on this side, I was pleasantly surprised. It is a very nice pen.

Wallace Price was an unbearable man when he was alive. The worst of all. So when he dies, no one is really sad about it to his surprise. But when he dies, a chance is offered to him: to spend a week in Hugo’s tea room, a man who helps souls in pain before crossing over. What for? To make Wallace realize what he has missed in his life and that he could have had much more than he has.

I was swept away from the first chapter and was curious to see what would happen. But as soon as Wallace finds himself living with Hugo and the others, I found that the pace of the story slowed down a lot and I had a little more trouble hanging on. That said, it was still an interesting read and I am thrilled to have discovered my first novel by the author. I now know I’ll have to get into the others he’s written that sound just as interesting!

Klune has given a simple life-death concept a heartwarming chef’s touch. The story is beautiful and unique in its own way. It takes talent to make a reader like an unlikeable character. They kind of grow on you and Klune with his natural flair makes us readers understand them. There is a lot of heart to these wholesome characters, they made me laugh and cry! Although the flow changed to medium pace along the middle, this one is enjoyable. The cover might give Cerulean Sea vibes, but this is a totally different story. Quite memorable.

Thank you Tor books via Netgalley for the arc.

5 GOLDEN, SHINING STARS

I honestly don’t know where to begin with this book. Klune has made the subject of death; hilarious, sad, and heartwarming all encompassing. The amount of depth which is written about the characters is immeasurable. Every character is beautifully written.

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!

The story starts with Wallace Price, Attorney-at-Law, who's very self-centered & snobby. Wallace has died and it's at his funeral, which few attended and only out of obligation that he meets Mei, a Reaper. She tells him about a Ferryman named, Hugo, who helps people cross over. But Wallace doesn't have time for any of this. He has important work to do. He can't be dead! He'll just insist they bring him back to the city! Right?

I highly recommend this! Come to Charon's Crossing Tea & Treats and let Hugo pick out your perfect tea. You'll be glad you did.

Wallace is a jerk. When he dies suddenly from a heart attack, he finds out even when life is over, people can still change.

There are no words to express the beauty of this novel. TJ Klune has again crafted a story with a flawed main character (Wallace) that ends up melting your heart and a modern love story for all hopeless romantics to enjoy and cherish.

In Under the Whispering Door we are brought to a tea shop in the middle of nowhere where everyone flocks for tea and treats. Sometimes the store closes for private events. These events are for wayward souls to make terms with their deaths and cross over to the next part of their existence. Hugo, the shop owner/ferryman, and Mei, the reaper, try to help Wallace accept his death. During his time at the tea shop Wallace realizes all he missed out on in life by focusing on his law career. He soon discovers that a found family and love are worth fighting for and redemption is worth dying for. The story is rounded out with a wonderful ensemble of characters that include the lovable and cantankerous Nelson, Hugo’s ghost grandfather, and Apollo, Hugo’s ghost dog. If you don’t fall in love with all of them then you might want to check and see if you still have a heart.

This novel is a must read for anyone who enjoys a quirky love story with a happy tear filled ending!

Because of his Green Creek series, I was already a fan of TJ Klune, and it caused me to go in with some pretty high expectations. They were exceeded.

The story he took us on, Wallace’s story of regret and overcoming it, death, and the journey Wallace takes, accompanied by a quirky cast of characters, is heartwarming without being cheesy. I love a good story of growth and acceptance, and it was delivered here.

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan-Tor for the eARC in exchange for an honest review

This book was exactly what I expected from TJ Klune after riding the high of Cerulean Sea. I adored Cerulean Sea and this one was a runner up for me. I loved the sarcastic and witty dialogue that I have come to know with Klune's writing. And his character development with Wallace was spot on. I found myself laughing out loud several times during this book and loved the themes of life, death, and the legacy you leave behind.

A sweet, lovely book about loss and love, where death is just another step on the journey and where it's never too late to become a better person.

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.

After reading The House in the Cerulean Sea, I just knew I had to get my hands on Under the Whispering Door. The first thing that struck me when I first saw the cover Whispering Door were the similarities to the Cerulean Sea cover. Same artist… It pointed to possible complementary themes; those of seemingly dead ends and regrets, yet maybe second chances.

In Cerulean Sea we have Linus who is a stickler for the rules and is sent on a mission to check on a very special orphanage to make sure of their safety. In Whispering Door, Wallace is a despicable lawyer who has died and is brought to a way station by a reaper on his way to the other side. Repressed-love gay romance, witty dialogue, and some deep thoughts… both books take on some heavy subjects with a certain charm and a good deal of humor. There’s also this fantasy and supernatural angle that gives each book a magical feel, like I wasn’t sure what Klune was going to pull out next…

I’ll focus on Whispering Door here in the criticism… V good main character in Wallace… and typical of Klune’s writing the reader gets good deal of anecdotes and/ or flashbacks that flesh out who he is and add significant depth, unlike the secondary characters. I also felt like the start of the book was too slow and took a bit too long for the initial reveals… yet, the opening scene is perfectly cringey (Wallce fires his long-time legal secretary while she’s in the middle of a personal crisis. He’s beyond a jerk!)

I’ve seen other reviews and most are positive, at least, more positive than mine… Cerulean Sea killed me in all ways. The romance, the crazy characters, and the setting… I just didn’t feel as drawn to Whispering Door.

Link to Interview and Excerpt

3.5 out of 5 stars

Note from the author: This story explores life and love as well as loss and grief. There are discussions of death in different forms--quiet, unexpected, and death by suicide. Please read with care.

Trigger Warnings: Suicide, heart attack, terminal illness, death of a child, death of a parent, murder, knife violence & stabbing, car accident, animal death, anxiety, cancer, depression, outing, self harm, death, funeral, church, panic attacks, sex

Representation: Asian, Gay, Mental health, Bisexual, Black

Under the Whispering Door is a love story. It is a love story in all of its forms: romantic love, friendship love, family love, pet love. It is also a story of grief. Grieving your loved ones, your pets, yourself, and even strangers. This story shares what it is like to pass on and the grieving process as a whole.

This eARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely adored this book! I have no negative critiques for it! I loved how much of an asshole Wallace is and I loved his growth. I loved how caring and human Hugo is. I felt warm and at peace while reading this story. I thought the author did an amazing job describing what may happen after we pass. And I loved how the different stages of grief were highlighted. While still being a fantasy book, I loved how realistic the story was and how relatable. I want to believe there is a friendly reaper and ferryperson waiting for me before my next life. I also want to believe that my loved ones are in a better place.

What if a soul fell in love with its ferryman?
Now that is a story worth reading.

Wallace Price was a cold hard man. He only thought about himself and did things that only profited him, and had no empathy. Work was the only life he knew until he suddenly died.
In this book we follow Wallace's journey after death. How he learns to accept his fate and understand the kind of life he had before.

After Wallace's death he's found sitting in a church where his own funeral is taking place. That's where he meets Mei, his reaper, who takes him to a tea shop the owner of which, Hugo, is the Ferryman. Both of them are very much alive. Both Mei and Hugo work for the mysterious and feared Manager who "manages things", a cosmic being who presides over all the workings of the afterlife.

The plot moves a bit slow. Wallace makes the tea shop his new home but the tension of his inevitable journey through the door on the fourth floor of the house looms like a dark cloud over Wallace. But that's not the only thing, there are other souls who come to shop and Hugo, as the Ferryman, has to guide them in death. Hugo, not only helps the dead but also the ones who have lost someone and are grieving. He is there for them and helps them in every way that he can.

Death and grief are things you cannot move on from easily. They stay with you always. They become a part of you. This book gives you a glimpse of that grief and how you can overcome the pain and heartache with people who love and support you.

This is a bittersweet story. It shows grief, sadness, loss, pain but it has a lot of heart and overflows with love. Very early in the story it was clear that the connection Hugo and Wallace had was more than that of a Ferryman-soul relationship. Without even knowing they become a family.

I cannot express how much I love this book. This book resonated with me on a deeper level, it affected me. Safe to say this hasn't happened in a long time. I laughed, I cried, and I internally screamed in anger and pain.

The importance of this book I feel is the message it conveys and it's just not one message. There are many. My favorite is that it's ok to be afraid of the unknown, that it's a leap of faith, that we need to move forward and experience something that's unimaginable. In the end it's being afraid that makes us brave. It's what makes us move forward into the light.

Under the Whispering Door is now one of my favourite books I've read this year.

Under the Whispering Door centers around Wallace Price, a recently deceased man undergoing a journey to the next life. Wallace, an arrogant lawyer, is not the nicest of men and truly cares more about his success in business than the impact his actions have on those around him, as his actions continually illustrate. Over the course of his forty year life he has built up quite the reputation as a cold, aloof and selfish individual. When he drops dead of a heart attack suddenly at the young age of 40, it comes as no surprise that no one is heartbroken over his demise. The reaper, a young woman by the name of Mei, enters the story, adding quite a bit of humor to the mix, with her sarcastic nature. Wallace is understandably distraught and angry over his demise but quickly learns he holds no sway or power in this new life. Mei takes Wallace to meet the ferryman, Hugo, who helps the newly deceased cross over. Hugo is also the owner of Charon’s Crossing Tea and Treats, a charming yet peculiar tea shop in the woods that serves scones, pastries tea and more. Of course any place specializing in the dead is not complete without a resident ghost and Charon's crossing has two, the ghost of Hugo's grandfather as well as the ghost of his dog, Apollo. As Wallace undergoes a transformative journey over the course of the story he slowly begins to learn where he went wrong in life, and that it is never too late to live your life the way you truly want.

Under the Whispering Door is the newest delight from TJ Klune that will invoke more of the same warm, cozy, gentle and caring feelings readers have grown to both love and look forward to in his books. While the primary focus of the book is grief, death, and what lies beyond, there are moments of joy, laughter, and found family, as the characters learn how to really live as well, some for the first time. Klune's simple yet endearing style shines through and while the book touches on quite a bit of deeper, darker themes, the story ends on a hopeful and whimsical note. Under the Whispering Door is an earnest, moving, thought provoking and charming story that is sure to capture the hearts of readers both new and old to the magic that is TJ Klune.

Under the Whispering Door is a humorous novel that deftly deals with death and the meaning of life. TJ Klune's storytelling keeps things light enough not to overwhelm us while also causing us to consider existential questions.

The novel isn't without its faults, though. For example, some of the life lessons in the book come across as a little trite, and some characters' race and ethnicity are mentioned in ways that don't seem to add to the story.

Still, Under the Whispering Door is entertaining, charming, and thought-provoking.

While the subject matter may not be for all readers, it's suitable for most. And I think many who read Under the Whispering Door will enjoy it.

Check out my full review: https://medium.com/the-neb/tj-klunes-under-the-whispering-door-is-a-charming-ghostly-novel-laced-humor-and-bewitching-fab49e26e474?sk=18f8c4f0499c59e605c6bc71dd117927.