I absolutely adore this book and 100% need a hard copy to add to my book shelf. It’s such a deep, heartfelt read but it was full of humor and top notch sarcasm. I immediately pictured Nelson as Morgan Freeman and hearing his last name made me laugh out loud - I knew I could never DNF this.

I should also note, TJ had me at casually baking to German heavy metal. I, too, enjoy whipping up a baked good to @rammsteinofficial. I don’t think I’ve ever connected so deeply with a character than I did with Mei.

If you’re considering picking this book up, just make yourself aware of the trigger warnings - there’s some heavier themes revolving around death, depression, and anxiety here. However, it was so beautifully done and I found myself laughing along the way.


RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
No question.

Thank you to @torbooks and @netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I was able to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
***
Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune is a complex novel of grief, life, and afterlife.
Wallace Price was an awful, no good, very bad person in life. Driven to work, Wallace couldn’t be said to have really lived while he was actually alive. He was in fact found dead in his own office, heart attack, where he’d gone to do some work outside of business hours.
When Mei, a reaper, gathers him at his funeral, attended only by his fellow partners at the law firm he’d helped build, and his ex-wife who really had nothing complimentary to say, Wallace begins his struggle with the knowledge that he is dead. Brought to Charon’s Crossing, a tea shop, run by Hugo, a ferryman, Wallace is confronted with the man he was and the man he could have been, and is now becoming in death.
***
I wanted to love this story, but really all I can say is I enjoyed it.
The characters, mostly the supporting characters, were my favorite. The premise this story hinged upon, that Wallace changes who he is in death, really didn’t do much for me because it doesn’t really change the person he was or the lives he affected with the person he was in the past. It’s more of a, cool, you had it in you all along, and it took you dying to realize it.
Ignoring that part of the story though I really enjoyed the way death was looked at and explored in this novel. Mei’s job is to find the recently departed, assigned to them by the Manager, and Hugo’s job is to help them find peace and readiness in crossing over. Not all cases are easy, and even in death there is complications. Wallace learns that to leave the tea shop risks him becoming a husk, a colorless, lifeless remnant of who he is. Hugo is haunted by Cameron, a soul that fled his care and became a husk awhile back before Wallace’s introduction to the story. Between the colorful cast of the tea shop besides Mei and Hugo you have Nelson, Hugo’s grandfather whose stayed behind in death and Apollo, Hugo’s faithful dog who also stayed behind in death. There is also Nancy and Desdemona who add their own flavor to the story.
My one complaint to the summary of the book is it talks about the Manager giving Wallace a deadline of one week to do his living and crossover and was really confused when Wallace “lived” several months in Charon’s Crossing before that particular moment comes into play, well over halfway through the book. It definitely threw off my reading a bit.
There were some truly funny moments in this book, and some sad ones as well. I found this to be an enjoyable read and I think anyone whose read the author’s previous work, The House in the Cerulean Sea, might find this one to be as enjoyable but nowhere near as lighthearted or as fun as that book was.

Wallace Price is a stereotypical jerk of a lawyer, until his sudden death. Actually, after his sudden death too. A Reaper appears to take him to a sort of a crossroads that looks remarkably like a misshaped tea shop. Inside the tea shop, Wallace become convinced of one thing. He does not want to be there and there must be some kind of mistake. With the help of a new reaper, a ghost, a ghost dog, and a ferry man with the kindest eyes, will Wallace be able to understand what went wrong in life and how to correct it in death?

How much did I love this book? I finished my e-arc and went to the book store immediately to purchase a physical copy. It is a warm hug in words, a comforting cup of tea in the darkest hours, a romance that builds like flowers bloom, bit by bit then all at once.

Pros: Character growth in all characters, not just our main character, but every character grows and find their space. The characters are fully formed and given flesh or corporality in the most human ways. The plot pace is consistent and moves at steady but unexpected pace. I found the romance just a hare unbelievably but that what a romance between a ghost and ferryman is, completely and gorgeously unbelievable. I loved the friendships and the understanding of death after life and the tea shop! There was very little I didn't enjoy about this book.

Cons: ... I can't think of any, honest to goodness. There are some trigger warnings: death, suicide, depression, grief. But there aren't bad things, in fact they handle all of these with tact and kindness and care.

11/10 would recommend to those needing an emotional catharsis and for those who love unexpected paperwork after death, tea shops, characters that fly off a page, and the feeling of not being alone in your grief.

Thank you to TJ Klune, Netgalley, and Tor Books for the E-ARC!

I had not read any of TJ Klune's other books but had heard a lot about them. I was excited to read Under the Whispering Door and was not disappointed! This book was just absurd enough to allow the reader to confront difficult ideas about grief and death. I love the concept, the setting, the characters, everything. Highly recommend!

A big thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. This book was outside of my genres but I fell in love with the cover. I know I am bad. But wow am I glad I requested this book. I found this book to be unique, fascinating, heartwarming and entertaining. I truly enjoyed it. Wallace, Hugo , Mel were fascinating. I would recommend this to anyone to read. 4 stars

It's like a sequel to a man called Ove or what it would be if Ove died young. It was funny but heartfelt. A little slow in that it's a character driven story vs plot driven. Basically if you like a man called Ove you should like this one.

I thoroughly enjoyed The House of the Cerulean Sea, which was why I really looked forward to reading Under the Whispering Door. And maybe, just maybe, that because I had really high expectations for the latter that I ended up slightly disappointed.

In ‘Whispering’, we meet Wallace Price, a 40-year-old proud, selfish lawyer, who on the surface, looked like he had it all, money and success, except that he was divorced and had no friends, for reasons you’ll find out in the beginning of the book. So, when he died of a heart attack, his funeral was attended only by a handful of people. Then, walked in Mei, a reaper, an assistant to a ferryman, handsome Hugo, who also ran a teashop called Charon’s Crossing Tea and Treats, serving specialized tea, scones and muffins, at the same time helping the dead cross over to the other side, via ‘the whispering door’.

Yes, it’s a story about death and the possible events that come after; about looking back at your life and realizing all the important things and people who had been taken for granted, all the regrets and only if’s. For Wallace, he forgot what it was to love and to be loved, and to learn once again to do all that and how to let go, trust and forgive. For topics like this, without turning this book into a dreary one, Klune managed to humor without taking away its seriousness.

That said, I do find, however, the wry humor (which you’d find quite similar to Cerulean Sea) a little repetitive throughout. Nelson, Hugo’s grandfather, was quite a character; he was funny and sprightly, and together with his ever-loyal companion, Apollo the dog (both were ghosts), made quite an entertaining duo. That said, I did find the humor, especially the banter between Wallace, Nelson, and Mei, a little overdone, and the part about Wallace changing into ridiculous attires, a little over-the-top for me. Dialogues were a little cliché too.

What didn’t quite work for me too, was the relationship and love between Hugo and Wallace. I felt like I was being told more than being shown of their feelings for each other; like, okay, here are two men, let it be known that they were supposed to fall in love with each other, and meant to be together. I couldn’t feel their connection as I did with Linus and Arthur in Cerulean Sea.

And the point from Wallace being who he was while he was alive, to turning over a new leaf when he was dead, for me, somehow, felt like it wasn’t thoroughly explored, unlike Linus in Cerulean Sea, which was more realistic; there was a realistic progression. I understand the use of the ‘Husks’ in the story, but it just didn’t do it for me. I think the his story would’ve more depth without them, and just the people in the teahouse and Nancy (the human customer at the teahouse).

Having said all that, I thought it had a strong start and towards the ending, it got me a little teary. Despite some of the disconnection I felt throughout the book, Klune, with his flawless writing, managed to pull at my heartstrings.

I think I’m one of the few who enjoyed Cerulean Sea but didn’t enjoy Whispering Door. But don’t let my review deter you from reading the latter. Who knows, you might enjoy it like many others!

This book was everything I wanted it to be and more.

Lets start with the easy part: the plot. While it might be on the slower side, I found it to be unique and really well thought out. I couldn’t guess the ending, which was great because what did happen was better than what I imagined would. The tea shop sounds like the most quirky and strangely wholesome place.

Now for the hard part: all my feelings. This book is heavy, because it deals a lot with Death. Obviously. It was at times hard to read, but very rewarding too. I went through a lot of emotions reading this book, both happy and sad and at the end, I felt both at once.

I don’t even know if I can describe this as well as it deserves. What it does book down to is that I think this is Klune’s best book to date. The characters, the story, the places, the atmosphere, the themes; all of it is going to stay with me.

I loved The House in the Cerulean Sea, so I was happy to get an advanced review copy of his newest book, Under the Whispering Door. The covers appear to be by the same artist, so I’ve seen a number of people asking if this is a sequel, but it is not. Readers will disagree over whether this book is like Cerulean Sea and my answer is, in some ways yes and in some ways no.

Yes, in that it deals with common themes around love and humanity, being yourself, accepting others and finding that place where you feel at home.

No, in that there aren’t any heartwarming children, and this book is quite a bit darker (if you can say a book featuring the Antichrist as a main character is “light”).

Klune’s focus here is on death itself, what it means to live a good life before it’s too late, and what we leave behind. A number of the storylines in this book are tragic and disturbing, particularly the terminal illness of a young girl that leaves her mother unable to move on.

Klune has reimagined the concept of what happens when we die. Instead of heaven or hell or purgatory, the dead are escorted by a Reaper to a little tea shop in the middle of nowhere. At the top of the house, there’s a door. Hugo (who calls himself “the ferryman”) is responsible for helping the dead go through that door, to whatever awaits them. Although the door calls, or “whispers”, to the newly dead, they get to take their time if they need it. Until then, there’s tea (hand-grown and personally selected by Hugo) and there’s companionship. And therapy, of a sort.

The book begins with a lawyer named Wallace, who is over-the-top selfish. After he has a sudden heart attack, no one mourns his death – not his partners, his employees, or his ex-wife. At his own funeral he meets Mei, his Reaper. It’s her job to bring Wallace to the tea shop and acclimate him on what it means to be dead. He doesn’t make it easy.

I love the idea that the dead get a little time to understand death, before accepting the next steps in their journey. (I also liked the idea that there’s a perfect tea for all of us.) Though as I was reading was, I wondered why, if it’s likely that our loved ones who are deceased are waiting for us on the other side, why are people so hesitant to go through the door? Maybe because it means accepting one’s mortality, or because we feel closer to the living than the dead.

If you loved Cerulean Sea, you’ll be happy to know that much of what worked so well in that book, also works here. Klune takes stereotypical, almost cartoonish characters and instead of making fun of them, you come to love them instead. It’s heartwarming without being cloying or sappy. Somehow he’s able to maintain a balance of humor, clever dialogue, and deeply-felt emotion. So even if you know what’s coming, you’re still happy to see these characters grow and develop in a positive direction.

Klune doesn’t really do subtle, so you shouldn’t expect that in this book. I did appreciate the transition Wallace goes through, especially when he’s forced to confront his own bad behavior in the form of the next dead traveler.

Where Klune excels is in keeping his characters from being too perfect, or too villainous. There are no Snidely Whiplashes here, even though some characters are pretty horrible, like the charlatan Desdemona and the dreaded Manager. There’s capacity for redemption for even the worst of us. I loved the variety and the complexity of the side characters Klune introduces, like Hugo’s grandfather; if this was just a story about Wallace and Hugo, it would have been pretty dull.

I don’t love the title of this book (why Under the Door rather than Through or Behind?) but that’s a small issue. I read the print version of this book, but my guess is the audiobook version is as wonderful as Cerulean Sea was, and very worth listening to (though with a different narrator). I can’t say I’d mind going back to this story a second time.

Note: I received a complimentary advance review copy from NetGalley and publisher Tor Books. This book was published on September 21, 2021.

TJ Kline strikes again with Under The Whispering Door! When I finished this one, I couldn’t help but smile. Even as I was crying.

I wasn’t 100% sure what to expect going into Under The Whispering Door, mostly because I wasn’t sure what to expect from a book that’s mostly about death and grief. But this is apparently the year for warm and fuzzy philosophical books set in tea shops.

Under The Whispering Door is nothing like The House in the Cerulean Sea, and yet exactly like it in all the ways that matter. Klune creates another wonderful cast of characters that you can’t help but fall in love with. There’s some adventure, but it’s also quiet. This book is mostly about people living their regular lives and trying to grow. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll be sad to turn the last page.

So even though I wasn’t sure what to expect as a follow-up to The House in the Cerulean Sea, Klune absolutely nailed it. Even though it deals with some darker topics, this book is such a warm and comforting read, it feels like a big bear hug. Overall, I would 100% recommend this one!

Don't let the synopsis fool you. While this is a story about death, grief, and acceptance, it is also a story about finding yourself. Wallace thinks what he does in life is important. He is an unaware, unlikeable character who only cares about the bottom line. When he dies, all he wants is to get back to his life until the people around him help him see that life is about so much more.
This is a hugely character-driven novel full of charming and witty people (and ghosts). Although this book deals with death, the injection of wit, humor, and love keep it from being too heavy. That's not to say that there are no trigger warnings. The author himself tells readers to handle with care at the very beginning. However, although the book revolves around death, it is more about life and existence. Processing death and accepting it so you can move on to what's next. Being a better person. Family.
It started out a bit slow for me, and overall moved pretty slowly. But as Wallace started to change and become more likeable, and we got to know the other characters, I became more entranced in their world and wanted to stay there in the tea shop with them. There were a few reasons this wasn't 5 stars for me. One was that I wish we could have gotten to know the other characters more. We get brief glimpses of their lives beyond the timeline of the story, but not much. It mostly revolves around Wallace. The second is the love story. It doesn't exactly come out of nowhere, but it never really explains why they fall in love with each other. I appreciated their story and their situation, but I needed more build up to understand and feel their love for each other. The last reason is I was a little disappointed in the ending. I thought the epilogue was good, but I felt like the last chapter kind of took the easy way out. I felt like it should have been a little more complicated. But it was still good.
Overall I would definitely recommend this book. It is urban fantasy, so there are some things that seem a bit weird that you just have to accept, but I loved it. It made me laugh a few times, it made me cry a lot, and I fell in love with the characters almost as much as Wallace did. It made me wish the tea shop was a real place so I could go and meet all of these crazy, wonderful people.

5 stars for a beautiful and wholesome read. This book takes us on a journey with a ghost who discovers what it is like to live only after he has died. Loss and grief are explored gently and I found myself in tears both from sorrow and joy at multiple points throughout the book. By the end of my reading journey, I felt as though I was part of this quirky little family and did not want to let them go.

Thank you so much Netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy.

Guess what?! IT WAS AMAZING.

Like many of you Under the Whispering Door was one of my most anticipated reads of 2021 (if it’s not, you should definitely add it to your list) and it did not disappoint!

The House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door:
This has the same humor and delightful writing style as The House in the Cerulean Sea. They are also in the same universe (there’s a few Easter eggs, and they definitely made me smile). They also both have the found family trope, which is one of my personal favorites so I’m not complaining. Let’s just say if you loved THITCS you’ll love UTWD.

This book hit way different, it makes you face the thing a lot of us fear and don’t want to think about, death. It’s about accepting life and death and realizing that it’s never too late to change ourselves for the better.
If our life was a book then death is just the sequel.

I absolutely adored the characters, Nelson was probably my favorite. I laughed out loud so many times while reading this. It was a everything I knew it would be. TJ you are a master story teller and I can’t wait to see what you come up with next.

5/5 ⭐️

I loved The House in the Cerulean Sea and The Extraordinaries series by TJ Klune so I was pretty bummed to not enjoy this one as much. It started out strong, with Klune’s signature whimsical world, wit and humor; then about halfway it started to lose my attention. I think there is beautiful symbolism and commentary on life and death in the novel that will speak to many that have lost a loved one. Though this wasn’t my favorite, Klune’s expert storytelling kept me reading to the end.

🤷‍♀️okay
🤟whimsical, fall vibes, hopeful
📚The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
🎶Ronan by Taylor Swift
📺The Good Place

I want to start by saying I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. I had heard a lot of buzz about this book and the author. And maybe that made my expectations too high. This was not a bad book by any means, but it was not what I wanted it to be.

Wallace Price, is a lawyer who is not nice. He dies suddenly and finds himself on a journey with his Reaper, Mei, to the ferryman, Hugo. Hugo runs a tea shop in a remote village and also helps people crossover into the next life. Wallace is not ready to leave life behind and refuses to go through the doorway. The story follows Wallace as he learns to be human after he has passed.

I was excited about the premise of the book, but it just fell flat for me. I see from other reviews that I'm in the minority. It just felt like a story that I've heard before - cranky white man dies, learns to be a better person too late, and wants another chance. The interactions with the living in the tea shop had their moments, but did not save the story for me. I did enjoy Klune's style though and will pick up one of his other books.

Under the Whispering Door is a quaint story that follows the death of rude, always serious businessman Wallace Price. He wakes up at his own funeral, which is sparsely attended by a handful of coworkers, his ex-wife, and a woman he’s never met. As Wallace is a ghost, no one can see him attending his funeral, so he is surprised when the woman he’s never met reveals she can see him. She introduces herself as Mei, his Reaper, meant to deliver him to his Ferryman.

The Ferryman, Hugo, works at a tea shop in the middle of the woods. The ghosts of his grandfather and dog, Nelson and Apollo, reside there as well. Hugo’s purpose is to assist Wallace, and any other ghosts he is assigned, in crossing over to the next stage.

In death, Wallace learns what it really means to have lived. This book tells an emotional, introspective story that asks: who can you be, love, and become after death?

I enjoyed this story immensely. It has been so long since I have read a fantasy book, and this was a great way to bring myself back. Wallace’s journey is heartbreaking, inspiring, and hilarious at times. While reading, I felt cozy and sad and happy all at the same time.

A big criticism I have is actually not in regard to the book, but rather the description provided on Goodreads. It reveals information that is not uncovered in the story until well over half way through. I generally do not read descriptions because I do fear running into spoilers, but this is the worst I have ever encountered.

Thank you so much to Macmillan-Tor/ Forge for the advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

I'm a big fan of T.J. Klune and his new book 'Under the Whispering Door Book' did not disappoint. It's a warm, funny, and captivating fantasy story about loss, love, and self-discovery. If you love unique world-building, and creative stories with a feel-good vibe then this beautiful (LGBT+) love story is for you. The vibe of the novel kind of reminded me of the show Pushing Daisies (even though the story is completely different). However, both stories deal with a lot of similar darker subjects while always keeping the tone whimsical, warm, funny, and charming. I'll surely return to Hugo & Wallace's story whenever I need a big comforting hug.

*I received an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you!

This book was a stunning adventure from life to death and what happens in the in between. It discussed difficult topics with such beautiful grace, I believe its a story everyone should read. However, you definitely need to be in the right mindspace for it. There are also a lot of trigger warnings: suicide, loss of a child, death, grief. I loved that it was lgbtq+ friendly and how it showcased the growth humans are able to have.

For those who have read the midnight library it really felt similar to me. I went from laughing out loud to feeling so much sadness sometimes within the same paragraphs.

Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune.
My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
and more stars pretty please.

I have read the ARC of this book back in May and I love it so much. This review is long over due but I was waiting for the audible counterpart just because….. 🥰

So, thank you to @netgalley @forgereads and @macmillanusa for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

Welcome to Charon’s Crossing!
“The tea is hot, the scones are fresh and the dead are passing through”

When Wallace Price was looking at himself lying on the floor, he thought something is terribly wrong and it needs fixed.

When a reaper named Mei came to collect his soul right at his own funeral, his thought of himself being dead is clearer.

Mei brought Wallace to Charon’s Crossing, a peculiar tea shop run by a guy named Hugo- the ferryman. Hugo prepares and helps the soul crossover.

But, Wallace is not done being alive. He has a firm to run and cases to represent. He is given one week to cross over and he is about to make the lifetime worth living.

TJ Klune is one of a kind. To perfectly craft a story of a man who lives to help the dead and a dead man who died-then learned to live is a story I will forever keep. This book has broken my heart and at the same time has fixed all my heart aches. Whether I laugh, which I did loudly in this book, or cry which I did a lot too feels like I was wrapped in all the comforts of a big, witty, sparkly, wholesome beauty of this writing. It restored my faith in humanity that despite death and loss, there is kindness, acceptance and new beginnings. Under The Whispering Door is perfect and a must read.
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EXCERPT: His funeral was sparsely attended. Wallace wasn't pleased. He couldn't even be quite sure how he'd gotten here. One moment, he'd been staring down at his body, and then he'd blinked, and somehow, found himself in front of a church, the doors open, bells ringing. It certainly hadn't helped when he saw the prominent sign sitting out front. A CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE OF WALLACE PRICE it read. He didn't like that sign, if he was being honest with himself. No, he didn't like it one bit. Perhaps someone inside could tell him what the hell was going on.

ABOUT 'UNDER THE WHISPERING DOOR': When a reaper comes to collect Wallace Price from his own funeral, Wallace suspects he really might be dead.

Instead of leading him directly to the afterlife, the reaper takes him to a small village. On the outskirts, off the path through the woods, tucked between mountains, is a particular tea shop, run by a man named Hugo. Hugo is the tea shop's owner to locals and the ferryman to souls who need to cross over.

But Wallace isn't ready to abandon the life he barely lived. With Hugo's help he finally starts to learn about all the things he missed in life.

When the Manager, a curious and powerful being, arrives at the tea shop and gives Wallace one week to cross over, Wallace sets about living a lifetime in seven days.

MY THOUGHTS: Under the Whispering Door is an utterly amazing, beautiful and inspiring story. I finished with a great sense of peace.

Wallace was not a nice person. This is evident at his funeral. He lacked empathy, had no friends. There is a woman at his funeral he doesn't recognize, not difficult since there are only six people there. She is different from the others - she can see him. Here starts Wallace's journey.

I am so glad I got to go on that journey with him. It was a wondrous experience. This is a magical and emotionally powerful read. I cried for Wallace, for Cameron, for Nancy. I laughed at Mei's ascerbic tongue, at Nelson's antics.

Under the Whispering Door is a book that will stay with me a long time, and one that I am going to purchase a hard copy of.

If you haven't read this yet, please do. It's a beautiful experience.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

#UndertheWhisperingDoor #NetGalley

#fivestarread #fantasy #humour #paranormal #romance

I: @tjklunebooks @macmillanusa

T: @ tjklune @MacmillanUSA

THE AUTHOR: TJ KLUNE is a Lambda Literary Award-winning author (Into This River I Drown) and an ex-claims examiner for an insurance company. His novels include The House in the Cerulean Sea and The Extraordinaries. Being queer himself, TJ believes it's important—now more than ever—to have accurate, positive, queer representation in stories.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you, thank you, thank you to Macmillan-Tor/Forge for providing a digital ARC of Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage