This is honestly one of the best books I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. I wish I could rate this more than 5 stars, because it would deserve it.

Equally heartbreaking and joy inducing, this book was like reading a letter from a friend, filled with beautiful prose and vivid imagery. Part House in the Cerulean Sea, part A Man Called Ove.

I received a copy of this book for review from NetGalley. There are very few authors who could write a gentle romantic comedy about a ghost falling in love with the ferryman, and TJ Klune is one of them. Under the Whispering Door is a lovely story about a man who didn't realize until after his death that it was time to learn to live. Wallace started the book as a man who was not particularly nice, rarely thought about others, and lived according to a rather boring regimen of work, frozen dinners, and then more work. He had no friends, no family, and only his fancy suits made him happy. The journey he took to become a better person after death is a joyful view into the importance of love, found family, and big goofy dogs. I happily stayed up until the wee hours of the morning to read this because I could not make myself stop reading, and despite the subject matter (Dead people! Ghost puppies! Profound grief!), I finished the book with a smile on my face. This was a wonderful addition to the author's canon, and I highly recommend it.

As you’d expect in a book about death, the story has very sad moments. But it is also sometimes funny, with a gentle romance and, yes, a happy ending.

Wallace Price is a heartless person, and that’s putting it mildly. He reminded me of quite a bit of Ebenezer Scrooge, in that they are both impatient with the weaknesses of others to the point of cruelty. They also both gave up on human relationships to focus on being successful, in Wallace’s case as a lawyer. However, unlike Ebenezer, Wallace actually has to die of a heart attack to learn how to live. His teachers consist of only two ghosts (one of them a dog), plus a novice Reaper named Mei and a Ferryman, Hugo, who helps the deceased accept their deaths in preparation for their transition to the afterlife through a door located in the tea shop he runs.

As in many of T.J. Klune’s books, there’s humor to be found in the story. Mei can be a hilariously feisty hothead, and Nelson, Hugo’s ghostly grandfather, regularly plays pranks on Wallace and others. Neither one of them has any patience with Wallace’s attitude and put him soundly in his place whenever needed. A fake medium and an overly officious health inspector also bring some additional comedy to the plot.

The novel is an exploration of death in all its forms, though, so it’s unavoidably dark at times, to the point that it might be triggering for some people. Wallace died relatively easily, but others who turn up at Hugo’s door have more tragic ends involving murder and suicide, and their torment isn’t glossed over. The story also includes a grief-stricken mother who made her way to the tea shop after the death of her daughter, and her suffering adds more pain before Hugo and the others help her come to terms with her loss. All that, plus Wallace’s anguish about having to move on before he’s ready to let go, and . . . Well, I don’t ugly cry over books very often, but I certainly did with this one.

As much the story is about death, it’s the lessons Wallace learns about life that really made me think. Like Wallace, we get caught up in the minutia of our everyday existence and forget to appreciate the people who share our lives. We focus on the ordinary and don’t take advantage of all the opportunities we have to experience the wonders of living. And in the end, what does that get us? What is a successful life, anyway?

As Wallace comes to terms with his life and death, he and Hugo fall in love. Since the two of them can’t touch and Wallace will soon be gone, their relationship involves a lot of pining. It’s quite sweet, though, and their romance does come to a happy end. As for how that happens . . . no spoilers!

Given the subject matter, this book won’t be for everyone, but it’s an absolutely terrific read for anyone interested in pondering the nature of life and death and what might lie beyond.

A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.

Wow, this book!! It was unlike anything I've read and it was completely beyond my expectations. There were emotional depths that I wasn't expecting and it really made me think about things bigger than myself. Have you ever wondered or questioned what lies beyond your last living day? This book explores the idea that death isn't an ending, it's a new beginning, and an opportunity to evaluate the life that you lived. Death, in this book, is a chance to create a new narrative, right wrongs, create new relationships and contemplate old ones. The bonds between the characters were so profound, meaningful, and just outright emotional. Every interaction, with every person, pulled at my heartstrings. This book was odd, bizarre, funny, thought provoking, and emotionally charged. If you are currently experiencing loss, I would proceed with caution. This story can either be comforting or triggering, depending on what you are going through.

I was so thrilled to get an advance digital copy of Klune’s newest novel, especially after reading #TheHouseintheCeruleanSea last summer.

One thing that I was seeing a lot in earlier reviews, was that many people made the distinction that this was not going to be Cerulean Part 2. Knowing this, I was worried about how this would compare.

Would I still enjoy the fantasy element? Would I still feel the same connection to each of the characters? For me the answer was a resounding YES.

This was certainly a much darker book, focused on the question of what happens to us when we die. Klune creates this vivid world that tackles that question and builds this elaborate system for how people are led after their deaths.

This was unlike any book that I’ve read and it combined serious topics, along with humor, to create a heartfelt story with lovable characters.

I thought Klune did an excellent job of creating a variety of different characters, some that were extremely unlikable but who were still pivotal to the story. I also enjoyed the transformations you saw throughout the book, something that Klune does extremely well with his characters.

Overall, I really loved this book and would recommend reading this, especially if you’ve enjoyed Klune’s past work.

#UndertheWhisperingDoor is out in the world today, so we sure to grab a copy!

Thank you to @torbooks and @netgalley for my advance digital copy!

Beginning a novel with a . . . let’s just say, an unpleasant protagonist, is a bit of a risk. Wallace Price is a lawyer, he’s cheerfully callous and woefully insensitive, and if I hadn’t believed beyond the shadow of a doubt that TJ Klune would, at some point, give me a redemption story that would leave me in tears, celebrating all the ways in which Wallace was made different, better, during his time in Charon’s Crossing Tea and Treats, I might not have been so determined to give him the chance to win me over.

But he did. Of course, he did. The getting there in the early going was a study in patience, though.

Wallace learned many things upon his death; how little he was going to be missed was just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. For Wallace, life was transactional, nothing more, nothing less. He never did anything for anyone without being certain he was going to get something beneficial for himself in return. He was unrepentantly cutthroat that way, which made him a successful attorney, it made him a ruthless boss, but he was an abject failure as a human being and a husband. Wallace’s divorce was acrimonious, to say the least, but deep down he knew he’d done wrong by his ex-wife, Naomi, neglecting her and their marriage in the pursuit of his career, so, in this single moment in his adult life where he got nothing useful in return for his actions, apart from placating himself, he gave her everything she asked for in the settlement.

The afterlife has long been a staple of speculative fiction. It’s one of life’s great, if not the greatest, unknowns. Is death the end, or is it merely a transition to a new beginning? Klune chooses to explore the potential that death is just a brief stopover on the way to something powerful and profound in Under the Whispering Door, when Mei, Wallace’s Reaper, appears at his pathetic little funeral—where not a single one of the handful of attendees shows even a modicum of sorrow for his passing, not even Naomi—to gather him up and escort him to Charon’s Crossing to meet the man, Hugo Freeman, whose job it is to ferry Wallace on to the next life.

Wallace was a reaper of sorts himself, in that he reaped what he sowed while he lived—lots in the way of material possessions but little in the way of those things that don’t come with a price tag: friendship, love, compassion and kindness—but accepting these lessons in death, let alone accepting that he was even dead, becomes a long and painful lesson where he goes through the stages of grieving his own failures and losses, and, eventually, he grieves the person he could have been had he not been so driven and self-centered. Through the kindness of strangers—Mei and Hugo (who is also the proprietor of the tea shop), along with Hugo’s grandad, Nelson, and the loveable pup Apollo—Wallace learns how to not only mourn for himself and the opportunities he missed in life but to become someone better in death because, through patience, kindness, and the offer of friendship, Hugo and company made Wallace want to be a better person. Wallace will ultimately go on to accomplish the most selfless and generous act of his life, and afterlife, which is the moment he understands what it means to give unconditionally with no expectation of reciprocation.

Despite its weightier themes of death, grief, anger, regret, and the question of what lies beyond, Under the Whispering Door is a gentle story full of grace and wonderment and, above all else, love: love of family, love of friends, and the sort of love that means sharing everything you are, and were, with one special person. Hugo is made of warmth and peace, not a perfect person, but the perfect person for Wallace as Wallace learns to slow down and appreciate the little things he’d always overlooked along the way.

And in the end, he learns that being tethered to someone doesn’t mean being chained down; he learns it means being wanted, and wanting in return.

Klune used humor to uplift while setting out to break hearts and then put them back together again. This story sparkles when it delves into those quiet moments where two people share their loneliness, and they become not quite so lonely anymore. It is exquisite when it reminds us to slow down and appreciate the little things, like a warm cup of tea and good company. It is exceptional when it dares to believe in miracles. It is gracious when it shares its characters’ love for each other. It is graceful when being generous and selfless in spirit.

Under the Whispering Door seemed to have a lot going for it out of the gate. Quirky, offbeat characters. Good LGBTQ+ representation. A found family trope. Ghostly humor. Paranormal phenomena. Existential musings about grief, regret, loss, love, and second chances. Not to mention a unique interpretation of the afterlife where recently departed spirits congregated at a tea shop called Charon's Cross, a waystation of sorts, where they would receive help from a Reaper (Mei) and a Ferryman (Hugo) so they could make peace with their lives, finding ways to learn from the mistakes they'd made as well as grow before crossing over into whatever came - or comes - next.

Unfortunately, I found these things only worked on the surface. I was bored for much of the book, unmoved, and felt that the commentary surrounding life and death was not only preachy and cliché but hackneyed. I realize I'm in the minority here but this one fell flat for me.

The story followed Wallace Price, an ornery and narcissistic attorney turned ghost, who had to come to grips with his death. Since his demise was quick, unexpected, he had a hard time accepting it at first. He was angry. He was in disbelief. His untimely death was unfair, yes, but at least he didn't have to process that alone. As he grew closer to Hugo, Mei, Nelson, and Apollo during his time in the tea shop, he was able to start to recognize all that he lost out on in life by keeping himself walled off from other people. He could learn to make more selfless choices, form connections, and reconcile to make the most of the time he had left, which he did.

I admit that I enjoyed the overall concept. It had wonderful potential. I think where it all fell apart for me was in the development of it, because not only did the plot feel drawn out to an infuriating degree (nothing much happened) but the humor ran stale and the philosophical answers to big questions were repetitive. They offered up nothing new. They didn't prompt any kind of prolonged reflection, which was disappointing.

The characters were one-note, too. So was much of the dialogue. Wallace went from petulant and selfish to considerate in a blink, Hugo had little personality besides being patient, self-sacrificing, or helpful; the big reveals were forgettable, and the romance fell out of thin air. Like, FLASH! And it was there. It had no development, no slow-build progression at all, and I admit I scratched my head a few times because I didn't understand how it got to be there. Let alone when it arrived in the first place.

It's not that I hated the book or anything. I just wanted to be ushered along--to be courted more than I was, is all. There wasn't enough nuance. I think the story would have benefited from either a faster-paced plot or more dynamic peeled-back characters. Other people are sure to take away a lot of warmth and sweetness from these pages, in fact, I hope they do, but this one just couldn't manage to steep me like a cup of honey tea.

2.5 stars

My earnest thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for the ARC.

Thank you @torbooks and @netgalley for my e-ARC

TJ Klune has done a masterful job weaving heart and sorrow together in this story about found family, death, and truly living. Your heart with break in the most beautiful way.

Out today it is worth picking up a copy and journey through with these characters and as Klune does entertained by the humor (yes you will laugh at times too!)

So. I cheated a bit. I have his first book on my TBR shelf due to all the outstanding reviews it received. When I requested #underthewhisperingdoor from #netgallery I without doubt expected to be denied. However. Much to my delight I was approved for this glorious novel. #tjklune has such a gift with writing. It sucks you in and transports you to another world. What happens when we die? Where do we go? What becomes of us after? In this beautifully written imaginary tale we find out after Wallace passes. Where he finds out or discovers the life that he was living wasn’t much of a life at all. With the help of Hugo and many other characters you will fall in love with Wallace discovers what life really should be about. #death #afterlife #bookstagram #readersofinstagram #netgalleyreview #bookrecommendations #readingaddict #netgalleyarc

You are bound to be seeing this book every where right now and for good reason! Books rarely bring me to tears, but this one had me full on sobbing at the end. Get ready for another beautiful book by @tjklunebooks that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy.
This story is such a unique take on death and grief and while there is some very heavy subject matter that may not be for everyone, interspersed with these tough topics is a lot of humor and joy. The setting itself is so magical and I would love to stop into Hugo’s tea shop! I truly fell in love with all of these characters, especially the dog, Apollo. Oh Apollo❤️❤️❤️

Lots of great representation in this one, which I LOVE! I wanted to see more of the romance between Wallace and Hugo, but I did love how their relationship wraps up in the end. Not a lot happens in terms of plot or action, but that isn’t the point of this book. The heart and soul of this story are the characters and I felt like I knew each one intimately by the end. They will stay with me for a very long time.

This book will fill you with hope and remind you what life (and death) is really all about. Also, the cover is simply perfect❤️

I went in essentially blind to this one but I knew that I had to read it since I loved House in the Cerulean Sea so much. I also think synopses can't always capture how truly special a book is.

I love love love love this book. I don't really know how else to say it. The character growth over the course of this novel is amazing. The found family and friends that Wallace finally has are an excellent cast of characters. The side stories are phenomenal. The portrayal of the afterlife is nothing but happy. I cried all the tears. This book really warmed my heart.

Admittedly, the book starts off a little slow (for me) as Klune does his world building and introductions to the characters. But after about 50% in, I couldn't put it down. I was zoned in and nothing could distract me.

I highly recommend this book. In fact, I need to procure a physical copy for myself.

TJ Klune can do no wrong. This book was lovely, touching and philosophical. The writing is effortless to read, which allows your brain to contemplate life and death as TJ has created. His magic systems blend so perfectly into the story you forget he created them and he is so good at writing genuinely kind, loving and fun characters. The tea shop aspects specifically resonated with me as my family makes each other tea several times a day to show our love for each other. Klune was an instant buy author for me after the house in the cerulean sea, and this book is perfect for anyone who wants more.

Under the Whispering Door tackles a very heavy serious topic: death. Basically, there’s death, grief, and what comes next unpacked in this story. Honestly, if I hadn’t read The House in the Cerulean Sea and if this book wasn’t written by TJ Klune, I don’t know if I would read it considering the serious themes in it. But I’m so happy I didn’t miss this one.

This story is a journey. Wallace’s journey: alive, dead, and then to what comes next. I was hooked by the storytelling from the first page. Wallace was not a good person when he was alive and suddenly, very unexpectedly in his opinion, he is dead. He meets a reaper at his own funeral that takes him to the ferryman. The man who is going to help Wallace cross: Hugo. Hugo owns a tea shop in the middle of nowhere in the cutest house that remains intact defying gravity. The thing is… Wallace is not ready to abandon life and Hugo will help him through it, to get Wallace to where he needs to go.

TJ Klune is a master at creating amazing characters. The cast of characters in this book is fantastic. Wallace, the flawed lawyer that didn’t care for anyone other than himself and his job; Hugo, the ferryman with a huge heart and anxiety; Mei, the funniest, in your face, loud Reaper; Nelson the most mischievous, hilarious character ever and Apollo the clumsiest, sweetest dog. I loved every single one of these characters. All of them were so different from each other and yet they fit together perfectly. Wallace’s character growth while he was dead, the emotional journey, the connections he forges with other characters, how he falls in love with Hugo… everything was so well done. I couldn’t stop reading it. The story was beautifully written, it’s cozy and whimsical, sad and heartbreaking, funny and sweet, deep and emotional. I loved every second of it. The plot may be a little predictable but the journey is everything.

On a very personal level, as someone who doesn’t deal well at all with death, loss, and grief, Under the Whispering Door will stay with me for a long time. A must-read.

Is there more to life than work, sleep, repeat? Where do we go after we die? What comes next? TJ Klune's newest novel, Under the Whispering Door, addresses each of these deep questions.

Wallace Price attends his own funeral. There are very few other people in attendance and no one seems to see or hear him...until Mei looks right at him. Mei is a reaper and is there to take Wallace to the great beyond...or a tea shop called Charon's Crossing. Hugo, the owner of the tea shop and a ferryman, welcomes Wallace with a cup of peppermint tea that transports Wallace back to his childhood.

As Wallace begins to reflect on his life, he realizes that he never actually lived. Hugo, Nelson, Mei, and Apollo help Wallace realize what life is actually about: relationships. But, it's too late for Wallace. The Manager has arrived at the tea shop and tells Wallace that it's time to move on. What will Wallace do with the time that he has left?

Overall, this was an incredibly unique and original story. In typical Klune fashion, I quickly and easily fell in love with each of these characters and only wanted the best for them.

Favorite Quotes:
- "If we worry about the little things all the time, we run the risk of missing the bigger things"
- "What will you do with the time you have left?"

T.J. Klune's Under the Whispering Door is a complex work of contemporary fantasy which tells the story of recently deceased lawyer Wallace Price who struggles to understand life beyond the death of his uninspired and disappointing life as one of the living. His reaper Mei escorts him to a curious tea shop manned by the ferryman Hugo and his ghostly grandfather Nelson and ghost service dog Apollo. This was a "waiting station" for those like him, where he would need to come to terms with his death and be ready to move on to whatever came next. This was easier said than done, especially with his growing attraction to Hugo and grudging fondness for Mei, Nelson and Apollo.

The subject matter of Klune's most recent work is weighty and potent, and the author tries to infuse levity and whimsy in its treatment, even as he navigates difficult questions about life, death, living, the purpose of life, and so on. The moments of humour in the story do not detract from the gravity of its subject but serves to highlight the same. While grief and coming to terms with grief is one of the underlying themes of the novel, regret and repentance are key to the action of the story. To the age old moral dilemma, what is the point of being good or bad in life in the face of the inevitability of death, Under the Whispering Door offers the simple yet reassuring response: "Because it's YOUR life ... It is what you make of it."

Klune's prose is, as always, beautiful, immaculate, and impactful. I found the first half of the novel a little slow and laborious to work through, though I suspect it was due to the nature of the story the author is writing. In that regard, I found the pace and levels of complexity of writing mirroring the state of its protagonist's mind. As a work of contemporary fantasy, Under the Whispering Door straddles an odd and precarious line between realism and fantasy. Sometimes this works in its favour, sometimes it does not. I found the latter to be the case in Klune's depiction of characters other than the protagonist. Characters like Mei, Nelson and to some extent even Hugo, seem almost like exaggerated caricatures in action, with side characters like Desdemona, Norah and Alan seeming even more so that way. Curiously enough, it was in their individual interactions with Wallace, especially in moments of vulnerability or confidence, that these characters appeared more real, complex and relatable.

A few inconsistencies notwithstanding, Klune still succeeded in bringing to life a heartwarming story of love and redemption with a cast of memorable characters. Apollo the ghost dog was easily my favourite with Mei the knife-happy reaper coming a close second.

This book turned out to be one of my favorites and I'm not surprised, TJ Klune is one of my favorite authors and never fails to amaze me. I have no words to describe how beautifully written this book was, TJ managed to write it about death in the lightest, most respectful way possible.
I recommend it with my eyes closed.

There is something about how TJ Klune writes that draws you in and makes you feel and adore characters and found families which seem to be more so apparent in the last two books written.
I absolutely adore TJ Klune’s writing, more so in this book and The House on the Cerulean Sea, these books are written from the absolute depths of his heart and this comes across on the pages.
TJ Klune has written this so so well even though it is other end spectrum to that amazing house, to which I am certain that at points this book did make reference to it briefly.

I fell in love with TJ Klune’s writing and I hope to get my hands on much of his back list of books as a result of reading the latest two.
I would highly recommend this authors work and I myself pay no attention to the cancel culture that seems to keep rolling around, each to their own choices. I can’t recommend what I have read from this author enough.

Huge huge thanks and I can’t wait to see what sort of book comes next creeping over the horizon.

What an emotional and beautiful read. It really made me reflect about death and my own mortality and there was quite a few parts that made me chuckle. I haven't read anything by this author before but that'll definitely change starting now. Highly recommend this book!

I am not usually a fan of what you would call heartwarming stories, but something about the way Klune tells them is just enchanting. The characters are imperfect and precious. The romance is sweet and realistic. This is a lovely story much in the same vein as Klune's other works.

So TJ Klune is on my favorite authors list for sure now. I have read so many of his books this year and have enjoyed all of them. They are so unique and I love them. I need to figure out what I haven't read and read them lol.

This book was so fascinating about reapers, ferrymen, grumpy grandpas, the perfect tea, and a sweet love story.

I don't know what happens when people die, if they disappear, if their spirit just floats above their body and they have to go to a tea shop to find their way. But 4 year ago when I held my Dad as he took his last breath then just stared at him because he looked so different, so empty all of a sudden and cold. I stared up at the ceiling smiling at it in case he was floating or hovering. I walked the halls of the hospital smiling and telling happy stories of him. I am such a nerd but I didn't want my loving Daddy who never thought he did enough but always went above and beyond to think his pregnant baby daughter was upset. Even though I was in my 30s I was always the baby. He told me once that when he had a heart scare and we had to call an ambulance, that I was smiling and telling him everything was ok and I helped him to stay calm. He didn't know how I was hyperventilating and having an inner panic attack. My gift to him on his sudden last day was to let him rest easy.

Stories like this give me hope that we get to see our loved ones again and even if we may not have gotten to do what we wanted or got bogged down by life and didn't get to live a life that we should have maybe we get another chance in the afterlife. We might get to be who we want without all the societal norms and impacts and opinions. We can just be.

Also, thank you for saving all of those that live with fear and die by their own hands. Rewriting their narrative of where they go for their surviving loved ones. Fear is debilitating.

Thank you torbooks and netgalley for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.