Under the Whispering Door handles the topic of grief and death in a way that felt too on the nose for me.
Since this book is mostly character driven, there are plenty of pages full of dialogue that felt repetitive and unnatural at times. Every interaction between the characters felt like a thinly veiled metaphor that even the characters themselves tended to point out jokingly. Even the funny bits of writing felt too obvious and forced, resting on character's acting absurdly to gain a laugh.
While I am a fan of slower plots that focus on character development, I still enjoy well constructed world-building that Under the Whispering Door lacked for me. Since the book revolves around our main character Wallace dying, there are Reapers, Ferrymen, 'Manager's, and other supernatural creatures that inhabit this story. Yet, they never felt fully fleshed out. Wallace (our MC) would constantly be asking questions on the logistics of this new world only to be met with vague answers or little mottos like "Isn't it best not to know everything?" that left me feeling frustrated instead of being able to sink deeper into this tale.
I can certainly appreciate what Under the Whispering Door aims for in its story, wanting to tackle what it means to truly live and to comfort us within our sadness, but the heavy dialogue felt dense and overly metaphorical while the world-building felt too shallow for my personal enjoyment.

The first chapter had me in stitches; I loved "hating" the protagonist. By the end of the book, he grew on me. In fact, I even had tears in my eyes.
This book definitely makes you consider life, death and what might happen after. TJ Klune writes charmingly quirky characters like no other author I have experienced. It is a testament to his character development that I fell in love with them while reading.

Thank you NetGalley, TJ Klune and Tor Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The best way to describe this book is that it's quiet There's not anything fast pace or in your face. It's first and foremost a novel about grief and how we as humans deal with it. It follows Wallace, a man who has died and Hugo, a ferryman helping Wallace work through his death.

I'm a long time TJ Klune fan. I love his writing style and how he weaves worlds. For me, this was not my favorite of his books, but that doesn't mean I didn't like it. It was still five stars in my opinion, just not my favorite of HIM. TJ is a master at creating characters that make you feel something. You get inside their heads and live there. For Under the Whispering Door, you live in Wallace's head and watch as he slowly turns into a better person by just knowing Hugo and realizing that in life he was an ass, but in death he can become something much better.

I'm not going to lie, I bawled the last chapter and a half. It's hard not to cry when you're reading TJ Klune books and this is no exception. This book really speaks about death and grief and it's beautifully done. At first you don't even realize how much this book resonates with you. I'm positive that everyone can see themselves and their experiences with death and grief in this book. I highly recommend.

This is such a beautiful book and one I think I will reread numerous times.

Under the Whispering Door is not to be read lightly, in my opinion, it would help if you were in a space where you are ready to consider life and what comes beyond. Whilst this doesn't hold the answers, I felt a sense of catharsis. As many others will have experienced, I recently lost a member of my family and I could see my grief, my questions and a sense of peace in the journey of this book. It was almost a therapy, tread through the movement of Wallace.

This book is so rich: grab a cup of tea; a packet of tissues; and time.

TJ Klune continues to prove himself to be an incredibly gifted and talented writer. This lacks some of the humor and quirk of "Cerulean Sea," and is much more character driven. There were some particularly emotional moments as this book is a meditation on grief and death.

CHARACTERS- The author has some exceptional character work and all of them are so wholesome, so realistic and so, so precious. The story is told in third person + present tense.


The beginning was one of my favourite parts, filled with Klune's signature quirk and charm. It was a little funny seeing a kind of guy like Wallace who thinks he has everything just have to come to terms with suddenly being just dead, and coming to this strange tea shop where this person is supposed to hel him move on, essentially and he can't quite believe it. He just wants to get his life back.

The only complaints that I do have is that it felt quite drawn out at times. The middle bit is very slow. That was a point where the author could potentially lose a lot of readers. Unless you're starting to get attached to the characters, you might not even want to stretch it towards the second half of the book.

Nobody writes corporate humor quite like Klune does. The way he writes satire on the the desk jobs and the monotonous life is amazing. But at one point, it started feeling repetitive.

If you're the kind of person who loves a slow-burn romance, there's something for you here as well. Although it felt quite incongruous to me, I know objectively that it's very sweet and I didn't really mind that little additional angst and cuteness.

All opinions in this review are honest and my own. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Publishers for giving me this opportunity.

WRITING- If you have read the Cerulean Sea, then UtWD is going to hit a lot of the same spots emotionally. They don't have any similar themes at all, but the sort of calm and soft writing style that has been consistently maintained by the author. The writing style is so approachable and beautiful. It kinda gives you the feeling of sitting alone in the solitude of a beach and looking at the waves.

THEMES- This books has themes like death, grief, moving on, coming to terms with any kind of loss, and I think these are such relevant topics.

It talks about acceptance, belief in afterlife and freedom of choice as more of its secondary themes. The author weaves these so gracefully into the narrative, that is warm and heart-wrenching feeling all at the same time.

Overall, Under The Whispering Door was a beautiful reading experience and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a slow, comfortable read

I don't know what it is about TJ Klune's writing, but it's just.... cozy. Like sitting by the fire with a blanket and a hot chocolate on a cold winter day.

The first two chapters of this book were hilarious, but after that I found it kind of meh. It was a little drawn-out, and could have been much shorter I think.

That being said, how I would love to find a place like the Tea Shop with kind people there like Hugo, Mei, and Nelson (and near the end, Wallace.)!

This is one truly heartfelt book. Initially, I wondered what I'd gotten myself into. Wallace, an unexpectedly deceased attorney was ruthless in life. In death, he finds his way through his introductions to Hugo, Mei, Nelson, and Apollo. The tail from heartless attorney to helpful ghost is one of many emotions. I cried far more than I expected. This book could make a good bereavement gift for family of loved ones lost.

I am a huge TJ Klune fan and was thrilled I was approved for this. And of course, it was incredible, just like all of his works. TJ Klunes books always feel like being wrapped in a warm hug. Even when its my first time reading them they make me feel nostalgic for something I have never had.

I will say, I didnt enjoy this one as much as his last adult novel, House in the Cerulean Sea. While I adored the characters in this one, the plot felt a bit confusing at times. There were some scenes I wish were just cut, such as the health inspector scene. They just felt unnecessary and clunky. Overall, this was a very enjoyable book even if I didnt enjoy it as much as some of Klune’s past works.
Also, got to say, I would do anything to have tea with Hugo

Rep: Gay, MLM, bisexual, POC (Black, Asian)
Own Voices
CW: panic attacks, off page suicide, death, death of a child, grief

I knew I HAD to have TJ Klune's next book as soon as I finished reading the very last page his previous book...which I absolutely love with every fiber of my being... called The House in the Cerulean Sea. That book had me feeling the gamut of Feels and those characters... ohhhh those characters... man can Klune write a good character!! Anyway, this book made me feel (almost) all of those (often) pesky things called Emotions just not on the same scale WHICH is fair since this book delves into darker and headier topics such as: Death, Grief, Hopelessness, Powerlessness, Suicide, Contrition, Depression and all manor of Dejectedness. I apologize for that made up word but it fits... so I think I'll keep it.

Now, Under The Whispering Door had much of what's needed to be considered a memorable read for me. There was a unique premise that was both palatable and easy to grasp. There were loveable/quirky characters. The writing was touching and I even cried a bit... ok, maybe I cried a bit more than a bit (especially towards the end). The dialogue was good but not as organic as it was in his last book. It might not be fair to compare the two books but it's hard not to when The House in the Cerulean Sea was mind-boggling amazing... I still think about it randomly and smile.

Okay, back to the book at hand... the crux of Under The Whispering Door tackled the VERY difficult (and often extremely polarizing) topic of "What Happens After We Die"? I really enjoyed Klune's ideas on the subject and I loved how he incorporated a crew of (loveable yet sadly not quite morally gray enough) characters that had varying degrees of involvement (powers?) in aiding those on the road to the After-Life. I'll start with management. I felt that the Manager who oversees all was not relatable or likeable, which was most likely written to read as such since this reader is a mere human BUT His(?)... its(?) whole demeanor and almost complete lack of empathy for we creatures in his care was off-putting and it just felt "Wrong" somehow. Another near miss for me was our MC Wallace. Wallace was an almost instantaneous convert from Lifetime Selfish Morally Bankrupt Douche ---> loving, empathetic, caring, brave and selfless being. His rapid transformation felt unlikely and disingenuous which made suspending reality with respect to (new) Wallace a bit difficult. Of course then there were the times when he was so charming I wanted to squeezly squish him in a great big bear hug and pinch his cheeks raw... I loathed him, I loved him, (at times) I couldn't care less about him SOOO Wallace was a wash for me. The other characters however fell more squarely in the Absolutely Cherish category. I adored Mei and of course our Ferryman Hugo as well as Hugo's very charming, rapscallion grandad Nelson. I also found myself enjoying each and every part with Cameron in it... what a diverse and textured cast TJ gave us!

Then there's the beautific LGBTQ representation. It's inspiring and understated all at the same time. I especially love how Klune manages to make every type of Loving relationship (whether it be the love of a friend, family member or paramor) feel "Right" even when I have no idea how things went from indifference---> amorous Kismet... 0 - 180 in what felt like three heartbeats' time. One minute he's a stubborn ass and the next minute he's a love interest? I don't know... I merely went with the flow even when the pace was jerky. BUT at the end of this one of a kind ride I found that I was quite satisfied. SO even with some pacing issues, minor character annoyances and some sections that came off as cliche... it all sorted itself out in the end.


Overall:
This highly anticipated book came right off of the heels of Klune's WILDLY successful previous book, The House In The Cerulean Sea, making conditions prime for comparison between the two. Is that fair? Probably not but I found I couldn't help myself. When you love a book so much it hurts, the author that gifted you with said book can feel larger than life to you... a veritable God, right? Well this author might not be God but he writes about matters such as divinity, higher Beings, what The Call of the Afterlife must be like, Love in the face of impossible situations and what makes a life Good and Worthy ... as if he has some kind of inside information we don't have and he even does so with flair. Don't get me wrong, Klune isn't flowery or verbose... his writing sits snuggly in the Goldilocks Zone, it's juuust right.

NOW, is this book worth your time and emotional investment? Will it play your heartstrings like a literary virtuoso? I say yes on both accounts BUT it is not without its hiccups like spotty pacing and some cliché moments WHICH makes me slightly sad yet still VERY thankful to have been able to get my hands on it at all. Yes there were a few clunky, sluggish bits but the flow never stuttered to a halt or made me feel like skimming so it all worked out in the end

Bottom line: this book is good... a tad slow in places and a touch cliche at times but otherwise this is a solid (tear jerking) read!

~Enjoy

*** I was given a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ***

I was really excited to read this book and Under the Whispering Door was a very good read. It just didn't meet my expectations. It took most of the book to care at all about Wallace. I liked all of the other characters Hugo, Mei, and Nelson but they also took a while to grow on me. I expected to have my heart strings tugged on and that didn't really happen. There was empathy in the story, and there were moments of humor, but again not what I had hoped for. I never found myself laughing out loud, or crying. I smiled and I felt the pull of sadness but it never fully reached laughter or tears. If I had come to this book and not had such high expectations I would have loved it. It would have taken a while for the characters to grow on me but I would have loved the story. I did really enjoy the story, it just didn't live up to my expectations. That sounds a bit harsh, but after The House in the Cerulean Sea this book had a lot to live up to.

Wallace Price was an asshole when he was alive and even though he changes pretty quickly, death will do that to you, the introspection and realization that he had been an asshole and he was lonely seemed a little to quick to me. Mei was also a bit grouchy and at first I thought she was an odd choice to send after Wallace as a Reaper, but it worked out. What really balanced the characters out for me though was Nelson, Hugo's dead grandfather. He was funny and willing to poke when necessary. Hugo brings the calm to the story and he was very empathetic, which you want in a Ferryman who helps ghosts pass onto what comes next. Hugo and Wallace matched nicely as far as their temperaments went. The longer Wallace stays at Charon's Crossing, the tea shop, the more he stops to think about his actions, the more he stands up for Mei, Hugo, and Nelson. Wallace gains a lot through their friendship and until that established itself I didn't care for Wallace. It was being built from very early in the story but it didn't really solidify for me until The Manager arrives at the tea shop for the first time. Once I got to that point the story read very quickly and it was excellent.

Under the Whispering Door is a great book and it is one that I will recommend to many people. I did like that the relationship building felt real and I ended up caring for the characters it just took a while. I guess in life it takes time to get to know someone and this book took a while for me to get to know. I would recommend you give it a chance if you enjoy TJ Klune.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book to review.

I have a lot of conflicting feelings when it comes to TJ Klune's newest book, Under the Whispering Door. (And NO, it's not a sequel to House in the Cerulean Sea -- I have seen that several places!) I am a big TJ Klune fan after falling in love with his style and characters in The Extraordinaries. Like his other books I've read, in Whispering Door the characters are all vivid and interesting, his wacky humor is totally appealing, and the premise is delightful.

Where this book suffers a little is, well, in the plot. First, I was annoyed that the tag line tells you "his death is their beginning." That basically gives away half the plot. I prefer to go into books blinder than that. While I loved Wallace and his growth throughout the book, I'm not sure the love story part was plausible, and I just didn't feel the spark between the characters I've come to expect from Klune.

I still really liked this book, and it had one of the most hilarious scenes in a book I've read in a long time. I was crying laughing out loud! I enjoyed reading it. I just felt like it was almost a little too sweet and happy.

This book touches your soul! It will make you think, laugh, and maybe cry. I loved the characters and how they changed, especially Wallace. Great book for everyone to read, contemplate, and make the most of each day we are given. Thank you @NetGalley for the chance to read and review this gem of a book!

“It took you dying to find your humanity.”

In its essence, Under the Whispering Door is about becoming a good person, even if that means it happens after death. I was excited to read this book because of my love of House on the Cerulean Sea, as well as the intruiguing concept. There are moments of this book that were endearing and I enjoyed greatly (namely the seance scene), but I didn’t find myself wholly engaged in the narrative. There were moments that I felt that the story dragged, and there seem to be some jumps in character & plot development. I wish I got more out of the book, and I wish I liked it more.

Overall, I would recommend this book to: those dealing with grief, fans of TJ Klune, and readers who want a charming yet melancholy story.

I am a huge Frederick Bachman fan so when I saw this book compared to his works I think my expectations were way too high. Definitely an interesting novel but not one I was over the moon for.

*Rating is 4.75/5*

After reading The House in the Cerulean Sea I knew I had to read more books by T.J. Klune so I was elated to find that I was approved to read his latest book, Under the Whispering Door, prior to its release in September.

Under the Whispering Door follows the life of Wallace, a successful lawyer, unsuccessful in maintaining relationships, who is ruthless and unkind. When Wallace unexpectedly dies he awakens at his own funeral to discover that his coldness and inability to empathize with his colleagues has led to hardly anyone showing up to his funeral.

"The grave filled quicker than Wallace expected. The first stars were starting to appear by the time she finished, though they were faint given the light pollution from the city. And that was it. All that was left of Wallace Price was a mound of dirt and a body that was going to be nothing but worm food. It was a profoundly devastating experience."

Wallace is whisked away by Mei, a reaper, tasked with brining Wallace to Hugo, a ferryman assigned to help Hugo cross over to his final destination. When Wallace arrives at the peculiar tea shop run by Hugo he has no idea what he is in for. The longer Wallace stays at the teashop the more he uncovers about the beauty and realness of death.

"Death has a beauty to it. We don't see it because we don't want to. And that makes sense. Why should we want to focus on something that takes us away from everything we know? How do we even begin to understand that there's more than what we see?"

He also begins to see the value of long-lasting relationships and companionship, especially with Hugo, who needs Wallace just as much as Wallace needs him. But is it too late?

Klune has a beautiful way of writing about death by adding humor to an already uncomfortable and sensitive topic. Through his book Klune shows the importance of creating strong relationships, being selfless for the sake of others, and the importance of living (even when you're dead). I absolutely LOVED this book.

Fans of The House in the Cerulean Sea will not be disappointed. Klune has once again taken a sensitive topic and turned it into literary artwork. *chefs kiss*

TW: Discusses topics of suicide

Yet again TJ Klune rips my heart out while at the same time caring for it lovingly. How he does this I do not know but it is definitely an amazing skill.

Some parts of this book were incredibly hard hitting, but done in such an understanding way. The characters draw you in and you feel like you are on a journey with Wallace. The different stories which all weave throughout the book drew me in and I became so invested in the outcomes of so many characters, not purely the mains.

TJ Klune contines to show he is a master at story weaving.

I gave this book 5 stars! If I could give it more I would. Reading about death was not easy, it made me think a lot about. I wasn’t the biggest fan of Wallace in the beginning but I ended up loving his character. I loved the found family trope in this one as well. This book made me laugh and oh my did it make me cry. I sobbed at the end so much. This book is definitely on my top list of favorite books I’ve read this year!

I really enjoyed this. As with Klune's other books, the heart of this book is the characters. They are wonderfully quirky and seem like real people. They are so easy to root for and also feel their pain which makes this a real emotional rollercoaster. I teared up in multiple places and laughed out loud in others.

The world in this one is also really interesting. The tea shop is really cute and has a great atmosphere for the rest of the story going on. The magic is explained well to the extent it is known by the characters but still leaves you with a hint of mystery that manages to work without being frustrating.

I went with 4 stars instead of 5 because the beginning (really first half) is pretty slow going. I does start to pick up the arrival of the Manager (which is literally in the blurb) is after the halfway point. The first half of this really needed to be cut down. The end left me with that warm fuzzy feeling I tend to have after every TJ Klune book I read but it was a little predictable and convenient in how they get there. I could see myself picking this one up again though, it'd be a great cozy read in the winter with a cup of tea so let's call it 4.5 stars.

Overall, I really did enjoy this and would recommend it to anyone who is good with reading a book that is literally all about death.

**I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

I cried three times reading the end of this book. I was in no way prepared for the way I would feel when I closed it. It was like saying goodbye to friends. Friends you love and knew that one day, when you least expected it, you'd see them again and it would be like no time had passed.

This book was incredible. Every character had their own distinct voice. Even the ghost dog was memorable.

And the character growth? Phenomenal. Absolutely the best I've read in such a long time.

Wallace Price, Hugo Freeman, Mei, Nelson and Apollo are all so well written and so real that I could see them as I read. It was almost like watching a movie. Everything they did made since, every action taken moved the plot and none of it felt contrived. It was stunning.

I will give no spoilers for this book. I will say read it. Read this book.

We've got a man, Wallace Price who is bisexual are you kidding me? And it's sated right there on the page! And there are no bisexual stereotypes. None! It made me smile to see.

Hugo is queer as well and Black! A Black, queer love interest! And again: no stereotypes!

Mei is a cinnamon roll, I loved her. And her taste in music.

And watching Wallace grow. I cannot stress enough how incredible his transformation was. How evenly paced the book was, how well every single sentence meshed and moved the story.

The story and characters grab you and don't let go.

And the ending is fantastic. It yanked at my heart hard and I felt so much when I finished it. I can't even name the feeling. It just got me in the chest and stayed there.

Please read this book.

Five (5) stars.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.