Another magical book by TJ Klune. I just adore his quirky and lovable characters. He has cemented himself as a must-buy author for me. This book is both heartbreaking and heartwarming and I guarantee you cannot read it without shedding a few tears. However, it is worth it. I read this book slowly to absorb all the gems it has to offer. This book is a lot about grief and death but it also covers life and warmth. I highly recommend it!

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

This book is set to be published on September 21, 2021.

I adored <i>The House on the Cerulean Sea</i> and wondered how Klune's sophomore effort would do. Now I have my answer: he's written an entirely different book, one that still encompasses magic (of a sort) but is more about the here-and-now and coming to terms with mortality. In this world, people don't just die, they're provided with a Reaper who escorts them to what I can only think of as a halfway house where they can adjust to their new status (and drink tea!) before going on to whatever is next. Wallace, one of those newly dead, isn't ready to leave... perhaps he'll never be ready. And if the idea is that the dead decide when they'll move on, if Wallace is never ready, well, what next?

In many ways this is as good a read as the first book, albeit slightly less charming. The characters are more well-rounded so let's call this a draw. Rounded up for four-and-a-half stars just because.

eARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.

Under The Whispering Door by TJ Klune.

I was so excited to be chosen to receive an ARC of this book and it did not disappoint!

Although not much of a fantasy reader, I had previously enjoyed TJ Klune’s book The House in the Cerulean Sea. It was heartwarming and funny.

Under the Whispering Door was similar in feel despite the different story line.

Wallace Price finds himself at his own funeral. There he meets Mai - the grim reaper who has some to take him to the ferryman.

What follows is a heartwarming story filled with charming and humorous characters.

This book does deal with death from several causes, so it should be noted that there are potential triggers. That being said, I didn’t find that any of that went into too great of detail and the story was mostly focused on Wallace and the lessons he was learning, the relationships he was developing.

Definitely worth a read. I gave this book 5⭐️

A Christmas Carol remastered - this book will talk to you if you like that traditional tale and enjoy calm fantasy. This wasn't exactly what I thought I was picking up and I must admit I was not as excited about it as most readers here. I did not know Klune before reading, but while it was a well written book, I wasn't engaged by the characters very much. Obviously, this is the point, this is about the transformation of Wallace from a mean workaholic to a freed man with emotions back in his life. But all the characters and situations felt a little too much like characters and situations I have already read and seen. The pace was a little off and too slow at the beginning.

**I was provided an electronic ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for honest review.**

TJ Klune's newest work, Under the Whispering Door, explores life, death, and grief with care and humor. Readers follow Wallace Price, who is a white-collar attorney and a bit of a jerk. When Wallace has a heart attack, he discovers there is more to life and death than he bargained for, courtesy of a Reaper and Ferryman charged with leading him to cross over.

Klune, in consideration of his readers, included a content warning in the form of an author's note at the beginning of the book. This book deals in depth with grief and death, including deaths of various types (illness, suicide, accident, sudden, unexpected, etc). This book may be too much for some readers based on that content. I am not a reader who has anything I would list as a trigger. I work around dead people daily as part of my profession. Yet I still caught myself needing a minute to gather myself due to feeling anxious at some of the passages. If you have discussions of death and dying as a trigger, this may not be the book for you.

That being said, Klune still managed to make this novel into a hopepunk sort of low fantasy. There is a sort of whimsical tone that infuses both this novel and The House in the Cerulean Sea. While the latter is more joyous and lighthearted throughout, this book is more pensive and reflective. Both leave the reader with a message of hope in adversity.

Klune's strength, to me, continues to be his character work. Mei, Wallace, Hugo, and Nelson were all perfectly lovely characters. I also enjoyed Nancy and Cameron's character arcs. I found the ending of the book to be very predictable, but if I am honest with myself I would have been disappointed and unsatisfied if it had ended any other way.

Overall, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to read this book early and am eager to go through more of Klune's backlist while waiting for his next release.

Anyone else find they go back to the cover of a book they've just read and notice things they didn't before? Because it me.

<i>Here, at the end, he'd found a friend.</i>

Surprising no one, this book made me cry. A lot.

"<i>I can't grieve for myself.</i>"
"<b>Of course you can. We do it all the time, regardless of if we're alive or not, over the small things and the big things. Everyone is a little bit sad all the time.</b>"

If you've read the synopsis for this one, there honestly isn't a whole lot more I can say without ruining everything. But this story deals with grief, death, and the unfortunate reality of hindsight and perspective; and how often it occurs to us too late. But it's also about being a better person, or trying to be, even if -- especially if -- there's no benefit to you. Just doing the right thing because it's what should be done.

<i>What if across the top, written in bold letters (and in Comic Sans!) was a summation of Wallace Price's life that was less than flattering? HE DIDN'T DO A WHOLE LOT, BUT HE HAD NICE SUITS! or, worse, NOT THAT GREAT, IF I'M BEING HONEST.</i>

For all the tears, and for all the story is saying something lovely, though not particularly profound -- though maybe the simplicity makes it profound? you decide -- I'll admit that, some fun antics with the characters who live in this bizarre tea house side, there was only so much that could happen, that we could see play out. The journey is mostly internal for Wallace, our lead, to relive moments of his life, to relearn things he had forgotten, to be better. We do sort've go through some motions, which makes sense because, I mean, he's dead, all he has is motions to go through, but this story is almost all character-driven. There is more action, more excitement, near the end, though. Both related to, but also not, to all my tears. There's one character, Cameron, well.. yeah, lots of tears for that one.

<i>Honesty was a weapon. It could be used to stab and tear and spill blood upon the earth. Wallace knew that; he had his fair share of blood on his hands because of it. But it was different now. He was using it upon himself, and he was flayed open because of it, nerve endings exposed.</i>

You'll definitely find some Klune-esque humour, though not quite to the extremes he can often get, and some of his characters -- Mei, Nelson -- all but leap off the page in your face. As much as I enjoyed Wallace, and Hugo, they weren't my favourites; and seeing as the story focuses the most of them, that might be why this isn't a full five stars. Their parts were sometimes lovely, moving, and often sweet. But when I think back on this story, which I'm sure I will, they won't be the first ones to come to mind.

"<i>We don't murder people.</i>"
"<b>Maim, then</b>."
"<i>We don't do that either.</i>"
"<b>Nothing's stopping us. You told me that we should always try and achieve our dreams.</b>"
"<i>I didn't have murder in mind when I told you that.</i>"
"<b>That's because you think too small.</b>"

Full of thoughtful exploration and devastating observations, tea, and equal parts cozy and sad and strange, as long as you don't go thinking this is another THE HOUSE IN THE CERULEAN SEA -- though you may see a little blink and you miss it throwaway reference to it, and another of Klune series or two -- I think you'll really appreciate this story. But don't forget to pack the tissues.

Grab the tissue box or your sleeve if it’s closer because there is a very good chance that you will finish reading Under the Whispering Door in tears like me. If the words TJ Klune or The House in the Cerulean Sea (aka my favourite read of 2020) weren’t enough to bring me to this book, the premise itself would have intrigued me to pick it up.

Wallace is not a good man. Or rather, he was not a good man when he was alive. And when he is suddenly faced with death, he is having trouble understanding what is going on. He’s picked up by a very chatty Reaper by the name of Mei, who guides him to Hugo, a ferryman, who works in a tea shop. They are there to guide him so that he is ready to continue on his journey. Whatever that means.

And such is the start of a reading journey that ended in tears. How could it not? Such big topics about death, grief, letting go, moving on, redemption, forgiveness, family and friendship. But just like The House in the Cerulean Sea, I’m left with a feeling of comfort, love, and warmth in my heart as I finished the story. While I know that this was all fictional, somehow in reading TJ Klune’s version of what happens when people die, Under the Whispering Door has given me a sense of peace for what may be after death. And that is a surprisingly spiritual feeling to manifest from reading a fictional novel. As of writing this review (shortly after completing the novel), I’m also left with a feeling that something was missing from the story to make it as perfect as Cerulean Sea. I’ll try to pinpoint what that may be - perhaps with a second reading of the story - but for now, I will say that I really enjoyed Under the Whispering Door and it definitely make the list for this year’s favourite reads.

Wallace is a cold-hearted lawyer who suddenly die. He comes to awareness in the afterlife at his own funeral, where a grand total of four people are in attendance. A young woman leads to him an odd tea shop that serves as the bridge between life and what comes next. Here he meets Hugo, the ferryman who leads people on to the next step, as well as his ghost grandfather and ghost dog.

I am probably going to have some rocks thrown at me for this review, but so be it.

This book just didn’t do it for me. I found the overall writing style and plot with lengthy sections consisting just of conversation to drag on and felt overall it seemed very preachy and sappy and repetitive. I felt like there was very little character development and was completely unable to grasp the relationship that develops in the book because the development is just not shown. The book opens with Wallace showing his horrible personality in full force, and he very rapidly does a complete personality 180 after his death without any reasonable demonstration as to WHY. So much time is spent on Wallace figuring out how to touch physical objects or change his clothing his ghost wears and I completely failed to understand why this developed the plot whatsoever. Many of the characters felt exceptionally Mary Sue to me. Very disappointing read overall that I struggled to get through.

Thank you to Netgalley for this advanced reader’s copy.

Another wonderful book by TJ Klune! With another beautiful cover to match the story. I loved all of the main characters and their unique personalities. This book made me feel a range of emotions and found me both laughing and crying. Ultimately it’s another heartwarming and hopeful story. Thankful to NetGalley and Tor Books for giving me an ARC of this beautiful book.

It is hard to write a review of a book that has made you feel so much that you don't even know where to start. So I'll give it a try.

Life, adulthood, mistakes, forgiveness, and grief. Is it fair? Is it someone's plan? Do you believe it? How are you dealing with life? Are you pretending? Are you doing something to reach your happiness? Can you forgive others? Can you forgive yourself? Why not? What are your worries? Is your family important to you? Do you care about your close ones? Do you love others? Do you love yourself? Are you stuck? Do you have someone to lean on? Why not? Did you lose someone? Are you grieving? Are you feeling lost? Are you reaching out? Would you be there for someone? Have you ever think about all that?

That's the story in this book that I picked because of its beautiful cover and got me right where I needed the most. I've enjoyed every single page of it. Of course, I wept like a child but also lmao like the strong woman I am.

Congratulations to the writer, for this magnificent piece of work!

OMG 😭 What a story! Holy moly. This book was amazing. Seriously, ALL THE FEELS. It was hilariously charming and heartbreaking in the most beautiful way. We follow Wallace into the afterlife as he begins to process and accept his death as well as reflect on his life. He meets up with Mei (a reaper), Apollo (the bestest pooch sidekick), Nelson (the bombest grandad), and Hugo (a ferryman) who all help him through this trying next chapter of his existence, eventually becoming his friends and family 🤍

I LOLed an incredibly good amount while reading this! The fast-paced witty prose is intoxicating and profound. Really. It's that unexpected dry wit and deadpan humor that sneaks up on you so much so that you grin like a dork and then snort-laugh, giggle uncontrollably, or just full-on deep belly cackle 😂 I also cried a whole bunch 🥺

The character interactions are lively and snarky and thoughtful and kind. Their banter and group dynamic is always on point! I loved the processing and working through of feelings as well as the empathy and warmth given to said feelings without judgment.

I love Mei to pieces. Nelson is the bombest grandad. Apollo is THE best. And Wallace and Hugo 😭😭😭 Together, they make the most amazing found family. And I am just absurdly fond of everything in this story. I would LOVE to see it as a TV show 🥺

• Read This For •
— LGBTQIA+ rep
— feelings and empathy
— anxiety and grief awareness/processing
— positive self-growth
— found family
— the bestest pooch sidekick
— grumpy x sunshine trope
— snark and banter

Potential Triggers: death, the afterlife, grief, murder & suicide, panic attacks, anxiety, heart attack, divorce

Thank you to the publisher and author for my advanced copy!

After enjoying The House in the Cerulean Sea, plus this book being described as "Man Called Ove meets The Good Place", plus the abundance of 5-star reviews so far, I had REALLY high expectations for Under the Whispering Door. And that might have been a problem. I didn't *dislike* this book, I just thought it would be very different.

Run don’t walk to grab a copy of Under the Whispering Door! From the moment you set foot into Charon’s crossing Tea and Treats your life will never be the same. The exquisite writing brings the characters to life as you follow Wallace on his journey through death. Surrounded by the ghost of grandad and the dog Apollo, the tea shop owner Hugo and his right hand Mei Wallace must figure out what his life meant and what comes after death. A profound story of love, family and redemption.

Under the Whispering Door was exactly what I hoped it would be. Aesthetically I'd say it's a bit Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli, while plot-wise it's A Christmas Carol mixed with the Korean drama Goblin: The Lonely and Great God. It really just hit all of my sweet spots.

Under the Whispering Door is about Wallace Price's afterlife. Wallace is not really a nice man. He is, in fact, a complete stick-in-the-mud with the emotional range of a toothpick. He's exacting, seemingly incapable of empathy, and extremely entitled. This story is, essentially, Wallace's potential redemption arc, if he chooses to use his time wisely.

While I found it a bit slow at the start, and quite repetitive with all the acceptance of grief stuff, it eventually picked up. This is a quiet sort of book, so while there is some action, especially later on, it's really all about the characters and their relationships. That's not to say it was boring. There were moments of pathos, but also moments of riotous laughter. I ran the entire gamut of emotions in this one. I laughed uncontrollably, and I sobbed uncontrollably. Seriously, have your tissue box handy if you're a crier.

The characters are really what made this book. While the focus is obviously on Wallace, this was an example of a truly great ensemble cast. You've got Hugo, the attractive and empathetic owner of the tea house who is also a ferryman of souls. There's Mei, the kickass young reaper with strong emotions. Apollo is Hugo's ghost dog, who livens up the place with his cute antics. And then there's Nelson (my favourite), Hugo's dead grandfather who occupies the dual role of comedic relief and wise elder.

I really enjoyed Wallace's arc throughout the book. He starts out as a supremely unlikable character, and becomes someone you can't help but like. His transformation is slow, and it is a delight to experience. The romance between Wallace and Hugo was something I didn't see coming (it seemed to come out of nowhere), but by the end I was invested.

Under the Whispering Door is primarily about grief. All of the characters are in different stages of grief, for different reasons. Wallace's is obviously related to the fact that he died, Mei's has to do with her family, Hugo's is to do with a past failure, and Nelson's is for his grandson. Apollo is a dog. He's too in the moment to feel grief.

This story is also about found family and being the best possible version of yourself. Mostly this applies to Wallace, who had no family or friends in life. Only an ex-wife, and his partners at the firm. None of whom liked him. Spending time at the tea shop with Hugo, Nelson, Mei, and Apollo, makes Wallace realise what was missing in his life: love, empathy, and connection with other people (and pets.) These relationships inspire him to become a kinder person.

Under the Whispering Door</em> was a beautiful story, and an absolute delight to read. I cannot recommend it enough.

I loved this book so much! TJ Klune’s writing is fantastic and the characters were so great! I loved reading the interactions with all the characters and the relationships they form throughout the book. This book has a lot of humor, love, and emotion. You clearly feel everything the characters feel throughout the book. Klune’s book The House in the Cerulean Sea is a favorite of mine. I wasn’t sure how any book could compare to THITCS, but Under the Whispering Door definitely is up there as an immediate favorite for me. I will definitely be preordering a hard copy of this book (and probably rereading it)! I 100% recommend this book!!

Rating: Five stars
I absolutely loved this book; I am pretty sure that it is being added to my favorite books of all times. Throughout this novel, we get to see the character of Wallace Price develop from never truly having anyone in his life to finding family, from being selfish to doing anything he can to help others. This book had the perfect amount of love, found family, and character development. Throughout the book, I went from laughing to feeling emotional, and the ending had me crying a combination of happy and sad tears. I am so glad to have gotten to read this book and cannot wait for it to be officially released!

T.J. Klune has done it again. His whimsical quirky writing pulls me in and keeps me enraptured throughout his stories.

Under the Whispering Door takes you on a magical paranormal journey that will have you laughing and loving and inspired to truly live each day, each moment to its absolute fullest.

Appreciate and embrace the time you are given, the people placed in your path, and the experiences you are fortunate enough to have. Good or bad they all play a role in this thing called life and who says they have to stop once our bodies have given out...

Thanks to @netgalley
and @torbooks for a digital advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to read this ARC and as always TJ Klune did not disappoint. Under the Whispering Door is a complete masterpiece. It is important to note that this book is not Cerulean, nor is it trying to be, so don't go in expecting a light and heartwarming story. This story deals with heavy topics such as death, grief, loss, depression, violent ends, and even suicide. Additionally, it ponders existential questions and even goes as far as reimagining the great beyond.

With that said, this story is still absolutely beautiful and will cause you to instantly fall in love with the cast of characters and their stories. To me, this story was more bittersweet and took me longer to emotionally process than Cerulean, but in the end it was such a beautiful and rewarding journey. The representation in this story was beautiful and the love with which every character was crafted, simply jumps off the page and demands that you suspend reality for a little while and join this beautiful world. I would emphatically and wholeheartedly recommend this book.

*A word to the wise - do not read this in public or while wearing make-up - I began crying at the 70% mark and pretty much spent the final 30% of the book oscillating between balling and laughing.

I continue to enjoy TJ Klune's whimsical authorial voice in these standalone fantasy romances - there is a lightness of touch that is hard to pull off that I think he achieves in a way that really entertains me. I also continue to love his characters, and the romance in this one was particularly nice to me. However, I found the plot pretty off in its pacing and the metaphor, while lovely, was a bit too pat. All in all, not my favorite, but I will continue on with his future work

Under the Whispering Door
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ & many more

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. This is a book about grief, death, and what comes after.

“We don’t interfere with death. We can’t. Because it’s always there. No matter what you do, no matter what kind of life you live, good or bad or somewhere in between, it’s always going to be waiting for you. From the moment you’re born, you’re dying.”

Thank you @torbooks & @netgalley for the #gifted copy.

I loved this book more than I can put into words. I figured nothing could live up to Cerulean Sea, but I was totally wrong. This entire book felt like a hug. I laughed, I cried, I was mad, and I was sad. I don’t exactly know how Klune managed to make me feel the emotions of every character, sometimes all at once. Or make me laugh and cry at the same time. My heart hurt and felt warm and I loved every second.

I loved watching the characters grow, especially Wallace. In the beginning I did not think Hugo could grow further, but boy was I completely wrong. He continues to grow as a person and became even more likeable at the end.

I took away so many valuable life lessons while reading and I finished the book filled with hope and happiness. I hope this brings as much comfort to other readers as it did to me.

This story is slow-moving and character driven, but so incredibly well written. There’s a lot of darkness, and some humor. I was an emotional wreck by the end of this. Run, don’t walk, to get your copy of this on Sept. 21, and if you read it, take care of yourself.