I had high expectations for his book after reading ‘The house in the cerulean sea’ and wow I was not disappointed! TJ Klune has very quickly become one of my favourite authors. I cannot recommend his books enough!!

Overall

This review is extremely overdue, but like all good things, it’s worth the wait. I knew from the moment it was announced that I was going to pick up Under the Whispering Door. Ever since I discovered T.J. Klune’s work last year, I have systematically been working my way through reading everything he’s ever written. Which, of course, includes his new releases. So obviously I was going to pick up Under the Whispering Door as soon as I could!

Under the Whispering Door is a queer rom-com between two cinnamon roll men, where death is really only the beginning and everyone deserves a second chance. It’s heartwarming, mired in feels, full of laughs, and has an irresistible cast.

While I didn’t love this book as much as some of Klune’s other works, it’s yet another example of why he’s a freaking fantastic author, and I wasn’t disappointed. My biggest qualm was really just with how quick Wallace’s character growth occurred. A little too quickly, and every time he talked about what he used to be like, I was reminded how unrealistic it was. To be fair, though, this is a relatively small nitpick about a book that I very much enjoyed.

My Thoughts

- Meet Wallace Phineas Price, who was a remarkable businessman but a wholly unremarkable person in life. But in death? Well, that’s another story. Wallace is an entirely unlikable character. There, I said it. Intentionally so, of course, but the point still stands. He’s the sort of person that literally no one will miss when they die. And, in fact, no one does. That’s just how awful he is.

That’s just how the story begins, though. This wouldn’t be a Klune book if it was left at that. Because as far as Wallace is concerned, death is really only the beginning. While it’s exceedingly clear to the reader from the very beginning that Wallace is a garbage person, it comes as a bit of a surprise to him. I guess no one really wants to think that they’re truly awful, do they?

Despite starting as an unlikable protagonist, that isn’t always the case. Throughout the book, I warmed up to Wallace and his plight. I mean, even from the beginning, I appreciated his sarcasm and his no-nonsense attitude. He just needed to dial it back a little. He was at about a 29 and he needed to be around a 7.49.

- Klune crafts a compelling take on the afterlife, where souls are given one last chance to ready themselves before moving on. I absolutely love this world. Honestly, I hope this is true, because what could be better than one last perfect cup of tea and good company before passing on into the afterlife? Sounds perfect. Well, not to Wallace, but as we’ve already established, what even does he know, hmm?

There’s a whole complex system to the afterlife, and there are rules. Can’t have souls running around all willy-nilly, can we? It’s not important for everyone at each step in the process to understand the rules, but needless to say, they exist for a reason.

I actually don’t want to say too much about this, because the reader discovers what happens in the afterlife along with Wallace, and there’s a sort of beautiful symmetry to that. So go in without expectations and prepare for a fun journey.

- The romance in this book is too. stinking. sweet. I know I’m not normally one for romance, but it’s impossible not to fall for both Wallace and Hugo. And also Wallace and Hugo. One thing I’ve found out is that I absolutely cannot resist the way Klune writes romance. It’s so warm and wholesome and full of banter. Honestly, in this day and age, is there anything better? It’s like sipping hot cocoa under a warm blanket in the dead of winter. Who could possibly say no to that?

Wallace and Hugo themselves couldn’t be more different on the surface. Then again, they do say opposites attract, right? I’m just not so sure that they’re truly opposites, when you get right down to it. Even better, they’re technically an interracial couple (though, that seems less important somehow when one of them is dead because there are more important considerations here?!), which is something that I don’t see often when it comes to fantasy romance. That’s not the focus of the relationship (and isn’t even brought up in the book), but it was nice to see an interracial queer couple that was allowed to just exist in these pages without needing to be quantified in some way.

And the banter! Oh my gosh, if you’re into absolutely hopeless, easily embarrassed cinnamon rolls throwing around banter and accidentally flirting, this relationship dynamic is for you. I need all of my fantasy romance to be like this, please.

- This cast of characters is *chef’s kiss*. I love every single one of them. Let it never be said that Klune can’t write characters, because he freaking can. Ones that worm their way into your heart like a bad parasite and refuse to let go. It might hurt, but only a little. Probably. Mostly in a good way.

Mei is my favorite, because of course she is. She’s fiercely loyal, mouthy, and quick to stab things. What’s not to love about her?! There’s definitely more to her than there first appears, but even what you see on the surface is pretty great.

Nelson is the cranky old Black guy who died and refuses to move on. In other words, he’s the character who says what everyone is thinking . . . unabashedly and unashamedly. And of course I love him. Because he’s honest, even when the truth hurts. But he also cares (though he would vehemently deny that if ever pressed).

- Klune touches on a lot of deep, philosophical questions like the consequences of our choices, second chances, and our place in the universe. This book does a lot. It’s funny and romantic and adorable, but it also asks some big, important questions. Wallace realizes he messed up his life and he’s lost any chance he had to do . . . well, anything. Death has that effect on people. So what do you do, at the end of your life, when all you have left is regrets?

Even the afterlife isn’t as simple and straightforward as it appears. Hugo has a pretty tough job of his own, trying to help souls move on (wherever “on” is). But there’s not exactly a handbook to what he does (though there is a rather extensive rulebook, as it turns out). Hugo is plagued by a lot of normal emotions, though, like insecurity about whether he’s doing the right thing and regret for things that didn’t go the way he had hoped.

In short, if you thought the afterlife was going to be easy and straightforward, think again. There are a lot of moments that will really make you stop and think in this book.

This book is about death and what follows afterwards.

I really like most TJ Klune books, but something felt a little disingenuous with this one. I don't know if it was the stark character contrast between the main two characters, or the quirky/spunky sidekick. Something about it just felt a little too fake for me.

I will say, I did cry at the end when the grandfather passed over and when one of our main characters attempted as well. It was a bittersweet moment, even for these characters that I wasn't really connecting with.

Either way, I will continue to read TJ Klune books because we need more happy ending LGBTQ books :)

I fully understand what the book is going for regarding the message of redemption, grief and how death might not be the end. But the execution leaves a lot to be desired. The book veers from saccharine sweet to slapstick comedy to dull workplace politics that really did not mesh well. The characters don't feel fully real and they're just there to help the main character (and even then, I thought they all did a terrible job). The repetitive conversations feel like platitudes that could come straight out of a self-help book and didn't illuminate much. I actually thought the best moment we got was with a side character whose life we get to see. We didn't even get that much for the main character!

I was interested in the idea of a mystical being overseeing souls, but I didn't like that it's all set up like an office. The Manager decides things with no explanations, and the others are happy to go along with it? It just didn't make sense. I also thought the romance was unnecessary and the ending, while feels good, did not feel earned. Overall, that's how I feel about the book - that a lot of the character decisions or plot turns did not feel earned. This book might work for others but unfortunately, it's just not the right fit for me.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book, not expecting much or having read anything by TJ Klune before. I wasn't completely satisfied with ending and how it kind of went against Klune's whole message about grief and acceptance, and Wallace's character transformation wasn't exactly believable. However, my enjoyment of the book outweighed that with loveable characters, tear-jerking scenes and a mostly quiet but heart-warming story.

What an absolutely beautiful book! I went into this completely blind. I didn't read a single review beforehand and I suggest going at it the same way. Don't spoil any of the beauty or intrigue ahead of time if you can help it.

The characters are so loving and warm, I fell right into them.

Klune's first book was widely described as "a big gay hug." This book is more of the same, but with a comforting pat on the back to help you cope with any and all grief you have ever or will ever deal with.

The characters are both relatable and loveable. The character development over the course of the book feels realistic, despite the fantasy world the characters are living in.

I would strongly recommend this book to anyone dealing with grief, grappling with their own identities, or who just wants a good cry while they read a fantasy book.

TJ Klune is so so good. I was skeptical of the premise of the book, but it's so well written. The characters are so lovable. Klune is an automatic buy for me now.

DNF @ 30%

Well, I gave it my all. I don't know if it was the book itself or the point in time at which I was reading it, but it was not doing it for me. I read a third of the book and nothing had happened! Like, Wallace died and went to the tea shop and they talked a bunch. And that's all in the jacket summary! So I'm not actually sure what this book is supposed to be about.
I would have forgiven its slow pace if the writing had been super gorgeous, but as it was I found it very saccharine and cliché - the characters just felt like tired stereotypes and for a book about death/dying, it was very Not Poignant.

This book was so heartwarming. I loved all of the characters and the way they interacted with each other. This book has good messages of acceptance. grief , kindness and love. I thought this was just a hug in a book and I was smiling (sometimes tearing up) the whole time I was reading it. Would recommend to anyone.

This was my first book by T.J. Klune, and I enjoyed it. I felt like the pace was a little slow, but besides that, I have no complaints. The book explores some complicated topics, like life and death, and being terrified of both, but overall stays mostly focused on more of a mystical fantasy feel.

-Found Family: Wallace is a corporate asshole when he dies and alone. Along the way of the story, everything Wallace thought he knew changes. It's a great story of self-discovery.

-LQBTQ+:This book has some deep romance that I loved. It was wholesome, faded to black romantic scenes.

I can't wait to read more books by T.J. Klune!

After reading House in the Cerulean Sea, one of my absolute favorite books, I knew that picking up Under the Whispering Door would be a similar experience. I don't know how Klune does it... I don't know how he creates the memorable characters and situations, the vivid setting, the feeling of reality being suspended and being fully immersed into a novel. I'm not sure there was anything I particularly didn't like about this novel. Similarly to HITCS, I felt connected to all the characters and was completely invested in every one of their stories. Particularly that of Wallace. He's not someone you really want to succeed in anything because he's just an awful person, but Klune has a way of making the unlikable... likable. I highly recommend reading this book to all, but especially those who like semi-fantasy worlds, laughing out loud, and getting teary eyed because this book did all of the above for me!

TJ Klune continues to write intriguing, thought provoking characters. I started Under the Whispering Door with little to no expectations. I quickly found myself drawn into the characters and the plot. The author's style of writing has a way of making you pause and reread certain lines, they are statements you have heard hundreds of times, but in the context of the character and the story, it was like hearing it for the first time.

Wallace Price is a lawyer who centers his life around his career, money and success. At the end of his life he finds no one in attendance at his funeral, which annoys him a great deal. As Wallace begins to meet new characters and start his journey to the unknown (because do we ever really know where we will end up after death), we watch Wallace discover just who he was and how his actions affected his life and relationships.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, if you were a fan of The House on the Cerulean Sea, don't expect it to have the same cadence. The overall theme in this book is sadness and disappointment, some happier revelations occur, but death and sadness are at the root of the book.

Title: Under the Whispering Door
Author: T.J. Klune
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4.0
Pub Date: September 21, 2021

T H R E E • W O R D S

Enchanting • Contemplative • Endearing

📖 S Y N O P S I S

When Wallace is collected from his own funeral by a reaper, it appears as though he may be dead. And when he arrives at a peculiar tea shop, meeting Hugo who offers to help him cross over, it confirms he is indeed dead. Wallace wasn't a very nice person in life nor did he really live, so when he is given a week to cross over, he sets about truly living and attempting to make amends.

💭 T H O U G H T S

This is one of those books that's hard to review because there were things that I absolutely loved, but there were other things that grated on me, but at the end of the day this is a compassionate exploration of life and love, and by extension of grief and death. Written with Klune's trademark humour and wit, the soulful, well-developed characters make the book. Wallace and Hugo are the main focus, but for me it was really the supporting cast (Nelson, Mae, and Apollo) who really shone.

I was fascinated by the concept of a stopping ground between life and death. Having dealt with a lot of death in the past three years, in some way the idea gave me a sense of peace. The teashop setting, with its warm and inviting atmosphere felt like the perfect fit for such a place.

What didn't really work for me was the length. It just felt like it went on and on, when it easily could have been condensed in placed. And I definitely was not a fan of the ending. But it was the insistent focus on positivity and that "things happen for a reason" that didn't sit well with me.

Overall, it just never hit the mark on the profoundness it should have had even though I appreciated the personal growth. It wasn't the ending I was expecting, nor the one I wanted. I liked it, just didn't love it. But I'm definitely glad I read it and would recommend picking it up.

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• T.J. Klune fans
• book clubs

⚠️ CW: death, grief, suicide, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt, child death, death of parent, panic attacks/disorders, murder, animal death, homophobia

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"This life isn't an easy one. Day in and day out we're surrounded by death. You either learn to live with it, or let it destroy you."

"From the moment you're born, you're dying."

"Sometimes the best way to help someone is not to say anything at all."

I felt like the love story portion of this just didn't "fit". I enjoyed the themes in the book, but it never fully drew me in emotionally, like I would have expected it to.

I am absolutely kicking myself because I didn’t read this book earlier. It is one of those books that I really just didn’t know I needed in my life and is a beautiful story about death. I felt like this book helped me process so many emotions that I didn’t even realize I harboured and I feel like, while reading this story, I grieved so many people along the way. Absolutely adored it, it has one of my favourite found families I have ever read about and it is a book I will treasure and always keep on my bookshelf.

A huge thank you to Tor Books and Netgalley for the e-copy. All opinions are my own.

⁉️QOTD: Do you test the waters or dive right in when it comes to swimming?
I’m a dive right in type. It doesn’t matter how warm the water is, those first few seconds always feel cold. It’s best to get it over with IMO

BOOK REVIEW
Under the Whispering Door @tjklunebooks
Pub date: September 21, 2021
@torbooks

TJ Klune continues to write quirky characters with a whimsical storyline akin to The House in the Cerulean Sea here in Under the Whispering Door. This definitely has the same cozy, heartwarming vibes, too. In fact, I think my biggest complaint about this book is that it felt so similar to reading THITCS, down to the curmudgeonly main character’s softening to a found family and changing his ways.

That said, if I hadn’t read both, I think I’d have liked this one more. I love that Klune is telling us a non-religious tale about what the afterlife and reconciling it with our current life might look like. There’s been comparisons to the show The Good Life, and I think that totally checks out.

I could’ve done without the romance, but this was the first ghost love story since the 90s Casper movie that I can remember 😆 So, I was kind of digging the idea even though I didn’t feel myself pulling for Hugo and Wallace the way I wished I had been. But it was a great way to round out some #pridemonth reading.

Thanks @netgalley and @torbooks for the gifted e-book

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Really enjoyed this!

I will update the review with the link to on our blog as soon as I can.

I'd like to thank the publisher Macmillan-Tor/Forge and Netgalley for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great read and perfect for anyone who believes love is love. Empowering and engrossing. I recommend this book and look forward to reading more from the author.

The backbone of this is exactly the same as the other book by Klune that I've read (The House in the Cerulean Sea) but the trappings are different enough that I didn't mind. The whole thing is very cosy and warm and sweet, and reminded me of a very benevolent Charles de Lint tale. Ending a bit too tidy for my tastes but this is a comfort read above all else so I'll allow it, haha. Would be a wonderful companion piece to the game Spiritfarer, it has that sort of vibe.