Late last night I finished Under the Whispering Door by @tjklunebooks and I am still reeling from such an incredible story.

Don’t expect the warm hug feeling that you got from House in the Cerulean Sea because you won’t get it with Under the Whispering Door. What you will get are laugh out loud moments mixed with the hard truths and grief that follow death.

You’ll get a full review from me closer to the pub date but in the meantime, do yourself a favor and preorder this amazing story. Thank you to @torbooks for the early e-copy.

CW for death, suicide, murder, death of parents, death of a child and grief.

As The House in the Cerulean Sea swept through bookstagram, it’s no surprise that TJ Klune’s next novel, Under the Whispering Door, would vault to the top of many lists. When this ARC became available, I immediately requested it, and basically prostrated myself to Tor for a copy, which they generously granted.

It’s hard to write a second book that’s fundamentally different but explores some similar concepts after such a beloved and acclaimed book like The House in the Cerulean Sea. There’s a natural inclination to compare that makes it difficult for the second book to stand on its own. I tried to go into this one with no specific expectations, other than that I expected to love it.

I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say that this is a book about death. It’s about death and what it means for a life to end and to go on for eternity. While there’s a loose mythology here about what happens after you die, it’s NOT a religious story. It’s story of one man, Wallace Price, a hard-nosed attorney, who dies suddenly. In death, he reckons with what kind of life he lived, and gets an opportunity to build something different for himself. I won’t spoil the direction of the story, but there was about 1/4 of the book where I thought I’d figured out the ending and it was so unbelievably painful and bittersweet. I hadn’t figured it out. This went in directions I wasn’t expecting. It’s a hopeful book, but it will also break your heart. It gave me some The Good Place vibes.

If you’re looking for the warm cozy hug of The House in the Cerulean Sea, you won’t find it here. What you will find is a story that asks what it means to live, and continues the universal queer themes of found family found in Klune’s previous work. This book made me hurt and laugh and feel. It was delightful.

If you’re reading this book in hopes of the wholesome content that was The House in the Cerulean Sea, then boy are you in for a shock. Under the Whispering Door is a story about grief, death, and what comes after. As dark as it seems, it’s set in a small tea shop run by a ferryman, someone who sees spirits to the other side. It’s cozy while being sad and it will 100% break your heart a hundred times over, but it’s worth it.

I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

My Rating: 5 Stars

I genuinely have no idea how to even begin to write this review. How do I review a book that touched me as deeply as this one did? When I say that it changed the way that I think about not only death, but how I’m living my own life, I mean it. The House in the Cerulean Sea was my favorite read of 2020. I already know that I love TJ Klune’s sense of humor and his writing style. I honestly expected to love this book, but I didn’t know how I could possible love another book as much as I loved House. I can safely say that I love this book just as much, but in a completely different way.

Wallace is somehow both a complete and total asshole, and one of the most relatable and likable characters I’ve ever read about. If I’d met this man in real life (before he died), I am 100% sure I would’ve wanted to kick him in the balls. HARD. Being in his head, however, is a completely different experience. Watching his growth, being part of his experience after death, and falling in love through his eyes was absolutely amazing.

This is one of the most beautiful stories I’ve read that fully covers grief and loss in all of the different forms that it can take. Through it and the characters, I experienced the five stages of grief as well as the bone deep disappointment that comes with the realization that you didn’t live the life you expected to live. I was fully transported and felt so immensely connected to the characters.

I just can’t fully put into words how much and why I loved this book. All I can say is that you’ll want to preorder and read it. In the mean time, do yourself the favor of reading The House in the Cerulean Sea. They’ll hit you in completely different, but meaningful ways.

(Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!)

I need to preface this review by noting that I am biased--I adored TJ Klune's The House in the Cerulean Sea, and I put off reading and reviewing this book because I was so excited. Y'all, this book did not let me down.

The book begins with our main character, Wallace, a very rigid, unsympathetic lawyer...during his final hours alive before he experiences a heart attack, and then witnesses his own poorly attended funeral. We then encounter Mei, a Reaper, who brings Wallace to meet a ferryman in a tea shop (also, love this setting detail!). The character development in this book is brilliant, and I appreciate the humor sprinkled throughout a book focused on grief, loss, and love. There are a few difficult topics such as suicide, divorce, child illness, death of parents, which the main characters handle with grace, while Klune still includes mentions of more harmful side characters--which makes these moments feel more realistic. This is a book that I intend to buy a copy of once it is available, and I am excited to add this book to my favorites!

As a high school teacher, I would add this book to my classroom library, and would encourage some to make this a book club or reading circle book choice (I say choice only because some families do not feel comfortable with mentions of ghosts, demons (brief, joking mention), or higher powers.

TJ Klune melted every one's heart with House in the Cerulean Sea a few years ago. Well he's back to do it again, with a vengeance I may add. And I mean that in the best possible way. Be prepared that UWD is darker then House by a long shot, but not in a violent/aggressive kind of way. This book is about death, and anyone that has experienced a death of a loved one or has been close to death themselves will marvel at the nuance that is captured so beautifully on the page. A love story at its core, that will make you cry. Not all love stories have happy endings, often the best ones don't. However sometimes the truly great ones capture something in between. And this, is a truly great one. 5 stars all the way!

What a beautiful and tender book about loss and love. The characters truly came alive for me, I felt their frustration, grief, and love. A sweet, gentle and quirky romance between a ghost and the man meant to help him cross over to the other side. It is alternately heartbreaking and heartwarming.

#UndertheWhisperingDoor #NetGalley #Edelweiss
Instead of telling you how great this novel is, I am going to tell you read all of T J Klune's novels. I found The House in the Cerulean Sea just by luck and I became entranced by his writing. The emotion that his novels bring are graceful and light, yet at the same time you are flooded with an array of emotions. Under the Whispering Door is no different it takes the reader on a journey through love, loss, hope, and grief. It makes you feel all to human to read Klune's novels. The emanate the beauty of living life and in that learning to appreciate it.

I wish I could give this 5 million stars because simply 5 stars doesn't do justice with how much I loved this book. Under the Whispering Door is heartbreaking and beautiful.

This is the story of Wallace Price. He's the kind of man no one mourns for when he dies, hard and unkind. Before he can go to the afterlife he is lead to a pit stop of sorts, in the form of a tea shop by a reaper. Here he has to accept his own death and ready himself to move on by the help of the ferryman, Hugo. Wallace struggles at first with being dead and the longer he stays at the tea shop the more he changes and becomes a better person/ ghost. He finds a place among the ghosts, the reaper, and the ferryman. He finds a purpose, but the tea shop is not meant to be permanent and in the end will have to make a hard decision.

Under the Whispering Door is a very heavy, emotional read. It deals with death, ones own death, the afterlife and beyond. Grief for those who have passed and for those who are left behind. It shows sudden death, violent death, and suicide. The way one dies affects their transition and acceptance into the afterlife. All of that makes a gloomy story but through the despair Klune weaves his brand of humor and hope that will put smiles on your face along the way. He does this through the characters. Wallace even though unlikable at first grows on you. Hugo is wise, patient, and quirky. His grandfather's ghost Nelson is spunky and mischievous. Reaper Mei is sarcastic and gives the best hugs. And you'll fall in love with the lovable ghost pup Apollo.

As you can imagine by the subject of the novel it is an emotional read. I held up pretty well managing not to cry until 60 % then pulling it back together but 70/75% on just cue the waterworks. Scene after scene of heartache and eventually happiness but that then caused the happy tears. I was a blubbering mess and I loved every moment of the experience.

TJ Klune has created another diverse found family that you won't be able to forget. Under the Whispering Door without a doubt will be a book I recommend forever and always.

While not as whimsical as The House in the Cerulean Sea, this title carries on the same sort of themes of found family, understanding, and being unapologetic for who you are, but with much more romance. Characters are delightful and the story poignant. Would certainly recommend to readers of all kinds!

This TJ Klune book has a bit of a different feel than his other books, but with the same thoughtfulness and feel-good themes.

I would have liked to have seen a stronger development of the relationships between the main characters as it seemed to come a bit out of nowhere at times, but overall a strong story.

I appreciate the unique storytelling from Klune.

Of course, it's a 5. Of course.
I still want to call Under the Whispering Door a cozy fantasy, but like with a * because my eyes.
Wallace is a ghost. He dies unexpectedly. And he's taken to a tea shop where he meets the best sort of people, and Hugo is there to help him on. So as you can imagine death and grief play a big part in this book. This is where the * for cozy fantasy comes in.
Wallace was not a good guy in life. But of course, hope and the magic of TJ Klune make sure you know Wallace will make you love him. Soon enough.
I loved the journey of this book. I loved the setting, a tea shop! I loved loved loved the characters. Hugo, Mei, Nelson, Apollo, and of course Wallace. This happy little family full of heart and whimsy and life. And this is why The House in the Cerulean Sea was such a hit. Happiness brought on by a bunch of characters that just make you feel a bunch.
I cannot wait to have a hard copy to hug and love all over again and again and again.

I LOVED THIS BOOK! TJ Klune can write a book. This one was a real gem. It's filled with a lot of emotion (and death, obviously), and grief, but it was a well paced (and very well written) story. I absolutely loved the characters and cannot wait to read anything else of Klune's!

Under the Whispering Door is a charming exploration of death, second chances, and family. Tj Klune excels at writing entertaining and painfully sweet family dynamics. The characterization is absolutely wonderful and everyone felt fleshed out with flaws, motives, and desires. Tj Klune has crafted such lovable characters that despite the book's lack of plot and I still managed to fly through it because the interactions between the characters were so sweet and enjoyable. His ability to create such charming, funny, and loving families is unparalleled. Admittedly, I was worried whether I would enjoy the family dynamic as much in this book since I absolutely adore the family in The House in the Cerulean Sea, but thankfully my worries were unfounded. I don't think I can say one family or book is better because they are quite different books. However, both of his books have that trademark charm and cosiness.

Under the Whispering Door is a character-based book. There is a loose overarching plot that mostly kicks in during the last third of the book. The strength of this book really lies in its characters and their interactions. Tj Klune also explores the concept of death in a beautiful and profound. This is most notably explored through the characters. Tj Klune fills a story that is inherently centred around death with so much love and life. The book portrays death as not only an end but also a beginning of the next phase in your life, as a kind of second chance. However, it doesn't shy away from the fact that death can often be traumatic for people, especially the ones we leave behind.

Of course I wanted to read this because of The House in the Cerulean Sea.

At first, I wasn't sure what I was getting into. It didn't seem like quite the story I thought I was getting, and I couldn't like the main character. But I reminded myself that it took me a little bit to get into The House in the Cerulean Sea too and I just needed a bit of patience.

Patience paid off! It definitely follows the same sort of story arc as The House, but with a completely different set of characters and circumstances.

I'd call it a comfort, gentle read, but the theme of death definitely makes it rather sad too. Maybe perfect for end of the pandemic reading, when we're all grieving and wondering what's next.

This was such a fun, beautifully written story with engaging characters and strong pacing. If you liked Klune's previous work you will enjoy this one!

Klune has done it again. I could live in the worlds he creates. They are full of love, redemption, heartbreak, and sadness. It could have been a little shorter but other then that another great entry from a great author.

I love TJ Klune’s writing. I love character driven stories and Under the Whispering Door not only has a variety of interesting characters just based on their personalities but also different abilities. The book starts out with Wallace Being essentially a jerk to everyone. So it is not surprising when he dies of a heart attack. He ends up in Charon’s Crossing Tea and Treats after Mei, a reaper, finds him at his own funeral. Here he meets Hugo who is the ferryman whose job it is to help people come to terms with their death and cross over through the door on the 4th floor. Wallace is still a jerk in the beginning but everyone in the tea shop becomes like family to him. I love that there is a dog ghost, Apollo and Nelson, Hugo’s granddad is the comic relief in this story.
Wallace ends up staying at the tea shop much longer than anyone else and learns how to change his clothes and touch things so that he can help around the shop. He grows so much as a character. Learning to find love and appreciate Hugo when he let down his ex wife so much was a big step for him. Also reaching out to help Cameron and Nancy work through their grief made Wallace better in death than in life. The story got a little slow in the middle but once they introduced Alan, a murder victim it picked up again and didn’t stop until the amazing and heartrending conclusion. I would definitely recommend this book.

I enjoyed the beginning of the story, but felt it got bogged down in the middle. The characters were interesting, but the plot was confusing. and became muddled. In the end, it's a satisfying read, but not as engaging as I'd hoped.

I was worried this would be a book about the main character's "greatest hits" and he would realize how much he mattered while he was alive or some cheesy thing like that. But I was pleasantly surprised when it was actually the opposite. No one liked him and he knew it, and it was very charming.

I really liked Wallace and his relationship with the rest of the characters. Their dynamic felt very real and loving but I expected nothing else from TJ Klune.

Death is a very big subject in this novel and sometimes it got too much for me so I had to take a break but it was worth it. I enjoyed it a lot!