A NEW YORK TIMES, USA TODAY, AND INDIE BESTSELLER An Indie Next Pick! A Man Called Ove meets The Good Place in Under the Whispering Door, a delightful queer love story from TJ Klune, author of the New York Times and USA Today bestseller The House in the Cerulean Sea. Welcome to Charon’s Crossing. The tea is hot, the scones are fresh, and the dead are just passing through. When a reaper comes … Crossing.
The tea is hot, the scones are fresh, and the dead are just passing through.
When a reaper comes to collect Wallace from his own funeral, Wallace begins to suspect he might be dead.
And when Hugo, the owner of a peculiar tea shop, promises to help him cross over, Wallace decides he’s definitely dead.
But even in death he’s not ready to abandon the life he barely lived, so when Wallace is given one week to cross over, he sets about living a lifetime in seven days.
Hilarious, haunting, and kind, Under the Whispering Door is an uplifting story about a life spent at the office and a death spent building a home.
At the Publisher’s request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
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All the feels but mostly saved for the end!
I could not hold back the tears at this book’s climax and conclusion, but it took an awfully long time to get to the really gripping good stuff. I am not usually a reader who focuses on the metaphysical and this book does, in spades, and moves quite slowly until the last 25-30 percent.. The book blurb and attractive cover grabbed my interest as I had never read any of the author’s earlier works. I don’t think it’s an easy read but, in the end, it’s imaginative, emotional, thought-provoking, inspirational and eminently worthwhile. I mean, don’t we all wonder about what happens after we die?
The characters, especially the residents of the tea shop, really grew on me, both dead and lingering and those still alive, and I loved the arc of transformation that newly-deceased Wallace undergoes. He starts almost as an unsmiling, unsympathetic Marley or Scrooge type and, only after death comes to grips with all of his errors and all that he’s missed. Wallace truly morphs into a hero as he realizes the possibilities of the impact he can make in a final seven days before passing to that great, mysterious beyond.
Although this book is listed LGBTQ the key relationship between Wallace and Hugo is overwhelmingly and profoundly deep and loving in a spiritual way. After all, the living and the dead are not really set up for a physical connection. It’s heart to heart, soul to soul stuff with a heavy emphasis on helping and relying on one another no matter orientation (or species!).
Thanks to Tor/Macmillan and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
TJ Klune never ceases to amaze me with his storytelling. He always crafts these beautiful stories filled with wonderful characters that always has my heart bursting at the seams by the time I finish, and Under the Whispering Door is no exception. One thing that I do want to address is that this story has nothing to do with House in the Cerulean Sea even though they have similarly styled covers.
Also, please be mindful that this book deals with different causes of death and the associated grief, so please check out the TWs: suicide, heart attack, terminal illness, death of a child, death of a parent, murder, knife violence & stabbing, car accident, animal death, PTSD
Wallace Price was a successful attorney that did whatever it took to stay at the top…even if it meant treating the staff as disposable and constantly making those around him utterly miserable. So when Wallace dies, it’s no surprise that his funeral is barely attended and not one person sheds a tear; not even his ex-wife.
Things get worse when a reaper shows up to collect Wallace. Wallace refuses to be dead. He has important matters at the firm that must be attended to, and he has no desire to meet some ferryman named Hugo or to be dead. What a waste.
The kind and beautiful cinnamon roll that is Hugo takes on the challenge of helping Wallace to come to terms with his death so that Wallace can move on as most souls do. During this time, Wallace’s ice heart begins to thaw as he truly begins to understand the meaning of life while surrounded by Hugo, Mei (the reaper), Nelson (Hugo’s ghost grandfather), and Apollo (Hugo’s ghost dog).
This story is a slow burn story. And the reason being is that Wallace doesn’t magically flip a switch and go from a pompous grinch to a gentle soul with a kind heart. He constantly fights EVERYONE because he truly does not want to accept the truth that he died without appreciating anything in life. Watching him claw and scratch his way from denial to acceptance felt so genuine though. It also made for some hilarious moments since Nelson has to straighten Wallace out on more than one occasion.
The characters. I LOVED the cast of characters so much (even Wallace). Hugo is so kind and compassionate and struggles with PTSD after the death of his parents. Mei is a lovable ball of energy who is also a fantastic reaper who doesn’t take lip service from anyone. Nelson can be a bit rough around the edges but he loves his grandson above all else and needs to know that Hugo will always be looked after. Apollo is such a good doggo, and he goes wherever Hugo goes. This whole cast has my heart.
This story really dives into the ugliness and despair of death but also the beauty and hope of a life well lived. It also shows that even if you weren’t your best self, that doesn’t mean that you’re irredeemable.
Thank you to Tor/Forge & Macmillan Audio for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
After a bit of a slow start, this turned out to be the loveliest of lovely reads. It’s an emotional read, one that’s sad and heartbreaking, but it’s also full of hope and discovery. But it’s not gloomy at all because it’s filled with so much heart. It will have you crying and laughing within the same paragraph, which I swear is trademark TJ Klune. Yes, it’s sad–as of 74% you’ll need a box of tissues right until the very end–and it left me a complete and utter wreck, but in a good way. The best of ways. One that left me with a sense of hope and peace.
Wallace is a self centered, egotistical, cruel, selfish, lawyer, ex husband, jerk and nobody misses him when he’s dead. He even drives the reaper and ferryman to the end of their rope.
Wallace find himself at his funeral. Confused, in denial, he listens as his partners drib him as a horrible person, his ex wife spews hatred, there are no good words. This must be a dream right ? Nope. The Reaper comes for him, and escorts him to a tea house where he’s offered tea by the Ferryman Hugo.
This is a wonderful heartbreaking, heart wrenching journey. Wallace has issues on his issues. Hugos job is to help him move on to the next thing. Time, questions, soul searching and trust slowly change things. An impossible romance blooms.
These characters are amazing. Wallace (jerk), Hugo (yum), Mei (spunky), Nelson (patience), and Apollo (adorable 4 legged friend) Watch them do their job, make connections and bond had me laughing crying and cursing.
I enjoyed this read, it was very emotional. This was an unexpected joy, so unique.
Wallace is a thoroughly unlikable lawyer. A “ruthless shark”. So surprised to see that his funeral attendance was sparse. Not even enough people to fill a pew. But his service does come with a reaper called Mei. Mei takes him to a tea house where he meets a ghost called Nelson and most importantly a ferryman called Hugo.
I haven’t really decided if this was a sad story or a joyful one so I’m guessing it’s both. It evoked strong feelings either way. The story flowed easily. Very likable characters along side of unpleasant ones created a well rounded story that was difficult to put down.
The shark learns kindness and grace and above all how to live his best life after he’s dead.
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 ***
/ 4.5 of 5 stars
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 worn out…
Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Books for a digital advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved the concept for this book. Ghost meets ferryman – what’s not to love? Add in a ghost dog and a grumpy ghost grandfather, and I found a lot to enjoy in this sweet, thoughtful tale about finding a family, while trying to snatch every moment of life from the very jaws of death.
The story opens with Wallace, a lawyer, being so horrible to an employee as to make him seem like a cartoon villain. It was an amusing start which drew me in, but it took me a long time to connect to him as the book’s hero. As a result, it seemed too easy for Hugo and Mei to become attached to him. I kept wanting to remind them about how awful he was!
The love story was charming, though as it took so long to get over my dislike of Wallace, it was hard to be as drawn into it as I wanted to be. I did love the ending though, and by then I was on board. It just took me a little longer than I would have liked.
I recommend this book to all those looking for a lovely imagining of what might happen after death, with many smiles and some heartfelt sighs along the way.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Books for providing an Advance Review Copy of this book.
I just finished this book and my heart is about to explode! Tears! So many tears! I had a huge lump in my throat for the entire last half of this book! This book is about grief, and finding a family when you have no one. About learning to live and learning to let go. About understanding to accept things you don’t want to. I loved it SO much! As good as The House in the Cerulean Sea! I may have discovered my new favorite author! Love TJ Klune!
Wow! Honestly just WOW!! There are some books that would make you feel a myriad of emotions in just a few hours and this is one of those.
I’ve read the synopsis and I went into it knowing that I’ll cry but I was so not prepared!! I mean it is a about a ghost falling for ferryman! I sobbed like a child and then laughed like a clown. It made me happy and sad and happy all over again and I will gladly go through it all again in a heartbeat.
Oh Wallace! I severely disliked him in the beginning but then he grows throughout the novel and makes you LOVE him! His life was uncomfortably relatable to me, something I didn’t want to think about. Not about how much of an arsehole he is but more about the loneliness. What if that was my future?
In death, Wallace had never felt more alive.
But this book is mostly about hope. About another chance. To live. To grow. To love and be loved. It was so beautiful and I’m not sure I’m expressing my feelings concisely. It just made me feel too much and I’m overwhelmed. The connection and chemistry between Hugo and Wallace is wonderful. I also loved the secondary characters, Nelson and Mei will steal your heart. And Apollo of course!
The writing is amazing and I loved the humour, the character and every single thing about this book, from the gorgeous cover to the perfect epilogue. Trust me, YOU NEED THIS BOOK!
*ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review
This wonderful book took me on an emotional and whimsical journey with a character I disliked, but who warmed my heart little by little along the way! From the blurb I knew this book would crush me as it speaks about the afterlife & if you were given a chance to change would you? And though this is a tough topic, the story is entertaining and funny – Patricia Ryan oh my! A reaper, Mei, comes to collect Wallace Price at his own funeral and to his surprise only five people were in attendance! Mei brings Wallace to a small village in the afterlife to Hugo, a tea shop owner and a ferryman to souls who needs to cross over. Having questions – Wallace is adamant on staying put so he’s given seven days to cross over. With Hugo’s help and gentle guidance, Wallace experiences love and life! Thank you to NetGalley, Tor Books, and the author for a gifted copy. This is my honest review.
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.
The first time you share tea, you are a stranger.
The second time you share tea, you are an honored guest.
The third time you share tea, you become family.
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.
“Wasn’t that the great answer to the mystery of life? To make the most of what you have while you have it, the good and the bad the beautiful and the ugly. In death Wallace has never felt more alive.”
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.
“Get it? Liven? It’s funny because you’re not alive. Oh, wordplay. How I adore you.”
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.