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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Wallace’s death is the beginning of his journey in this heart-warming book. After death, he joins a very strange group at a tea shop named Charon’s Crossing. A reaper, a ferryman, a ghost, and a ghost dog…and Wallace, who isn’t sure what he is.
As he learns more about himself after death than he did during life, his relationships with the others, with Hugo especially, and with his own past all change, and he finds his purpose in the end. Or is it the beginning?
I read this mostly by audiobook, but since I don’t listen often enough, I finished the last third by ebook (in one night!). I very much enjoyed the narrator. His voices were all distinctive without being distracting. In part, the ease of telling the characters apart came from the voices, but mostly it was the excellent personalities that made each character a recognizable individual. TJ Clune writes wonderfully complex characters and relationships.
It’s an exploration of grief and death, but there’s so much joy in it too, and a lot of laughs. It was moving, emotional, and left me in a little wee puddle at the end, to no one’s surprise!
Plus anytime there’s a timeless, all-powerful being taking the form of a petulant child, I’m sufficiently creeped out, thanks!
Having read several of Klune’s books in the past, the anticipation of this book, Under the Whispering Door, was big for me personally.
However, the bar was too high for me. While I did like the main characters Wallace and Hugo, I felt more of a connection to the secondary characters throughout the book.
The relationship between Wallace and Hugo felt forced at some points, and to me it felt like the middle of the book was just filler. There was so much added that didn’t need to be there that the middle section of the book, I really had to push myself to keep reading it.
Although I do love the way that Klune describes the After Life and what it is like, I just felt like there could have been more to this book. It felt a little flat to me.
The twists near the end were what saved the book for me overall, and if Klune does do another book in this world, I would read it in a heartbeat.
This one just left me wanting more of “something”. I can’t really put my finger on it.
Stars: 4
I received this book from Netgalley. I was not compensated for the book other than the entertainment it provided. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
It is a very different book, yet so very engaging. It’s so hard to describe because it’s premise is so different (here I am using that word again!), but it was wonderful. Such good characters. I loved it, so I had to purchase it even though I read it through the library system. Another hit from a great author!
Holy amazingness! This is a story about death, but it is light and upbeat, full of whimsy and joy, a real celebration of life.
I fell in love with Klune when I read The House in the Cerulean Sea. But, at that time, I didn’t think any of his other books would be able to rival that one. I was wrong.
TJ Klune is a master with character development. His characters absolutely shine. And his world building in this novel is truly magical.
Be prepared for lots of feels! There were laugh-out-loud moments and lots of tears. I think I cried for nearly all of the last 25% of the book. That right there speaks volumes to his character development – if you don’t feel for the characters, it’s unlikely they’ll move you to tears.
Such a beautiful story. I’d highly recommend this book to anyone, but especially to anyone who has ever experienced the loss of a loved one.
This is certainly unlike any other fantasy out there. I loved Klune’s “The House in the Cerulean Sea” so decided to read this one, his latest, and was not disappointed.
This one is a bit heavier, dealing with topics like life & death and the nature of mortality. It’s a love story with ghosts, starting with the main character who (not a spoiler) is a really awful person at the very beginning of the book, who then dies and is not mourned. Most of the book is his moral journey as a ghost. He has to go through a way station run by a Reaper who is a young Chinese-American woman and a Ferryman who is a young Black man. The way station is also a tea shop.
So there’s lots of time spent on tea, and on philosophical discussions (which sometimes go on longer than needed, which is why I’m giving 4 rather than 5 stars). The real star of the story is Nelson, the Ferryman’s wisecracking (and wise) Grandad. The book is very optimistic about humans’ ability to improve, which makes it appealing right now. It’s also poignant and funny. It also makes you want tea and scones.
It’s really not a sad story…just so poignant that I was sniffling. None of the characters are as you expect. But all of are lovely. The ending is sort of expected but still not so expected. Makes one think long on life, death and beyond with a little dash of romance and love.
I read 153 books in 2021, and this was absolutely my favourite one. I’ve read it 4 times so far. This was perfect. There was honestly nothing about it that I didn’t like, or would change.
I read House In The Cerulean Sea for the first time in August (I was a bit late to the game on that one), and adored it, which is why I wanted to pick up Under The Whispering Door. My goodness, can TJ Klune write the found family trope. I fell in love with every character in this book. Mei especially won me over; I literally laughed out loud every single time she suddenly had knives in her hands. Wallace’s interactions with Nelson, especially at night when it was just the two of them (and Apollo, of course), totally warmed my heart & the connection with Wallace and Hugo was truly wonderful and swoon-worthy right from the moment they met.
I will say that I thought the description of the book was a bit spoiler-y, some things mentioned in it don’t happen until pretty late in the book. However, that also kept me quite intrigued so I don’t actually think it was a bad thing.
I loved the mentions of photographs, including “an island in the middle of a sea, a strange home set on its cliffs.” It was a small nod to The House In The Cerulean Sea, but I think a lot of people who will read this will have read that, so it was just a cute little ‘Easter egg’ to read.
This book honestly just had everything for me. The writing was incredible – honestly, even if I didn’t love the story (which I did), I would love this book just for how beautifully it was written. But the story was strong, the characters were well developed, I laughed, I cried, I swooned, and truly had the most incredible reading experience.
Thank you to Macmillian-Tor/Forge & NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book!
This book is so well written! I love how it takes a heavy subject and although it isn’t a funny book, it mixes in some humor which was nice. It is about Wallace Price, a man who was no nonsense and 100% business. He didn’t have time for fun, friends, or family while he was alive. This books teaches Wallace how to feel alive again, even though he has already passed. How can a book about death have so much life? The plot is super easy to follow, the writing simple, with so much kindness and wisdom throughout.
Also…..APOLLO! Who doesn’t love a sweet ghost dog?!
This was a wonderful story and a terrific audiobook. I will listen to the story of Wallace’s after-death redemption and his slow fall into love with Hugo again and again. Excellent writing and narration, as expected. I laughed at times, and I cried as well. Heartwarming and satisfying!
I cried. Multiple times. In the best way. Such a thoughtful book about figuring out who you are and who you want to be and where you belong.
This book made me tear up several times. TJ Klune has a wonderful way of writing characters that start off unlikeable and grow better through their interactions with kind and patient people. It really shows that most can become better if given the time and care, even if it takes a long time. Aside from showing this skill in this book, he’s also shown it in The House on the Cerulean Sea, the first book I’ve read from him. Speaking of that book, he certainly shows he likes the word “cerulean” in this story.
I also appreciate him for creating a story where LGBTQ+ people aren’t questioned. That’s always refreshing to see. There are many stories about LGBTQ+ experiencing bigotry, either as the entire story or slice of it. Those stories are important, but I prefer to experience a world where it’s simply accepted as another part of humanity.
And let me say, this artist has shown the perfect way to give a content warning. This is a book that deals with a heavy subject intrinsic to human life and shows how important it is for people to be aware of what they’re going to read. It’s at the start of the book under Author Notes, being quick to the point by explaining the themes.
The note: “This story explores life and love as well as loss and grief. There are discussions of death in different forms—quiet, unexpected, and death by suicide. Please read with care.”
CW: Suicide Discussion
On a more personal note, as someone with chronic depression, suicidal ideation, and anxiety disorders, I’ve never seen those subjects written with such care and empathy. I was fully ready to be disappointed when the subject would come up by criticizing people for being in a bad place, judging them for “throwing away their lives” and “not being strong enough.” I was pleasantly surprised to see TJ Klune show that those comments are some of the worst ways to react to someone’s suffering. He instead presents more empathetic ways to respond to people’s illnesses and choices that don’t blame them for how they feel.
TJ Klune gave me one of my top two favorite books of 2020, and how he’s given me one of my top two favorite books of 2021. Beautiful and touching, funny and frustrating, death is never an easy subject to read or write about, but Klune manages to get to the heart of everything–LOVE, without being preaching or schmlatzy or melodramatic. His characters are always read, even the fantastical and the dead. This is not a book to miss.
T. J. Klune continues to write books that make the reader fall in love with the characters. I have yet to read one of his books and not experience every emotion.
“It’s not always about the things you’ve done, or the mistakes you’ve made. It’s about the people, and what we’re willing to do for one another. The sacrifices we make.”
Life. Love. Death. Not necessarily in that order.
Almost a tear-jerker.
I was duly blown away with the author’s The House in the Cerulean Sea! This one is equally marvelous.
The interactions between the various characters is a study in humanity (with a dog added in). All the foibles we human share with the glories we are capable of added in.
It is an amazing, life affirming read.
(I’d love to find his counterpart in the female community.)
Wallace Price is a miserable, grumpy old rich man with no friends at all. He dies suddenly and unexpected, only four people show up to his funeral. He meets Mai, a reaper, who takes him to the ferryman, Hugo. This was the first book I’ve listened to/read by TJ Klune. This book made me think. I didn’t much like Wallace at first but as the book went on a soft spot developed. I liked the getting to know you between Wallace and Hugo. I plan to listen to more of TJ Klune’s books. I love finding new good author’s.
I immediately fell in love with T.J. Klune’s writing after reading The House in the Cerulean Sea and was super excited to receive an early copy of Under the Whispering Door. I think I was expecting this book to be like his last, but that is not the case. There is a much darker feel to this novel and while there are still humorous parts, it is a much more serious read. It talks a lot about death and religion and the religious aspect wasn’t something I was expecting. This is definitely an emotional read as well which I knew would be coming, and it is very character-driven as opposed to plot-driven. The characters are fantastic and very well written, so they do a perfect job of supporting the book and carrying it along. I loved almost every single one of the characters and even Wallace grew on me very quickly. It was wonderful seeing the change in him after he died thanks to Hugo, and his growth by the end of the book was very heartwarming.
The audiobook is narrated by Kirt Graves who I thought was an excellent choice for the viewpoint of Wallace. He was spot on for both tone and emotion and I was especially happy I listened to this thanks to the slower pace. I did think Under the Whispering Door drug in parts and I would find myself tuning out which didn’t happen with The House in the Cerulean Sea. This is really the only thing I had an issue with and the main reason I didn’t end up giving the book a 5/5 (I gave it a 4/5). I seem to be in the minority here as not many reviews mention this, so I definitely think you need to pick it up and read it for yourself. Besides the slow parts, I really loved this book, and I am such a fan of Klune’s writing style which never disappoints. The end was of course complete perfection, and I also love that Klune involves queer characters. You really can’t go wrong with Under the Whispering Door and I will be recommending it to whoever will listen.
Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
I received an audio version from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. Honestly, if this had been a paper or e book, I wouldn’t have finished it. I also didn’t like the narrator’s rather unusual voice for Wallace and as the narrator though his voices for the other characters were fine. Since it was an audiobook and was stored on my tablet, it was just easy to start when I got back in the car and to carry while walking to work. Essentially, sheer laziness got me to finish it. The occasional pause followed by the rare amusing comment kept me going. It reminded me of the tv show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Sometimes the the little, almost after thought “bon mots” at the end (usually said by Spike) were better than the entire episode.
The book was slow and rather boring with familiar tropes retold in a slightly different way in an unusual tea shop setting. Truthfully, the setting could have been anywhere for all the teashop added to the story. Basically, like A Christmas Carol, an unpleasant person realizes what a jerk they’d been and changes for the better. The last 20% did move a long better and there was nice resolution for all the characters.
I read Cerulean Sea and saw a lot of similarities. Wondering if all the author’s works have the same basic set up with a main male LGBTQ character that lives a less than ideal life, is forced to be around others and comes to realize what he’s been missing and decides to make a change.
So, I felt the book was OK when I finished it due to the occasional use of humor to liven things up, the extra segments which made the story more involved than A Christmas Story and the satisfactory wrap up, but I don’t know of anyone I’d say, “Read this, you’ll enjoy it.”
Please be ready with a box of tissues as you ready. TJ’s beautiful writing holds nothing back in this wonderfully brilliant story of grief, death, and love.
TJ Klune novels provide a truly unique reading experience, from the title and cover to the quirky cast of characters. This is certainly true of Under the Whispering Door, the author’s newest novel. It tells a story centered in death and grief. This difficult, often taboo, topic is addressed as only TJ Klune can.
Main character Wallace Price, a workaholic attorney, dies unexpectedly and is shocked when a reaper transports him from his funeral to a cozy tea shop nestled in the mountains, run by Hugo. The people he encounters there (living and dead) will change him far beyond his expectations.
The storyline swings from sad, heavy sections to farcical interludes, such as Wallace attempting to change his clothing. While these abrupt changes in tone take some readers out of the story, I feel they provide a “relief valve” to the tension and weight of the primary subject. As an avid tea drinker, I really appreciated the role tea played in this story.
My feelings about this book are very similar to those for The House on the Cerulean Sea: this wasn’t an outstanding read for me personally, but I’m so thankful it exists for people for whom this is a life-changing, life-affirming read. While my beliefs about death and what comes after don’t align with those in this novel, I hope this will provide comfort and peace to other readers.
The audiobook narration of Kirt Graves expertly led me through this long and emotional novel. His range of distinct voices made it easy to track the cast of characters.
Thank you to Macmillar Audio and NetGalley for the review copy of the audiobook.