a_kt's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A beautiful, heart wrenching, and cathartic story. TJ Klune really outdid himself with this one. A very interest and introspective take on life and how we can learn from the lives of those around us. I cried no less than 4 times while reading this book.
The one thing keeping it from a 5/5 was the ending. I understand why it went the direction it did, but a small part of me wishes it would have ended differently. See below for spoilers.
The one thing keeping it from a 5/5 was the ending. I understand why it went the direction it did, but a small part of me wishes it would have ended differently. See below for spoilers.
Spoiler
I really think Wallace should have gone through the door at the end. I know everyone loves a happy ending, but it seemed to kind of undo all of the work of the whole story up until that point. He learned to let go, to make peace, and to cherish the time he had. Bringing him back to life even in his "changed" state just fell flat a little for me. Still enjoyed it immensely though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Murder, Suicide, and Child death
Minor: Animal death and Panic attacks/disorders
niliii's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book made me cry in the very best way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Child death, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Sexual harassment, Suicide, and Panic attacks/disorders
hannaemilia's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Animal death
space_funk's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Murder, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Child death and Death of parent
egmoo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Suicide
queer_bookwyrm's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
5 ⭐ CW: death, grief, suicide mention, murder mention, anxiety/panic attacks
Under the Whispering Door is the second T.J. Klune book I've read, and just like The House in the Cerulean Sea, this book has my entire heart! I loved this so much. I don't think I've ever smiled and laughed so much while reading a book.
We follow Wallace, a grumpy, selfish, and sometimes cruel man, who dies suddenly from a heart attack. Wallace finds himself to be a ghost now and witnesses his very dismal funeral until he is brought to a tea shop by a Reaper named Mei. The tea shop, Charon's Tea and Treats, is a way station for spirits as they make their way to what is after. The ferryman, Hugo is in charge of helping them get there.
Wallace realizes that he never really lived his life, instead he overworked himself, had no friends, and a failed marriage. It's at Charon's that Wallace finally starts to grow and change to be a better person. Instead of being callous, selfish, and cruel, Wallace becomes empathetic, compassionate, and selfless. It took dying for Wallace to appreciate life and the impact of having people around you that love you.
This book is a master class of character growth. Wallace becomes truly likable, and you grow to root for him. Nelson is definitely my favorite character though. I'm a sucker for a devious old man with a sense of humor. Klune has an excellent way of writing curmudgeonly, emotionally stunted men who slowly fall in love with a quirky, compassionate man. He gives us a lot of themes to chew on around life, death, grief, and the power of found family and patience.
This book was 80% laughs and 20% tears. It sort of reminded me of the CBS show Ghosts, but with more emphasis on the introspection of life and death and what it means to let go and move on even when we're afraid of the unknown. We also get bi, gay, black, and Asian rep. Go read this book.
Under the Whispering Door is the second T.J. Klune book I've read, and just like The House in the Cerulean Sea, this book has my entire heart! I loved this so much. I don't think I've ever smiled and laughed so much while reading a book.
We follow Wallace, a grumpy, selfish, and sometimes cruel man, who dies suddenly from a heart attack. Wallace finds himself to be a ghost now and witnesses his very dismal funeral until he is brought to a tea shop by a Reaper named Mei. The tea shop, Charon's Tea and Treats, is a way station for spirits as they make their way to what is after. The ferryman, Hugo is in charge of helping them get there.
Wallace realizes that he never really lived his life, instead he overworked himself, had no friends, and a failed marriage. It's at Charon's that Wallace finally starts to grow and change to be a better person. Instead of being callous, selfish, and cruel, Wallace becomes empathetic, compassionate, and selfless. It took dying for Wallace to appreciate life and the impact of having people around you that love you.
This book is a master class of character growth. Wallace becomes truly likable, and you grow to root for him. Nelson is definitely my favorite character though. I'm a sucker for a devious old man with a sense of humor. Klune has an excellent way of writing curmudgeonly, emotionally stunted men who slowly fall in love with a quirky, compassionate man. He gives us a lot of themes to chew on around life, death, grief, and the power of found family and patience.
This book was 80% laughs and 20% tears. It sort of reminded me of the CBS show Ghosts, but with more emphasis on the introspection of life and death and what it means to let go and move on even when we're afraid of the unknown. We also get bi, gay, black, and Asian rep. Go read this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Murder and Suicide
aroseb's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Suicide, Death of parent, Child death, and Terminal illness
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
bratlingling's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Wonderfully heartwarming and inspiring story about love and death and (found) family and tea. Some character developments seemed a bit quick but otherwise i loved this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Child death and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Suicide, and Death of parent
Even though the main characters are openly queer, there is no homophobia in this fictional world, which was surprisingly refreshing Obviously death is a very big topic in this book but I think it deals with it quite well and in a way that does not claim to know all the answers and explanations but rather like a hug, with kind and patient words and a vision of hopeannab41319's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
TJ Klune never misses! 😭 This tender, beautiful, hilarious, haunting book is just everything. It deals with heavy topics of grief and death in such a sensitive, moving, and deeply human way. It is also so much goddamn funnier than it has any right to be 😂 A masterpiece!! ❤️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, and Grief
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Death of parent
Minor: Child death, Murder, Homophobia, and Violence
cylite's review against another edition
reflective
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I am so gutted by this story. It was exactly what I needed when it came into my life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Suicide
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Murder
Minor: Death of parent and Terminal illness