Reviews

Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune

scorttarius's review against another edition

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emotional funny 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 was equal parts funny as it was sad. Although I knew this book was death, it was so sad and heartbreaking but heartwarming at the same time. Every character was  amazing and I found myself wanting to be in the tea shop with them. Such beautiful heartfelt messages all throughout. TJ Klune can do no wrong in my eyes 

ctyree's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny

4.0

andzoidberg's review against another edition

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4.0

crying in the club rn, this was so good

sammymantis's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring 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

Can't give it a full 5 stars because it is so similar to The House In The Cerulean Sea with the romance and general development of the book. And I loved The House In the Cerulean Sea, but would have loved to see something more different in this one.

hercomfortbooks's review against another edition

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5.0

“No matter what you do, no matter what kind of life you live, good or bad or somewhere in between, it’s always going to be waiting for you. From the moment you’re born, you’re dying.”

Done reading and It's was so sweet and fun.
I really really loved this book omg I'm so emotional right now. One of the best fantasy book I've read so far.

brigidridge's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

cmryan's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

markchavez's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

novelheartbeat's review against another edition

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3.0



3.5/5

I'm sad that I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as Cerulean Sea. But it was still good! I enjoyed the narration in this book, too, but again, it wasn't as lovely as CS. I wish I'd read this one first, because I couldn't help but compare it to that!

It still had the same quirky prose that I adored in CS, though, and Klune's writing is just SO QUOTABLE. This book felt very poignant to me, with the subject matter being death and grief. I lost my dad in 2020, so there were so many quotes that hit really hard for me. I'm gonna drop a few of them here!
"It's never enough, is it? Time. We always think we have so much of it. But when it really counts, we don't have enough at all."
"It's easy to let yourself spiral and fall."
"It is," Nelson agreed. "But it's what you do to pull yourself out of it that matters most."
"It's your life. It's what you make of it. No, it's not always fair. No, it's not always good. It burns and tears, and there are times where it crushes you beyond recognition. Some people fight against it. Others...can't, though I don't think they can be blamed for that. Giving up is easy, picking yourself up isn't. But we have to believe if we do, we can take another step."
"I can't wait to see them again. To hold my son's face in my hands, and tell him how proud I am of him. We think we have time for such things, but there's never enough for all we should have said."

Honestly though, I was a little disappointed in the ending. Which is why this is 3.5/5 instead of 4/5.
SpoilerThe WHOLE BOOK harps about how it's not possible to bring someone back to life, that it's just not done...I hate when a book breaks its own rules. I wanted Wallace and Hugo to be together, but that is sooo not what I was thinking. And honestly? Part of me kind of WANTED heartbreak. I enjoy HEAs, but give me a realistic, heartbreaking ending that will crush me so badly I'll never forget it over a HEA any day. (I'm a masochist, what can I say...it's why Jay Kristoff is my fave author *shrugs*)


Also side note: I LOVE MEI.


This review was originally posted on Novel Heartbeat. To see a breakdown of my assessment, please visit the full review here.

eepemma's review against another edition

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challenging emotional inspiring mysterious 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

3.75