Scan barcode
moond4ncer's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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 heartwarming, reflective read. Make the most of your time!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Misogyny, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Car accident, Death of parent, and Murder
nikimorr's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
5.0
Yes, it is true, TJ Klune’s books feel like a warm hug.
I was skeptical at first starting this book. Wallace, the main character, starts out comically unlikeable. I was unsure I would be able to take the book seriously with just how non relatable Wallace starts out. But boy did he and all the rest of the characters worm their way into my heart.
Each character played a special role. It is hard to encompass each one in just a few words. Mei was by far my favorite - a big heart with all the sass. Hugo is like the definition of a safe space in a person. Reading about this group, a family found amongst each other, makes you want to venture out in the forest and find your people. The setting is just as special as the characters - a unique shop with rows of tea plants set out amongst a beautiful forest. We never really know where the town is, but it feels like peace just reading about it. Although the shop is where all the characters must stay, the home is filled with pictures of far away places. An appreciation for the great, big world from one little corner.
This book has such a unique take on death and what happens next. After death comes a reaper and ferryman who each help the dead accept and cross to what is next. Almost more than I hope death leads to this tea shop do I wish my dog is there waiting and helping just like Apollo. The addition of the dog was so relatable - our pets are just as important as our fellow human family members.
The book was full of thoughtful commentary on death, some I got too stuck on. But really, it is what it is. We live the life we live and it will all eventually come to an end. What we do with our time, particularly helping others have a bit of an easier journey, is what matters at the end.
There is a bit of a love story between someone living and someone dead and I loved this angle. Love despite a huge disconnect, despite not being able to touch, was beautiful.
I am not entirely happy with the ending. I almost think him moving on would have been more symbolic than getting the chance to stay. When the end comes, death, the chance to redo is gone and there’s no going back. All the what ifs are gone.
I was skeptical at first starting this book. Wallace, the main character, starts out comically unlikeable. I was unsure I would be able to take the book seriously with just how non relatable Wallace starts out. But boy did he and all the rest of the characters worm their way into my heart.
Each character played a special role. It is hard to encompass each one in just a few words. Mei was by far my favorite - a big heart with all the sass. Hugo is like the definition of a safe space in a person. Reading about this group, a family found amongst each other, makes you want to venture out in the forest and find your people. The setting is just as special as the characters - a unique shop with rows of tea plants set out amongst a beautiful forest. We never really know where the town is, but it feels like peace just reading about it. Although the shop is where all the characters must stay, the home is filled with pictures of far away places. An appreciation for the great, big world from one little corner.
This book has such a unique take on death and what happens next. After death comes a reaper and ferryman who each help the dead accept and cross to what is next. Almost more than I hope death leads to this tea shop do I wish my dog is there waiting and helping just like Apollo. The addition of the dog was so relatable - our pets are just as important as our fellow human family members.
The book was full of thoughtful commentary on death, some I got too stuck on. But really, it is what it is. We live the life we live and it will all eventually come to an end. What we do with our time, particularly helping others have a bit of an easier journey, is what matters at the end.
There is a bit of a love story between someone living and someone dead and I loved this angle. Love despite a huge disconnect, despite not being able to touch, was beautiful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Medical trauma
Moderate: Suicide, Car accident, and Death of parent
basil_touche's review against another edition
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
2.75
I have to admit, I probably had my expectations for this book set too high after reading The House in the Cerulean Sea. The premise of a tea shop being a waiting room between life & death was intriguing, and I was interested to see how Wallace would develop into a better person before vanishing from the mortal coil.
However, I think my main problem with this book is that Wallace's development doesn't feel earned. He changes his ways quite rapidly once he's in the tea shop and it's not really shown in enough depth for my liking. This in turn made his romance with ferryman Hugo just feel forced, I felt as though other characters or the narrative kept pointing out they had feelings for each other and I just didn't really care if they got together or not.
There was also some pacing issues as while the first few chapters were great at setting up the narrative, after they arrived at the tea shop not much happened and it became a slog up until 150 pages in, to which it picked up again for a few chapters before dipping again. I also don't like how some of the side characters were written (Desdemona and Harvey spring to mind) they felt rather one note and flat. Throughout the book I just kept wishing there was more things explored with the characters, sure they talk about grief in a personal way but it felt like they just kept repeating themselves after a point. It just felt too twee for my liking.
The ending really annoyed me too. I get it's nice to have second chances, but to bring back Wallace from the dead? I felt that it would have been more emotionally significant to have him pass but his time at the shop still changed everyone for the better. The idea of Wallace being a "special case", especially when his development felt rushed and undeserved didn't sit right with me and kinda underminds what I thought this story was trying to tell. I also really didn't like The Manager, instead of coming off as a god that's mysterious, he felt as though the narrative hadn't decided what his character was. I just found him annoying.
They were some aspects I did quite like, Nelson is my favourite character, love the idea of an old ghost who really doesn't care what other people think of him now but still cares deeply for his grandson and his friends. Cameron's story I thought was tragic and told in such an interesting way that it his exit from the narrative felt really satisfying. Also how when ghosts go through the door we're not shown what they see, only their reactions. Also Apollo the ghost dog, gotta love a ghost dog.
Again, maybe it's on me for setting my expectations to high for this. If you like Klune's other novels, you'll probably like this one. I'll still check out his other work, I just better tamper my expectations first.
However, I think my main problem with this book is that Wallace's development doesn't feel earned. He changes his ways quite rapidly once he's in the tea shop and it's not really shown in enough depth for my liking. This in turn made his romance with ferryman Hugo just feel forced, I felt as though other characters or the narrative kept pointing out they had feelings for each other and I just didn't really care if they got together or not.
There was also some pacing issues as while the first few chapters were great at setting up the narrative, after they arrived at the tea shop not much happened and it became a slog up until 150 pages in, to which it picked up again for a few chapters before dipping again. I also don't like how some of the side characters were written (Desdemona and Harvey spring to mind) they felt rather one note and flat. Throughout the book I just kept wishing there was more things explored with the characters, sure they talk about grief in a personal way but it felt like they just kept repeating themselves after a point. It just felt too twee for my liking.
They were some aspects I did quite like, Nelson is my favourite character, love the idea of an old ghost who really doesn't care what other people think of him now but still cares deeply for his grandson and his friends. Cameron's story I thought was tragic and told in such an interesting way that it his exit from the narrative felt really satisfying. Also how when ghosts go through the door we're not shown what they see, only their reactions. Also Apollo the ghost dog, gotta love a ghost dog.
Again, maybe it's on me for setting my expectations to high for this. If you like Klune's other novels, you'll probably like this one. I'll still check out his other work, I just better tamper my expectations first.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Car accident
erikagibson126's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
😭😭😭
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Gore, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death and Car accident
_13stars's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
tense
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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Cancer, Child death, Car accident, Death of parent, and Murder
ju_harue's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
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
5.0
"Se você viver o suficiente para aprender a amar alguém, conhecerá o luto em um momento ou outro. É assim que o mundo funciona."
E você TJ Klune, tem um jeito especial de de levar histórias tão importantes, marcantes pra nós, neste mundo. Termino chorando (que novidade kkkk).
Amei demais essa história, me pegou em assuntos sensíveis, mas o autor é muito especial, responsável na abordagem. Não tem como não ser mais um favorito do autor.
E você TJ Klune, tem um jeito especial de de levar histórias tão importantes, marcantes pra nós, neste mundo. Termino chorando (que novidade kkkk).
Amei demais essa história, me pegou em assuntos sensíveis, mas o autor é muito especial, responsável na abordagem. Não tem como não ser mais um favorito do autor.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Cancer, Child death, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Terminal illness, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Murder
lotoblanco's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Car accident, Death of parent, and Murder
sapphic_alpaca's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.5
Loved this. Loved the characters (Wallace and Nelson are a comedic duo). The plot was interesting and heartbreaking (teared up twice) and the ending felt like it wrapped it up nicely. The -0.5 is cause i thought the writing could of used more work, there were weird tone shifts in the first two-thirds and I found that the author didn’t really introduce the plot and the characters in the best way, felt very confused and disconnected until i started getting to know the characters and then i fell in love with them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Violence, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Animal death and Sexual content
jillianselene's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Animal death, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Death of parent
Minor: Child death and Car accident
raptorq's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, and Death of parent
Minor: Cancer, Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, Car accident, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail