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ceelo1581's review against another edition
This book began as a sweet, often hilarious novel that would take the reader on an unexpected journey through death.
I had a difficult time with Wallace’s transition from living to death. He began as this character that was easy to dislike, rough and rude, all business. I wanted to see a little bit of that in the afterlife too, at least when he first realized he was no longer living. But he almost instantaneously became this submissive and emotional guy who wanted to share his feelings with anyone and everyone, and I did not find it completely believable. (I say that as someone who hasn’t quite experienced death yet, so maybe that isn’t a fair characterization.).
The first few chapters were fantastic, and I could not wait to read more. However, it really began to drag at about a quarter of the way through. The constant dialogue was exhausting. The premise of a great story was there, but it kept lagging and never really made it to its full potential. I expected to see more flashback scenes to Wallace’s life (e.g. with his mom and the peppermint candy canes) because that was where the magic seemed to be.
Some of the characters were fantastic. Nelson and Mei were my favorites. Others just seemed to be filler characters and were never developed in a way that made them stand out (Cameron, the Manager, Desdemona). Their contributions did not add to the storyline at all. Also, I thought that the hook and cable was a bit odd.
Some of the characters were fantastic. Nelson and Mei were my favorites. Others just seemed to be filler characters and were never developed in a way that made them stand out (Cameron, the Manager, Desdemona). Their contributions did not add to the storyline at all. Also, I thought that the hook and cable was a bit odd.
The romance factor also just came out of left field. The flirting between two of the characters was weird and awkward. There was zero chemistry between the two of them, so it really detracted from the story overall. I understand that the author wants to paint LGBTQ in a positive light, but this missed the mark.
I gave it my best shot, but when I found myself dreading picking it up, I knew it was time to move on to something else.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, and Murder
marta_v's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
- 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
✨Ciertamente un libro que no pensaba leer, pero que gracias al club de lectura de Bibliotecas Arcoiris le he dado una oportunidad. La llorera que me pegué leyendo el último 25-30% del libro no me la esperaba.
✨Una historia sobre la muerte, sobre aprender a ser mejor persona y de cómo todo ello nos afecta a nosotras mismas y a aquellas personas que nos rodean. Mis aplausos a quien lo haya traducido, porque aunque no lo he leído en inglés, todo el sarcasmo, la ironía, la alegría y la desesperanza de los personajes te atraviesan igual que si lo hubieses leído en versión original, algo que no siempre sucede con las traducciones.
✨¿Por qué un 4,5 en vez de un 5? Desde que me dijeron (ajam ajam) que los 5 se reservaban para historias que te han cambiado la vida, soy algo más tacaña con mis 5 estrellas, aunque antes las repartía bastante frecuentemente. No son 5 porque a pesar de haberme gustado mucho, al principio le faltaba un je-ne-sais-quoi para engancharme (que al final sí lo tenía).
✨No creo que lo vaya a volver a leer, porque realmente lloré muchísimo, y no creo que me apetezca volver a pasar por ello, pero quién sabe. Quizás más adelante lo vuelva a leer y lo vea de otra manera.
✨Una historia sobre la muerte, sobre aprender a ser mejor persona y de cómo todo ello nos afecta a nosotras mismas y a aquellas personas que nos rodean. Mis aplausos a quien lo haya traducido, porque aunque no lo he leído en inglés, todo el sarcasmo, la ironía, la alegría y la desesperanza de los personajes te atraviesan igual que si lo hubieses leído en versión original, algo que no siempre sucede con las traducciones.
✨¿Por qué un 4,5 en vez de un 5? Desde que me dijeron (ajam ajam) que los 5 se reservaban para historias que te han cambiado la vida, soy algo más tacaña con mis 5 estrellas, aunque antes las repartía bastante frecuentemente. No son 5 porque a pesar de haberme gustado mucho, al principio le faltaba un je-ne-sais-quoi para engancharme (que al final sí lo tenía).
✨No creo que lo vaya a volver a leer, porque realmente lloré muchísimo, y no creo que me apetezca volver a pasar por ello, pero quién sabe. Quizás más adelante lo vuelva a leer y lo vea de otra manera.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, and Death of parent
molly918's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Suicide, Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
sgpartyhat's review against another edition
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
4.75
Wallace Price is a bit of an asshole. Okay, a lot of an asshole.
That is, until, he dies.
TJ Klune's Under the Whispering Door asks: what if when you died, you stopped at a tea shop on the way to whatever's next? That's just what Wallace does, shepherded by a reaper and a ferryman, and none too happily at that. But death has a way of changing people--the dead most of all.
Klune spins a tapestry of warm tea and warmer conversations, of love and loss and grief and fear and the occasional Eldritch being as old as time itself. His characters are imperfect, messy, and a comforting reminder that we are, too. His romance writing is loudly quiet and beautifully crafted, glowing embers and a raging fire all rolled up into one. His worldbuilding is whimsical and grand, and while it's looser than some of the fantasy I've read, that feels fitting for the story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, and Murder
Many of the characters in the book are dead, so their deaths affect the story.bamcd9's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Child death, Suicide, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Cancer and Mental illness
vampymary's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
That was.. just wow
Maybe it’s because I know he wrote it with a very personal note. But it felt really personal.. raw.. so full of emotion.. and yet still light hearted enough not to feel depressed whilst reading it.
Loved every bit of it…
Maybe it’s because I know he wrote it with a very personal note. But it felt really personal.. raw.. so full of emotion.. and yet still light hearted enough not to feel depressed whilst reading it.
Loved every bit of it…
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Child death and Death of parent
Minor: Cancer, Suicide, and Murder
petra_eller's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Cancer, Child death, Death, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Murder
makbrandt's review against another edition
challenging
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? It's complicated
4.0
I didn’t enjoy this book as much as House in the Cerulean Sea, but I did still enjoy it. I sobbed through the last 1/4, and a book hasn’t done that to me in a longgggg time.
Didn’t appreciate the shade towards cats, though.
Didn’t appreciate the shade towards cats, though.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Grief, and Murder
ladythana's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Suicide, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Murder
_fathimanourin1234_'s review against another edition
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
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? N/A
5.0
I loooooovvvveeeee thisssss book......🩷🩷
TJ klune never disappoints. He always made me cry while I read his book. I always stared at the wall after finishing his books. I always wished there was a sequel (for standalones) for that particular book. Same goes here.
This is the best. I enjoyed this book from the very first page to the last page. I'm glad I bought this book and I read it.
There are so many quotable sentences or paragraphs in this book. And that paragraphs or sentences always made sense. There are so many funny scenarios and also so many emotional scenarios. Especially at the final few chapters. I always teared up. And I cried after finishing this book.
All the characters - Wallace, Hugo, Mei, Nelson, Apollo etc... They were very loving and kind and cute and also sassy at the same time. There are other side characters in this book as they are as important as the main characters, all of them are not likeable. But most of them are loveable. Someone of them,who are already dead, will make your heart tear into pieces just by hearing their story.
And the final chapters, there were so many twists and turns, I wish I could say out loud, but I can't because it will be spoilers.I cried when Apollo and Nelson crossed the door. I wept hard. I wanted them to stay a little longer. But as hugo and wallace said, that may felt like home or they felt like they are free. We don't know anything.
I wish there were a sequel. Delving into more of Hugo's and Wallace's love story, they being lovey dovey, and also more about Mei. And more new guests.
I Wishhhh...
Anyways... Thank you TJ Klune fo writing this book..
Goodbye Wallace & Hugo, Mei, Nelson, Apollo, & Charon's Crossing..
TJ klune never disappoints. He always made me cry while I read his book. I always stared at the wall after finishing his books. I always wished there was a sequel (for standalones) for that particular book. Same goes here.
This is the best. I enjoyed this book from the very first page to the last page. I'm glad I bought this book and I read it.
There are so many quotable sentences or paragraphs in this book. And that paragraphs or sentences always made sense. There are so many funny scenarios and also so many emotional scenarios. Especially at the final few chapters. I always teared up. And I cried after finishing this book.
All the characters - Wallace, Hugo, Mei, Nelson, Apollo etc... They were very loving and kind and cute and also sassy at the same time. There are other side characters in this book as they are as important as the main characters, all of them are not likeable. But most of them are loveable. Someone of them,
And the final chapters, there were so many twists and turns, I wish I could say out loud, but I can't because it will be spoilers.
I wish there were a sequel. Delving into more of Hugo's and Wallace's love story, they being lovey dovey, and also more about Mei. And more new guests.
I Wishhhh...
Anyways... Thank you TJ Klune fo writing this book..
Goodbye Wallace & Hugo, Mei, Nelson, Apollo, & Charon's Crossing..
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Child death, Chronic illness, and Mental illness