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mrising1's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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
4.75
A little repetitive at times, but still excellently executed
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Minor: Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, and Infidelity
brdsk's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-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
3.5
This book opened with a very unpleasant character that I couldn't help but wish terrible things for. Wallace was a mix of truly nasty stereotypes of heartless business before anything else. When he died only a few pages in I felt mean satisfaction and glee. Normally such a boringly bad person with no empathy or concern for others would make me uninterested in the read or simply annoy me. This book managed to keep me hooked instead. As I got to know the lead and witness his journey I had to face my negative feelings towards him and my quick judgment in a way that I found interesting, and at times really touching.
Of course, ghosts alone were already a huge selling point for me, especially when presented as a diverse cast of characters that weren't identical copies of each other. At times whimsical and at times serious other characters (alive and dead) had nice backstories and some individual development to go through. I did enjoy most of them and was engaged, but ultimately I felt that many of them were too simple. Yes, each had strengths and flaws and a story to tell, but at times they still felt as if written for a pre-teen audience and almost too purposeful and structured... Perhaps that's not actually a bad thing though. I suppose I simply like characters with more chaotic and unexpected moments to them . Especially when reading a story that focuses on the exploration of the human nature.
This story deals with many serious subjects such as death (duh), mental health, trauma, suicide, murder, grief, divorce, acceptance, sexual orientation, and more. Many existential questions are explored, such as general morality, the purpose of life, redemption, the ideas of God and after life. Some of these subjects were heavy enough that the trigger warning at the beginning of the book felt absolutely justified. A few parts were hard enough to read that I needed my own calming tea breaks. However upon pushing through those I came out to the ultimately uplifting place that felt real but still full of hope. There were moments where the book veered into a slightly moralistic lane, but these platitudes worthy of Dumbledore did not sound empty to me as they were backed by the stories of the individual characters and their experiences, helping them gain depth. In addition, the skepticism and stubborn nature of the main character made such elements easier to process as he reflected my own desire to dismiss them until we both were ready to hear more.
The queer representation is something the author does in a really terrific way. Some characters were gay, some were bisexual, some addressed their experiences, some did not. Never did sexual orientation become their only identity. This was refreshing and is guaranteed to keep me reading more work by TJ Klune. A couple moments were mildly saucy, but never crude or explicit. Love is love, this book said. And I loved it for that as much as I loved it for the ghosts. (I have clear priorities, reader.)
I enjoyed the sweet and sarcastic humorous parts of the book, although by the end many such element have been repeated multiple times, making them less funny and less charming. It did not spoil the book, and I understand that it was helping balance out the serious themes, but it did feel less masterful than other parts of the book. The multiple references to the The House in the Cerulean Sea did make me smile each time as a lovely private nod to another book by TJ that I really loved.
The pacing of the book felt somewhat drawn out. I think it would have been a more powerful and purposeful novel at a somewhat shorter length. (Just like this review should have been.) In contrast to that, I felt really sad that a really cool and imaginative character I finally met close to the end got very little page time and was not explored in more depth.
Last but not least, I absolutely loved the scenery of the book. It was beautifully described and added a lot of atmosphere to the story. The stunning cover by Red Nose Studio is a true gem, and if I had any wall space left, I'd be getting a print of it.
VERDICT TIME.
Is this book worth attention? Yes. Are there flaws? Yes, especially some character depth and some pacing.
Should you read it? Consider how you handle triggering subjects mentioned above. If you are looking for a lighter read, try other books by this lovely author for now. Overall it manages these topics in a very tasteful manner and left me feeling good about life, but it was not always an easy path.
SECONDARY VERDICT.
As I write my reviews primarily for myself, I really should try to make them better organised and shorter. But I will not. At least not always. So there. >:)
Of course, ghosts alone were already a huge selling point for me, especially when presented as a diverse cast of characters that weren't identical copies of each other. At times whimsical and at times serious other characters (alive and dead) had nice backstories and some individual development to go through. I did enjoy most of them and was engaged, but ultimately I felt that many of them were too simple. Yes, each had strengths and flaws and a story to tell, but at times they still felt as if written for a pre-teen audience and almost too purposeful and structured... Perhaps that's not actually a bad thing though. I suppose I simply like characters with more chaotic and unexpected moments to them . Especially when reading a story that focuses on the exploration of the human nature.
This story deals with many serious subjects such as death (duh), mental health, trauma, suicide, murder, grief, divorce, acceptance, sexual orientation, and more. Many existential questions are explored, such as general morality, the purpose of life, redemption, the ideas of God and after life. Some of these subjects were heavy enough that the trigger warning at the beginning of the book felt absolutely justified. A few parts were hard enough to read that I needed my own calming tea breaks. However upon pushing through those I came out to the ultimately uplifting place that felt real but still full of hope. There were moments where the book veered into a slightly moralistic lane, but these platitudes worthy of Dumbledore did not sound empty to me as they were backed by the stories of the individual characters and their experiences, helping them gain depth. In addition, the skepticism and stubborn nature of the main character made such elements easier to process as he reflected my own desire to dismiss them until we both were ready to hear more.
The queer representation is something the author does in a really terrific way. Some characters were gay, some were bisexual, some addressed their experiences, some did not. Never did sexual orientation become their only identity. This was refreshing and is guaranteed to keep me reading more work by TJ Klune. A couple moments were mildly saucy, but never crude or explicit. Love is love, this book said. And I loved it for that as much as I loved it for the ghosts. (I have clear priorities, reader.)
I enjoyed the sweet and sarcastic humorous parts of the book, although by the end many such element have been repeated multiple times, making them less funny and less charming. It did not spoil the book, and I understand that it was helping balance out the serious themes, but it did feel less masterful than other parts of the book. The multiple references to the The House in the Cerulean Sea did make me smile each time as a lovely private nod to another book by TJ that I really loved.
The pacing of the book felt somewhat drawn out. I think it would have been a more powerful and purposeful novel at a somewhat shorter length. (Just like this review should have been.) In contrast to that, I felt really sad that a really cool and imaginative character I finally met close to the end got very little page time and was not explored in more depth.
Last but not least, I absolutely loved the scenery of the book. It was beautifully described and added a lot of atmosphere to the story. The stunning cover by Red Nose Studio is a true gem, and if I had any wall space left, I'd be getting a print of it.
VERDICT TIME.
Is this book worth attention? Yes. Are there flaws? Yes, especially some character depth and some pacing.
Should you read it? Consider how you handle triggering subjects mentioned above. If you are looking for a lighter read, try other books by this lovely author for now. Overall it manages these topics in a very tasteful manner and left me feeling good about life, but it was not always an easy path.
SECONDARY VERDICT.
As I write my reviews primarily for myself, I really should try to make them better organised and shorter. But I will not. At least not always. So there. >:)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Mental illness, and Murder
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, and Terminal illness
Minor: Animal death, Cancer, Car accident, Child death, Death of parent, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Terminal illness
catherineduplessis's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I really liked the dry tone at the very start of this book. I would’ve wanted more, but the main character quickly softened. I was expecting a book full of flahbacks that would turn into lessons and I got a little bit of that, but the focus quickly shift toward the romance. Not a bad one, but not a great one either. There was a lack of depth in the evolution of their feelings in my opinion.
I predicted the very end of the story, but one part really took me by surprise.
If the synopsis speaks to you, I would still recommend it, but be aware that it is a romance in a fantasy world more that anything. (Still a cute book though!) (And the cover is 👌🏻)
I predicted the very end of the story, but one part really took me by surprise.
If the synopsis speaks to you, I would still recommend it, but be aware that it is a romance in a fantasy world more that anything. (Still a cute book though!) (And the cover is 👌🏻)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide
Minor: Animal death and Infidelity
purplatypus's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Grief, Mental illness, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Suicide, and Violence
Minor: Animal death, Infidelity, and Sexual content
nickoliver's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Unfortunately, I didn't particularly enjoy most of this book. It got better and more interesting towards the end, but the first half of the book was just boring, and nothing really happened. The main character's journey from self-absorbed asshole to a good person who cared about others wasn't clear enough for me, and I generally didn't particularly care about him in the first place?
Like I said, the second half was a bit better. More things happened, and seeing Wallace help several other people move on made me tear up a little. Plus, I'm starting to learn that I really enjoy the way Klune writes about characters being infatuated with each other, and that he doesn't seem to just focus on the romance. I was going to give this book 2 stars for the longest time, but the second half made me raise it to 3 stars.
Like I said, the second half was a bit better. More things happened, and seeing Wallace help several other people move on made me tear up a little. Plus, I'm starting to learn that I really enjoy the way Klune writes about characters being infatuated with each other, and that he doesn't seem to just focus on the romance. I was going to give this book 2 stars for the longest time, but the second half made me raise it to 3 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent, Child death, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Murder, Suicide, Infidelity, Terminal illness, and Violence
davidrb's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
3.5
A nuanced look at grief and how you can grieve for your own life and what could have happened bogged down by some wild tone shifting at key moments and awkwardly written bits. Overall very good, if flawed. I don't know if I'll ever get used to queer relationships being written with such love and tenderness. I didn't know I was allowed to be this happy.
There's one absolutely devastating scene towards the end that I will think about for ages.
There's one absolutely devastating scene towards the end that I will think about for ages.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Cancer, Car accident, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Mind the content warnings at the very beginning, particularly for suicide!allisonwonderlandreads's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
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
3.0
TJ Klune really knows how to conjure a fantastical setting, cozy and dreamlike. This book takes us to Charon's Crossing Tea and Treats. Our protagonist, Wallace, is a modern but also timeless reincarnation of Ebenezer Scrooge, a workaholic that cares nothing for his own joy or that of anyone else whose livelihoods are held in his hands. And now he's dead.
Death stories make me nervous because if done well, I will be a sobbing wreck of a human (see: the time I watched Coco or the series finale of The Good Place). This was an odd one for me because I went in with that expectation and instead found a relatively peaceful read. This is not to say someone else might not be triggered by it.
At the start, it's slow-paced, trying to be philosophical, laying down long-form metaphors or hitting you upside the head with not-so-subtle subtext about dying. Everyone is so careful with Wallace when he reaches the tea shop. I appreciate the respect for boundaries and space for vulnerability, but all the tip-toeing sure dragged things out. Everyone is quick to phrase him for basic human actions that frankly I wouldn't even categorize as skills, i.e. admitting you don't know something, asking a question, caring about someone other than yourself, remembering you're dead. It picked up in the second half once Wallace has settled in. More characters are introduced and new sources of external conflict arrive to shake things up.
My favorite character was Nelson, a mischievous, ghostly grandfather. I laughed out loud at some of the ghosts' haunting pranks and general mayhem. So even though it didn't exactly hit me in the feels, I still enjoyed some of the sillier moments. I think if you like a pleasant read, are a fan of the author, like fantasy with a tender-hearted queer love story (mlm, in this case), or like your books with some direct philosophical pondering, this might be a good pick for you. Thanks to Tor and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!
Death stories make me nervous because if done well, I will be a sobbing wreck of a human (see: the time I watched Coco or the series finale of The Good Place). This was an odd one for me because I went in with that expectation and instead found a relatively peaceful read. This is not to say someone else might not be triggered by it.
At the start, it's slow-paced, trying to be philosophical, laying down long-form metaphors or hitting you upside the head with not-so-subtle subtext about dying. Everyone is so careful with Wallace when he reaches the tea shop. I appreciate the respect for boundaries and space for vulnerability, but all the tip-toeing sure dragged things out. Everyone is quick to phrase him for basic human actions that frankly I wouldn't even categorize as skills, i.e. admitting you don't know something, asking a question, caring about someone other than yourself, remembering you're dead. It picked up in the second half once Wallace has settled in. More characters are introduced and new sources of external conflict arrive to shake things up.
My favorite character was Nelson, a mischievous, ghostly grandfather. I laughed out loud at some of the ghosts' haunting pranks and general mayhem. So even though it didn't exactly hit me in the feels, I still enjoyed some of the sillier moments. I think if you like a pleasant read, are a fan of the author, like fantasy with a tender-hearted queer love story (mlm, in this case), or like your books with some direct philosophical pondering, this might be a good pick for you. Thanks to Tor and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Death of parent, and Grief
Minor: Cancer, Car accident, Infidelity, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide
rini's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Cancer, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide
Moderate: Car accident, Infidelity, and Terminal illness
Minor: Racism
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