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babybabayaga's review against another edition
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Animal death, Death of parent, and Death
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, Mental illness, Child death, Murder, Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Death of parent, Grief, Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Car accident
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, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, and Suicide
Minor: Child death and Car accident
librosydragones's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Minor: Child death
larbster90'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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Suicide, Death of parent, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Animal death, Body horror, and Terminal illness
brighteyed's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
3.75
a very cute book! despite the tropes it often uses, the plot overall feels fresh and the characters are lovable. some passages were absolutely beautiful.
however, i feel like the climax of the plot was the weakest point.
(spoilers)
the negotiation and final deal the main characters made with the manager made didn’t fully make sense, and it felt artificial and awkward that wallace got a second chance at being alive. it felt shoehorned in just so he could be happy with hugo, but i feel like it was antithetical to the novel’s themes of death, grief, and moving on. i think it might have been more impactful and a more cohesive plot if wallace stayed a ghost.
(end spoiler)
i also feel like wallace’s character development throughout the book was a little rough and could have been fleshed out more. it didn’t seem to give much of a reason for wallace being an asshole other than being work-focused, but then didn’t dive deeper than that. suddenly, wallace became a loving and affectionate person. i think because of that, his relationship with hugo also feels a little bit forced.
however, i feel like the climax of the plot was the weakest point.
(spoilers)
the negotiation and final deal the main characters made with the manager made didn’t fully make sense, and it felt artificial and awkward that wallace got a second chance at being alive. it felt shoehorned in just so he could be happy with hugo, but i feel like it was antithetical to the novel’s themes of death, grief, and moving on. i think it might have been more impactful and a more cohesive plot if wallace stayed a ghost.
(end spoiler)
i also feel like wallace’s character development throughout the book was a little rough and could have been fleshed out more. it didn’t seem to give much of a reason for wallace being an asshole other than being work-focused, but then didn’t dive deeper than that. suddenly, wallace became a loving and affectionate person. i think because of that, his relationship with hugo also feels a little bit forced.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Animal death, Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
hcop's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
Slow to start but overall a wonderful book with lovable characters. Made me take a look at my own relationship with grief and death, and even current relationships with the people in my life. TJ Klune does a wonderful job crafting stories full of detailed scenes, with this and AHitCS, I had real pictures in my mind without trying to force them. I laughed, cried, and would read it again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, and Child death
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, Animal death, and Murder
aecoralie'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
this book felt like this moment at a funeral when you talk with your loved ones and keep the one who left a little longer at your side <3
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, Suicide attempt, Child death, Suicide, Animal death, and Suicidal thoughts
ohyeah_karyn's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Grief, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Car accident, Medical content, and Self harm
sarah_shelf's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
4.0
Once again a fantastic book by TJ Klune. His narrators and characters all have such vibrant personalities. As soon as I started I knew I was going to love Wallace as much as I hated him because yes he’s awful in the beginning, but he has such a distinctive voice as well. I was having such fun with the characters I completely forgot about the week-long deadline until it shows up near the end (minor spoiler, I guess?) So much of this book is Wallace learning and growing, making connections with Hugo and Nelson and Mei, and adapting to the day-to-day life of Charon’s Crossing. There isn’t much of a plot until the back end of the book and usually that drives me crazy. But I enjoyed this book so much I hardly noticed (though once I did, the tension, questions, and emotional turmoil from the plot kicking in made up for my ensuing apprehension.)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Death
Minor: Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Blood, and Child death