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carlyoc's review
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? Yes
4.0
"The first time you share tea you are a stranger. The second time you share tea you are an honored guest. And the third time you share tea you become family." This saying from the Balti people plays a central role in the book, as does tea itself. Be sure to have a mug handy while you read!
I would call this a cozy read if it didn't tackle such heavy topics as grief and death acceptance.
Other themes include found family and second chances.
Wallace Price was a selfish, uncaring person in life. In death, he learns to be kind, be empathetic, and do good, thanks to the influences of a found family who work at a tea shop that acts as a transition point for ghosts moving on to the next world.
First, he meets Mei, a reaper who collects him from his own funeral as he watches his ex-wife revel in his death and his old coworkers fake the appropriate amount of mourning. Mei was born with the ability to see and touch ghosts, which aids her as she brings Wallace to the tea house to meet Hugo, the Ferryman. Hugo's job is to talk to the ghosts over a steaming cup of tea chosen specially to bring out soothing childhood memories. He reassures them that the next world is nothing to fear and lead them over the threshold (or more literally through a trap door in the ceiling of the tea shop's fourth floor). But Wallace is not prepared to go. He has so much growth and learning left to do as he spends weeks haunting the tea house and getting to know its occupants.
I would call this a cozy read if it didn't tackle such heavy topics as grief and death acceptance.
Other themes include found family and second chances.
Wallace Price was a selfish, uncaring person in life. In death, he learns to be kind, be empathetic, and do good, thanks to the influences of a found family who work at a tea shop that acts as a transition point for ghosts moving on to the next world.
First, he meets Mei, a reaper who collects him from his own funeral as he watches his ex-wife revel in his death and his old coworkers fake the appropriate amount of mourning. Mei was born with the ability to see and touch ghosts, which aids her as she brings Wallace to the tea house to meet Hugo, the Ferryman. Hugo's job is to talk to the ghosts over a steaming cup of tea chosen specially to bring out soothing childhood memories. He reassures them that the next world is nothing to fear and lead them over the threshold (or more literally through a trap door in the ceiling of the tea shop's fourth floor). But Wallace is not prepared to go. He has so much growth and learning left to do as he spends weeks haunting the tea house and getting to know its occupants.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Gun violence, Suicide, Death of parent, Murder, Child death, and Death
augustar14's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
You have to read more than the first chapter or two of this book to say you really gave it a try. Wallace, simply put, was a horrible person. He wasn't nice to anyone, nor did he care about those around him, yet he's surprised and angry when no one shows up to his funeral. He has unfinished business; he can't be dead. But, he is, and now he's off to the ferryman's place, where he must stay until he's ready to pass over. But he won't be happy about it, nor will he let the ferryman in, no matter how nice the guy might be, or attractive, or how wonderful his tea is...
A beautifully written story about life, but particularly what comes after. How we cope with the impact our lives had on others, and how grief impacts each person differently. About letting go, holding on, and the steps in between. You won't love Wallace at first, but by the end I think you might feel differently. I certainly did. And it's probably worth keeping a tissue box nearby.
A beautifully written story about life, but particularly what comes after. How we cope with the impact our lives had on others, and how grief impacts each person differently. About letting go, holding on, and the steps in between. You won't love Wallace at first, but by the end I think you might feel differently. I certainly did. And it's probably worth keeping a tissue box nearby.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Murder, Cursing, Mental illness, Abandonment, Suicide, Child death, and Confinement
Minor: Animal death, Sexual content, and War
booksbutmakeitgay's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Suicide, Grief, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Self harm
agnes_fr's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Murder, Grief, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, and Panic attacks/disorders
cluckieduck's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Death isn't a final ending...it is an ending, sure, but only to prepare you for a new beginning.
I love me some TJ - while this is my least favourite behind the Green Creek series and The House in the Cerulean Sea, it was still an enjoyable read, and touched on the finer elements of death & grief that I found missing from The Midnight Library.
Our narrator, Wallace, has died. He is brought to a tea shop where he meets Hugo, the ferryman tasked with assisting Wallace's transition from living to dead, ultimately to assist him with crossing over to the otherside. With the help of Hugo & a supporting cast of characters in the tea shop (including the most wonderful dog), Wallace comes to realize that he may not have been the very best person while living. While death is eternal, his time at the tea shop is finite and he must decide how he can rectify who he was in life to who he is in death.
Bravery meant the possibility of death. And wasn't that funny? Because it took being dead for Wallace to finally be brave.
I think I would have given 5* had the ending gone the other direction - I was waiting for the full-blown emotional gut-punch that TJ is wont to provide. All in all, it's a lovely found-family story.
I love me some TJ - while this is my least favourite behind the Green Creek series and The House in the Cerulean Sea, it was still an enjoyable read, and touched on the finer elements of death & grief that I found missing from The Midnight Library.
Our narrator, Wallace, has died. He is brought to a tea shop where he meets Hugo, the ferryman tasked with assisting Wallace's transition from living to dead, ultimately to assist him with crossing over to the otherside. With the help of Hugo & a supporting cast of characters in the tea shop (including the most wonderful dog), Wallace comes to realize that he may not have been the very best person while living. While death is eternal, his time at the tea shop is finite and he must decide how he can rectify who he was in life to who he is in death.
Bravery meant the possibility of death. And wasn't that funny? Because it took being dead for Wallace to finally be brave.
I think I would have given 5* had the ending gone the other direction - I was waiting for the full-blown emotional gut-punch that TJ is wont to provide. All in all, it's a lovely found-family story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, and Child death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Gun violence
cakrolik's review
challenging
emotional
funny
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Death of parent, and Suicide
Moderate: Animal death, Cancer, Suicide attempt, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Murder, Self harm, and Violence
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