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adliteracy's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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
This novel tells a poignant and wholesome story beginning with the death of a cruel man, and evolves into a venture of self discovery and redemption.
This is what I would describe as a cozy, existential novel; it makes the reader feel good, yet tackles powerful themes including loss, death, and grief. I found the reading experience profoundly moving; yet I was also grounded by the pursuit of an interesting plot progression, full of interesting events and a healthy dose of good humor.
I noticed some recurring themes that made me chuckle, and a big part of the ending caught me by pleasant surprise; but unfortunately, I can't really elaborate on those favorite features without spoiling it. There are some really fun surprises that I really enjoyed!
I have a feeling the experience of reading this novel could vary quite a lot based upon the reader's mental state and current themes in their life. It is overall a positive, sensitive book that tells a great story. I highly recommend it to a reader wanting to experience the full scope of emotions from grief to hope.
This is what I would describe as a cozy, existential novel; it makes the reader feel good, yet tackles powerful themes including loss, death, and grief. I found the reading experience profoundly moving; yet I was also grounded by the pursuit of an interesting plot progression, full of interesting events and a healthy dose of good humor.
I noticed some recurring themes that made me chuckle, and a big part of the ending caught me by pleasant surprise; but unfortunately, I can't really elaborate on those favorite features without spoiling it. There are some really fun surprises that I really enjoyed!
I have a feeling the experience of reading this novel could vary quite a lot based upon the reader's mental state and current themes in their life. It is overall a positive, sensitive book that tells a great story. I highly recommend it to a reader wanting to experience the full scope of emotions from grief to hope.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Terminal illness
beepmbop's review against another edition
emotional
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
3.5
it can be cheesy and redundant at times - but it made me smile a lot
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Child death and Violence
Minor: Homophobia, Terminal illness, Self harm, and Racism
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
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
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Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Grief, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Blood, Child death, Body horror, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Gore, Murder, Death of parent, and Infidelity
Minor: Car accident and Animal death
kananineko's review against another edition
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, Death of parent, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Abandonment, Suicide, Animal death, and Terminal illness
Minor: Sexual content
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 sensÃveis, 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 sensÃveis, 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, Death of parent, Grief, Terminal illness, Suicide, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Car accident
bussmanbooks3000's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Murder, Cancer, Death, Child death, Blood, Animal death, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, and Suicide
themdash'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
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Self harm, Violence, Murder, Suicide, Terminal illness, Grief, Child death, and Death of parent
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: Grief, Death, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Animal death, Death of parent, and Child death
Minor: Cancer, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, Murder, and Car accident
julesbarthe10's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
5.0
Heartwarming, deeply moving, inspirational, and light hearted while still discussing some very hard subjects. So far both books i have read by this author have touched me deeply and made me have hope for any preteens/adults who also read the deeper messages in his books.
Wallace was not a great person, his life revolved around his job as a lawyer and getting business done each day. He spent his most of his adult life being strict on rules and having no leeway. When Wallace dies of a heart attack and his reaper Mae comes to retrieve him he is very unaccepting to the fact he is indeed dead and there is no turning back from that. Mae brings Wallace to the way station for souls (a cute little tea shop) run by Hugo the ferryman. Hugo and Mae are humans and alive who help souls carry over who struggle with accepting their death. Wallace must now face all the things he will miss, all the things he should/shouldn't have done, all the wrongs he cant make right, and he must find his own closure so that he may move on. The "manager", an almighty being who trains the ferrymen and reapers, tells Wallace he has become a distraction to Hugo and Mae and gives Wallace a week deadline before he will be forced to go through the door to carry over. What all has Wallace learned and what will he due with his time left, especially when he has grown so found of Hugo and Mae and also the Hugo's ghost grandpa and service dog?
Wallace was not a great person, his life revolved around his job as a lawyer and getting business done each day. He spent his most of his adult life being strict on rules and having no leeway. When Wallace dies of a heart attack and his reaper Mae comes to retrieve him he is very unaccepting to the fact he is indeed dead and there is no turning back from that. Mae brings Wallace to the way station for souls (a cute little tea shop) run by Hugo the ferryman. Hugo and Mae are humans and alive who help souls carry over who struggle with accepting their death. Wallace must now face all the things he will miss, all the things he should/shouldn't have done, all the wrongs he cant make right, and he must find his own closure so that he may move on. The "manager", an almighty being who trains the ferrymen and reapers, tells Wallace he has become a distraction to Hugo and Mae and gives Wallace a week deadline before he will be forced to go through the door to carry over. What all has Wallace learned and what will he due with his time left, especially when he has grown so found of Hugo and Mae and also the Hugo's ghost grandpa and service dog?
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide, Terminal illness, Animal death, Murder, and Death