Scan barcode
gillesnullens's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
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
2.0
rachelkanchana's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
lucieeleanor101's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.5
lucycast's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.5
ashction's review against another edition
5.0
Another amazing book from TJ Klune!
For those wondering, this is not similar to THOTCS, even if the cover art is similar. Although there is a small nod towards Klune's previous adult title, they ultimately exist as separate entities and they do not hit the same story or emotional beats, so please read this one with an open mind!
In Under the Whispering Door, we meet Wallace Price. For lack of a better term, Wallace Price is a huge ASSHOLE. He's your Scrooge type; friendless, bitter, lonely, and focused on the bottom line at his law firm over anything else. Not long after we meet Wallace, he dies from a heart attack, and when he comes to, he's at his incredibly empty funeral save for five people and a stranger he's never seen. That stranger is the Reaper Mei, who guides Wallace to the next stop on his journey to the afterlife: a tea shop on the outskirts of town, home to a ferryman named Hugo who tries to help Wallace accept his fate and find his way to the afterlife. But along the way, Wallace begins to discover that while he may have lived his life all wrong, his afterlife could be different.
This story has a lot of Klune's humor and heart mixed in with some serious musings on death, the afterlife, and the legacy of the lives we live. Klune does a wonderful job navigating a character who's going through grief over his own life, and it plays out in really interesting and creative ways. It's not an easy story to imagine, and I think Klune absolutely should be applauded for what he managed to create with UtWD.
Obviously, I'm a huge ghost romance fan, and this one totally delivers. Without spoiling much, we get to see Wallace grow and evolve as a person/ghost, and Hugo is naturally a huge part of that development. Of all the things that remind me most of Cerulean Sea, it's Hugo and Wallace's relationship compared to Arthur and Linus' relationship. There's a similar will-they-won't-they vibe, because in both situations, the characters need to be careful with their hearts since neither situation could possibly be permanent.
(And obviously I won't spoil how this doomed romance wraps up... but I'm satisfied. It's well done, and surprising enough that I didn't find it predictable.)
Other stand-outs are, of course, the supporting characters, which is a true Klune trademark. Mei is especially a delight, but the characters that appear within the tea shop also make for an interesting story!
Overall, I found this book to feel like a warm hug, and to be exactly what I needed right now. I think I read this one much quicker that Cerulean Sea, too, because it's more magical realism than fantasy and does a great job of balancing reality with the afterlife elements. If you're not already, definitely look forward to this title when it comes out later this year!
A digital copy of this title was provided to me by Tor Books and Macmillan via Edelweiss. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for providing me access!
For those wondering, this is not similar to THOTCS, even if the cover art is similar. Although there is a small nod towards Klune's previous adult title, they ultimately exist as separate entities and they do not hit the same story or emotional beats, so please read this one with an open mind!
In Under the Whispering Door, we meet Wallace Price. For lack of a better term, Wallace Price is a huge ASSHOLE. He's your Scrooge type; friendless, bitter, lonely, and focused on the bottom line at his law firm over anything else. Not long after we meet Wallace, he dies from a heart attack, and when he comes to, he's at his incredibly empty funeral save for five people and a stranger he's never seen. That stranger is the Reaper Mei, who guides Wallace to the next stop on his journey to the afterlife: a tea shop on the outskirts of town, home to a ferryman named Hugo who tries to help Wallace accept his fate and find his way to the afterlife. But along the way, Wallace begins to discover that while he may have lived his life all wrong, his afterlife could be different.
This story has a lot of Klune's humor and heart mixed in with some serious musings on death, the afterlife, and the legacy of the lives we live. Klune does a wonderful job navigating a character who's going through grief over his own life, and it plays out in really interesting and creative ways. It's not an easy story to imagine, and I think Klune absolutely should be applauded for what he managed to create with UtWD.
Obviously, I'm a huge ghost romance fan, and this one totally delivers. Without spoiling much, we get to see Wallace grow and evolve as a person/ghost, and Hugo is naturally a huge part of that development. Of all the things that remind me most of Cerulean Sea, it's Hugo and Wallace's relationship compared to Arthur and Linus' relationship. There's a similar will-they-won't-they vibe, because in both situations, the characters need to be careful with their hearts since neither situation could possibly be permanent.
(And obviously I won't spoil how this doomed romance wraps up... but I'm satisfied. It's well done, and surprising enough that I didn't find it predictable.)
Other stand-outs are, of course, the supporting characters, which is a true Klune trademark. Mei is especially a delight, but the characters that appear within the tea shop also make for an interesting story!
Overall, I found this book to feel like a warm hug, and to be exactly what I needed right now. I think I read this one much quicker that Cerulean Sea, too, because it's more magical realism than fantasy and does a great job of balancing reality with the afterlife elements. If you're not already, definitely look forward to this title when it comes out later this year!
A digital copy of this title was provided to me by Tor Books and Macmillan via Edelweiss. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for providing me access!
funteamjen's review against another edition
3.0
A nice little feel-good story with a very creative premise, but it fell far short of spectacular. The character development was severely lacking, especially for the main character Wallace. The rest of the characters were fairly one-dimensional. The ending was very predictable, even from very early on in the book. The build-up was far too long and the outcomes a little too convenient. An enjoyable enough read, but not a keeper.
orhallylujah's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-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
rfm25's review against another edition
3.0
Loved the whole idea of this book , BUT I did feel as though it sometimes rambled on too much in certain areas, I also don't really know why this is promoted as a proper fantasy because obvs it does have those elements but I was expecting witches etc
The first few chapters were literally amazing and the story as a whole was very heart warming
This book gave me the vibe of midnight library !
The first few chapters were literally amazing and the story as a whole was very heart warming
This book gave me the vibe of midnight library !
sophiexrose01's review against another edition
adventurous
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
emileesackman23's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed the storyline and thought it was a cool idea. Definitely dragged at times, but overall I liked it. I love Klune’s queer undertones in these books 4.0