A review by snazzyrhombus
Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious 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

2.0

so disappoinged by this!! it started off so strong but it really tapered off unfortunately. the big plot twist at the end of the first chapter really caught me off guard, i found it so interesting and was excited for the book from there, really set up an interesting scenario. i just don't think the main character's journey was developed cautiously or thoughtfully enough at all - it all happens way too fast and feels quite unrealistic.
i know that dying is a big event in wallace's existance that could trigger a change in attitude in anyone but it was very jarring to have a glimpse into his character while he was alive, being as cruel as he was, and then all of a sudden he has tears rolling down his cheeks, and within a couple of days he has a silly crush on some cute guy and is hugging everyone and being all friendly? very unrealistic. also about him and hugo, that felt weird as well - genuinely not to be weird but i feel like it's pretty unrealistic for an ex corporate big masculine lawyer to be completely okay with being into men and being out as bisexual, i feel like since he was toxically masculine no way would he have been out like that if he was a real person. also not just that but him being jealous all the time of hugo interacting with anyone else ever was so cringey and again unrealistic for someone who is an ex toxically masculine lawyer


i feel like the humour is silly and endearing in places, but for the most part quite cringey and VERY millenial, like old quirky tumblr type vibe.
for example mei always having knives and shit was so cringey i hated every time there was a joke about that, and there are a few violence or threat related comments wallace makes near the beginning that seem to be intended as jokes from the author, same sort of vibe as the mei knife comments, that i also hate and are very difficult to oicture an actual toxically masculine corporate lawyer saying


the character development of the main character overall was so insanely unbelievable and unrealistic that it made the cool parts of the book difficult to enjoy. i love the way that the world was displayed
and the idea that the book has about the process of duing and the afterlife is quite magical and beautiful
it was a shame i couldn't fully enjoy it.

ALSO THE ENDING WAS TERRIBLE
ABSOLUTE PET PEEVE WHEN AUTHORS WIMP OUT OF KILLING A CHARACTER ESPECIALLY FOR ROMANCE LIKE SHUT UP would have made way more sense for wallace to die for his arc to be complete since he was demanding to come back to life at the beginning, him eventually accepting death and going through the door would have made so much sense as an ending, BUT NO


ok anyway yeah mid
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