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A review by looking4thedr
Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
This book is important.
This book had me laughing, crying and feeling everything in between. It has such amazing, charming and funny humour coupled with just fantastic emotional depth. The characters are also phenomenal and I thoroughly enjoyed watching their progress and growth throughout the story.
I loved how the story makes fun of Wallace in the beginning, and continues to do so throughout the book. It humbles him very satisfactorily, to both us the readers as well as the other main characters.
Wallace’s growing relationships with each of the other characters was comforting to watch as they grew into a family.
Also the entire second half of the story had balling my eyes out (in a good way), because of how the author wrote about grief and letting go and being thankful and about getting a certain amount of time with a person. It really struck an emotional cord with me. Moreover, the other reason for my tears was Wallace’s absolute tragic relationship with Hugo, because every time he was reminded they couldn’t touch I wanted to cry, because they loved each other so much and it was so unfair.
The ending was a bit of a shock, but I knew there would be a twist at the end. I could smell it. And what an absolutely marvellous twist it was. I couldn’t be happier. Although, I was still bittersweet (a theme I’m noticing) about Nelson’s end. I loved him so much, and his relationships with Hugo and Wallace, acting as the cool grandad / father figure. There’s more I probably want to say, but I’ll leave it here for now.
This book took me on a fantastic journey with characters that felt like real people, and was thoroughly easy to read (structurally, not emotionally, it’ll take a while to recover from this… in a good way), and everything that was introduced near the beginning of the story was resolved by its end. This is truly one of the most impactful books I’ve read in a while.
This book had me laughing, crying and feeling everything in between. It has such amazing, charming and funny humour coupled with just fantastic emotional depth. The characters are also phenomenal and I thoroughly enjoyed watching their progress and growth throughout the story.
Wallace’s growing relationships with each of the other characters was comforting to watch as they grew into a family.
Also the entire second half of the story had balling my eyes out (in a good way), because of how the author wrote about grief and letting go and being thankful and about getting a certain amount of time with a person. It really struck an emotional cord with me. Moreover, the other reason for my tears was Wallace’s absolute tragic relationship with Hugo, because every time he was reminded they couldn’t touch I wanted to cry, because they loved each other so much and it was so unfair.
The ending was a bit of a shock, but I knew there would be a twist at the end. I could smell it. And what an absolutely marvellous twist it was. I couldn’t be happier. Although, I was still bittersweet (a theme I’m noticing) about Nelson’s end. I loved him so much, and his relationships with Hugo and Wallace, acting as the cool grandad / father figure. There’s more I probably want to say, but I’ll leave it here for now.
This book took me on a fantastic journey with characters that felt like real people, and was thoroughly easy to read (structurally, not emotionally, it’ll take a while to recover from this… in a good way), and everything that was introduced near the beginning of the story was resolved by its end. This is truly one of the most impactful books I’ve read in a while.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Minor: Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Child death, Suicide attempt, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide