A review by wordswitwonder
Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune

emotional hopeful inspiring 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 was such a lovely read featuring a diverse cast of main characters. It is a heavy hitting book centering on themes of death, mental health, and grieving. I thought the plot was beautifully woven, filled with engaging details and interesting characters. I found myself unable to put it down. I enjoyed the philosophical elements as well as the "slice of life" feel to this book. I would consider this to be within the genre of magical realism, which is a personal favorite of mine currently. I think this novel is a particularly good example of magical realism. Klune does a good job of knowing when to "show" and when to "tell", which can sometimes be challenging within the genre. It also takes place in a tea shop for the most part, which was fun to read about. Please mind the trigger warnings for this book as it quite heavily discusses topics surrounding various kinds of death.
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