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mariemartin11 's review for:
Under the Whispering Door
by TJ Klune
Under the Whispering Door is a book that feels both like a gentle hand on your shoulder and a deep conversation with your soul. Klune has written a story that blends whimsy and humor with themes that are often difficult to face—death, regret, grief, and the meaning of a life well lived. What struck me most is how effortlessly the narrative moves between laughter and tears, offering levity in moments when the weight of the subject matter might otherwise feel overwhelming.
The heart of the book lies in its characters. Wallace, whose journey begins with selfishness and detachment, becomes one of the most unexpectedly moving portrayals of transformation I’ve read in a long time. Through his time at the tea shop and the connections he forges there, we see not just a ghost learning how to live, but a man discovering compassion, vulnerability, and love for the very first time. The supporting cast—quirky, tender, and often hilarious—remind us that healing is rarely a solitary act.
Klune’s writing has a warmth to it that makes even the heaviest themes approachable. He never trivializes grief or mortality, but instead shows how they are inextricably tied to joy, love, and human connection. By the final pages, I wasn’t just thinking about Wallace’s second chance at life, but about my own. Few books manage to both break your heart and leave you hopeful, and this one does so beautifully.
This is a story about beginnings disguised as endings, about finding love when it seems far too late, and about the way kindness can ripple far beyond what we see. It’s rare to finish a book and feel like it has shifted something inside you, but Under the Whispering Door did exactly that.
The heart of the book lies in its characters. Wallace, whose journey begins with selfishness and detachment, becomes one of the most unexpectedly moving portrayals of transformation I’ve read in a long time. Through his time at the tea shop and the connections he forges there, we see not just a ghost learning how to live, but a man discovering compassion, vulnerability, and love for the very first time. The supporting cast—quirky, tender, and often hilarious—remind us that healing is rarely a solitary act.
Klune’s writing has a warmth to it that makes even the heaviest themes approachable. He never trivializes grief or mortality, but instead shows how they are inextricably tied to joy, love, and human connection. By the final pages, I wasn’t just thinking about Wallace’s second chance at life, but about my own. Few books manage to both break your heart and leave you hopeful, and this one does so beautifully.
This is a story about beginnings disguised as endings, about finding love when it seems far too late, and about the way kindness can ripple far beyond what we see. It’s rare to finish a book and feel like it has shifted something inside you, but Under the Whispering Door did exactly that.