
Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune is a heartwarming and emotional story that explores the themes of life, death, grief, and acceptance. The book follows Wallace, a workaholic lawyer who unexpectedly dies and finds himself in a tea shop in the afterlife, guided by Meiying and Hugo. Through interactions with the residents of the tea shop and the reapers, Wallace undergoes a journey of self-discovery and redemption, learning the true meaning of life and love even after death. The writing style is described as tender, insightful, and kind, offering a unique perspective on death and the afterlife with a touch of humor and whimsy.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Contains themes of death, suicide, grief, and mental health challenges.
Has Romance?
There is a notable romantic subplot between the main character and another key character.
From The Publisher:
A NEW YORK TIMES, USA TODAY AND INDIE BESTSELLER
An Indie Next Pick!
A Man Called Ove meets The Good Place in Under the Whispering Door, a delightful queer love story from TJ Klune, author of the New York Times and USA Today bestseller The House in the Cerulean Sea.
Ratings (153)
Incredible (43) | |
Loved It (57) | |
Liked It (31) | |
It Was OK (15) | |
Did Not Like (7) |
Reader Stats (363):
Read It (156) | |
Currently Reading (4) | |
Want To Read (163) | |
Did Not Finish (2) | |
Not Interested (38) |
6 comment(s)
I loved the first book but wasn't as overjoyed with this one. Not a bad story by any means. Liked the topics and how the story unfolded. However it wasn't quite my cup of tea
I’ve been in quite the depressive state and this book took me out of it. I actually laughed outloud a few times through this book which is kind of a big deal for me. Definitely a good read for processing grief and accepting life beyond death. Absolutely worth the wait at my library.
A lot of my friends really, really loved this. I honestly found it a bit annoying. The arc of Wallace having wasted his life and becoming a better person somehow made me feel more accused than uplifted. And I get a little squirrelly when SFF goes all mythic and metaphysical. And not believing in an afterlife, the premise put me off -- and in a different way than wizards and unicorns would, even though I don't believe in those, either. So, a well-executed book, probably, but not the right book for me.
3.5 stars.
3 *
RTC
The writing style did not work for me
About the Author:
TJ KLUNE is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling, Lambda Literary Award-winning author of The House in the Cerulean Sea, The Extraordinaries, and more. Being queer himself, Klune believes it's important-now more than ever-to have accurate, positive queer representation in stories.
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