Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune was published in 2021 and promised to be a really intriguing read.
I had heard brilliant things about TJ Klune’s previous novel, The House In The Cerulean Sea, so I jumped at the chance of reading Under The Whispering Door.
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Plot
When Wallace finds himself attending his own funeral, he is perplexed, to say the least. He couldn’t possibly be dead. Wallace is an important man with a lot to get done. He simply doesn’t have time to be dead. Sadly for Wallace, death doesn’t care how busy he was or how important he thought he was.
While attending his scarcely attended funeral, Wallace spots a woman he doesn’t recognise who seems to be able to see him while the rest of the funeral guests cannot. This woman is Mei and her job as a reaper is to collect Wallace and help him transition to “the next place”.
Wallace is furious and more than a little bit scared as he is brought to a bizarre teashop, which turns out to be a place from which he will “cross over”. Wallace soon learns to accept the truth and is faced with the fact he didn’t live his life in the way he should. He was often cruel and had nothing in his life outside of work. He simply didn’t have time for fun and frivolity. However, after spending time at the teashop with its eclectic inhabitants, Wallace soon realises his life was missing something.
Under The Whispering Door Book Review
I wasn’t really sure what to expect with Under The Whispering Door but after the first few chapters, I was hooked. There’s a delightful cast of diverse characters and the dialogue between them all sparkled.
It’s a poignant and moving tale but one that also made me laugh. TJ Klune has a brilliant knack for making you laugh and cry within the same chapter. I particularly loved the character of Nelson and his commitment to causing mischief and giving them “the ol’ what for”.
I loved that Wallace was a bisexual man as I find it quite rare to read a book from such a perspective. The romance was touching, although if I were to be slightly critical it felt a little rushed. The emotions initially seemed to come out of nowhere and I felt we were told about the feelings they had for each other rather than being shown. However, for me, the romance was such a secondary plot it didn’t really matter. The book is so much more than a love story.
It’s a complex and thought-provoking story that doesn’t shy away from addressing some really dark themes such as murder, suicide and the death of a child. It is extremely sad in places yet never feels depressing. It’s a story of love and redemption and hope. It shows how a family is more than just blood and DNA.
It’s quite simply a beautiful read and I loved it.
What should I read next?
If you enjoyed Under The Whispering Door, I definitely think you should check out The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune. I really loved them both. There’s also a sequel to The House in the Cerulean coming in 2024 which I’m really excited about. The book will be titled Somewhere Beyond the Sea and is due to be published in September 2024.
I also found The Midnight Library by Matt Haig had a similar feel to Under The Whispering Door, with very similar themes of redemption and hope.
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I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. For more information please see my disclosure policy.