Book Review: Under the Whispering Door

Fantasy novel by T.J. Klune, published 2021

Wistful & Unique, Klune Once Again Packs a Punch

After reading Klune's book The House on the Cerulean Sea, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one- and I was not disappointed! Under the Whispering Door presents a unique twist on death and the afterlife, with characters that you can root for, and all written in Klune's quirky style.

Using the mythological idea of the ferryman, main character Wallace has to grapple with his own death, while simultaneously having to decide how to wants to live in his afterlife. When Wallace was alive, he wasn't a person who cared about others or had any meaningful relationships. In short, he was analogous to the Grinch. Once dead he is able to reflect on how he lived and the choices that he made, which ultimately catalyzes an intense journey of personal growth and maturity. By the book's climax I was nearly in tears rooting for the once-grumpy Wallace.

Everyone loses their way at some point, and it’s not just because of their mistakes or the decisions they make. It’s because they’re horribly, wonderfully human. And the one thing I’ve learned about being human is that we can’t do this alone. When we’re lost, we need help to try to find our way again.

To help him along the way to becoming a much better (albeit ghost) version of himself, Wallace falls in love with Hugo, his assigned ferryman. Reading along as their relationship blossomed, and seeing Wallace form actual connections to Hugo's family was absolutely beautiful. Klune's prose engrosses the reader and for me, made this book unputdownable. The story's conclusion was neatly wrapped in a bow and I felt that it was a much deserved feel-good ending.

5 out of 5 Stars

Between the fantastical premise, the strong character develop and humanity, and the fantastic writing style, I once again fell in love with a T.J. Klune story and anxiously await whatever they have planned next!