Under the Whispering Door: Sneak Peek

by T.J. Klune

A Man Called Ove meets The Good Place in this delightful new queer love story from TJ Klune, author of the New York Times and USA Today bestseller The House in the Cerulean Sea . Download a FREE sneak peek today!

When a reaper comes to collect Wallace from his own funeral, Wallace begins to suspect he might be dead.

And when Hugo, the owner of a peculiar tea shop, promises to help him cross over, Wallace decides he’s definitely dead.

But even in death he’s not ready to abandon the life he barely lived, so when Wallace is given one week to cross over, he sets about living a lifetime in seven days.

Hilarious, haunting, and kind, Under the Whispering Door is an uplifting story about a life spent at the office and a death spent building a home.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Genres: Fantasy, Adult Fiction, Fiction, LGBT

54 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 13, 2021

About the author

TJ KLUNE is a Lambda Literary Award-winning author (Into This River I Drown) and an ex-claims examiner for an insurance company. His novels include The House in the Cerulean Sea and The Extraordinaries. Being queer himself, TJ believes it's important—now more than ever—to have accurate, positive, queer representation in stories.

Reviews

[Whittney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love when a fantasy book feels REAL! This book felt real, it was so creative down to the little details. Even though it was a book surrounding death it was beautiful. It was hilarious but also a little eerie. This book was so full of LOVE in its simplest form. The characters brought this story to life, Hugo, Wallace, Mei, Nelson, Cameron and Apollo 🐶. I loved them all, but not all of them in the beginning 😜.

[Carol · Rating 1 out of 5]

Like a Trick Played On Me!

I thought I was reading the book. I didn't know that this was only a piece of the book. I am really, really annoyed. It was like reading a fairly fun and interesting book and then discovering that it ends with the most aggravating cliffhanger ever! Bah!!

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this Sneak Peek sample of the book (4 chapters) and I'm eager to read the rest of the book. Wallace is dead, but really not accepting it very well. Mei is his reaper who had to him to the ferryman. Their banter is very amusing. Wallace is a cynical mean man. He may have missed out on a lot of life by working too hard. Can he make up for it now on the other side?

[Madison Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author does not disappoint. I cried and laughed pretty much this whole book.

[Merry Quarles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t say enough about this beautiful story! I laughed and cried…the lessons will stay with me always.

[Ssmit524 Sarah smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn’t realize what it was about but decent

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the writing from the beginning. Dragged a bit in the middle. Cried for the last 50 pages. This author is crazy. Creative but crazy

[Meredith Rhein · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read I really, really enjoyed! When I read the synopsis I was imagining a different type of story; more along the lines of the Disney movie Soul (if you’ve ever seen that also a great movie). I was pleasantly surprised to find that I was more of a inner soul searching journey that our main character Wallace embarks on. I checked spoilers because I wanted to say GET READY TO CRY!!! I balled my eyes out during the last couple chapters, death is a heavy subject and TJ Klune handled it in such a beautiful way. There were many unexpected surprises that kept me turning page after page I can’t wait to get into some of his other novels.

A note to the author:
Thank you TJ for creating something beautiful out of something so scary for so many people. I’ve lost many people on my life and thinking of them standing at their own door is a image that I’m forever grateful to have.

[Karen Weiss · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a truly beautiful story of life and death. There are so many profound quotes but those that hit me the hardest really spoke to my soul. Reading “you think you have all the time in the world, until you don’t”, should wake any one up to the fact that tomorrow is not promised. Even though the author says many times there is not really a God, allusions are made to heavenly places. It is definitely a love story but not in the traditional sense. It teaches love of family and friends. Whoever said this book was like rereading The House on the Cerulean Sea obviously didn’t read either book. Truly beautiful in my humble opinion.

[Clare Beardsell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this and surprised myself because it’s not my usual genre of book.

When we first meet the main character it is clear he’s not very nice, quite ruthless and uncaring. As the book progresses he has opportunity to consider whether he’s had a good life and if he’s been a good person.

It is about death, about living and also a pretty good love story.

It is a mix of a Christmas Carol, it’s a wonderful life and a midnight library. Thought provoking and also humorous.

I’m planning on reading more from this author.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook. The narrator did a good job. Wallace, the main character, died. His experiences after that are somewhere between Marley's ghost (because he wasn't a good person in life) and Patrick Swayze's character in the movie "Ghost" (because he evolved into trying to affect the world of the living). It started out with all my attention, but I dwindled toward the end with the romance. Interesting philosophies about death. Not for everyone.

[Sarah Atherton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did really enjoy this book. I didn't really understand the manager character though- what the purpose was- everything was still left very unexplained.- I wasn't really sure if they were actually supposed to be 'evil' or not. I also do find it farfetched even in this story that they would just bring Wallace
back to life, when it seemed to serve no real purpose to them.

I was invested in reading it though and the characters - it would be a solid 3.5 stars.

[Alberto Castillo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Su otro libro, 'The House on the Cerulean Sea' me fascinó y lo amé. Pero este para nada. Suuuuuper cheesy y sin apuesta o riesgo alguno. Siento que nada pasó en esta historia y durante gran parte de ella me costó trabajo mantenerme despierto. Parece que quiso emular muy de cerca lo que hizo en su otro libro (THOTCS), tanto que creo que afectó negativamente mi opinión hacia él.

[Kathy Chapman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sentimental story and there were absolutely no surprises. I knew where it was going from the beginning and it finished how I expected. A tale of redemption and second chances along the lines of ‘A Christmas Carol’. I gave it 4 stars because I knew what I was getting when I bought it, and it delivered exactly what it promised. An easy, accessible story for a tired brain. Sometimes we just need a little comfort food.

[Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

In life Wallace was a serious businessman without an apparent trace of kindness or empathy. His transition in four weeks after his death to a sensitive, caring soul just didn't ring true to me. If the original living Wallace had shown some discontent or a flicker of realization he was missing something it would have been more plausible.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 rounded down. Had this not felt like it dragged a bit in the middle for me I would have rated it a bit higher. I enjoyed the characters and the atmosphere of the tea house.

Full review here: https://sherobinreview.wordpress.com/...

[Susie Hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book. Writing style is engaging, the characters come to life quickly and the story line is meaningful. While it is a "heavy" topic, it is a comforting read. Tears at the end...............happy tears.

[Susan Atkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Not my thing although did enjoy the opening chapters which were funny. Once he'd popped his clogs though it was all make believe talk and although was written well and I could see what the writer was trying to achieve, I like my books to be believable and less sentimental.

[Niamh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please can this book come out now, please, please, please

[jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even the sneak peek makes me excited. I can't wait for it to be released. From the first few chapters, I can see that the characters' personalities are so significant and bright... can't waitt!!!

[Krystal 《》 Krystals Book Corner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as first book. But it was still good in its own way.

[Kelsy Yeargain · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit too cloying for me.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adore everything about these characters and their adventures.

[Caitlin Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

honestly kind of a bummer.

[Laurien Mcginn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Different point of view

This book gives you a different perspective of death. Humorous but I enticing, leading the reader to want to know what will happen next.



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[normnialib · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful story 😭💕

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was hoping this would be as wonderful as "The House on the Cerulean Sea" but it wasn't. Still a "good read" .. just not a great one.

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 I love Klune's writing and enjoyed the story. It just got a little repetitive and dragged a bit at the end. I had wished the ending would have had more panache.

[Justinepow · Rating 1 out of 5]

⭐️Audio

Just not the book for me. Couldn’t get into it. Disappointing as I really enjoyed his other novel. Maybe Grim Reaper books are just not my style.

[Wendy Ovadia · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyable read