Published: 2021
Author: TJ Klune
Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Romance, LGBT, Queer, Book Club, Adult, Paranormal, Contemporary
Audience (Grade Levels): High School; 10-12, Adult
Number of Stars: 4-Stars
Goodreads Link: Under the Whispering Door
Triggers: Death, suicide
Review By: Wendy Scalfaro
Publisher’s Summary:
Welcome to Charon’s Crossing.
The tea is hot, the scones are fresh, and the dead are just passing through. 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.
Review:
I had just finished Klune’s other book The House in the Cerulean Sea (I highly recommend) and was looking for my next read. I downloaded the audio based on the recommendation of someone on Twitter. I was not disappointed. First of all, the cover is gorgeous (artist Chris Sickels). The premise is unique and captivating, the relationships are powerful, and the character arc is satisfying. I found myself wanting to be friends with this group of individuals as they spent their lives – and deaths – in this quiet cafe.
Wallace is a completely despicable character at the beginning and argues with everyone. He doesn’t accept that he’s dead and insists that he be returned to his life. Wallace’s journey to becoming a better person is the focus of this story, but Klune also blesses us with a queer romance as well. It’s a little slow in parts, but anyone who enjoys quirky characters will enjoy this novel. Although not necessarily a predictable plot, the things I wanted to happen actually did and the resolution I hoped for pretty much came to fruition. If this book doesn’t make you think seriously about your life nothing will.
Classroom & Curricular Connections:
- English Language Arts / Literature (Character Arc & Redemption Narratives): This novel is an excellent study in character development. High school educators can use Wallace’s transition from a “completely despicable” workaholic to a deeply empathetic soul to teach students how authors craft believable redemption arcs and internal growth.
- Social-Emotional Learning (Grief, Mortality, and Mindfulness): The novel serves as a profound catalyst for SEL discussions on what it means to live a meaningful life. Students can explore the concepts of mortality, legacy, and processing grief, evaluating how Wallace’s forced perspective shift teaches the importance of human connection over material or professional success.
Under the Whispering Door excels in providing authentic LGBTQ+ representation, seamlessly weaving a sweet, slow-burn queer romance into the core of its narrative. Furthermore, by reframing the intimidating and taboo nature of death into a gentle, cozy space filled with diverse, quirky, and supportive found-family relationships, Klune opens up safe literary avenues for young adult readers to process heavy topics like mortality, loss, and mental health challenges.
Readalikes
- The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune
- The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
- Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
