Please Note:  I received an advance copy of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

When a reaper comes to collect Wallace Price from his own funeral, Wallace suspects he really might be dead.

Instead of leading him directly to the afterlife, the reaper takes him to a small village. On the outskirts, off the path through the woods, tucked between mountains, is a particular tea shop, run by a man named Hugo. Hugo is the tea shop's owner to locals and the ferryman to souls who need to cross over.

But Wallace isn't ready to abandon the life he barely lived. With Hugo's help he finally starts to learn about all the things he missed in life.

When the Manager, a curious and powerful being, arrives at the tea shop and gives Wallace one week to cross over, Wallace sets about living a lifetime in seven days.

Review:

Any time author T.J. Klune releases a book, I am eager to read it.  All of Klune's books have running themes about found family and acceptance.  Under The Whispering Door, Klune's latest offering, explores similar topics. Like his other adult novel, The House in the Cerulean Sea, the main character questions valuing work above relationships.  Of course, in this novel, it's too late for Wallace.  He's already dead.  Although this book is about death (and begins with a trigger warning about suicide), the story is full of whimsy, with wonderful characters, and a powerful message about what life should be all about.  I loved it.

What I liked:

Themes:

I can't help but think the pandemic influenced the author's message.  At a time when we all are re-evaluating what's important to us, the book illustrates how people, driven to achieve material success, lose sight of what is truly meaningful in life: kindness, forgiveness, and connecting with others.  Wallace may have been a wealthy lawyer in life, but (as his sparsely attended funeral indicates), no one will miss him in death.  

Characters:

Wallace is an extremely unlikable person at the beginning of the book.  He is outraged that few people go to his funeral, where his ex-wife goes on and on about what a terrible husband he was!  When he is taken to Hugo's tea shop (a way station between earth and the beyond), he is predictably angry and rude to everyone.  But I loved that he changed.  By seeing how Hugo and Mei show unwavering patience and compassion for everyone who's journey brings them to the tea shop, Wallace starts to understand and forgive himself for his selfishness.  

Hugo and Mei are humans, but they work to help recently deceased people transition to the Door (where people will go to the next step in their journey).   They know that people who have died are in denial, are angry and will lash out.  So they don't take it personally.  But Mei is not all sugar and sunshine with living people.  She can be rude, especially when she sees others being deceitful or cruel.  But her righteous anger is done with lots of humor, so the reader can't help but love her!

Two other characters that I adored were Nelson, Hugo's grandfather, and Apollo, Hugo's dog.  Both are ghosts, but refuse to go through the door because they want to stay and support Hugo.  This was really so beautiful, and made me think about relatives of mine who have died.  How comforting to think that they might stick around to watch over me.  Both Nelson and Apollo offer up lots of comic relief as well.

Trigger Warning for Suicide:

The most serious moments in the book have to do with a character who has died by suicide.  If you are not triggered by that topic, I think you will find that thread in the story to be moving.  The character in question killed himself after his boyfriend dies from an illness.  He just can't handle the pain.  He also has to dig out of his self-loathing, and find a way to heal in order for him to move on.  His pain made me cry, but his healing gave me hope. 

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Release Date:  Sepetember 21st, 2021

Author:  T.J. Klune

Publisher:  Tor Books

Genre:  Fantasy

Page Length:  384 Pages

Source:  NetGalley

Format:  E-Book

Recommendation:  This is a book for adults, or very mature teens.  Although many of the topics are heavy, there is also an optimism that ultimately creates a positive outlook.  I highly recommend this book.