Under the Whispering Door | TJ Klune

Under the Whispering Door

Accolades & Praise

• Bestseller Status: A New York Times, USA Today, and Indie Bestseller.
• Award Recognition: Named one of Buzzfeed's "Best Books of 2022," an Indie Next Pick, and a Locus Awards Top Ten Finalist for Fantasy Novel.

Extended Synopsis

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 Price 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 is definitely dead.

But even in death, he is 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. Described as A Man Called Ove meets The Good Place, this hilarious, haunting, and kind novel explores grief, second chances, and the quiet spaces between life and death. It is an uplifting story about a life spent at the office and a death spent building a home.

About the Author

TJ Klune is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling, Lambda Literary Award-winning author of The House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door. He is celebrated for crafting deeply emotional, joyful, and inclusive queer stories with a touch of magic.

Reader Targeting

• Fans of cozy, character-driven fantasy and heartwarming queer romances.
• Readers who love uplifting stories dealing with grief, found family, and the afterlife.
• Anyone who enjoys a balance of laugh-out-loud humor and deep emotional resonance.

Bibliographic & Physical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Under the Whispering Door about?
The story follows Wallace Price, a man who discovers he is dead after a reaper collects him from his funeral. He is taken to a tea shop owned by a man named Hugo, where he is given seven days to cross over, learning how to truly live only after he has died.

Is this book a sequel to The House in the Cerulean Sea?
No, Under the Whispering Door is a standalone novel, though it shares the same uplifting, cozy, and heartwarming tone as TJ Klune's other beloved works.

What themes are explored in the book?
The novel explores themes of grief, second chances, found family, compassion, and the transition between life and death.

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