I can't express enough thanks to NetGalley and Tor Books for allowing me to read one of my most anticipated books of the year early.

This book is absolutely beautiful. Everything TJ Klune writes just cuts right to my heart, and this was definitely no different.

Wallace Price was not a good man. He was a workaholic and put nothing before his job as a lawyer. He treated the people around him more like servants than employees and did whatever it took to get ahead. When he dies, he expects death to go much like his life and it's quite the shock when he discovers that is not going to be the case. Hugo Freeman is a ferryman- helping the dead on their way to what comes next. Along with his reaper Mei, they run a tea shop that does a lot more than meets the eye. When Hugo and Wallace meet, Wallace is determined to get his life back and continue on as he was. Hugo, the most patient man in existence, explains how much that is not possible and begins the process of helping Wallace to move on. As the two grow closer and learn more about one another, saying goodbye suddenly seems like the worst thing.

I straight up silently wept throughout the entirety of this book. Death and what comes after is not something I think about often because it tends to send me into a panic. So, reading this and following Wallace's journey really got to me. I loved watching him realize that maybe he wasn't as good of a person as he'd believed when he was living, and then striving to be better in death.

The supporting characters are absolutely fucking lovely and Nelson Freeman is just... the best. He had me laughing out loud while also crying SEVERAL times. I'm a sucker for a faux-grumpy, found family man and Nelson delivered all that and more.

There are a lot of life lessons wrapped up in love in Tj Klune's books, and this one is no exception. I love how Klune makes the reader think about things that are difficult or painful to think about without coming off as preachy or condescending. Also, he's just fucking funny. I had no business laughing as much as I did while also crying, bit man did I.

I can't recommend Klune's books enough. Definitely pick this one up.