Murmuration

Which life would you prefer? One where the better part of yourself lives a simple existence? Even if that existence is not real and call into question everything you thought you knew. Or the life rooted in truth of who and what your are and where you came from? This is a story about escapism, about fear, about death. About love. Given all that we know, all that we can see, we can still question what are dreams and realities and which is better to live in.

Klune is a beautiful unique writer who too this slow burn layered story that is familiar and turned it into something more. More than what I expected.

We meet Mike, perfect in all that ways that just are. Sean is perfect for Mike in all the ways it's suppose to be. They love frustrating slow and sure. This isn't a traditional love but a growth of love that intimately reveals who a person really is and what a person is willing to do in the name of love.

5 Hearts Reviewed by Shorty

Wow, just wow. What a story. It is 1954 in a small town called Amorea. Everyone is nice. There are no cars or children and everyone knows everyone. Mike is smitten with Sean and has been courting him for years trying to get up the nerve to ask him out.

But things are not what they appear. Right from the beginning of the book I got the feeling that something was not quite right. This feeling became stronger the further I read. People disappearing, fuzzy memories, feeling a sense of dé·jà vu at times and strange dreams lead the reader on psychological mystery unlike any I've read before.

I went through all the emotions and still cannot settle on just one. Brilliantly written with the right amount of unsurety, drama, and a feeling of helplessness left me a wreck afterwards. But despite all that I loved this book.

The slow burn between the two MC's fit perfectly with everything else going on in the story. One of the best books I've read so far this year. I'm sure it won't be everyone's cup of tea but you won't know until you try it.

Highly recommended.

5++ Outstanding good!! Murmuration by TJ Klune

TJ's own words 'A love letter to the 50's'

I always have to prepare myself before for reading a Klune because....its a Klune....and that means no superficial read but a through and through developed book. You can expect everything...

Mike lives in Amorea and loves Sean. Yeah he is mesmerized by Sean
and Sean.... he loves Mike. Only somehow they never put it in words......

"It has only ever been Sean. It will only ever be Sean"

It's a s l o w b u r n one very slow and easy progress but....with none dull moment.

With every page there is a sneak preview. More and more getting clear

Mike has a gap in his memory, has somewhat déjà vu moments, he sees and hears things....and where they from.....I can't tell...

I really can't tell details that would give this beautiful story away but if you are familiar with Klune's writing you know you can expect something amazing. You won't believe your eyes.

Amorea a lovely village with meddling people (but just because they care and can :)
Amorea a little slice of heaven....I think a sort of Utopia....
And there are inexplicable things happening and inexplicable forgetfulness.

It's mysterious, fantastical....like with a bit from beyond....like from another dimension... ....but.you.never.know.for.sure.....it will make you so curious how and why things happen as they happen. It is becoming increasingly oppressive......It's utterly confusing (in a very good way)

Mike loves Sean and Sean......he loves his big guy Mike... yeah....!
'There will never be a time when Mike Frazier doesn’t want Sean Mellgard'

The power of observation breathe through the pages in an amazing way.
Its delicate and detailed written. The little things, the strings through all the sentences what's makes this story big-bigger-biggest

A strong written book with an amazing storyline that let you jump from one feet to the other. You never know where you are at the moment. It will blast you away!!

..........it’s not about the length of time you have, but what you do with it."

--Deep bow for TJ Klune--

"On October 28th, 2016, I will give you a story of which I have two strong opinions about.
First, this is the most romantic thing I’ve ever written.
Second, this being the fifth and final book I am releasing this year, I’m truly of the mind that I’ve saved the best for last.
My hope is that once you’ve read this story, those opinions will become yours as well."
~ TJ Klune, blog post dated September 20, 2016

I realize in this last year, especially in regards to this author's work, that in my reviews I've had to be rather circumspect to prevent spoilers. In that regard I can assure you that 'Murmuration' is the most difficult review I've ever written mainly because of the threat of spoilers. In fact, this may be the shortest review of a Klune book I have ever written because I can only share with you how it made me feel.

In the beginning I kept feeling as if I was in the movie 'The Truman Show' because I kept anticipating walking around a corner and seeing the real that my mind was positive was there. At the same time the birds, the starlings, reminded me of Stephen King's 'The Dark Half' as did some of the writing style and a piece of the characters. And then, suddenly, I thought I was in the movie 'Pleasantville', or worse yet I was reliving 'Normal Again' an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Sean and Mike charmed me. The fact that they've been flirting and Mike has been courting Sean for three years, always knowing they had plenty of time to get where they were going, is probably one of the most romantic friends to lovers I have ever read. Everything is swathed in an innocence that isn't around anymore. It’s the 1950s in America when life was wondrous, joy was everywhere, and hope still existed. Mike and Sean waited three years before going on their first date even though they both knew they'd get there eventually. There are gilded, bright colors to everything and the air has a crispness you can taste. Life is slow and oh so perfect in Amorea, and Mike and Sean have a love as old as time.

"Mike knows that time is against them. That this won’t last forever. That one day, and maybe one day soon, one of them will be gone like they never existed at all. Maybe they’ll be lucky and go at the same time. Maybe they won’t. One day, it will happen."

I realize this is probably the vaguest review I've ever written. Believe me when I say, if your mind is open to endless possibilities, if you're not constrained to only liking one genre, and if you can dare to dream, then you need to read this book. I read a lot and I read across a wide spectrum of genres, rarely sticking to only one. There are few things that will make me love a book more than feelings. If an author is gifted enough to bring out disbelief, hope, desire, fear, anxiety, grief, and more love than you can imagine, then in my honest opinion I believe that someday down the road high school children will be required to read ‘Murmuration’ as part of their curricula. All I can say now is that I truly believe TJ Klune has only touched the tip of the iceberg with his writing and I’m forever grateful to be there to experience the rest of it. Thank you for the feelings.

"But know this: the basis of this book—it’s foundation—came from a simple question I asked myself: how far would a person choose to go for the one they loved?"
~ TJ Klune, blog post dated September 20, 2016

Reviewed by Erin for Diverse Reader

Have you ever picked up a book knowing absolutely nothing about it? You see a cover and it catches your eye and read a blurb and go 'Oh yeah, that sounds so cool, I wanna read that' and then you begin and it's like nothing you've ever read before? Thus is the case for T.J. Klune's new book, Murmuration. Cool title, attention grabbing cover, and a blurb that doesn't really say much but it's enough to pull you in. Seriously, this book. It is impossible to review it without giving anything away because this is a mind-bendingly fascinating book. The characters are captivating, the plot is riveting, and the sense of omg what is going to happen next will keep you turning page after page after page.

T.J. Klune is a MASTER storyteller. His mind is a brilliant thing. His book, Wolfsong, is in my top 5 books of the year, maybe even the best so far. The way he weaves a story, the cadence to it, the words and phrases ... pure majesty. Murmuration is no different. While this book might be unlike anything you've ever read before (and I'd be willing to bet that's the case for most everyone) it is still pure T.J. Full of characters you will fall in love with. Mike and Sean and all the rest of Amorea will stay with you long after you’ve finished the book. Emotions that will rip your heart out. Lines that will make you laugh. This isn't a book full of sex, but it's so SO romantic.


Sean arches an eyebrow. "So then I can do the same for you. We take care of each other. That's how this thing works."

"This thing."

"You know what I mean."

Mike's mouth is a little dry. "You and me."

"Because we're a thing."

Sean squints at him. "Did I break you?"

"A little," Mike admits. "I had...hope."

Sean's amused now, amused by Mike, like he often is. "And what did you hope for, big guy?"

He hesitates, because this feels important. He wants to get it right. Mike's always had a bit of a problem with his words, sometimes saying one thing but meaning another. He wants there to be no misinterpretation about what he wants. He says, "I hoped to have you. All of you."


So. Many. Feels.
It's also brutal and dark. How's that for a dichotomy? T.J. might say this isn't dark, but I don't agree. However, I do agree it isn't violent. But it will make you unsettled more often than not. At least it did for me.
It truly is impossible to say too much more about Mururation without giving anything away. It's hard to adequately describe just what this book is. The twists and turns are to be savored, even if you're tempted to read peeking through your fingers at times. I give HUGE kudos to T.J. for trying something new. It takes a lot to go outside your comfort zone and branch out, not knowing how your audience will accept it, but following your heart and the words and story speaking to you. Mumuration is a hell of a ride, be ready to hang on and enjoy it from beginning to end.